Breakfast Wrap: How a hostage envoy could help jailed Australians
The Coalition has pledged to create a 'special envoy' for hostage affairs – who would advocate for Australians wrongly detained overseas on politically motivated grounds – should they win the election.Professor Peter Greste, an award-winning correspondent whose 400-day incarceration in Egypt sparked a global campaign resulting in his release, says he welcomes the move.Also, its the penultimate week of the election campaign, and we've seen a record number of Australians lodging an early vote, the IMF issue a downgrade of global economic forecasts and the Coalition roll out several key pledges.This week's election campaign also included the third leaders' debate, the would-be Treasurers pitching directly to business and the health ministers going head-to-head at the National Press Club.And on this ANZAC day we share details of a forensic investigation that has led to the discovery of the remains of four Australian soldiers on the First World War's Western Front.They have been found together in an area of northern France near the site of the second battle of Bullecourt, which unfolded in 1917. Recap the morning's news, politics and global affairs with the Breakfast Wrap
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Breakfast Wrap: Why EV's are copping political heat
Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla has suffered a massive profit drop, while separately the Coalition has pledged to scrap a popular tax break for people who buy electric vehicles. Its yet another major policy reversal from the Opposition Leader. Meanwhile, the opposition has made a promise to slash immigration part of the centrepiece of its election campaign.But as well as questioning the impact a cut would have on Australia's housing crisis, experts have cast doubt on whether the Coalition can achieve the reduction its promised.Elsewhere, high-level talks between the United States, Ukraine, and European officials over a so-called 'final offer' on ending the war in Ukraine were downgraded in London overnight.And a new poll from the Australia Institute, Human Rights Law Centre, and Whistleblower Justice Fund, which surveyed thousands of voters, has found 86 per cent of participants want stronger legal protections for whistle-blowers. But as election day edges closer, both major parties are yet to commit to any whistleblower reforms.Recap the morning's news, politics and global affairs with the Breakfast Wrap
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Breakfast Wrap: Is Pauline Hanson handing Dutton a lifeline?
The Coalition is preferencing Pauline Hanson's One Nation party in the vast majority of seats at this election, abandoning past practice of putting the party last or at least below Labor.Meanwhile, the One Nation leader has ordered a reprint of how-to-vote cards in at least 10 marginal seats, to now put the Coalition second.Then also today, with just ten days to go until the federal election, the Coalition has promised to boost defence spending by $21 billion over the next five years.Labor plans to increase defence spending from two per cent of GDP to 2.33 per cent over a decade but the opposition argues that's not enough to keep the country safe. It wants defence spending up to three per cent of GDP within a decade.Elsewhere, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has slashed growth forecasts for the global economy in the wake of the Trump administration's tariffs and what it says is a "highly unpredictable environment." In its newly released annual World Economic Outlook the IMF predicts global growth will be 2.8 per cent this year, half a per cent lower than it was predicting back in January, with the US economy among the worst affected.Meanwhile, Australia's economy is forecast to grow by one-point-six per cent this year, down from the fund's previous forecast of 2.1 per cent. And the Israeli military has launched another intense wave of airstrikes in Gaza, killing more than 20 people since Monday night; many of them children.The air strikes have also destroyed earthmoving equipment that local authorities say was being used in the clean-up of the strip.The latest attacks come as a Hamas delegation is expected to arrive in Cairo for talks where mediators are proposing a five to seven-year truce.Recap the morning's news, politics and global affairs with the Breakfast Wrap
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Radio National Breakfast Full Episode - 23rd April 2025
Australia's home for the best coverage of the biggest breaking news events with specialised analysis of politics, business and sport and agenda-setting interviews with some of the world's leading experts, and change makers.
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Breakfast Wrap: What the Pope actually changed about the Church
Did you know the Pope once signed an agreement with Beijing to appoint Bishops in China?On the Breakfast Wrap we dive into some of the stories you may not know about the Pope, as the world marks the death of the 266th Pontiff. Nine days of mourning have begun for Pope Francis after he died of a stroke and heart failure, according to the Vatican.Just over the weekend, the pontiff wished worshippers a Happy Easter before being driven around the Vatican's St. Peter's Square in his pope-mobile. Catholic cardinals from around the world will now start to make their preparations to travel to the Vatican, and elect a new Pope.Meanwhile, Pope Francis' death has landed right in the middle of the Australian election campaign - so how will it affect the remaining few weeks of the race?Recap the morning's news, politics and global affairs with the Breakfast Wrap
Radio National Breakfast is Australia's only daily national radio current affairs program, synonymous with agenda-setting news coverage, breaking news and a place where you will hear the most significant stories impacting the lives of all Australians wherever they live.
It is a pre-eminent thought leader in Australia.
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