Episodes
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Fifty years ago, Cyclone Tracy's ferocious winds destroyed 85 per cent of Darwin's housing and most of the city's infrastructure.
It was the third time Darwin had been razed to the ground by a cyclone, but within three days the prime minister had committed to rebuilding Australia's northern capital in the same spot.
In this final of a two-part series, Darwin reporter Jane Bardon hears how Tracy prompted an overhaul of the National Construction Code.
It's supposed to ensure buildings on Australia's northern coast can withstand a category four cyclone.
But is the building industry adhering to the code, and as climate change threatens more severe cyclones and storms surges, is the code up to the job?
Featured:
Jane Bardon, ABC Darwin journalist
Leo Athanasiou, Darwin builder and Athanasiou Group Director
Dawn Lawrie, former Northern Territory Assembly MLA
Jared Archibald, Museum and Art Gallery Northern Territory history curator
Elisha Harris, Harris Kmon Solutions structural engineer
Charmain Enthaler, Charles Darwin University architecture lecturer
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On Christmas Eve in 1974, Cyclone Tracy razed Darwin to the ground, killing 66 people and prompting a massive evacuation from the city of 35,000 people.
Now, 50 years since the disaster that changed the nation, Darwin's population is three times what it was then.
Why did so many survivors return to the cyclone belt to rebuild Darwin and their lives?
In this first of a two-part series, Darwin reporter Jane Bardon hears first hand accounts of a night of terror and explores how the event became life-defining.
What we can learn from how survivors have dealt with their trauma, as we face a changing climate in which many more communities will suffer the effects of cyclones, floods and fires?
Featured:
Jane Bardon, ABC Darwin journalist
Richard Creswick, former ABC Darwin journalist
June Mills, Larrakia elder
Alan Haines, former fuel depot worker
Dr Sadhana Mahajani, former Darwin doctor
Dr Arun Mahajani, former Darwin surgeon
Jared Archibald, Museum and Art Gallery Northern Territory history curator
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It's been a year of stretched household budgets as the cost of living crisis continues.
But given the cost of housing, it's being felt very differently across the generations.
Today, ABC finance expert Alan Kohler and his son, Nine News finance editor Chris Kohler on how the pinch is affecting Australians and what’s in store for 2025.
Alan Kohler discusses the significant impact of high interest rates and the challenges faced by younger generations in entering the housing market.
He explains how immigration and government spending masks the true extent of economic hardship.
Chris Kohler discusses the lack of competition in key industries, such as supermarkets, and its effect on consumer prices.
Featured:
Alan Kohler, ABC finance presenter
Chris Kohler, Nine News finance editor
Key Topics:
Cost of living crisisHousing affordabilityGenerational economic divideHigh interest ratesImmigration and economyGovernment spendingCompetition in supermarketsEconomic outlook 2025Consumer prices -
From conflict in the Middle East and Ukraine, to the election of Donald Trump and Taylor Swift's record-breaking Eras Tour, this year has brought pivotal events, one after the other.
Today, the ABC's global affairs editor John Lyons reflects on how 2024 played out and what 2025 could bring.
He's travelled the world to cover the big stories.
In this episode, John Lyons shares personal anecdotes from his travels, noting the resilience and common aspirations of people in conflict zones.
Featured:
John Lyons, ABC global affairs editor
Key Topics:
Middle East conflictUkraine warDonald Trump re-electionGlobal elections 2024Gaza humanitarian crisisGeopolitical shifts 2025Economic challenges 2025Taylor Swift Eras TourInternational resilienceGlobal affairs analysis -
Anthony Albanese’s government has faced an uphill battle in 2024, dealing with mounting discontent over the cost of living.
Ahead of an election year, will the prime minister's message cut through?
Today, 7.30's chief political correspondent Laura Tingle on the year in politics and what 2025 could bring.
She says the government has tried to provide relief through targeted tax cuts and energy subsidies, though these measures have had limited impact on reducing everyday expenses.
Laura Tingle also examines the political challenges faced by the government, including the optics of Prime Minister Albanese's personal decisions and the opposition's critique of government spending.
Looking ahead to 2025, she explores the potential strategies for both the government and the opposition as they prepare for the upcoming election.
Featured:
Laura Tingle, 7.30 chief political correspondent
Key Topics:
Anthony AlbaneseCost of livingAustralian politics 2024Inflation in Australia2025 federal electionPeter DuttonEconomic policyEnergy subsidiesTax cutsPolitical strategy -
When artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT first landed, students rejoiced as they began using it for homework and assessments.
That’s why universities and schools were quick to ban it entirely.
But now, the University of Sydney is leading the way to overturn that ban which it says doesn’t work.
Today, Professor of Educational Technologies Danny Liu on a new way to test students that gets around the AI problem.
Featured:
Danny Liu, Professor of Educational Technologies, University of Sydney
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The firebombing of a synagogue in Melbourne this week has been declared a suspected act of terrorism.
What does that mean and did the prime minister react too slowly to a rise in anti-Semitism?
Today, host of Radio National Breakfast and the Party Room podcast, Patricia Karvelas, on how the conflict in the Middle East is reverberating here.
Featured:
Patricia Karvelas, host of ABC Radio National Breakfast and the Party Room podcast
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The security camera vision shows health insurance executive Brian Thompson being shot in the back as he walks on a New York City street.
Then, the offender evades police for almost a week, before Luigi Mangione is arrested in a McDonalds in Pennsylvania.
It’s a captivating murder case because some people seem to be gleefully rallying behind the alleged gunman.
It’s a sign of deep anger in America when it comes to healthcare and insurance.
Today, North America correspondent Carrington Clarke on the morbid response to the killing.
Featured:
Carrington Clarke, ABC North America correspondent
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It’s taken just an eight-day offensive for rebels in Syria to bring down the brutal, murderous Assad regime, which had ruled for half a century.
The dictator Bashar al-Assad fled Damascus to Russia, where he’s reportedly been given asylum.
But with the main Syrian rebel group behind the movement being a declared terrorist organisation in Australia and having previous links to Al Qaeda, what does the future hold?
Today, the ABC’s Global Affairs Editor John Lyons on what comes next and what it means for the Middle East.
Featured:
John Lyons, ABC Global Affairs Editor
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With summer upon us, cranking up the air conditioning is the most comfortable option, but the electricity bill that goes with it can be shocking.
That’s why Australians who have a house, a roof and some money are increasingly getting solar panels.
But there is a problem because there is a thing as too much solar.
Today, energy reporter Dan Mercer explains that the surge of solar power is risking stability of the power grid and it’s a bit like riding a bike.
Featured:
Dan Mercer, ABC energy reporter
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Esveidy Rodriguez is an undocumented immigrant living in Arizona.
She’s now thinking about what life will be like for her in Donald Trump’s America.
The president-elect has promised to start the process of deporting millions of illegal immigrants on day one of his return to the White House.
Many, like Esveidy and her parents, have lived in America for years.
Today, we speak with Esveidy and hear how she’s feeling about what happens in 2025.
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When the South Korean leader ordered martial law, a chaotic series of events got underway.
Troops were deployed to the streets of Seoul, politicians rushed to the parliament building and protestors made their voices heard.
After a parliamentary vote blocked the order, the martial law was rescinded in an embarrassing backdown.
So, what on earth was President Yoon Suk Yeol trying to achieve and what does it mean for South Korea’s future?
Today, Kyung Moon Hwang from the Australian National University who was in the capital Seoul when it all unfolded.
Featured:
Kyung Moon Hwang, Korea Foundation Professor and director of the ANU Korea Institute
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Many Australians would not have heard of Kim Williams, but most podcast listeners will be familiar with Joe Rogan.
Kim Williams is the current chairman of the ABC and Joe Rogan is a podcast host with tens of millions of followers around the globe.
Today, technology and online culture journalist Taylor Lorenz on the day Kim Williams took on Joe Rogan and how the podcaster became so popular and influential.
Featured:
Taylor Lorenz, writer of tech and online culture newsletter User Mag
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Is it a reasonable act of a loving father, or a president abusing his power to get a family member off the hook?
In his final weeks in office, Joe Biden has pardoned his son Hunter Biden for gun and tax charges.
Today, host of the ABC’s Planet America John Barron on what it means for the outgoing president’s legacy.
Featured:
John Barron, co-host of Planet America
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Since Donald Trump won the US election, there’s been a fair bit of debate about how he did it.
One theory is the Democrats have all but abandoned the working class and Trump made them feel seen.
So, ahead of Australia’s own election next year, how are working class people feeling about politics?
Today, political strategist and pollster Kos Samaras on how their economic plight will affect the election result.
Featured:
Kos Samaras, former Labor strategist and director of the RedBridge Group
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For almost 20 years they’ve sat in prisons in Indonesia, for trying to smuggle heroin out of Bali, but the five remaining members of the so-called Bali Nine could be returned to Australia soon.
As a former foreign correspondent, it’s a story Sam Hawley knows well, because she went inside Kerobokan prison for a week in 2017.
She spoke with two members of the Bali Nine, Si Yi Chen and Matt Norman and has followed their story ever since.
Today, Sam speaks with Cindy Wockner, who was also a correspondent at the time, about the deal being worked on that might bring them home.
Featured:
Cindy Wockner, ABC journalist, author of The Pastor and the Painter and co-author of Bali 9: The Untold Story
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When police officer Kristian White tasered 95 year old Clare Nowland in an aged care facility last year, he said the great grandmother was a threat because she was carrying a knife.
But a jury has found him guilty of manslaughter.
Today, we speak with reporter Jason Om who has been covering the case and with criminologist Xanthe Mallett about how police use tasers.
Featured:
Jason Om, 7.30 reporter
Xanthe Mallett, associate professor of criminology from the University of Newcastle
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There’s been a flurry of activity in Canberra as the government rushes to get a huge amount of legislation through parliament before it rises at the end of the week.
So, what are the new and proposed laws and will they really help you?
Today, the ABC’s National Political Lead, David Speers on the bills passing and failing, as the government ponders a sooner rather than later election.
Featured:
David Speers, ABC National Political Lead
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When Bunnings started to use facial recognition technology to check on who was in its stores, without the consent of customers, it raised alarm bells.
It says the face scans were deleted within one second and the tech helped to make stores safer, by identifying thieves or people who’ve been violent.
But at what cost? The hardware giant has now been found to have breached Australians’ privacy.
Today, tech reporter Ange Lavoipierre on what Bunnings was up to, how the technology works and whether it’s something to be wary of.
She says the technology was used in 63 stores across Victoria and New South Wales over a three-year period.
The Privacy Commissioner, Carly Kind, ruled that Bunnings' actions interfered with the privacy of potentially hundreds of thousands of customers.
Ange Lavoipierre also discusses the broader implications of such surveillance technologies and the potential for misuse of biometric data.
Featured:
Ange Lavoipierre, ABC national technology reporter
Key Topics:
Facial recognition technologyPrivacy breach Retail surveillancePrivacy Commissioner Carly KindBiometric data misuseRetail security Consumer privacy rightsSurveillance technology -
You may have heard of home births, but free birthing, where there are no medical professionals present is a small, but increasing practice in Australia.
So, why are some women turning away from traditional hospital births and medical intervention?
Today, investigative reporter Charlotte King on the movement putting lives at risk.
She says free birthing is chosen by some women due to a deep distrust in the medical system and past experiences of birth trauma.
Charlotte King says the lack of regulation and medical oversight in free birthing can lead to dangerous outcomes, as seen in several cases she investigated.
She discusses the influence of online communities advocating for free birth and the role of unqualified birth workers in these scenarios.
The episode underscores the urgent need for better support and informed choices for women in the birthing process.
Featured:
Charlotte King, ABC Regional Investigations reporter
Key Topics:
Free birthingBirth traumaMedical intervention in childbirthWomen's rights in childbirthMaternity care services - Show more
