The NSW Government has announced a review after two men escaped from a mental health facility at a major Sydney hospital, and then allegedly went on to cause three deaths in separate incidents. Premier Chris Minns has admitted something has gone “badly wrong”, with many saying the mental health system is broken after decades of neglect from both sides of government. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Dr Angelo Virgona, President-Elect of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, who explains why our mental health system is failing so many people and why we need targeted funding at both the community and federal levels. 

Headlines: A Sydney man has faced court charged with threatening to kill Treasurer Jim Chalmers, there are numerous reports that the US is mobilising its military ahead of possible strikes on Iran, and the Moto GP is heading to Adelaide. 

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Thursday Headlines: Australian citizen with ISIS links in Syria temporarily banned from returning, MPs admit to accepting free sport tickets from gambling companies, Supermarkets in hot water over item pricing, Shark attacks rise sharply in 2025, And we’ve picked up another medal at the Winter Olympics!

Deep Dive: Jane Hume is the new deputy leader of the Liberal party after helping to roll Sussan Ley and install Angus Taylor in the top job. 

The pair have since named their shadow cabinet and have promised to restore faith in the party after years of in-fighting, poor policy decisions and a lack of direction. 

In today’s episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt sits down with Jane Hume to discuss the new-look Libs and whether they can win back not only their old base, but new voters too. 

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Police have announced a new taskforce just a day after former NRL star Matt Utai was gunned down outside his Sydney home. Since then another two other houses that are allegedly linked to his son have been targeted - one firebombed and the other peppered with bullets by masked gunmen.

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by 7NEWS Reporter Liam Tapper to unpack these latest developments as rival gangs seek revenge at all costs. 

There is no suggestion Matt Utai nor any of his family members impacted by the Sydney attacks are involved in criminal activity.

Headlines: Pauline Hanson issues partial apology for suggesting there are no 'good' Muslims, Hillary Clinton accuses Trump's administration of Epstein files 'cover-up' and Australians' pay rises are not keeping up with the rising cost of living

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Wednesday Headlines: Identity of man accused of attempted Invasion Day bombing revealed, Angus Taylor unveils his front bench, landmark report finds 70% of Australian university students and staff have experienced racism, private health insurance costs to increase by biggest margin in ten years, American civil rights legend Jesse Jackson dies and Aussie pubs thriving as cafes call it quits.

Deep Dive: Terror attacks and the people accused of committing them will almost always elicit a strong response from the community – ranging from anger to outright hatred. 

When emotions are high and public anger is intense, what does it take for a barrister to put aside personal feelings to represent a client?  

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou sits down with barrister Greg Barnes SC to chat about the ethics, pressures, and principles of defending the most reviled accused in our justice system. 

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he has no sympathy for the latest group of so-called ISIS brides wanting to return to Australia. The PM also refused to provide assistance or repatriation. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Peta Lowe, who is a Countering Violent Extremism expert. Peta explains what threat these women and children pose and why the government needs to change its approach to tackling extremism and radicalisation. 

Headlines: Investigations are underway after former NRL star Matt Utai was shot in a drive-by shooting, one person has been killed after a random stabbing attack in Western Sydney, and YouTube star Logan Paul has sold a Pokémon card for $US16.5 million.  

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Tuesday Headlines: Libs’ hardline immigration policy leaked, ‘ISIS brides’ turned back after leaving Syrian camp for Australia, grandparent of Gus Lamont arrested, intermittent fasting makes “no difference” to weight loss, and Barack Obama clarifies his stance on aliens.

Deep Dive: Allegations of mob-linked figures, intimidation and inflated costs on taxpayer-funded infrastructure have triggered a political firestorm in Australia.

At the centre of it is the construction arm of the CFMEU. 

A recent inquiry has floated a $15 billion figure, which the Victorian government says is untested, as it resists calls for another royal commission.

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with award-winning journalist from The Age, Nick McKenzie about what is alleged, how it connects to one of Australia’s largest infrastructure pipelines, and what it reveals about public money, unions and accountability. 

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It’s been called the “Case of the Century”, and it could change supermarket pricing forever. 

The ACCC is taking Coles to the Federal Court, alleging it engaged in a planned campaign to mislead customers over price discounts. Coles is denying allegations, saying the prices were a result of global inflation.  

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha is joined by economist Dr Meg Elkins, who unpacks today’s historic case and its implications for both consumers and companies. 

Headlines: Accused Bondi Gunman, Naveed Akram, has appeared in court for the first time, South Australian Police have announced a new search for evidence related to the disappearance of 4-year-old Gus Lamont, police are appealing for information after an 85-year-old was kidnapped from his Sydney home, and former US President Barack Obama has admitted he believes in aliens. 

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Monday Headlines: New-look Libs get on the policy front foot following spill, Albanese shakes off AUKUS concerns with $3.9bn downpayment, Winter Olympics officially Australia’s best-ever, 52-year-old man to face court over Egyptian artefact theft, and millions of Aussies have scored an extra public holiday.

Deep Dive: Peptides are being hyped online as miracle fixes for everything from glowing skin and fat loss to muscle growth and anti-ageing, with influencers injecting compounds that sound more like science fiction than skincare. 
 
While peptides are legitimate biological building blocks used in medicine, the social media boom has blurred the line between evidence-based treatments and unregulated, risky products.  
 
In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by leading dermatologist Dr Ryan De Cruz to break down what peptides actually are and the dangers of buying and injecting them without medical oversight.

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In a historic first, NSW police have used Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy, or FIGG, to identify and arrest a 77-year-old man over alleged sexual assaults dating back to 1991. It’s a watershed moment for Australian forensic science. But how exactly does it work?

In this bonus episode of The Briefing, we're sharing the first part of Secrets We Keep: Should I Spit?. In the series, journalist Claire Aird unpacks the science behind FIGG -- where investigators compare crime scene DNA to profiles uploaded to public genealogy databases like Ancestry and 23andMe, then painstakingly build out family trees to narrow in on a suspect.

It sounds revolutionary...But it’s also deeply controversial.

From privacy concerns and consent issues to wrongful accusations, this episode explores the risks, the ethical grey zones, and the global debate over whether our most personal data - our DNA - is ever truly anonymous.

Listen to episode 2 of Secrets We Keep: Should I Spit?

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Ash London has interviewed Taylor Swift in Paris, hitched piggyback rides from Ed Sheeran and helped shape the sound of Australian radio for more than a decade - but in 2026, she’s entering a bold new era across the ditch.

The former national radio host is back on the airwaves in New Zealand with a brand new show - after helming Ash London LIVE for five years, co-hosting 2Day FM’s powerhouse breakfast show and becoming a familiar face on Have You Been Paying Attention?

In this chat with Chris Spyrou, Ash opens up about motherhood, life behind the mic, writing 90,000 words during nap time and why stepping away from radio made her a better broadcaster.

Weekend list with Helen Smith

• Listener Rabia TO EAT: Figs and ricotta with honey on toast
• TO WATCH: Crime 101
• TO DO: Find Celine Dion’s TikTok
• TO WATCH: Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance

And you can order Ash's novel 'Love on the Air' here! 

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Australia’s most dangerous killers...The new podcast series that investigates our country’s soaring rates of domestic violence and homicide.  

In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling speaks with the host of “Kiss and Kill”, Alison Sandy, who explains the dangerous narcissistic traits these murderers display, the warning signs to look out for, and the urgent action authorities need to take.  

Listen to Kiss and Kill here. 

Headlines: Sussan Ley has announced she's leaving parliament after being defeated by Angus Taylor and the police watchdog has announced it will investigate the actions of officers at Sydney’s Town Hall rally on Monday night. 

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