The Briefing

Headlines: Over 1000 large companies didn’t pay tax in Australia last year, 60 million Americans have already voted, and Russia has fined Google more money than there is in the entire world.

Deep Dive: Is it possible that there’s a serial killer wreaking havoc along the NSW coast?

That’s the question that’s been raised by Jeremy Buckingham, Legalise Cannabis Party MP and member of NSW legislative council.

In an impassioned address to parliament, the MP made the case for the state to take a serious look at 67 missing or murdered women along the NSW north coast between 1977 and 2009. But is this callout alarmist? Do these accusations risk opening old wounds for the hundreds of friends and family linked to each disappearance and death?

On this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt unpacks the claims, and asks the MP why he’s chosen to raise this issue now.

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Do you know what to do if a snake bites you?

Snake season is upon us, and Australia is living up to its international reputation for alarming wildlife in unexpected places.

An unusually high number of snakes are being spotted in suburban homes in Australia right now – so if you come into contact with one over the coming months, what should you do? And if you’re bitten, what’s the steps you need to take to ensure your survival?

On this episode of the Briefing Bension Siebert speaks to snake handler Mark Pelley about his own life-threatening experience of getting bitten by a tiger snake, why there are so many snakes around right now, and what to do if you come across one – or if you or a pet is bitten.

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Headlines: Anthony Albanese says he never called Alan Joyce for flight upgrades, UN Security Council warns Israel against banning UNRWA, and Harris and Biden walk back ‘garbage’ comments.

Deep Dive: Are Australia’s mortgage wars back?

After a period of corporate coordination, banks have started making moves and competing hard for your money – happy news for mortgage holders, and people hoping to enter the property market alike.

But will things get better, or is this just a temporary reprieve? And who should you listen to if you're unsure of what to do?

On this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith speaks with Alec Renehan from Equity Mates to find out what that means for anyone with a mortgage and how long he expects the fighting to last.  

The information in this podcast is for general information only. It should not be taken as constituting professional advice, and your financial circumstances might be different and have different needs.

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A long-awaited and lengthy report by an inquiry looking into Australia’s COVID response was handed down yesterday.

It found that while state and federal governments nailed the early response to the threat of the virus, tough restrictions, poor communication and a lack of consideration of our human rights eroded public confidence and trust.

On today’s episode of The Briefing, we’re digging deeper into how Aussies feel now about politicians and the government, and whether it puts us in danger should we face a pandemic again. Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with CEO of Public Health Association of Australia, Adjunct Professor Terry Slevin to hear if he thinks we can repair what has been lost.

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Headlines: Key takeaways from Australia’s first COVID response inquiry, 90% of federal pollies are members of Qantas’ Chairman’s Lounge and 50 Cent knocked back $3 million USD to perform at Trump's New York rally.

Deep Dive: Would you take MDMA to help your mental health? 

In this two-part special, The Briefing is taking an exclusive step into one of the only clinics in Australia offering MDMA-assisted therapy to help treat those experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - with some astonishing results. 

What actually happens to you when you take what is usually known as a party drug during a therapy session?  

In part two, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with *Kate, a patient at the Pax Centre who has undertaken MDMA-assisted therapy to treat her PSTD and shares how the treatment gave her a sense of peace “she’s never experienced before”.  

Listen to part one here. 

Lifeline 13 11 14 

*Not her real name for privacy purposes  

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Youth crime has been in the spotlight nationally in recent years, with stories of teenage offenders dominating mainstream news bulletins.

It’s sparked a groundswell of support for political parties that are promising to be tough on the issue, and it’s worked, with the Liberals having decisive wins in the Northern Territory and Queensland in recent weeks.

With promises of locking up kids at younger ages, enforcing adult time for adult crimes and even looking at periods of solitary confinement for teen offenders; do these politicians have it right?

In today’s episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speak with lecturer in criminology, Dr Joel McGregor from Swinburne University, to discuss the changing conversation around young criminals. 

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Headlines: The fallout from Donald Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally, calls grow for Senate inquiry into Albanese-Joyce relationship, NATO confirms North Korean troops deployed in Russia and a new survey reveals the sexual diversity of Aussie students.

Deep Dive: Today, The Briefing is doing MDMA.

In this two-part special, we take an exclusive step into one of the only clinics in Australia offering MDMA-assisted therapy to help treat those experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - with some astonishing results.

How exactly does a drug most would traditionally associate with the party scene help those suffering through a mental health crisis? And why can it work in place of other, more traditional treatments?

In part one, Bension Siebert and Sacha Barbour Gatt speak with Co‑founders of the Pax Centre, Dr Jonathan Laugharne and Claire Kullack, to explore why the treatment they’re providing can offer such a profound breakthrough for people’s mental health.

Lifeline 13 11 14

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Moving mountains isn’t meant to be an easy feat. But did you know that mountains can, and are currently, getting taller?

It's true – and researchers have found Mount Everest is one mountain which makes that list.

The mountain has risen an extra 15 to 50 meters over the last 89,000 years. This works out to be around 2 millimeters per year – which might not sound like much. But what impact could this have on its surroundings over the years? And how does it happen?

Mark Quigley is an Associate Professor of Earthquake Science at the University of Melbourne. He joins Sacha Barbour Gatt to explain.

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Headlines: David Crisafulli claims victory for LNP in Queensland, Anthony Albanese defends Qantas upgrades, US politics wrap and American Airlines are trialling new tech to bust line cutters at airport gates. 

Deep Dive: Since Israel’s assault on Lebanon has escalated, schoolteacher Nahed Mawassi and her daughter Zainab have been anxiously clinging to hope for their family’s safety, while enduring anguish from afar in Australia.

Then came the unthinkable news via WhatsApp. 

Without any warning, the Israeli Defense Forces bombed a residential building in Aitou, a Christian-majority town over 120 kilometers from the Israeli border. The building was a temporary home to four generations of their closest relatives. 

In an instant, 18 family members – displaced from southern Lebanon a year prior – were killed. Among the victims were a 6-month-old baby and a 95-year-old great-grandmother. 

In this exclusive episode of The Briefing, Nahed and Zainab speak with Antoinette Lattouf, sharing their devastation. They call on the Australian government to urgently grant humanitarian visas for four surviving relatives, miraculously pulled from the rubble, and have a stark message to the Albanese government on the impact of the devastation on a quarter of a million Lebanese Australians. 

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Lucy Jackson and Nikki Westcott first meet as grid girls and connected immediately, but little did they know their friendship would turn into one of the most popular podcasts in Australia.  

The duo is behind the podcast Happy Hour, where they chat about everything from relationships, to sex, running a fashion brand and being a woman in your 30s.  

Lucy and Nikki have described their friendship together as like a marriage and when they started their fashion label Jagger & Stone back in 2018, they only became more intertwined.  

In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Lucy and Nikki explain why being in your 30s is better than your 20s and how they balance being business partners and besties.   

Weekend List

• TO DO: Breathwork workshop
• TO WATCH: Inside Out 2 on Disney Plus
• TO READ: The Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
• TO WATCH: Deadloch on Amazon Prime

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