The Briefing

The federal government has introduced a major change to social security payments, which allows financial support to be cut off if recipients with outstanding warrants, even before they’re found guilty. The government says the new powers will only be used in exceptional circumstances based on expert advice from law enforcement.

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Kristin O’Connell from the Anti-Poverty Centre who raises serious concerns that some of our most vulnerable will be unfairly targeted in these changes that have just passed the Senate. 

Statement from a Spokesperson for Minister Tanya Plibersek: 

The social safety net is a pillar of this country, and we are deeply committed to upholding its integrity.

If someone is charged with a serious offence like murder or child sexual abuse and is on the run, they should not continue receiving a payment from the Government. 

Continuing to provide support in these circumstances is not appropriate, but there is currently no legal authority to cancel a payment. 

These powers will only be used in exceptional circumstances, based on expert advice from law enforcement agencies. 

Any impact on dependents must be considered by the Minister for Home Affairs before issuing a notice. 

It is a serious power, for the most serious of circumstances. 

Headlines: South Australian police have announced they’ve concluded a new search for missing four-year-old Gus Lamont, Treasurer Jim Chalmers has admitted inflation is higher than the federal government would like, and Robert Irwin has won Dancing with the Stars in the US. 

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Wednesday Headlines: Experts warn food delivery could become more expensive’ after ‘world first’ deal, Sea World employee breaks down at inquest into deadly helicopter crash, Labor to squeeze public service, new research finds our brains have ‘five eras’, and Trump pardons two turkeys, rambles about ‘fat slob’ governor. 

Deep Dive: AI-generated child sexual abuse material is seeing a horrifying increase in Australia, but detectives are working on something that could soon be hitting abusers with a dose of digital poison. 

That’s the hope of the AFP, which is behind a new tool that will look to disrupt the production of these heinous images by corrupting data in the backend. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with Elizabeth Perry from the AI for Law Enforcement and Community Safety (AiLECS) Lab. She’s the research lead behind this new tool to find out how it will work and put a major dent in the production of CSAM. 

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Former My Kitchen Rules judge Pete Evans once was one of the highest rating Australian celebrity chefs, but after rebranding himself as an outspoken wellness crusader, he found himself in a series of public feuds with the TGA, medical experts, and health professionals. 

Dubbed ‘Paleo Pete’, he's been back in the headlines, this time sporting a MAGA hat and releasing a new cookbook, The MAHA Cookbook: Real Food, Real Change, Real Health, Real Health, inspired by the MAHA Commission report and championed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.  

In this episode of The Beefing, Helen Smith unpacks why the TGA issued Evans thousands of dollars in infringement notices and what ultimately led Meta to pull down his social media accounts. 

 

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What happened to Gus Lamont? The 4-year-old has been missing for almost 8 weeks after vanishing from his family’s property in outback South Australia. Now, authorities say they are searching disused mine shafts in the area, as they desperately search for any new clues. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by forensic anthropologist Xanthe Mallet, who explains what investigators may be looking for and why she believes Gus’s disappearance is one of Australia’s most baffling cases. 

Headlines: Pauline Hanson has hit back after being suspended from the Senate for 7 days, a 15-year-old boy who’s been charged with the alleged stabbing murder of a 17-year-old near a school in Sydney’s northwest has faced court, and the Macquarie Dictionary is the latest to unveil its word of the year.

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Tuesday Headlines: Pauline Hanson’s facing criticism over recycled burqa stunt, US and Ukraine edge closer to a peace deal, Aussie house prices have surged almost 50% since COVID, more than half of us regret Black Friday buys, and Joey from Secrets We Keep joins us to chat his new ep ‘Unmasking Australia’s most corrupt cop’.

Deep Dive: Australia’s second-largest food delivery app shuts down on Wednesday- a decision that signals not only the end of a jingle, but a 20-year-old operation that once helped pioneer the industry.  
 
Menulog made the announcement a fortnight ago with little detail, so why is it shutting up shop and could this see the creation of another duopoly in Australia?  

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with the Motley Fool’s Chief Investment Officer in Australia, Scott Phillips to break it down. 

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A breakthrough new fertility treatment is giving new hope to thousands of parents to be.

Often when IVF isn’t working, there are few viable options available, but now PRP or Platelet Rich Plasma is showing promising results for couples struggling to conceive.

In this episode of The Briefing Natarsha Belling is joined by Dr Scott Pearce, the Clinical director of Create Fertility to explain how PRP works and one of his patients Emily, who struggling to fall pregnant with IVF but her dreams have come true through using PRP.

Afternoon headlines: Some politicians in Parliament House urged to turn off their electronic devices during a visit by Chinese officials, SA Police to recommence search for 4yo Gus with six mine shafts to be searched and New AI deepfake bill could see Aussie’s sued or fined for sharing content without consent

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Monday Headlines: Coalition polling at record low as government looks to pass enviro laws, Trump accuses Ukraine of being ungrateful as officials meet in Geneva for peace plan, BoM ordered to review whopping $96 million price tag for website revamp, Lando and Piastri disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix, and Matcha and Acai dominating Australian Uber Eats orders.

Deep Dive: A major crackdown is unfolding on Australia's doorsteps as global authorities try to shut down a vast network of scam compounds built on human trafficking.  

With more than 120,000 people believed to be trapped inside these sites along the Myanmar-Thailand border, the question now is whether the international push to take them apart can work. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with Andrew Wasuwongse from International Justice Mission Thailand about how these compounds operate and what it will take to stop them. 

Further listening from headlines: 
Albo's green gamble 
The Beefing: Oscar Piastri vs Lando Norris 

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Bonnie Blue has been making national headlines again over her return to schoolies. The controversial OnlyFans star's visa was cancelled last year, but she told media 'I’ve got good lawyers and I will be doing schoolies this year.'

In this Bonus episode of The Briefing from 2024, Helen Smith is joined by Bonnie to discuss her schoolies plan to invite “barley legal” young men attending the event on the Gold Coast to have sex and film it for content on her wildly popular OnlyFans account.

The second part of this episode is an interview with Harrison James, who was calling for Bonnie's visa to be cancelled at the time. He’s a survivor of sexual violence and now works as an activist speaking about consent, sexual violence and the safety of children and young people.

Content warning: This episode mentions sexual violence. If this episode has brought up any issues for you, help is available:
Lifeline 13 11 14 
1800Respect 

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Marcia Hines is a music icon - 22 albums, more than 2.6 million sales, and a career that made her a household name as a judge on Australian Idol.

She moved to Australia when she was 16 to star in Hair, the anti-Vietnam war musical, and ended up building her life here after discovering she was pregnant with her daughter, Deni.

In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Marica shares what stardom looks like in 2025 and how she feels being a 2026 Wall of Fame inductee at Parkes Elvis Festival.

Weekend list with Helen Smith

• TO WATCH: Frankenstein on Netflix
• TO TRY: Vision facial serum by Lush
• TO LISTEN: Ausify on Insta
• TO WATCH: Rush Hour and old movies you love

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Half of what Australians eat is ultra processed and now a damning new international report has revealed how these everyday foods are putting us at greater risk of serious chronic disease and mental health issues. 

In this episode of The Briefing Natarsha Belling is joined by Dr Priscila Machado from the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition at Deakin University, who explains exactly what ultra processed foods are and why we need tougher regulations.  

Afternoon headlines: Coroner hands down findings on deadly Wieambilla attack, Kellie Sloane elected NSW Liberal leader unopposed, Virgin and Qantas ban use of portable power banks and Darwin Cyclone warning

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