Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Hi, Sasha Barbagat with you. Welcome to The Briefing. Canberra was abuzz yesterday with talk of a brand-new political party bringing together not only Teals but other independents sitting on the crossbench and maybe even some moderate Liberals.
And while some came out yesterday to say they will not be involved, there's one former PM who thinks there's merit in the creation of a formalised centrist movement.
Instead of saying, I'm running to be your feisty independent giving speeches to an empty chamber from the crossbench, they can say, I am running to be part of a government in which I expect to be the treasurer or the minister for the environment or something like that.
Chapter 2: Why is Labor asking for donations against One Nation?
My chat with Malcolm Turnbull is coming up in the second half of this episode. First, it is time for the headlines with Chris Spirou on Tuesday, the 26th of May.
Morning, Sash. And it seems it's not just the coalition that's taking notice of One Nation's rise, with Labor launching ads asking for donations to help its campaign against the party. The advertisements, which are only running on social media, are asking supporters for donations between $10 and $27, saying, quote, One Nation is on the rise.
Chapter 3: What tributes are being paid to AFL legend Neale Daniher?
This is still early, but we can't let them gain any more momentum. They also say additional resources are needed in order to fight the party's misinformation.
Now, this new advertising push comes as new polling reveals if an election were to be held today, Pauline Hanson's party would win as many as 59 seats, becoming the new federal opposition and wiping out the coalition. And sticking with politics briefly, and the Pollies returned to the floor of Parliament yesterday after a bruising post-budget week.
And despite the criticism of the capital gains tax and negative gearing changes announced two weeks ago, Anthony Albanese is pushing on with his tax reform package and has confirmed it'll all go before Parliament in the one bill, Chris.
But a Labor caucus meeting today is expected to see some MPs raise concerns with the more contentious changes that after backlash from investors and startup founders. Word is some carve-outs will be debated for businesses beyond the startup sector, but we'll find out on Thursday when the bill is formally introduced.
Now, before we move on to the next headline, why is federal Labor asking for donations to combat misinformation? I just, look, listen.
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Chapter 4: What is the latest on the return of ISIS brides to Australia?
I'm all for combating misinformation. I think misinformation and disinformation, that's a huge part of being in government. It's a huge part of politics because it is very confusing as voters when we are fed multiple messages coming from multiple different people with different agendas. Go for it. Combat the misinformation. Why are we footing the bill? This is what I don't get.
And also as politicians, you can do things that are well within your remit, well within your circle to do that. They could hop on social media themselves, put out a bunch of posts, line up different interviews with different podcasts, different radio stations, connect with the people in different ways.
Hello, Albo.
Chapter 5: How is the Ebola outbreak affecting Central Africa?
We've been trying to get you on for months now.
I've got to be in my bonnet over this one. Anyway, whatever.
Yeah, look, it seems like it's an interesting request. The ABC, which initially reported this story, did reach out to Labor for comment and there was no return. There was no reply, rather. So, yeah, it could be seen by some as potentially just a cash grab and using One Nation and fear around that as a reason to motivate people who support the Labor Party.
Changing pace now and tributes have been pouring in overnight for AFL legend Neil Danaher who has passed away from motor neuron disease. The 65-year-old's family confirmed the news yesterday saying he died surrounded by his family and that he has inspired, he has loved, he has lived and it would only be fitting to finish with his words, play on.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen confirming yesterday she's offered his family a state funeral and they've accepted.
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Chapter 6: What opportunity has been extended to Australia's first astronaut?
Thoughts and love of all Victorians will be going to the Danaher family as we hold them in our hearts today and also reflect on the incredible contribution Neil has made to the life of our state.
player and Demons coach was diagnosed with MND in 2013 and he went on to dedicate his life to raising awareness of the disease.
He created his charity Fight MND in 2014 and created the Big Freeze which is a fundraising event that has become a permanent part of the AFL's calendar and sadly Danaher's death comes just two weeks before the King's birthday weekend round when the 12th Big Freeze will take place at the MCG when Collingwood and Melbourne face off. He is survived by his wife Jan and therefore kids. So sad, Chris.
Yeah. And I mean, we do know that Neil was Australian of the Year in 2025. He was the Victorian of the Year in 2019. And we did hear from the Prime Minister yesterday who said he was probably the most backed Australian of the year ever.
Chapter 7: What are the implications of the Enhanced Games for sports integrity?
And look, if you're hearing about MND and you're hearing about the big freeze and you don't know what it is, or you kind of have a surface level knowledge and you want to know a bit more about it, I did deep dive it last year. We'll pop a link to that in the show notes.
To Syria now, where seven so-called ISIS brides and 13 of their children that last week left a notorious detention camp have booked their flights home. They're expected to be back in Australia within days. It's understood 11 will be touching down in Sydney, the nine others in Melbourne, Chris.
The group are Australian citizens who are the wives, widows and children of IS fighters who've been held at Syria's al-Raj camp since the terrorist organisation fell seven years ago. According to reports, these are the last remaining Australians in the camp, which local authorities are pushing to close.
The Australian government says it was legally required to provide them with passports, but it's not actively helping them get home and has been consistent that anyone returning will face the full force of the law.
So it's understood one woman in the group is subject to a temporary exclusion order, which means she's banned from entering Australia for up to two years on national security grounds. The government says outside of issuing those orders, there is very little it can legally do to stop citizens from coming home.
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Chapter 8: What does Malcolm Turnbull think about a new political party in Australia?
Now, this will be the second group of so-called ISIS brides back in as many weeks. Earlier in the month, three of the four returning women were arrested by the AFP on arrival. They remain in custody facing slavery and terrorism-related charges.
To Central Africa, where the World Health Organisation is warning the fast-moving Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is outpacing response efforts, with the latest number of suspected deaths now sitting at 220 people.
The WHO's director is travelling to the DRC this week as neighbouring Uganda reports two more cases, bringing its total to seven, with other border countries flagged as high-risk.
The outbreak, which has already been declared a public health emergency of international concern, involves the rare Bundabugyo strain, which has no approved vaccines or treatments. And doctors on the ground are battling more than just the virus and supply shortages. Health facilities are now coming under attack and patients are fleeing treatment, which we have seen happen before, Chris.
Yeah, we saw it in the 2018 to 2020 outbreak in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. There was widespread violence targeting health officials and we saw about 25 health care workers die in that. The reason is that there is very strong feeling on the ground towards this virus, the suspicion that it's not really a real virus. Some communities are in denial that the disease exists.
Others are just angry that they can't bury their loved ones anymore. in traditional ways. So they're being told to stay away and there's that incubation period and the infectious period and things like that. And also the suspicions aren't helped by the fact that there's a sudden influx of people coming from what feels like nowhere into this region that's been neglected for decades.
And there's that feeling of distrust among locals about, okay, well, why are you all here? What are you doing here? The head of the World Health Organization is set to go there this week to travel there this week to continue that community messaging and to try to build up that trust.
Changing pace now, and Australia's first qualified astronaut is a step closer to her first trip to space, with an offer extended to Catherine Bunnell-Pegg to go to the International Space Station.
The European Space Agency has offered the Australian of the Year an opportunity to join a future mission, but it will have to be funded, Chris, which means the Australian government will have to step in to help cover some of the costs, which could come up to $100 million. Ouch.
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