On election night, she celebrated winning a Senate spot and her 21st birthday.This week she gave her first official speech to Parliament, reflecting on her Labor activism, personal health struggles, and her politically-minded family, which all paved her path to Canberra.TDA spoke to Walker after her first speech, discussing what drove her to get into politics, what she wants to see change in Australia, and how young people can get more involved. Hosts: Harry Sekulich and Lucy Tassell Guest : Sen...
Aug 26, 2025•13 min
The Australian Government has announced that the Iranian Government “directed” at least two attacks against Australia’s Jewish community. Two police officers have been killed and another injured in a shooting in Victoria’s north-east. Former NSW Police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon has pleaded not guilty to murdering Sydney couple Luke Davies and Jesse Baird, and to a charge of breaking and entering. And today’s good news: Computational designers at UNSW have 3D-printed reef structures to restore ...
Aug 26, 2025•5 min
Over the weekend, both Erik and Lyle Menendez were denied parole by a California review board. The brothers have spent more than three decades in prison for murdering their parents. Renewed interest in the case saw them resentenced in May, marking what many saw as their best chance at freedom in over 30 years. But the parole hearings revealed previously unknown details about their conduct behind bars. Today we're unpacking what came out in these hearings, the violations that swayed the board's d...
Aug 25, 2025•19 min
Today's headlines: The sole survivor from Erin Patterson’s fatal beef Wellington lunch says he forgives the convicted triple murderer. Australia is on track to reach its 2030 climate target, according to Federal Government data. Evacuation orders are in place for over half a million people in Vietnam, as Typhoon Kajiki crosses the country’s east coast. And today’s good news! An international team of biologists has found an artificial way to give bees a crucial nutrient, boosting their population...
Aug 25, 2025•5 min
Last week, the death of a French man was live-streamed on a platform co-founded by Australia’s youngest billionaire, called Kick. Over two years, thousands of viewers watched the man, who died in his sleep, being physically assaulted in real time by several other people. In today’s episode, we’ll explain what you should know about the man who died, the streaming platform that saw the last two years of his life unfold, and the Australian billionaire who founded it. Hosts: Lucy Tassell and Emma Gi...
Aug 24, 2025•19 min
Today's headlines: Erik Menendez will remain in prison after a failed parole bid in the U.S. state of California. Ex-Liberal staffer Burce Lehrmann’s defamation appeal has ended early after Federal Court judges said they “struggled to understand” his lawyer's argument. Aussie sunscreen brand Ultra Violette has recalled one of its products, after Choice found the sunscreen contained significantly lower SPF than its advertised 50+ protection factor. And today’s good news: NASA’s James Webb Space T...
Aug 22, 2025•5 min
The evidence tampering trial of an Australian reality TV star is currently underway in Darwin's Supreme Court. Matt Wright has been accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice following a 2022 helicopter crash that left his co-star dead. The hearings have so far uncovered serious allegations of cover-ups and falsified records. Today, we'll break down everything you need to know about Matt Wright and this case. Hosts: Emma Gillespie and Lucy Tassell Producer: Orla Maher Want to support...
Aug 21, 2025•14 min
Today's headlines: The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has begun its invasion of Gaza City, part of a plan to take control of the entire enclave. Two bodies have been discovered in northern Sydney floodwaters, believed to be a missing father and son. The Federal Government has wrapped up its Economic Roundtable summit. And today’s good news: A new study has captured rare footage showing bats socialising and hugging each other. Hosts: Emma Gillespie and Sam Koslowski Producer: Elliot Lawry Want to s...
Aug 21, 2025•5 min
Today's headlines: The Victorian Government has announced new childcare safety measures to address alleged abuse in the state’s early education sector. Former NSW MP Daryl Maguire has been sentenced to 10 months in jail for providing false evidence to a corruption inquiry The United Nations humanitarian office has announced a record 383 aid workers were killed in 2024. And today’s good news: The 20th annual Homeless World Cup is set to take place this weekend in Oslo, Norway. Hosts: Emma Gillesp...
Aug 20, 2025•4 min
Adelaide Crows star Izak Rankine is set to be banned for a number of matches that could rule him out of the AFL finals. It comes after he used a homophobic slur against a Collingwood player during their match last weekend, marking the sixth homophobic slur incident in AFL since April 2024. On today’s podcast, we’re going to dive into the incident, the wider sporting and social context dominating conversations in the sport only two weeks out from the season’s finals series, and what happens next....
Aug 20, 2025•17 min
U.S. President Donald Trump has met with both Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his latest attempt to reach a peace deal in Ukraine. The meetings come after three and a half years of war with no major breakthrough. Trump discussed ending the conflict with both leaders separately, though no concrete deal was reached. Today we're breaking down what happened in these high-stakes diplomatic meetings and what comes next in efforts to end the war in Ukraine. ...
Aug 19, 2025•17 min
U.S. President Donald Trump has met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, following his meeting with the Russian President Vladimir Putin over the weekend. Tasmania’s Parliament has resumed following a snap election last month, with another vote of no confidence on the agenda. A New Zealand soldier has been found guilty of attempted espionage, marking the first spying conviction in the country’s history. And today’s good news! A new treatment is “highly effective” in elimin...
Aug 19, 2025•4 min
A landmark Federal Court decision has hit Qantas with Australia's largest workplace penalty in corporate history. The airline has been ordered to pay $90 million for illegally sacking more than 1,800 workers during the pandemic — money that comes on top of a $120 million compensation deal the airline has already agreed to. It’s been nearly five years since we first began hearing about this case, and there have been plenty of twists and turns in the years since. Today, we’ll take you through ever...
Aug 18, 2025•13 min
Today's headlines: Qantas has been ordered to pay a record $90 million fine for unlawfully sacking workers during the pandemic. NSW Police are appealing for information and witnesses after a fatal public shooting in inner Sydney last night. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Washington D.C. ahead of a meeting with his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump. And today’s good news: A 97-year-old Belfast woman has become the oldest person in Europe to complete 250 ParkRuns. Hosts: Emma ...
Aug 18, 2025•5 min
Traffic to Pornhub in the UK has dropped by 47% since new age verification laws were enforced. It’s all because of the UK's Online Safety Act, which requires adult sites to check the age of all UK users. So how are they doing that? Today we're breaking down what these new laws involve and their immediate impact on online behaviour. Hosts: Billi FitzSimons and Emma Gillespie Producer: Orla Maher Want to support The Daily Aus? That's so kind! The best way to do that is to click ‘follow’ on Spotify...
Aug 17, 2025•15 min
Today we're diving into the psychology behind small changes and why they stick. We're talking about something called habit stacking - a technique that promises to help you build better routines by linking new habits to ones you already do automatically. Hosts: Sam Koslowski and Billi FitzSimons Producer: Orla Maher Want to support The Daily Aus? That's so kind! The best way to do that is to click ‘follow’ on Spotify or Apple and to leave us a five-star review. We would be so grateful. The Daily ...
Aug 16, 2025•13 min
Today's headlines: The top legal officers in Australia have agreed to share information about whether a person has lost their working with children check, in response to safety concerns in the childcare sector. Australia’s drug use has hit record highs, according to new wastewater analysis by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC). U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing to meet with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, for the first time since he was re-elected. And today’s...
Aug 15, 2025•4 min
Today, we’re talking about greyhound racing. Specifically, whether or not there is a movement for it to be banned. Earlier this week, the Tasmanian Government announced it will ban greyhound racing in the next five years. The state cited concerns about animal welfare and declining viewership as key factors in the decision. And just yesterday, new costing analysis suggested that Victoria could actually save hundreds of millions of dollars if they were to also follow suit. Today we're breaking it ...
Aug 14, 2025•12 min
Today's headlines: Female participation in the workforce hit a record high in July, according to new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The number of young people in detention across NSW has increased by 34% since 2023. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and EU leaders have met for a virtual summit. And today’s good news: Aussie surfers have dominated this week’s World Surf League Tahiti Pro event with victory in both the men’s and women’s competitions. Hosts: Sam Koslowsk...
Aug 14, 2025•4 min
This month, the tech company behind Chat GPT released what they claim is their smartest AI model yet. According to OpenAI, GPT-5 operates at the level of a PhD student. But experts are warning that the AI race has become a marketing battle, as companies manipulate test results to claim their product is the best. Today, we're unpacking how AI companies measure intelligence and why that's become a problem. Hosts: Sam Koslowski and Emma Gillespie Producer: Orla Maher Want to support The Daily Aus? ...
Aug 13, 2025•15 min
Today's headlines: A Victorian man has been charged after a major security operation at Sydney Airport this morning. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the Government has “no plans” to adopt a proposed four-day workweek. Hundreds of U.S. Army personnel have begun patrolling the streets of Washington D.C, after Donald Trump ordered an increased federal law enforcement presence in the capital. And today’s good news: Australian researchers have discovered evidence of mutual playtime behaviours be...
Aug 13, 2025•5 min
High-level officials from more than 170 countries are in Switzerland right now to finalise the first legally binding treaty on plastics. Negotiations began in 2022, when the United Nations Environment Assembly – the world's highest decision-making body on the environment – agreed on the need to address the environmental and health impacts of plastic pollution and waste. Since then, five negotiation sessions have failed to reach a consensus. This time, protesters outside the UN are calling for “c...
Aug 12, 2025•20 min
Today's headlines: The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has cut the cash rate to 3.6%, down from 3.85%. The Coalition has confirmed it will revoke Australia’s recognition of Palestinian statehood if elected. A Colombian presidential candidate shot during a political rally has died after two months in hospital. And today’s good news: A rubber duck race known as the ‘Chicago Ducky Derby’ has raised more than $AU660,000 for Special Olympics Illinois. Hosts: Emma Gillespie and Lucy Tassell Producer: ...
Aug 12, 2025•4 min
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced Australia will recognise the state of Palestine at a meeting of the UN General Assembly in September. It follows recent similar declarations by Canada, the UK, and France. The decision also comes amid growing condemnation of Israel's plan to take over Gaza, announced last week. Today, we're breaking down what this recognition means. Hosts: Billi FitzSimons and Sam Koslowski Producer: Orla Maher Want to support The Daily Aus? That's so kind! The best ...
Aug 11, 2025•14 min
Today's headlines: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced Australia will recognise the state of Palestine at a meeting of the UN General Assembly in September. The Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt has apologised for the Government’s delayed response to South Australia’s toxic algal bloom crisis. A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck the north-west of Türkiye on Sunday evening, killing an 81-year-old woman, according to emergency services. And today’s good news: And today’s good news: ...
Aug 11, 2025•4 min
On Friday morning, NSW MP Gareth Ward resigned from State Parliament just moments before he was due to be expelled by his fellow MPs. Ward was found guilty of sexual assault offences last month and is currently in jail awaiting sentencing. Today we're breaking down what happened, why it took so long to get to this point, and what happens next. Hosts: Sam Koslowski and Emma Gillespie Producer: Orla Maher Want to support The Daily Aus? That's so kind! The best way to do that is to click ‘follow’ o...
Aug 10, 2025•12 min
Today's headlines: The Federal Government has urged Israel not to occupy Gaza, after Israel's security cabinet approved a plan for a military takeover. Optus could be fined trillions of dollars after the Federal Government’s privacy regulator announced it is suing the telco over a 2022 data breach. Jailed NSW MP Gareth Ward has resigned from State Parliament, triggering a by-election in the seat of Kiama hours before a scheduled vote on his expulsion. And today’s good news: Western Australia’s o...
Aug 08, 2025•5 min
We want to make sure TDA's content remains relevant and useful. Fill out this 3 minute survey to tell us more about you! This week, US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr announced he's cancelling 22 vaccine development projects worth $500 million, specifically targeting mRNA technology used in COVID-19 vaccines. The decision has sparked concern from infectious disease experts who say it could leave America vulnerable to future pandemics. On today’s podcast, we’re going to dive into what these ...
Aug 07, 2025•14 min
Today's headlines: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended the Victorian Government’s plan to legislate working from home protections. Teachers in Queensland have resumed negotiations with the State Government after this week’s widespread strike action. U.S officials have ordered NASA to fast-track plans to install a nuclear reactor on the moon. And today's good news: New research shows a bowel cancer screening initiative has led to an increase in lifesaving early detection rates. Hosts: Sa...
Aug 07, 2025•4 min
We want to make sure TDA's content remains relevant and useful. Fill out this 3 minute survey to tell us more about you! More than two years after the implosion of a submersible expedition to the Titanic wreck, the U.S. Coast Guard has released its final report into what went wrong. According to the 335-page document, the disaster, which killed five people, was preventable – driven by flawed design, regulatory avoidance, and a toxic workplace culture. This landmark report paints a damning pictur...
Aug 06, 2025•15 min
