The Briefing

Thursday Headlines: Teens skirting social media ban told it won’t last forever, Australia records highest number of Indigenous deaths in custody in four decades, US considers forcing tourists to disclose their social media history before entry, Italian cuisine becomes world’s first to win UNESCO status, and the best AU/NZ song of the 21st century revealed.

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Deep Dive: The 2025 bushfire season has already turned deadly, with a firefighter killed and homes destroyed across multiple states. 

Authorities are warning the early conditions look “ominous,” raising fears Australia could be heading toward another Black Summer. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with former Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Greg Mullins about what this early fire activity tells us and how prepared we really are for the season ahead. 

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This week, our top defence bosses joined their US counterparts in Washington for AUSMIN. Some experts say the latest meeting was an important win for Australia after a rollercoaster year in our fragile security alliance with America. As the presence of US troops and defence personnel grows in Australia, are we preparing for an imminent conflict on our doorstep? 

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Defence and Security expert Jennifer Parker to unpack this week’s developments at AUSMIN and why Australia needs to prepare for greater uncertainty in the Indo-Pacific. 

Headlines: A 36-year-old man has been arrested after a woman was allegedly assaulted and then ran over, the federal Coalition is preparing a hardline immigration policy, and a 68-million-year-old dinosaur fossil is going under the hammer. 

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Australia’s world leading social media ban has officially come into force, with hundreds of thousands of kids getting kicked off platforms today. 

We’ve heard a lot about how teens are feeling, but what about teachers and parents? 

On this bonus episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with teacher and dad, Dr Ryan Stewart about how he’s navigating the ban with his own kids and students. 

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Wednesday Headlines: Anika Wells refers her own expenses to the independent watchdog, Toyah Cordingley’s killer sentenced to life in prison, another death linked to a 000 failure, Donald Trump launches attack on European leaders and threatens to ditch Ukraine, and thousands of fans miss the start of Lady Gaga’s Brisbane show due to a technical glitch. 

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Deep Dive: A world-first social-media ban cutting off Australians under sixteen has now taken effect, with the government framing it as a necessary pushback against harm and addiction. 

Critics argue it’s a blunt overreach built on shaky evidence that unfairly limits young people’s rights - including fifteen-year-old Noah Jones, who’s taking the fight to the High Court. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with Noah about why he’s opposing the ban and what he believes a smarter response would look like.

BONUS: Why this teacher is in favour of the social media ban is out now.

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The rivalry between Australia’s two biggest cities runs so deep it literally forced the country to build a brand-new capital. Canberra wasn’t chosen for political symbolism; it was created a bid to simmer the fighting between Sydney and Melbourne.

This beef covers everything from weather to nightlife, tourist attractions, footy, house prices and coffee – creating one of our longest rivalries between cities.  

In this episode of The Beefing, Helen Smith unpacks if Sydney has the looks and Melbourne has the personality - or whether it's more complicated than that.  

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A new report has revealed that thousands of Australians living with serious mental health conditions can’t get the lifesaving care and support they need because they don’t meet NDIS requirements. Experts say there are solutions, and it won’t cost any more, but an overhaul of the current funding system is needed. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Rielly Polascheck from the Grattan Institute, who unpacks the new research and the workable solutions. 

Headlines: The RBA has kept the official cash rate on hold, the United States will station more troops and military assets in Australia, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has delivered the eulogy at the state funeral for Graham Richardson. 

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Tuesday Headlines: Communities brace for worsening fire conditions today, jury finds Toyah Cordingley murdered by former nurse, Barnaby Joyce says Australia is late to embrace the wave of right-wing politics sweeping the world, and Golden Globes nominations announced.

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Deep Dive: Our eating habits are changing so significantly thanks to new weight loss medications that it’s impacting the globe’s food supply. 

In Australia, the sale of GLP-1's like Monjauro and Ozempic have soared tenfold in the last five years, with new research shining a light on how we’re not only eating less but also prioritising certain foods. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with RaboResearch’s Stefan Vogel about the future of food in a post GLP-1 world. 

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The controversy over Anika Wells’ taxpayer-funded trips has again put politicians’ expenses back in the spotlight. More details have been revealed about the Federal Communications Minister's trips, including AFL games, family skiing trips and a friend’s wedding. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Political Journalist with the AFR Phil Coorey, who explains that while the Minister didn’t break any official rules, in a cost-of-living crisis, it’s not a good look. 

Headlines: Barnaby Joyce has officially defected to One Nation, A NSW firefighter has been killed, and popstar Katy Perry and former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau have gone Instagram official. 

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Monday Headlines: Cooler conditions ease bushfires across NSW, Coalition calls for independent review of minister’s $100,000 US visit, warning Chernobyl radiation no longer being contained, around 600 protesters call on SBS to boycott Eurovision, and the F1 has a world champion!

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Deep Dive: The US has 15,000 troops and a dozen warships stationed in the Caribbean, escalating tensions with Venezuela after weeks of controversial strikes - including a double-tap attack some experts say may constitute a war crime. 

While Washington maintains it is targeting drug traffickers, analysts argue the motivations run far deeper, from oil and geopolitics to decades of tension with an authoritarian regime. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou unpacks it with the help of La Trobe University’s Professor Raul Sanchez-Urribarri and LiSTNR’s investigative journalist, Claudianna Blanco. 

Further listening from headlines:
Inside Oscar Piastri's and Lando Norris' fight for number one at McLaren

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In today's bonus episode, Secrets We Keep: Uncovered host Joey Watson interviews the parents of a young teenager with autism radicalised by covert Australian Federal Police (AFP) operatives and later charged with terrorism. His charges were dropped by a Victorian court.

For the first time, Thomas’ parents speak publicly about the devastating moment they learned the state had pursued a criminal case against a child with significant cognitive vulnerabilities, and how a system meant to protect their son instead put him at greater risk.

Their account, alongside the court’s damning findings, that police conduct fell “profoundly short” of acceptable standards, raises questions about policing, oversight, and how a terrorism prevention program turned into an institutional failure.

Part 2 of this extraordinary story will be published on Tuesday 9 December at Secrets We Keep: Uncovered. You can listen wherever you get your podcasts.

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POLICE RESPONSE

The AFP referred us to its previous comments regarding this matter:

• Senate Estimates LINK
• Parliamentary Joint Committee LINK

Victoria Police claimed that to their knowledge, the Imam assigned to the family through their CVE program did not record without the family’s knowledge or consent.

“Victoria Police does not publicly provide specific details of the operations or programs of this nature," a spokesperson said. "This is partly to ensure we maintain the confidentiality needs of all of those involved. The community can be reassured that we remain committed to working with the community and other law enforcement and intelligence agencies to divert those vulnerable to radicalising towards violent extremism to a different path, assist those who are already holding violent extremist beliefs to disengage, and ensure the safety and security of the Victorian public.”

 

 

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