The Radio National Hour

Fran Kelly brings you compelling conversations on issues that challenge,entertain and inspire us.

Fran Kelly brings you compelling conversations on issues that challenge,entertain and inspire us.

For many young people, the great Australian dream is now a share portfolio, and if you believe social media these zoomers and millennials are outraged at the government’s proposed changes to capital gains tax. With home ownership out of reach for so many, are they right to feel aggrieved? And should we be cutting them some tax slack? 
In just over three weeks time America will become the centre of the world, hopefully for all the right reasons. Football players from a record 48 nations are descending on North America for the World Cup, but the spectre of ICE deportations, Trump’s war on Iran and exorbitant ticket prices is casting a long shadow over the tournament. 
She's the superhero of international correspondents, and when she steps in front of a camera with her characteristic steely calm the world takes note. Lyse Doucet has spent more than 40 years telling the stories of forgotten people in forgotten places and illuminating global events for the BBC. This month she's appearing at the Sydney Writer's Festival sharing her new book The Finest Hotel in Kabul.

It's a country wracked by violence, poverty and corruption and now a deadly strain of Ebola. Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo are scrambling to contain the virus which has already killed at least one-hundred and thirty people. Australian health company, Aspen Medical has been on the front-lines of the fight against previous Ebola outbreaks in Africa and experts Dr Katrina Sanders and Al Martin say they're ready to respond if asked. 
Donald Trump’s visit to China has left many in Taiwan asking whether the island could be facing a nightmare scenario where rather than being at the negotiating table, they’re in fact on the menu. William Yang, Senior Analyst for North East Asia with the International Crisis Group says President Trump takes a purely transactional view of Taiwan.   
More and more doctors are using Artificial Intelligence to lighten their administrative load but when the patient says no, who gets to decide? Around 40% of Australian GP’s are now using AI to take patient notes and convert them into records, and in some instances making treatment recommendations. Dr Tom Kelly is the founder of Heidi Health one of the most popular platforms providing this service, he says patients should be able to opt out but that many protections are built into the system to ensure privacy. GP and medical technology advisor Dr Janice Tan says, as is often the case with technology, better regulation and clear guidelines are needed.

Founders and venture capitalists say the government's proposed changes to tax concessions in last week’s budget will be a massive handbrake on the start-up sector. They’re calling on the government to back the big thinkers and risk takers. Zac Altman, CEO of Kantoko, & Shivani Gopal, founder and CEO of Elladex share their wishlist? 
It’s the size of a sesame seed but - if left unchecked - has the potential to wipe out half of Sydney’s tree canopy. Our favourite species up and down the east coast - Moreton Bay and Port Jackson figs, flames trees, oaks and paperbarks - are all vulnerable to this nasty little borer and scientists like Professor Brett Summerell from Sydney's Botanic Garden are sounding the alarm.  
The namesake of our most prestigious literary awards, Australian feminist icon and trailblazing author Stella Miles Franklin is enjoying a cultural revival and now there's a new novel by French author Alexandra Lapierre written very much in her own words.