Radio National Breakfast

Modern slavery has become such a prevalent issue in Australia that it prompted the federal government to appoint its inaugural Anti-Slavery commissioner just over a year ago. 

Forced marriages is among the issues the commissioner is investigating.

Federal Police reported 118 cases in the 2024 to 2025 financial year - up almost 30 per cent over the previous year - with fears other cases are going unreported.

Helena Hassani was a victim of a forced marriage and is now dedicated to saving more women.

If this conversation raises any issues for you, the number for Lifeline is 13 11 14. 

• Guest: Helena Hassani, founder and executive director of Boland Pawaz  

The issue of capital gains tax (CGT) discounts is back on the political agenda, with the federal government reportedly considering changing the rate in this year's budget.

Supporters say it could bring some equity to the housing market.

• Guest: Saul Eslake, independent economist  

The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion has officially begun, with Commissioner Virginia Bell outlining a tight focus for her probe.

The inquiry was called in the wake of the Bondi terror attack which left 15 people dead.

• GUEST: Justin Greggery KC, barrister and former senior counsel assisting in the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme 
• PRODUCER: Eddy Diamond 

Fresh inflation figures will mark another test of the federal government's economic management.

Prices rose higher than expected in the 12 months to December, prompting the Reserve Bank to hike interest rates earlier this month, as the opposition argues government spending is keeping inflation higher.

Plus, after the Prime Minister was evacuated from The Lodge after an alleged security incident, the Minister for Finance has reiterated calls to 'turn the temperature down' on public debates. 

• GUEST: Katy Gallagher, Minister for Finance 
• PRODUCER: Isadora Bogle

Investment is flooding the artificial intelligence sector; with big tech firms like Alphabet, Amazon, Meta and Microsoft projected to spend around $650 billion on AI infrastructure this year alone.

That's according to analysis by the American investment management firm, Bridgewater Associates.

And as investment ramps up, there's growing concern that the technology is rapidly outpacing regulation and environmental protection.

Toby Walsh will use an address to the National Press Club today to warn of the significant risks posed by increasingly powerful intelligent systems.

• Guest: Toby Walsh, Chief Scientist of the UNSW AI Institute 
• Producer: Grace Stranger

American businesses and importers have found themselves in a state of confusion and uncertainty this morning as they try to navigate the new Trump tariff regime.

In the wake of the US Supreme court striking down the president's Liberation Day measures, Donald Trump had vowed to impose a global import tariff of 15 per cent.

But now it's 10 per cent. So, what's going on? 

• GUEST: Jason Miller, Professor of Supply Chain Management at Michigan State University
• PRODUCER: Joe Sullivan

In the UK, a former prince and a former ambassador face criminal investigations over their links to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, while a number of government officials have lost their jobs.

But in the US, prominent figures whose names come up thousands of times in the latest tranche of files - released by the US Department of Justice - remain unscathed.

It's prompted the question: why has the Epstein files lead to a more significant fallout in the UK, but not in the US?

• Guest: Richard Painter, Professor at the University of Minnesota Law School who served as the chief ethics lawyer to President George W. Bush
• Producer: Brooke Young, Pip Cook

Prosecutors have told the International Criminal Court this week that former president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, encouraged death squads to carry out extrajudicial killings using fear and financial rewards.

The court in The Hague is holding pre-trial hearings for the ex-leader, who is facing three counts of crimes against humanity for deadly anti-drugs crackdowns he oversaw while in office.

The charges date from Duterte’s time as mayor of the southern Philippine city of Davao, and later as president, and include dozens of killings as part of his so-called war on drugs.

• Guest: Carlos Conde, independent journalist and former senior researcher for Human Rights Watch
• Producer: Pip Cook

What role could Australia play in removing former prince Andrew from the "royal batting lineup"?

We get analysis from Tom Crowley and Anne Twomey following news that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese sent his British counterpart a letter confirming Australia would support the removal of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession to the British throne.Mr Albanese has told the ABC he wants Australia to be the first to country to offer its support to the move. 

Then, the federal government is under pressure from the opposition to do more to block the return of 34 Australians in Syria with links to the Islamic State terrorist group. 

And there's a new wave of violence across Mexico today, after one of the world's most-wanted drug traffickers - the cartel boss known as El Mencho - was killed by security forces on Sunday.

Recap the morning's news, politics and global affairs with the Breakfast Wrap.

Ed Sheeran, Megan Washington, Marilyn Munroe and King George VI.