BONUS: Neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell was arrested over his alleged involvement in an attack on a first nations Camp Sovereignty over the weekend, following the March for Australia rally.  

Earlier in the year we saw rallies in Adelaide, Nazi salutes in Melbourne and politicians racing to legislate tough new penalties to crackdown on those displaying any sort of solidarity with the ideology. So how big is the neo-Nazi movement here in Australia right now? What does a modern day, Aussie Nazi look like? And are we doing enough to stop them? 

In this Bonus episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by Dr Kaz Ross, an independent researcher into the far-right, who reveals what she sees the state of Nazism to be in Australia, and what it’s future trajectory might be. 

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Wednesday Headlines: Neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell arrested, US Federal court rules Donald Trump's deployment of National Guard to LA protests illegal, over half of our Federal MPs and senators own investment properties or multiple homes, Adelaide Crows player Izak Rankine apologises for homophobic comment, and what's something you don't want to find in your burrito?

Deep Dive: Australia has signed a $400 million-plus deal with Nauru to deport and resettle 280 non-citizens. 

The Government argues the offshore arrangement protects the integrity of our visa system, while critics are calling it cruel, costly, and extreme. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with Greens Senator David Shoebridge about the deal, why he says it’s creating a “21st century prison colony,” and what’s really driving Australia’s immigration policy. 

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The federal government has released the results of its long-awaited trial into its plan to crackdown on social media users under 16. Many experts warn that the age verification rules won’t work, and can be easily outsmarted by tech-savvy teenagers.

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by internet studies Professor Tama Leaver, who says the new measures won’t keep children safe online, and there are also major privacy concerns with what new data big tech companies will now want from young people. 

Headlines: Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has had to abandon a press conference, Queensland MP Bob Katter could be penalised after threatening a journalist, and NSW surfer Molly Picklum has won the World Surf League finals in Fiji.

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Tuesday Headlines: Our prescriptions are set to get a little cheaper, Aldi vegetable suppliers accused of being part of a price-fixing cartel, some of the world’s most powerful leaders are meeting in China, the Taliban government in Afghanistan is calling for international help after a magnitude 6.0 earthquake, and two-thirds of young drivers are scared to refuel their cars.

Deep Dive: Short-stay rentals like Airbnb and Stayz could be costing Australian taxpayers up to $556 million a year - not through booking fees, but tax breaks. 

A new report from housing advocacy group Everybody’s Home revealed that nearly 170,000 short-term rentals across the country are linked to huge losses in tax revenue through negative gearing.  

In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith speaks with Everybody’s Home spokesperson Maiy Azize about the true cost of short-stay rentals and whether tighter regulation could improve housing affordability. 

Further listening from the headlines: 
Why you can't get your medication, and who's to blame

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So, is migration really to blame for our housing crisis? According to one expert, our growing population is not the main cause of skyrocketing prices and rent. In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Economist Matt Grudnoff, who explains that tax breaks with negative gearing and capital gains are the real issue. Matt says governments need to abolish these tax loopholes to make property more affordable. 

Headlines: Victoria Police believe members of the public could be helping Dezi Freeman evade authorities, an attack by far-right protesters on a First Nations camp has been condemned, and Magda Szubanski has shared a candid video from hospital. 

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Monday Headlines: Anti-mass immigration rallies condemned as hateful and racist, wife of alleged gunman Dezi Freeman urges him to surrender, Greta Thunberg is sailing to Gaza again, house prices have officially risen again, and your sushi might taste different in South Australia today.

Deep Dive: Australia’s rising gun ownership is in the national spotlight, as a manhunt continues for Dezi Freeman, a gunman accused of killing two police officers in Victoria last week.  

Despite fewer licensed gun owners, the number of firearms in Australia has surged past pre-Port Arthur massacre levels, raising concerns about regulation and transparency.   

In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Joel Negin, professor of Global Health from the University of Sydney, to discuss shifting gun culture, political responses, and whether Australia’s gun laws are still fit for purpose.  

Further listening from the headlines: 
Can we blame our housing pain on immigration?

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For the first time in Australia, a long-overdue inquiry into abuse and coercive control within cults and religious groups has been launched. The Victorian inquiry was initiated after reports of coercive behaviour at the Geelong Revival Centre, many of which were revealed by Richard Baker in the LiSTNR podcast Secrets We Keep: Pray Harder.  

In the series, Rich described the GRC, under the leadership of Pastor Noel Hollins, as one of Australia’s most extreme Pentecostal churches. Former members shared horrific allegations of historical child sex abuse cover-ups, tight control of their relationships, and harsh restrictions placed on the freedoms of women.  

In this special episode, we wanted to share episode one of Secrets We Keep Pray Harder with you. 

If you want to binge the rest of the series, click here for episode 2 now. 

The interviews in this series were recorded during Pastor Noel Hollins leadership of the Geelong Revival Centre. During production, Pastor Noel died. The experiences and allegations raised do not relate to the current leadership of the GRC. 

Lifeline 13 11 14.

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Randa Abdel-Fattah is a lawyer, author, and academic who wrote her first novel at 12, and since then has published 11 books, including her latest Discipline.

Randa has also been at the centre of the recent Bendigo Writers Festival controversy. After a coalition of pro-Israel academics pushed for restrictions, with a memo going out to speakers essentially warning them not to criticise Israel. Randa withdrew and in solidarity, other authors and even the festival’s bookseller followed.

In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Randa explains how it felt having her name written on the side of a bomb, before it was presumably fired off into Gaza, and the struggles of parenting during a genocide.

Weekend list with Helen Smith

• TO WATCH: Martha on Netflix
• TO EAT: Easy frozen baramundi and broccolini bake 
• TO SHOP: Depop app for pre-loved fashion
• TO DO: Visit a dog park 

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Popular drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro are back in the headlines this week after former tennis star Serena Williams signed on as an ambassador for a major weight loss company in the US. It comes as Australian health experts warn we still don’t know the long-term consequences of these popular medications, now pushing for all users to also get access to qualified dieticians. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by GP and obesity specialist Dr Terri-Lynne South to unpack these latest developments, and the new health warnings for weight loss drugs here in Australia.  

Headlines: Matt Wright found guilty, two people questioned by police over Porepunka shootings, and David Hughes in hospital.

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Tesla has announced Australia and New Zealand will become the first global right-hand drive markets to activate their Full Self-Driving Supervised technology.

The semi-autonomous feature is set to roll out on Tesla's Model 3 and Y vehicles first, and is capable of completing a door-to-door journey including navigating traffic and other road conditions without the driver touching pedals or the steering wheel. 

In Australia under current legislation, autonomous or driverless vehicles are prohibited by approximately 700 rules, but Tesla insists their new system falls compiles with Australian law.

In this bonus episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Professor Michael Milford, Director of QUT’s Centre for Robotics, to unpack the development of autonomous vehicle technology in Australia.

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