Can Australia afford free university?

We’ve all heard of sniffer dogs, but what about sniffer rats? Did you know there’s a program that is training and using the critters to hunt down materials being used in the illegal wildlife trade in Africa? In this episode of The Briefing Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by Kate Webb, who helped launch the project, to learn more about this amazing initiative and plans for the future of detection rats. Follow The Briefing:TikTok: @listnrnewsroomInstagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroomFacebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headlines: Decision on Trump’s hush money case delayed again, Anglican church’s global leader resigns over child sexual abuse scandal, Parents and principals urged to help with social media ban, and CHOICE names the worst Australian products and services of the year. Deep Dive: As delegates from more than 200 countries meet to negotiate the future of global climate action this week at COP29, US president-elect and climate change denier Donald Trump is casting a long shadow.   The world’s scientists say the window to avert the worst of the climate crisis is closing fast. So does four more years of Trump mean we’re basically doomed?   Dr. Wesley Morgan is a research associate with the Institute for Climate Risk and Response at the University of New South Wales and a fellow with the Climate Council of Australia. He tells Bension Siebert on this episode of The Briefing that, in his view, there’s lots to feel hopeful about.  Follow The Briefing:TikTok: @listnrnewsroomInstagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroomFacebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New statistics out from Lifeline this week have revealed a surge in contacts made to the crisis line in 2024. More than 110 thousand calls for help have been made to the helpline since January with money worries dominating conversations, with October 7th was the busiest day of the year. We’re told all the time to reach out to Lifeline if we need help, but what is it actually like to call a mental health crisis line? What do you talk about? What sort of help can they offer? And will it actually make a difference? On today’s episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with Michael, someone who has been there, to find out. We’ve withheld Michael’s full name for privacy reasons. Lifeline 13 11 14Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 Follow The Briefing:TikTok: @listnrnewsroomInstagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroomFacebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headlines: Labor admits there’s more work to do on cost of living, Trump makes more appointments, three in five Aussie renters never expect to own a home, police escort for Adelaide elephant and your thoughts on free uni and 4B!  Deep Dive: Is your boss spying on you right now?  Last month, Woolworths was under fire for its practice of intensely monitoring the productivity of some of its workers, reportedly using technology and algorithms to assess their minute-by-minute productivity. We’ve heard similar criticisms of retail giant Amazon and rideshare giant Uber – but what you might not know is that office workers are far from safe from this kind of intrusive surveillance.  So-called ‘bossware’, software that monitors and reports employee performance using tools such as mouse tracking and web browsing surveilling, are becoming more common. So how are you being spied on right now? Peter Holland is a professor of human resource management from Swinburne University. He joins Benion Siebert on this episode of The Briefing to unpack how it all works.   Follow The Briefing:TikTok: @listnrnewsroomInstagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroomFacebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the days since Donald Trump won the US election, you might’ve seen the term ‘4B’ gaining traction on social media. Born in South Korea, 4B is a feminist movement in response to strictly held gender roles in the country that sees women swearing off men altogether. With this new political reality, will 4B find its way into Western society? And what would that actually look like? Earlier this year The Briefing spoke with Su-Kyoung Hwang, a Senior Lecturer in Korean Studies at the University of Sydney, to unpack the movement as it gained vitality in the region. In case you missed it, listen back as she takes Sacha Barbour Gatt through 4B and why it is so popular in South Korea, as the movement goes viral in the US.  Follow The Briefing:TikTok: @listnrnewsroomInstagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroomFacebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headlines: Trump sweeps all battleground states, EV sales drop across Australia and a massive weekend in Aussie sport. Deep Dive: Student debt reforms are leading the Albanese government's 2025 election promises. The key changes would reduce existing student debt by 20% and raise the income threshold for repayments.  However, some say these measures don't go far enough, with calls for free higher education back in the spotlight.  In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou digs into these proposals, asking what they mean for students, graduates, and the broader economy. Joined by ANU Professor Andrew Norton and The Motley Fool Australia's Chief Investment Officer, Scott Phillips - we explore whether these reforms are a step forward and whether Australia's economy and tax system could handle making higher education free. Follow The Briefing:TikTok: @listnrnewsroomInstagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroomFacebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mel Buttle is one of Australia’s favourite comedians and self-declared number one fan of the Matildas. You might recognise her as the creator behind Australia's favourite online mum character 'Lyn' or from the latest season of Taskmaster. In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Mel opens up about her struggles with severe bullying, ongoing homophobia, and feeling rejected by her wife’s family at what should be a time of blissful newlywed joy. Mel is currently touring her hit comedy show Not Here to Put Socks on Centipedes after sell-out performances at Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Sydney and Brisbane Comedy Festivals. Weekend List TO WATCH: Joan on Stan TO TRY: McoBeauty fragrance mist salted caramel & pistachio TO TRY: Tell Her She's Dreamin': A memoir for ambitious girls by Simone Amelia Jordan TO WATCH: Chicken Shop date with Amelia Dimoldenberg and Andrew Garfield Follow The Briefing:TikTok: @listnrnewsroomInstagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroomFacebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most Australians agree that consent is key to healthy sexual experiences. But what does consent mean? What does it look like in action? Before we can talk to our kids about consent, we need to talk to each other. In this special series, made in partnership with the Australian federal government as part of its Consent Can’t Wait campaign, The Briefing invites iconic Australians to unpack how they feel about consent, what their understanding of it is, how they're having conversations about it with loved ones, and unpacking some of the myths about consent that we can all fall victim to. In part four, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by Jude Bolton, cohost of Triple M's Rush Hour in Sydney and former Sydney Swan, and author and Founder of Teach Us Consent Chanel Contos to hear their thoughts on consent in 2024. Check out your understanding of consent, and get help learning how to talk about the topic at Consent.gov.au.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bonnie Blue has been making nation headlines around her plan to invite quote un quote “barley legal” young men attending schoolies on the gold coast to have sex and film it for content on her wildly popular only fans account Harrison James is one of many who thinks Bonnie’s actions are exploitative. He’s a survivor of sexual violence and now works as an activist speaking to consent, sexual violence and the safety of children and young people. On this episode of the Briefing Helen Smith is joined by Harrison to explain why he called the hotel Bonnie Blue is planning to stay during schoolies and if her visa should be cancelled. Follow The Briefing:TikTok: @listnrnewsroomInstagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroomFacebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headlines: Joe Biden’s first address since Trump win, Optus fined $12 million for outage, National Cabinet meeting today to consider social media ban and Australia’s biggest frog count gets underway! Deep dive: Bonnie Blue is a 25-year-old Only Fans creator inviting “barely legal” young men attending schoolies on the Gold Coast to have sex and film it for content, sparking a serious and complex debate about consent.   Bonnie stresses that those involved must be over 18, have an ID with them, sign two consent forms and take a breathalyser test, but there are calls for her visa to be cancelled.   On this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by the adult content creator to share her justifications for her Schoolies plan and what she thinks of people calling her a predator.   Follow The Briefing:TikTok: @listnrnewsroomInstagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroomFacebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.