RN Breakfast - Separate stories podcast

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has slammed the Greens and the Coalition "No-alition" after the Government's Help-to-Buy Housing bill was delayed in the Senate. The PM told RN Breakfast the Greens and Coalition are "blockers", who are offering "the vibes of policies rather than serious ones". Anthony Albanese says the Help-to-Buy scheme was just a part of the Government's $32 billion housing plan, and while he says journalists rather than the Government raised a double dissolution election - he refused to rule the prospect out. The policy will be re-introduced later this year and asked if he would negotiate with the Greens demands for tax policy changes in exchange for their support - the Prime Minister didn't rule it out but told RN Breakfast the Government is interested in the tax policy "they are implementing, not the ones that we're not."Guest: Anthony Albanese, Prime MinisterProducer: Eleni Psaltis

The Productivity Commission has been examining ideas to make childcare more affordable and more accessible, including a universal flat fee for all families, or a universal 90 per cent subsidy.it dismissed both as likely to primarily help wealthier families, while significantly costing the budget, instead recommending substantial changes to childcare subsidies.The government will consider the report and take a plan to the next election.Guest: Martin Stokie, Productivity CommissionerProducers:  Joanna Crothers and Joe Sullivan 

Giving birth does tend to change your life - but does it change your brain?Dr Elizabeth Chrastil from the University of California scanned her own brain before, during and after pregnancy to find out - and the results were remarkable.Guest: Dr Elizabeth Chrastil, associate professor at the University of California, IrvineProducer: Richard Crabtree

The price of an espresso in Italy is set to increase by 66%, and caffeine lovers around the world are being told to brace for a price increase and potential shortage in coffee beansExtreme weather events in South America and Asia, coupled with supply chain issues has led to a global shortage and put the price of coffee beans at a 13 year high.Guest: Judy Ganes, Soft Commodity expertProducer:  Matt Simpson   

While the Reserve Bank is holding interest rates at a 12-year high in Australia, the U.S. Federal Reserve has just announced they will cut U.S. interest rates. Overnight the Federal Reserve said it will cut interest rates by half-a-percentage point - citing greater confidence about inflation. So, what does this mean for Australia - and could we see the RBA cut rates sooner?Guest:Steven Hamilton, Assistant Professor of Economics at George Washington University and a Visiting Fellow at the Tax and Transfer Policy Institute at the Australian National UniversityProducer: Lachlan Orr

Lebanon has been hit by a second wave of attacks in as many days. At least 14 people have died and over 400 injured after walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah have detonated across the country.It comes 24-hours after 3000 pagers exploded in co-ordinated strikes, that Hezbollah say Israel is responsible for.Guest: David DesRoches, Former liaison to the Dept of Homeland SecurityProducer: Matt Simpson

At last weekend's AFL semi final between GWS and Brisbane, cultural educator Brendan Kerin conducted the Welcome to Country but it didn't go exactly to script. Some argue that the ceremony is becoming politicised and that's stoking division. Larrakia man and former AFL player, Matthew Stokes says while he's not against Welcome to Countries, which are about sharing Indigenous culture - he says they open up a debate, and believes they are overused and become tokenistic." He says we should instead focus on the needs of Indigenous people.Guest:Mathew Stokes, Larrakia man and former AFL player and columnist at the Age

Australian DJ, Simon Lewicki aka. Groove Terminator, is a legend of the House music scene both here and internationally, but his latest collaboration is something completely fresh. He has teamed up with the Soweto Gospel Choir and together they have re-imagined some of the greatest hits of house music in a collaborative album called The History of House. Along with the albums release, the collaborative group have been touring Australia with a live version of the album and are about to begin a run as part of the Sydney Fringe Festival. Guest: Simon Lewicki, Groove Terminator 

Is there a path forward on housing for the Government?And the Prime Minsters has threatened a double dissolution. But is this merely a political bluff? The chief political correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age David Crowe joins RN Breakfast to discuss the latest developments in federal politics.Guest: David Crowe

Hobart's MONA gallery appeals against discrimination ruling.Tasmania's Museum of Old and New Art - MONA - has launched a court appeal that it hopes will allow it to deny men entry to a small part of its exhibition - known as the Ladies' Lounge.Guest: Kirsha Kaechele, artist and Curator at Hobart's Museum of Old and New ArtProducer: Anne Barker

Meta, the parent company of Instagram, have announced a new feature to make all teenage accounts private and restict what content they can access.Facebook whistle blower and advocate for social media accountability Frances Haugen has said that Australia deserves credit for these new functions but argues about Meta's real motives for the changes.Guest: Frances Haugen, Facebook whistle blowerProducer: Matt Simpson

A video released by China shows Australia's aircraft being intercepted by a Chinese fighter plane over the South China Sea in 2022. In the video, Australia's surveillance plane is described as "a strong enemy" and "a tough opponent".Shadow Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham says the behaviour is "aggressive" and "unacceptable glorification of unacceptable military conduct".  He says strength is required to counter such instances, claiming there "has been too much timidity on the behalf of the Prime Minister in particular" - but acknowledges the Coalition does welcome the thawing of relations. Guest: Simon Birmingham, Shadow Foreign Minister

Tensions around the Albanese government's industrial relations reforms played out during the Business Council of Australia's annual dinner last night.Chief Executive of the Business Council of Australia, Bran Black told RN Breakfast the key concern from the industry is that as a nation we "aren't as competitive as we used to be", due to what he says are "onerus" industrial relations reforms.Guest: Bran Black, Chief Executive of the Business Council of Australia

The Greens and the Coalition refusing to support Labor's Build-to-Rent and Help-To-Buy housing bills - with the Greens pushing for a raft of additional concessions in exchange for their support.Greens leader Adam Bandt says Anthony Albanese needs to "stop bulldozing and start negotiating", but the Penny Wong says it must be a "pretty slow bull-dozer" as the Greens have had 290 days to deal with this housing legislation.Guest:Adam Bandt, Greens leader Producer: Eleni Psaltis 

Queenslanders have been catching public transport in record numbers since the state government started a trial of 50 cent fares last month.Qld Deputy leader says the successful trial has seen the number of Queenslanders catching public transport increase 5 per cent on pre-pandemic numbers and not just in the south-east. Both major parties have committed to keeping the low fares, post election.Guest: Cameron Dick, Qld Deputy Premier and TreasurerProducer: Eddy Diamond