The Briefing

Tuesday Headlines:
Trump says war with Iran could run for five or more weeks
Little progress made in closing Australia’s gender pay gap
Pauline Hanson censured, questioned over taxpayer-funded travel
High-profile lobbyists could be exposed under new parliament rules
Jim Carrey responds to viral internet theory that he’s been cloned
Deep Dive: The death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has triggered celebrations across Tehran and in diaspora communities worldwide - including here in Australia.
But it's also brought mourning processions, portraits carried through the streets, and mosques announcing days of grief.
For many Australians, that contrast is hard to make sense of.
In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by peace and conflict researcher Shadi Rouhshahbaz to unpack the difference in reactions, what the celebrations actually mean, and why calls for Iranians to "rise up" are anything but straightforward.
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Top international law experts are warning that the latest strikes by the US and Israel on Iran set a very dangerous precedent, especially for countries like Australia.
In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by international law expert Dr Tamer Morris, who explains why these latest attacks contravene international law and how it now opens the floodgates to further attacks from other nations.
Headlines: US President Donald Trump has warned there will be more casualties in Operation Epic Fury, The Israeli Military say senior members of Hezbollah have been struck in Beirut, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the UK will allow the US to use it's military bases, a top-secret report that investigated what went wrong with the Liberal party during last year’s federal election defeat has been leaked, and Delta Goodrem will represent Australia at Eurovision.
Further listening from the headlines: Iran’s deadly protests explained
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We all recognise the green and gold kangaroo - it's one of the most trusted logos in the country. 
But what does Australian Made actually mean? And with cost of living biting harder than ever, is choosing local still worth the extra dollars?
In this sponsored episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt sits down with Ben Lazzaro, Chief Executive of Australian Made, to unpack the certification process behind the iconic label, why trust is its biggest commodity, and how buying local can pump billions back into the economy.
We look at the real impact on farmers, manufacturers and communities, the surprising research on what Australians are willing to pay, and the rise of  buy local campaigns that are shaping how we spend.
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Monday Headlines:
Conflict escalates in the Middle East as Israel, Iran and the US engage in strikes
Petrol prices and travel: how this latest Middle East conflict will impact Australia
Parents of backpacker killed on K’gari call for inquest
Penny Wong to move censure motion against Pauline Hanson
The Matildas win their Asian Cup opener
Further listening from the headlines:
Jane Hume on migration, One Nation and laughing at Angus Taylor
Deep Dive: Getting on the property ladder in Australia has never been easy, but new data from Domain shows just how steep the climb has become.
The 2026 First Home Buyers Report reveals entry-level property prices have risen in every capital city (except for units in Canberra), deposit saving timelines are stretching longer and mortgage stress now hitting lower-end buyers nationwide.
In this episode of The Briefing, Domain’s Dr Nicola Powell joins us to unpack why this crisis is structural, not cyclical, and what, if anything, can be done to fix it.
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A new report is reigniting debate over the future of captive wildlife entertainment in Australia, with fresh scrutiny on breeding programs at Sea World on the Gold Coast. Advocates say global tourism is moving away from keeping animals in captivity… but here, polar bears and dolphins are still being bred for performance, in what many experts say are inhumane conditions.
So, is Australia falling behind the rest of the world? And should the practice be banned altogether?
In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Suzanne Milthorpe from World Animal Protection Australia to unpack the latest findings in the new report.
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