SBS News In Depth

Foreign minister Penny Wong speaks to SBS's chief political correspondent Anna Henderson about Canberra's role as a middle power on the global stage and whether Australia's record on Indigenous incarceration could tarnish the government's security council ambitions.

Australia has formally launched a campaign for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council between 2029 and 2030. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Australia's bid for a seat at the UN's highest table in New York ahead of the General Debate, which begins on Tuesday. But the federal government has also been the subject of an urgent UN plea to address the over-representation of Indigenous children behind bars..

Ed Sheeran has broken his silence after a controversy involving support act Macklemore and pro-Palestinian advocacy engulfed his US tour. In this episode, we examine how the dispute over free speech, politics and live music has divided fans, sparked protests and drawn the singer into one of the world's most contentious debates. With supporting acts pulling out in solidarity, Sheeran has returned to the stage and spoken publicly about Israel and Gaza, while questioning whether venues should have the power to control what artists say.

A senate inquiry has handed down its report on youth incarceration in Australia, including examining the issue of the over-incarceration of First Nations children.

Conservationists are calling for government funding to count the population of the platypus over the next decade.