The Morning Edition

This festive season has been described as a “freedom Christmas”, as it’s the first time in four years family and friends will be able to gather without the looming threat of bushfires, and without pandemic lockdowns. Despite the lack of restrictions, that holiday gathering is not going to look exactly like it did before. That’s thanks to natural disasters and supply chain pressure affecting everything from the supply of cherries to champagne, and even Christmas trees. Today, environment reporter Laura Chung and business reporter Jessica Yun join Rachel Clun to discuss how your holiday spread will look a little different this year.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some of the biggest movies of the year are about to hit our screens over the next few weeks, including a billion dollar Avatar sequel, a Steven Spielberg drama, and a film starring Cate Blanchett in what is being described as her best ever performance. Today on The Drop comedian and film buff Gen Fricker joins the show to breakdown what to keep out eye out for at the cinema. The Drop is a weekly show tackling the latest in the world of pop culture and entertainment. Join host Osman Faruqi and the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age's team of culture writers and critics along with interviews with musicians, actors, film makers and everyone involved in the world of culture.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earlier this year, a royal commission into the infamous robo-debt scheme was established. Former prime minister Scott Morrison was social services minister when the robo-debt scheme was being planned, and treasurer when it was implemented. And this week, he appeared before the commission as a witness. His performance has been described as a “trainwreck”. At one point, the commissioner asked him if he was “even listening". Today, federal political reporter Angus Thompson on Scott Morrison’s appearance before the robo-debt royal commission - and what’s likely to happen next.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There has always been something magical about artificial intelligence, and OpenAI’s latest trained bot ChatGPT seems to be no exception. AI technology can now write code better than humans, create new artworks, diagnose disease, and turn a thought bubble into a fully-fledged film script. So is AI finally coming of age?  Today, national science reporter for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, Liam Mannix joins Kate Aubusson to discuss the new chatbot that some say could change the world.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three months ago, the death of a young Iranian woman, Mahsa Amini, sparked protests across Iran. Since then, there has been a brutal crackdown.Despite that, the protests continue to gather pace as large segments of the Iranian public demand a change in government. Today, Iranian-Australian academic and journalist Saba Vasefi on the greatest challenge to the Iranian government since the 1979 revolution.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last night, in a remote property in a rural area about 300 kilometres west of Brisbane, Queensland police shot dead three people. It came after an ambush at the location left two police officers dead, as well as a member of the public. The six deaths in the Western Downs region make the incident among the most fatal in the states' recent history. Today, Sean Parnell, Editor of The Brisbane Times, joins Chris Zappone to explain what happened.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australians will soon have cheaper power bills, after a deal was struck between the federal and state governments at a national cabinet meeting to lower energy prices. Since then, the deal has been met with resistance by energy companies and analysts who say it goes too far. It’s also proven politically tricky, with the Greens and the Coalition both criticising the plan. Today, chief political correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, David Crowe joins Rachel Clun to discuss why Anthony Albanese’s plan to make energy cheaper could cost him dearly.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of TV’s best shows is about to wrap up its second season, and things are taking a dark and chaotic turn. Plus, the best new shows on TV right now - including Colin from Accounts, Slow Horses and Fleischman is in Trouble. The Drop is a weekly show tackling the latest in the world of pop culture and entertainment. Join host Osman Faruqi and the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age's team of culture writers and critics along with interviews with musicians, actors, film makers and everyone involved in the world of culture.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last year, Sydney’s housing affordability hit its worst level in a decade.  Right now, the median price of a house in Sydney is just shy of $1.5 million, and the typical apartment costs more than $800,000.  To try and combat this crisis, plans have been put in place to develop high-density, high-rise apartment blocks in the city’s West. But those plans have been riddled with problems, and have gotten many local residents offside.  Today, chief reporter for the Sydney Morning Herald, Jordan Baker tells the story of one community in the middle of this crisis - and the battle over Sydney’s future.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reducing the voting age to 16 will be one of the first issues put to parliament in the new year as the Greens push to give younger Australians a say in politics.It’s the second time the party has attempted to get the voting age lowered.So will it work this time? And should 16 year-olds have voting rights?Today, economics correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, Rachel Clun joins Kate Aubusson to discuss the fight to lower Australia's voting age. Click on the links to subscribe https://subscribe.theage.com.au or https://subscribe.smh.com.auSubscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year, the Reserve Bank of Australia has embarked on a mission to fight historic levels of inflation by raising interest rates.  Yesterday, those rates rose to a 10 year high of 3.1%.  But are the rate rises helping? And when will they stop?  Today, senior economics correspondent for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, Shane Wright joins Chris Zappone to discuss the year in inflation, rate rises, and wages and what we can expect for 2023.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The case of Melbourne man Neil Prakash dominated headlines nearly a decade ago as war raged in Syria.  Prakash allegedly joined and aided IS, the Islamic State, between 2014 and 2016. Now, he has been extradited to Australia and charged with six terrorism related offences. He could face a life sentence.  Today, crime reporter at the age Marta Pascual Juanola on the extradition of the alleged terrorist Neil Prakash.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, at a meeting of the national cabinet, the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is going to sit down with his state and territory counterparts to try to hammer out an agreement on how they might cut soaring energy prices. It is an infernally difficult task, and any solution they might arrive at is going to have its downsides and its opponents. But something has to be done. Australia is currently facing its worst energy crisis in over 50 years - and costs for households and businesses only expected to rise even more over the next couple of years.  Today, business reporter for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald Nick Toscano discusses the Albanese government’s efforts to end Australia’s energy crisis.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today the retrial of former political staffer Bruce Lehrmann over the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins has been aborted and charges dropped. According to the prosecutors, the trial could not proceed because of the unacceptable risk continuing it would pose to Brittany Higgins’ life. Columnist for the Sydney Morning Herald Jacqueline Maley chats to audio producer Julia Carr-Catzel, about the end of the Lehrmann trial and what it tells us about our legal system’s capacity to help victims. Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A trial involving 30 Australasian companies has just hit the halfway mark, and increasingly, it’s employers who are keen to capitalise on what the four-day work week could do for their bottom lines.  But why now? What do we stand to gain? And what in all practicality would a four-day work week look like? Today on Please Explain, The Age's social affairs editor Jewel Topsfield joins host Kate Aubusson to discuss the question: is the death of the five-day work week a radical pipe dream or simply inevitable?Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.