The Daily Aus
This is a daily news podcast for young people in Australia. Join The Daily Aus team every weekday morning as we cover the news in your language. We’re a newsroom of young journalists, delivering news for young people. TDA is completely independent. We are not owned by any larger media company.
Were the Nepal-Tibet floods caused by climate change?
Last week, catastrophic floods tore through Nepal and Tibet. The death toll has now passed 900, with thousands still missing, and dozens of Australians among them.
On today’s podcast we’re going to go through what actually happened, the latest on the search for the missing people, and the question everyone's asking: was this just a freak event, or a sign of what the warming Himalayas has in store.
Host: Elliot Lawry and Billi FitzSimons
Producer: Rosa Bowden
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Headlines: Man charged over Tupac's 1996 murder
Todays headlines include:
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has sought to play down the fact that several leaders of Pacific nations and territories aren’t attending the annual Pacific Forum. Shares in fast-fashion online retail giant Shein lost around 10% after it began trading on Hong Kong's stock market, after a long delay in the company's plans to list its shares publicly. A jury in Las Vegas has found Duane Davis guilty of first degree murder for organising the killing of legendary rapper Tupac Shakur in 1996. And today’s good news! The population of a critically endangered species of bird in Ne...Should smart glasses be banned?
Should smart glasses be banned? Debate about this wearable tech has intensified this week, with Attorney General Michelle Rowland unveiling reforms to privacy laws, aiming to keep pace with new technology. It comes as Australia’s online safety regulator calls on manufacturers to do more to protect the identities of people being filmed. In today’s deep dive, we’ll explore the privacy panic behind these glasses, and what it means for you.
Host: Emma Gillespie and Billi FitzSimons
Producer: Rosa Bowden
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Headlines: Rescuers searching for hundreds in Nepal
Todays headlines include:
Rescue teams in the Himalayas are working to reach hundreds of people believed to be trapped inside blocked hydropower project tunnels in the aftermath of the flood that destroyed towns across Nepal and Tibet and killed hundreds. Listeners are advised that this next story may be distressing. NSW Police have called on the community for information about the mother of a newborn baby found dead in Sydney’s west on Monday. Novak Djokovic has been knocked out of the U.S. Open in the opening round. And today’s good news: A new record has been set...Did Meta just admit to causing social media addiction?
In case you missed it, Meta has just settled a landmark $17 billion case in the U.S. over the addictive nature of its platforms Facebook and Instagram.
As a result, it will now introduce a range of restrictions for its users under the age of 18, including: a ban on using its platforms overnight, a ban on showing any likes or reshares on posts, and a daily limit on how much time a teenager can spend on there.
But. It’s now asking YouTube and TikTok to do the same. So, are we on the verge of a...
Headlines: Death toll in Nepal-Tibet floods rises to 469
Todays headlines include:
The death toll from a catastrophic flash flood in Nepal and China's Tibet has risen to 469, police say, as rescuers continue to search for more than 1400 people missing. U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to rename Lake Ontario "Lake America", escalating a feud with Canada that has already resulted in billions of dollars in tariffs. Peter Cullen, the voice of Eeyore in the Winnie the Pooh TV series and films from the 1980s to the 2010s, has died aged 85. And today’s good news! Uganda has successfully stopped its outbreak of ebola.Hosts...
The dangers of strangulation during sex
On Wednesday, it was reported that a 16-year-old girl had died in Sydney. Several media outlets said police are treating it as a suspected sexual choking act.
Now, to be very clear, NSW Police at this stage have only confirmed that a teenager died after she was found unresponsive in her home earlier this week, and that they are investigating the death - but no other details were confirmed.
So, we won’t speculate or talk about the ongoing police investigation outside of what is known. Instead, we’re going to take a look at a rec...
Headlines: Death toll rises in Nepal-Tibet flash floods
Todays headlines include:
Flash floods that struck Nepal and Tibet have killed at least 162 people, but authorities fear the final number of casualties will be far higher amid massive destruction. Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama has died at the age of 97. Qantas has reported a nearly 20% drop in profit due to the impact of the war in the Middle East and higher jet fuel costs. And today’s good news: Mitchell Starc has become the best Test cricket bowler in the world on the International Cricket Council’s rankings.Sign up to our newsletters here!
Hosts: Emma Gill...
Mitch Brown on the AFL, a year after coming out
In 129 years of AFL, no male player, past or present, had ever publicly identified as gay or bisexual. That changes one year ago today, when 94 game West Coast veteran Mitch Brown sat down with TDA.
A few days before that chat, Mitch had messaged TDA saying he was ready to share his story. Mitch’s courage marked a turning point in Aussie sport - but with another AFL scandal dominating headlines a year on, how much has really changed?
We’re speaking to Mitch in today’s deep dive to unpack his reflections on the past ye...
Headlines: U.S. pauses immigrant visa applications
Todays headlines include:
A fox, a little penguin, and more bird species are the latest suspected bird flu cases in South Australia, the state hardest hit by the disease. More than 2,000 Queensland children have been charged by police since the launch of a new taskforce in February. The Trump administration has announced a pause on all immigrant visa applications to the U.S. And today’s good news: Dozens of ancient artefacts that were illegally trafficked out of Egypt have been returned to local officials.Sign up to our newsletters here!
Hosts: Billi FitzSimons and Em...
How the Government is trying to regulate AI’s environmental impact
By the middle of the next decade, Australia's data centres are forecast to use almost as much electricity as every home in New South Wales and Victoria combined. That forecast landed this week. Today, the Prime Minister will meet every state and territory leader to decide who powers all of it - and Queensland and the Northern Territory have already said no. In this morning’s podcast, we’ll explain what a data centre actually is, its environmental impact, and why this discussion has escalated all the way to National Cabinet.
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Headlines: Celebrity Agent Ralph Carr jailed
Todays headlines include:
Former celebrity agent Ralph Carr has been jailed for six years with a non-parole period of four years for raping a former employee. Mandatory facial recognition technology will be rolled out in NSW pubs and clubs under a tranche of gambling reforms in the state. Iran has promised to retaliate against expanded U.S. economic sanctions. And today’s good news: NASA is set to launch a new telescope that will show us more of the universe than we’ve ever seen before.Sign up to our newsletters here!
Hosts: Lucy Tassell and...
Will cash incentives fix the birth rate?
As birth rates fall all over the world, countries are getting creative with their policy decisions to ensure future economic stability. Last year, China pledged to cover out-of-pocket expenses related to childbirth in full, at the same time as making condoms more expensive. Japan is trying to tackle its record low birth rate through govt-funded dating apps, allowances, and flexible work options, while one Australian politician has suggested low-interest loans for new parents. Now, Singapore has promised every child born there will receive almost $70,000 in govt support by the time they turn 17. In today’s deep dive, we’ll explo...
Headlines: Under 16s social ban tabled in NZ
Todays headlines include:
Police in Victoria have raided the CFMEU's headquarters, one of Australia's biggest unions. Five suspended Sydney Swans players will be barred from next month’s Brownlow medal function, but will remain eligible for the AFL’s most prestigious individual award, AFL CEO Andrew Dillon has confirmed. The New Zealand government has introduced legislation to ban children under 16 from social media. And today’s good news: In a world-first, a python has received a pioneering human cancer therapy.Hosts: Emma Gillespie and Lucy Tassell
Producer: Imogen Abbott
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How the tragedy of Lily Hooper unfolded
Last week, police found the body of missing teen hiker Lily Hooper in the Southern Highlands in NSW. It brought to a close an 8-day search involving more than 200 emergency service personel to find the 18-year-old girl. But before her death was confirmed, her family was actually first told that she had been found alive. Ant that initial - and inaccurate - information went from the search area all the way to NSW Parliament, within minutes. We'll explain how it all unfolded on today's podcast.
Hosts: Sam Koslowski and Billi FitzSimons
Producer: Orla Maher
Video...
Headlines: Swans captain fronts media
Todays headlines include:
Sydney Swans Captain Callum Mills has spoken for the first time about several of his teammates being linked to a sexual assault investigation in Victoria. Australia's spy chief will allow a former agent to give evidence on the perpetrators of the Bondi terror attack at the antisemitism inquiry. At least 50 people, mostly children, have died after a boat capsized off the coast of Nigeria. And today’s good news: Scientists have found a way to spot Parkinson’s disease in the brain before any damage is done – a breakthrough that could lead to earlier and more e...Australia's $1 trillion debt milestone
Yesterday morning, Australia's federal government debt passed one trillion dollars for the first time in the nation's history. On the one hand, as the federal opposition is arguing, that’s a huge number. On the other hand, Australia has one of the lowest debt levels among advanced economies, while the U.S. also passed a milestone yesterday at $40 trillion. On today’s podcast, we're going to explain what Australia's number actually measures, what those on both sides of politics are saying in response, and why the Australian and U.S. milestones are being received so differently by the people who...
Headlines: Body of missing teen Lily Hooper found
Todays headlines include:
Police have found the body of missing teen hiker Lily Hooper in the Southern Highlands in NSW. Foreign Minister Penny Wong has said Australia is outraged at Israel’s decision not to pursue a criminal investigation into the soldiers who killed Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom in Gaza two years ago. More than 1,000 birds have died in South Australia amid the H5 bird flu outbreak, according to state Premier Peter Malinauskas. And today’s good news: a new vaccine could reduce the spread and recurrence of melanoma, one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in Aust...Why the mushroom murderer is back in court
It’s been nearly a year since convicted mushroom killer Erin Patterson was sentenced to life in prison with a non parole period of 33 years. But this week, she’s back in court for two separate appeals – one from her, one from prosecutors. Today, we’ll explain why Patterson’s lawyers are fighting to overturn her convictions, while prosecutors are fighting to make her sentence even harsher.
See your top books of 2026 in this week's Culture Newsletter.
Hosts: Emma Gillespie and Lucy Tassell
Producer: Rosa Bowden
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Headlines: Wages rising slower than prices
Todays headlines include:
The wage price index for the June quarter remained at 0.8%, new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show. The Sydney Swans has announced that five of its players – Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon, and Riley Bice – have been banned from play for the rest of the 2026 AFL season. U.S. President Donald Trump has paused 50% tariffs on goods from Canada. And today’s good news: Coral reefs off the coast of West Africa presumed dead for more than 60 years have been found teeming with life.Hosts: Emma Gillespie and Lucy Tassell
Pro...
The allegations against the Sydney Swans' players
On Monday, it was revealed that a group of Sydney Swans players were being questioned by police over an alleged sexual assault in Melbourne. Five players have since been named, though none have been charged. On today's podcast we’re going to break down what we know about the alleged assault, what could happen to the players, and how the AFL has responded.
Hosts: Elliot Lawry and Billi FitzSimons
Producer: Orla Maher
Video editor: Rosa Bowden
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Headlines: Gambling ad reforms set to pass
Todays headlines include:
The AFL is expected to suspend several Sydney Swans players, who are being investigated over an alleged sexual assault. Australians will soon have options to avoid gambling advertising as Labor and the coalition agree to pass contentious reforms. Two people have been killed after a shooting at a high school in the southern Philippines, in the country’s second such incident in as many months. And today’s good news: A new study by the University of Adelaide has found that humans may actually have “a positive or enriching effect” on otters’ welfare.Hosts: Emma Gillesp...
The Cambridge professor found dead in London
On Saturday, news broke that Jason Arday, until recently a professor at Cambridge University, had been found dead. It came after weeks of intense media scrutiny and discussion of Arday’s credentials and life story, sparked by a blog post alleging he plagiarised parts of his PhD thesis. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has described his death as “a moment for reflection... reflecting on how things came to this.” So, how did they come to this?
Hosts: Emma Gillespie and Lucy Tassell
Producer: Orla Maher
Video editor: Rosa Bowden
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Headlines: Police investigate alleged Swans sexual assault
Todays headlines include:
Police say they are investigating a report of sexual assault, related to several Sydney Swans players at the team’s hotel in East Melbourne on Sunday night. American actress Hayden Panettiere has died, according to a statement from her family to the U.S. media outlet ABC News. U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to scale back planned joint military exercises with South Korea, accusing the country of declining to help the process of removing Iran’s nuclear capabilities. And today’s good news! Australian swimmer Lani Pallister has become the first person...One Nation's undercover stunt at student protests
Last Thursday, thousands of students across the country walked out of the classroom to protest the rise of One Nation.
Videos of the protest went all over social media - but one in particular has raised some questions.
And that was from One Nation, who went undercover at the protests.
And we had some questions. Like, is it legal to deceive people into being filmed? But also… are those death threats legal? We’ll explore it all in today’s episode.
Hosts: Elliot Lawry and Billi FitzSimons
Producer: Orla Maher
Video...
Headlines: Jacinta Allan resigns from politics
Todays headlines include:
Former Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has announced she will not stand at the next state election. Seven teenagers charged with murder will remain behind bars under Queensland’s “adult crime, adult time” laws. Deadly flooding has left thousands of travellers stranded at a Tokyo airport. And today’s good news: An area of land twice the size of Singapore has been returned to Traditional Owners in the Northern Territory.Hosts: Sam Koslowski and Billi FitzSimons
Producer: Imogen Abbott
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Is the property market actually crashing?
House prices are falling across Australia, but that might not make it any easier for potential first home buyers to buy one. Sydney and Melbourne are leading the slide, interest rate rises have quietly slashed how much buyers can borrow, and new tax changes are reshaping the investor market. For renters, the market is feeling almost entirely different.
On today’s podcast, we’re joined by Cotality's Gerard Burg - someone who is an expert in the ups and downs of our housing market - to unpack what's really driving this shift, what it means whether you're buyin...
Headlines: Lowest-ever gender pay gap
Todays headlines include:
The gender pay gap is at its lowest level ever, according to new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Three students at NSW’s most expensive private school have been charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in Sydney’s east. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her role at the end of August, Donald Trump has announced, leaving the US president without one of his most trusted advisers ahead of November's midterm elections. And today’s good news: Scientists have discovered a new species of frog in the Amazon rainforest.Hosts: L...
Who killed Tupac? The trial begins
Thirty years ago, one of the biggest names in music was shot dead in Las Vegas.
To this day, the question “Who killed Tupac Shakur” remains one of the most enduring mysteries in pop culture history, and no one has been ever charged. Until now.
On today's episode, we're breaking down who Tupac was, what happened the night he died, and why the man accused of orchestrating it is only facing a jury now.
Hosts: Elliot Lawry and Emma Gillespie
Producer: Imogen Abbott
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Headlines: Little penguins to receive H5 vaccine
Todays headlines include:
Charges against Bondi Beach massacre hero Ahmed Al Ahmed have been withdrawn. The Commonwealth Bank has reported a cash net profit of $11 billion for the 2026 financial year. New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Luxon has survived a leadership vote, three months out from a general election. And today’s good news: More than 5,000 little penguins in Victoria will be vaccinated against the H5 bird flu.Hosts: Billi FitzSimons and Emma Gillespie
Producer: Imogen Abbott
Want to support The Daily Aus? That's so kind! The best way to do that is to click ‘foll...
Did NSW just cancel homework?
Is homework as we know it finished? NSW wants take-home tasks for year 12 paused over AI fears. With a national reckoning on AI in classrooms already on the way, it could be only the beginning of a much bigger conversation. In today’s deep dive, we’ll explain the take-home assessment freeze in NSW, and the national AI inquiry trailing right behind it.
Hosts: Emma Gillespie and Zara Seidler
Producer: Orla Maher
Video editor: Imogen Abbott
Want to support The Daily Aus? That's so kind! The best way to do that is to click ‘...
Headlines: Vic WFH laws put on hold
Todays headlines include:
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has kept the cash rate on hold. Victorian Premier Ben Carroll has announced the start date for the country’s first work from home laws will be delayed until after the November Victorian election. A group of Melbourne teens accused of luring men through dating apps before sexually assaulting and robbing them have been arrested. And today’s good news: The Great Barrier Reef is showing signs of recovery from a mass-bleaching event, according to a new report on the reef’s condition.Hosts: Emma Gillespie and Sam Koslow...
Lindsay Clancy: The murder trial dividing America
In a case that’s been dubbed “America’s saddest murder trial”, a 35-year-old woman has been accused of killing her three young children in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. While prosecutors argue that Lindsay Clancy intentionally killed her three children at home, her lawyers argue she should not be held criminally responsible because she was experiencing a psychotic episode related to postpartum mental illness. In today’s podcast, we’ll explain what we know about the case and why it’s divided people across the world.
Hosts: Zara Seidler and Sam Koslowski
Producer: Orla Maher
Video...
Headlines: NSW reviewing take-home assessments
Todays headlines include:
NSW Education Minister Prue Car has announced a review of the state’s school assessments amid the growing use of generative AI. A new poll shows the lowest primary support for the Labor Party since the days before Kevin Rudd successfully challenged Julia Gillard for the leadership, in June 2013. China has seen its most powerful typhoon of the year over the weekend, forcing the evacuation of more than one million people from their homes. And today’s good news! Australia has won six medals at the under-20 world athletics championships, including two gold, and set a ne...Your census questions, answered
It is census week! Tomorrow - on Tuesday August 11 - every single person in Australia will be required to fill out the census - that’s the largest form of information gathering conducted in Australia.
It only happens once every five years - and this census is a historic census because for the first time, you will be asked about your sexual orientation and your gender.
Over on our Instagram stories, we asked you what you want to know about how this will all work. And today, Elliot and I are going to take you thr...
Headlines: At least 6 killed in Thai school shooting
Todays headlines include:
A school shooting in Thailand has left at least six people dead and 15 others injured, including two who remain in a critical condition. Australia's privacy watchdog will investigate concerns over smart glasses, following fears people could be filmed without permission. An ex-bishop accused of sexually abusing young First Nations men has been acquitted of several charges mid-trial. And today's good news: A cat named Toast has lived up to his name (and beaten the odds) after surviving an apartment fire in the U.S. state of Utah.Hosts: Lucy Tassell and Billi FitzSimons
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Aussie sport's gambling problem
Australians lose more money on gambling than anywhere else in the world.
For years, everyone in Canberra has agreed something needs to change.
This week, a Senate inquiry heard just how far gambling companies will allegedly go to keep people betting.
On today's podcast, we're breaking down the gambling landscape in Australia, the fight over reform, and what a new industry report reveals about the dark side of the country's favourite sports.
Hosts: Elliot Lawry and Zara Siedler
Producer: Orla Maher
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Headlines: Inquiry into war readiness announced
Todays headlines include:
For the first time since World War II, a federal inquiry will investigate Australia’s readiness for war. A fifth person has died as the result of a horror crash on the Northern Territory's Stuart Highway. A Mexican influencer with 650,000 followers on TikTok has been shot dead while livestreaming on a street in the country's state of Sinaloa. And today’s good news: The University of Sydney has announced it will provide scholarships to all First Nations undergraduate students.Hosts: Lucy Tassell and Emma Gillespie
Producer: Imogen Abbott
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Wait, there's another FIFA controversy?
Eleven days ago, Gianni Infantino looked set to be re-elected as FIFA president unopposed.
Then it emerged he'd tried to sell a 20% stake in the World Cup's commercial rights to private investors - including a firm run by Donald Trump's brother-in-law - for $4.2 billion.
Now, he's facing blackmail accusations, a legal letter naming 18 executives, and a revolt from football's biggest confederations.
On today’s podcast, we’re going to unpack how that happened, and why it isn't over.
Hosts: Sam Koslowski and Billi FitzSimons
Producer: Orla Maher
Video editor: Imog...
Headlines: SpaceX rocket piece smashes into the moon
Todays headlines include:
The NSW Government has agreed to overhaul the state’s mental health emergency procedures in response to the 2024 Westfield Bondi Junction stabbing attack. Australians may soon be able to piggyback off a different mobile network if their own provider has left them without service. A SpaceX rocket piece floating in space since last year has smashed into the moon at high speed this afternoon. And today’s good news: Colombia has recorded its lowest rate of deforestation in two decades, with logging falling 31% since 2021.Hosts: Lucy Tassell and Emma Gillespie
Producer: Imogen Abbott
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