Shows / The Front
The Front
The Front brings the unrivalled journalism of Australia’s national broadsheet to audio, featuring each day’s essential page-one stories, journalists’ candid take on the issues that matter, and behind-the-scenes insights from our newsrooms.
Read more at theaustralian.com.au and see the video episodes by subscribing to our YouTube channel.
Episodes
- The Front
Super squad to fight hackers, and guitar hero kicks cocaine
The terrible family secret that shocked rocker Tommy Emmanuel out of a drug spiral, and a new strike agency to fight cyber crime. Find out more about The Front…
- The Front
AGL’s big switch: our Green Power List
Guilt-free cling wrap, bricks made of pollution and giant emitters cleaning up their act: it’s our annual Green Power List 2023. Find out more about The Front…
- The Front
Superstar storyteller fronts Yes campaign
Rachel Perkins, the director of Bran Nue Dae, turns full-time activist to persuade Australians to back the Voice. Find out more about The Front podcast here…
- The Front
Why super is suddenly up for grabs
Big ideas are afoot for superannuation - so what price will we pay for the investments we believe in? Wealth editor James Kirby is here. Find out more about…
- The Front
Conversations with a conman
Amateur sleuths searching for missing mum Marion Barter turned up a link to conman Ric Blum - so our reporter Dave Murray gave Blum a call. Find out more about…
- The Front
Peter Bol’s race to save his reputation
A series of extraordinary events has threatened to bring down athletics champ Peter Bol. Can his reputation ever recover? Find out more about The Front podcast…
- The Front
How trans rights - and JK Rowling - destroyed Nicola Sturgeon
UK Labor the unlikely winner as Scotland’s left-wing leader Nicola Sturgeon quits amid the wreckage of independence and trans rights campaigns. Find out more…
- The Front
Is JK Rowling too big to cancel?
Billionaire children’s author and cultural lightning rod JK Rowling cries ‘witch-hunt’, as a new Hogwarts video game defies trans boycott attempts. Find out…
- The Front
Keeping the faith in schools, and Indigenous expertise saves livestock
Religious schools fear proposed reforms will destroy faith-based education. Plus, Indigenous experts save livestock in natural disasters. Find out more about…
- The Front
Ghosts of Labor’s past are back
Labor hails the “humanity” of its long-awaited move to axe refugees’ temporary protection visas but there’s a people-smuggler warning. Find out more about The…
- The Front
What’s next for Closing the Gap, and ‘archaic’ OCD laws
The government is taking a new approach to closing the gap on Indigenous health outcomes. Plus, the OCD treatment that’s against the law. Find out more about…
- The Front
Can people with autism stay on the NDIS?
A crunch looms for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, as mental health and autism costs blow out, says business guru Ticky Fullerton. Find out more…
- The Front
China spy cameras balloon into Australian workplaces
The government is reviewing almost 1000 Chinese-manufactured cameras across hundreds of sites as Beijing’s surveillance games come to light. Find out more…
- The Front
Nauru ‘fumble’ in asylum spotlight
Amid calls for a royal commission on asylum-seeker treatment, Labor plugs a Nauru-sized legal hole. Find out more about The Front podcast here and read about…
- The Front
A Voice storm brews, and Albo’s Alice backdown
Treaty or Voice? As First Nations leaders split on the detail, Dennis Shanahan breaks it all down. Find out more about The Front podcast here and read about…
- The Front
Are drugs the future of obesity treatment?
The sudden popularity of weight-loss drugs is driving a much larger conversation about how we treat obesity in the long-term. Find out more about The Front…
- The Front
Exec’s triumph and tragedy, and a book deal to win
Amazon Australia’s head of operations turns a tragedy into a tale of leadership and resilience. Plus, the Vogel Literary Prize returns. Find out more about The…
- The Front
Khawaja’s visa drama, and great news on HIV
Cricket diplomacy as India stalls Usman Khawaja’s entry, and how Australia beat HIV. Find out more about The Front podcast here and read about this story and…
- The Front
Alice through the eyes of a teenage boy
As Indigenous leaders and students launch a new push for the Voice, we meet 13-year-old Darrius on the streets of Alice Springs. Find out more about The Front…
- The Front
The post-pandemic spiral of our public hospitals
Public hospitals are buckling under the pressure of worker shortages and increased demand, with just three providing a mandated level of care. Find out more…
- The Front
Setting up shop in the Solomons, and Bandt’s first day back
Australia will establish a High Commission and logistics hub worth $185 million in the Solomon Islands. Plus, Adam Bandt’s first day back. Find out more about…
- The Front
Queensland's youth detention crisis
Youth detention centres in Queensland are at capacity. This has resulted in children being locked up in adult watch houses, breaching the department’s own…
- The Front
Australian of the Year’s journey to self-love
South Australian mother and documentary filmmaker Taryn Brumfitt has been named Australian of the Year for 2023. Find out more about The Front podcast here and…
- The Front
Alice Springs spirals into chaos
The Northern Territory town of Alice Springs is in the midst of a crime wave that’s seen more than 300 arrests made in a matter of weeks. Find out more about…
- The Front
Walking the line on welfare, and QLD’s youth crime wave
Increasing welfare could cost big bucks, but the Treasurer says it’s a question of values. Plus, Annastacia Palasczczuk’s big first day back. Find out more…
- The Front
Medicare’s historic makeover
The Albanese will roll out a new “blended” funding system in what represents the biggest overhaul to Medicare since its inception. Find out more about The…
- The Front
Student accommodation’s short supply, and mental health crisis looms
The return of international students is exacerbating an already overburdened rental market. Plus, the true cost of mental healthcare cuts. Find out more about…
- The Front
The Voice’s teething problems, and short changed flood communities
The devil is in the detail with the Government’s Voice to parliament. Plus, flood victims are still waiting for support. Find out more about The Front podcast…
- The Front
Australia’s diabetes breakthrough, and QLD cop’s public service spray
Researchers have drawn a crucial link between kidney disease and diabetes. Plus, a retired Queensland cop lets rip on the public service. Find out more about…
- The Front
Ammo black market in the firing line, and ChatGPT’s legal lesson
Australia’s ammunition black market is thriving thanks to a 20-year-old legal loophole. Plus, the chatbot that could be headed for court. Find out more about…
- The Front
The brutal reality of renting, and inside a rock lobster racket
Our brutal rental market is forcing desperate tenants to stretch themselves ever thinner. Plus, rock lobster goes under the radar in China. Find out more about…
- The Front
Surgery backlog blows out
Australia’s surgery backlog is expected to balloon to 500,000 people this year, but can struggling hospitals ever clear it? Find out more about The Front…
- The Front
Cardinal George Pell’s complicated legacy
The unexpected passing of Cardinal George Pell has prompted grief and reflection across the globe, but he leaves a complex legacy. Find out more about The…
- The Front
Beefed up safeguard mechanism unveiled, and pilot a ‘political pawn’
The government yesterday unveiled its proposal for a safeguard mechanism. Plus, former Top Gun Daniel Duggan fights extradition in court. Find out more about…
- The Front
Voice to Parliament war of words, and Queensland’s union boost
The battle over an Indigenous Voice to Parliament has intensified. In Queensland, the Palaszczuk government has shared the contact details of more than 240,000…
- The Front
Terror returns to the cherry capital, and where to eat in 2023
Convicted terrorist Haisem Zahab will return to Young when he’s released from prison this year. Plus, where we’ll be dining in 2023. Find out more about The…
- The Front
Aged care in a financial death spiral
A new report shows 7 in 10 aged care homes are operating at a financial loss, putting crucial care for our most vulnerable in jeopardy. Find out more about The…
- The Front
The office worker’s new dress code
The pandemic changed workwear forever. As we swap ties for trainers, and employers attempt to lure the trackpant- clad workforce back in the office - could…
- The Front
Ukraine, Europe, and your power bills
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine – among other things – is hitting Australians right in the hip pocket, and relief is a ways off yet. Find out more about The…
- The Front
This summer’s unputdownable books
There’s a good chance someone you know is reading one of Colleen Hoover’s novels this summer. Plus, the titles to put on your to-read list. Find out more about…
- The Front
Lismore residents left high and dry
Many of those displaced by floods in Lismore are still without a roof over their heads – while others snap up real estate on the floodplain. Find out more…
- The Front
What is the Word of the Year really saying?
“Gaslighting” might be used in a very modern way, but the 2022 Word of the Year has roots in Old Hollywood. Find out more about The Front podcast here and read…
- The Front
The Outback Wrangler’s woes aren’t over yet
The investigation into what happened following a NT helicopter crash is one of the year’s most intriguing stories – and it’s not over yet. Find out more about…
- The Front
Cricket’s TV rights on a sticky wicket
Cricket Australia has missed a number of crucial deadlines as the race to secure a new TV broadcast deal heats up. Find out more about The Front podcast here…
- The Front
Your summer cooking, sorted
The Australian has today released a progressive summer cookbook featuring contributions from some of the nation’s best-loved creatives. Find out more about The…
- The Front
Christmas coup for the AFP, and a very festive essay
An alleged drug lord has appeared in Melbourne’s Magistrates Court following a decade on the run. Plus, a Don Watson’s Christmas essay. Find out more about The…
- The Front
Lehrmann inquiry looms, and Australia’s first Treaty under fire
The ACT government has announced an inquiry into the trial of Bruce Lehrmann. Plus, our biggest Native Title settlement faces legal action. Find out more about…
- The Front
What Kevin did next, and survivors back a gun register
Is Kevin Rudd’s US ambassadorship the government’s biggest gamble yet? Plus, a Port Arthur survivor on why we need a national gun register. Find out more about…
- The Front
Stars for aged care, and AI comes for universities
The government’s star-rating system for aged care homes has rolled out. So, how does it work? Plus, how AI is changing uni assessments. Find out more about The…
- The Front
Hooligans face charges, and Elon Musk’s next move
Criminal charges are inevitable after a shocking pitch invasion by soccer spectators. Plus, deciphering the Elon Musk playbook. Find out more about The Front…
- The Front
What’s wrong with gas? And a new forensics queen
Energy bill relief is on the way - so do we have to junk our gas appliances? Plus, the revolution begins in forensic science. Find out more about The Front…
- The Front
Muzzled ministers and a $3 million payout
Ex-ministers Linda Reynolds and Michaelia Cash were muzzled during mediations which resulted in a multi-million-dollar payout for Brittany Higgins. Find out…
- The Front
D-Day for an embattled DNA lab
Commissioner Walter Sofronoff KC has delivered a damning assessment of the Queensland forensics lab that bungled thousands of cases. Find out more about The…
- The Front
The White Lotus hype is real, and an aged care covid crisis
COVID-19 is ripping through the nation’s aged care homes ahead of Christmas. Plus, The White Lotus comes to its grisly conclusion. Find out more about The…
- The Front
Same job, same pay - and concussion miracle
What bosses really think of the Labor government’s newest workplace push. Plus, a revolutionary test to diagnose head trauma. Find out more about The Front…
- The Front
A love letter to a brilliant dad
A grieving daughter honours her brilliant father in ‘The Jaguar’, The Australian’s Book of the Year. Find out more about The Front podcast here and read about…
- The Front
Harry and Meghan’s horror show
Netflix propels the Sussexes into King Charles’ nightmares, in a classically Windsor moment. What’s the fallout, and how does KCIII react? Find out more about…
- The Front
Sick Albo’s power push
Covid-infected PM working from his sick-bed to fix a barney with the States over energy bills. We go deep on who wants what, and why. Find out more about The…
- The Front
Sparky’s visa debacle, and a very expensive Christmas
Scottish electrician Mark Green has suffered another setback in his bid for permanent residency. Find out more about The Front podcast here and read about this…
- The Front
Upside of Socceroos’ loss, and a mum hears the truth at last
Who to cheer for now - and why World Cup defeat might be good for us. Plus, the bungling that broke one grieving family. Find out more about The Front podcast…