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The Front

The Australian

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.

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Today · 4 min
‘Killer cop’ says he’s ‘responsible’ for ex’s death – but ‘didn’t want to kill him’
Accused double murderer Beau Lamarre-Condon admits he’s responsible for his ex-boyfriend’s death – but claims it was a tragic accident. He’s pleaded not guilty to two counts of domestic violence-related murder and one count of aggravated break-and-enter related to the 2024 deaths of TV presenter Jesse Baird and his partner, flight attendant Luke Davies. Plus, Helen Haines condition is ‘stable’, and 90-year-old woman becomes Bondi massacre’s 16th victim. Read more: Accused cop killer Beau Lamarre-Condon says he ‘didn’t want to’ kill ex-boyfriend Jesse Baird Helen Haines condition changed to 'stable' 90-year-old Eva Geller dies from medical complications after being shot during Bondi terror attack See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Yesterday · 13 min
Who killed David Jones? Inside the butchering of a beloved brand
Private equity, foreign owners, terrible service, real estate missteps, angry landlords and bemused customers: David Jones died a slow and ugly death and now we’re asking: can anyone revive this 18-year-old legacy retailer? The Australian's DataRoom columnist Bridget Carter has been breaking all the scoops and joins Claire Harvey today. Read more about this story at theaustralian.com.au and see the video by subscribing to our YouTube channel. ASX rallies; David Jones landlord Vicinity reviewing earnings guidance The brutal private equity playbook behind David Jones’ demise David Jones collapses into administration after private equity owner runs out of cash The Front is presented by Claire Harvey. Jasper Leak is The Australian’s audio lead. Our team also includes Kristen Amiet, Lia Tsamoglou, Tiffany Dimmack and Joshua Burton. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Yesterday · 13 min
Who killed David Jones? Inside the butchering of a beloved brand
Private equity, foreign owners, terrible service, real estate missteps, angry landlords and bemused customers: David Jones died a slow and ugly death and now we’re asking: can anyone revive this 18--year-old legacy retailer? The Australian's DataRoom columnist Bridget Carter has been breaking all the scoops and joins Claire Harvey today. Read more about this story at theaustralian.com.au and see the video by subscribing to our YouTube channel. ASX rallies; David Jones landlord Vicinity reviewing earnings guidance The brutal private equity playbook behind David Jones’ demise David Jones collapses into administration after private equity owner runs out of cash The Front is presented by Claire Harvey. Jasper Leak is The Australian’s audio lead. Our team also includes Kristen Amiet, Lia Tsamoglou, Tiffany Dimmack and Joshua Burton. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Yesterday · 10 min
‘I’m not a little creep’: Beau Lamarre-Condon in the witness box
Accused killer cop Beau Lamarre-Condon is giving evidence in his own defence in his double-murder trial. He’s pleaded not guilty to murdering TV presenter Jesse Baird and Baird’s partner, flight attendant Luke Davies, at Baird’s Paddington sharehouse in 2024. Read more: Accused killer cop Beau Lamarre-Condon testifies before his double-murder trial See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Wednesday · 13 min
Billionaire’s brutal Canva shakeup: 1200 out, everyone else back in
Tech heroine Melanie Perkins calls Canva’s massive 1,200-person layoff a "refounding" of the tech unicorn. But behind the PR spin and a strict new return-to-office mandate lies a harsher reality: the threat of AI disruption, flattening growth, and a significant valuation haircut. In this episode of The Front, Claire Harvey is joined by The Australian’s resident billionaire expert John Stensholt to cut through the spin. Is Canva’s era of innocence officially over, and what does forcing remote workers back into a $130m Surry Hills headquarters reveal about the tech industry's future? Read more about this story at theaustralian.com.au and see the video by subscribing to our YouTube channel This episode of The Front is presented and produced by Claire Harvey with Jasper Leak, and edited by Joshua Burton. Our team includes Kristen Amiet, Lia Tsamoglou and Tiffany Dimmack. Jasper Leak composed our theme. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Wednesday · 2 min
Not my fault: Trump reacts to midterm walloping
Donald Trump has lost control of the Senate and the House of Representatives in the United States midterm elections, with results flowing in throughout the coming hours. The Democrats have easily retaken the House and are on track for a much larger than expected victory in the Senate. Trump - who told voters to behave as if his name was on the ballot - now says it’s not his fault. Read more: Donald Trump, Republicans lose House, Senate to Democrats Democrats surge towards stunning sweep of congress Trump to Mideast: You’re on your own See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Tuesday · 17 min
Learjet 60 crash: The incredible composure of 20-year-old co-pilot Nathalia Filgueiras
Why did a Bombardier Learjet 60 plunge 32,000 feet a minute into a Florida road? Aviation writer Robyn Ironside joins Claire Harvey to break down the final, chilling air traffic control audio and examine the severe online attacks on the late 20-year-old co-pilot Nathalia Filgueiras. Read more about this story at theaustralian.com.au and see the video by subscribing to our YouTube channel. We’re out of time: co-pilot’s haunting final message $2 million Learjet crashes in Florida, victims named Ice, turbulence: How the disaster happened This episode of The Front is presented and produced by Claire Harvey and edited by Joshua Burton. Our team includes Kristen Amiet, Lia Tsamoglou, Tiffany Dimmack and Jasper Leak, who also composed our theme. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Tuesday · 4 min
Dissent inside the RBA board about rate rise
Point of Law won the Melbourne Cup by a country mile - and rates went up just as everyone expected them to. In fact the only surprise this afternoon is that three members of the Reserve Bank Board voted against putting the cash rate target up to 4.85 per cent, revealing some controversy inside the board about whether they can slow inflation without wrecking the economy. Listen now to The Front’s afternoon headlines. Read more: Rate rise ‘to address domestic capacity pressures’, RBA governor Michele Bullock says $170bn black hole ahead of rate call that stops a nation RBA risks a 90s-style slump as rate hikes struggle for traction Point of Law wins after Robbie Williams rocks Flemington See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Monday · 17 min
Why do Democrats keep choosing the wrong candidates?
The midterms are on in America - and you’d expect voters to give the widely unpopular Donald Trump the kind of walloping presidents can usually expect in congressional and state elections. But the Democrats are fracturing over candidate choice and tactics and the Republicans can’t decide whether to embrace Trump or disavow him. Today, Cameron Stewart on what to watch in the wild ride ahead. Read more about this story at theaustralian.com.au and see the video by subscribing to our YouTube channel. This episode of The Front is presented and produced by Claire Harvey and edited by Tiffany Dimmack. Our team includes Kristen Amiet, Lia Tsamoglou, Joshua Burton and Jasper Leak, who also composed our theme. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Monday · 2 min
Pauline Hanson’s lieutenant rules out a run in 2028
Pauline Hanson’s lieutenant James Ashby turns down a run for parliament, as National Party leader Matt Canavan heads to the House of Representatives. Plus, the 27-year old Afghan refugee who will stay in Australia despite being a convicted drug courier and fraudster. Read more: James Ashby’s tantrums a growing problem for Pauline Commercial drug courier wins right to stay in Australia despite reoffending risk See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Sunday · 12 min
BMWs and broken promises: Inside the specialist fee war
With specialist out-of-pocket costs surging by 73% since 2010, the Albanese government is pushing ahead with a mandatory website requiring medical specialists to display their fees upfront. But can price transparency fix Australia's healthcare crisis, or will patients end up paying the price? In this episode of The Front, senior health reporter Penny Timms joins Claire Harvey to break down the high-stakes war over specialist fees, why voluntary codes failed, and what this means for your next medical bill. Read more about this story at theaustralian.com.au and see the video by subscribing to our YouTube channel. Specialist fees crackdown could backfire on patients: AMA This episode of The Front is presented by Claire Harvey, produced by Kristen Amiet and edited by Joshua Burton. Our team includes Lia Tsamoglou, Tiffany Dimmack, and Jasper Leak, who also composed our music. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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October 30 · 15 min
The smart women fantasising about dragon sex
This week’s bookshop frenzy for a new romantasy title - A Court of Splintered Harmony by Sarah J Maas - prompts some big questions. Why are romantasy plots so silly? Why do smart women love them anyway? And what does it all tell us about men, women and modern love? Come hither: The sex women want is now a $28bn empire The self-published ‘Romantasy’ author that sparked a 9-way book auction Stand back for the hot breath of dragon sex in Onyx Storm Read more about this story at theaustralian.com.au and see the video by subscribing to our YouTube channel. The weekend edition of The Front is co-produced by Claire Harvey and Jasper Leak. The host is Claire Harvey. Audio production and editing by Jasper Leak who also composed our theme. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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October 30 · 4 min
Mushroom killer likely to die in jail after freedom bid rejected
Mushroom killer Erin Patterson will likely die in jail after the Victorian Court of Appeal rejected her bid for freedom and increased her sentence to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Plus, an economist’s recession warning and Fantastic Furniture closes its last Australian factory. Read more: Erin Patterson loses appeal, could stay in jail until her 80s as jail term increased Near-zero growth, recession likely as rates rise looms: HSBC Fantastic Furniture closes Fairfield East plant to shift manufacturing to China and Vietnam See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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October 29 · 15 min
Israel’s Arab kingmakers: Which PM will blink first?
Israel’s gloriously messy democracy has thrown up a real doozy: parliamentary elections that have two potential prime ministers both saying the other guy lost. The Australian's Foreign Editor Greg Sheridan says there's one thing they both agree on: they won’t go into coalition with Arab parties – and it means Israel might be heading towards another election very soon. Read more about this story at theaustralian.com.au and see the video by subscribing to our YouTube channel. Benjamin Netanyahu takes narrow lead as Israel poll shows no clear result Israelis ‘won’t let Arabs become kingmakers’ in tight election race Commentary by Greg Sheridan: Impossible to kill: Benjamin Netanyahu defies defeat to maintain grip on Israeli politics Commentary by Greg Sheridan: Removing Bibi won’t end irrational hatred of Israel This episode of The Front is presented by Claire Harvey, produced by Kristen Amiet and edited by Tiffany Dimmack. Our team includes Lia Tsamoglou, Joshua Burton and Jasper Leak, who also composed our music. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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October 29 · 3 min
ASIC to probe banks behind failed Firmus float
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission is making “targeted inquiries” into the actions of the bankers behind the canned multibillion-dollar stock-market float of data-centre builder Firmus. Plus, Australia’s Tax Commissioner has admitted he didn’t quite get how businesses use credit cards before the ATO brought in a ban on plastic. Read more: Corporate regulator investigates lead managers behind cancelled $44bn Firmus float ATO ‘jumped to conclusions’ over bungled credit card ban See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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October 28 · 13 min
Inside a casino crime wave: bags of cash, Rolexes and a $250m fine
Breathtaking criminality - and a penalty that could have been much, much higher. The casino operator Star has had a huge judgment in the Federal Court with huge implications for the rest of the gaming sector - and for the punters. That’s today’s story. Read more about this story at theaustralian.com.au and see the video by subscribing to our YouTube channel. Star Entertainment secures lifeline as Federal Court spreads $260m penalty over 19 months Federal Court hits Star with $260m fine for money laundering breaches Crown in the black as casinos under the pump This episode of The Front is presented and produced by Claire Harvey, and edited by Jasper Leak. Our team includes Kristen Amiet, Lia Tsamoglou, Tiffany Dimmack and Joshua Burton. Jasper Leak also composed our music. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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October 28 · 3 min
Did Israel just re-elect Benjamin Netanyahu?
Huge claims and no clear winner - yet: that’s the state of play in the high-stakes Israeli elections that have seen Arab Israeli parties emerge as the potential power players. Also in the Front’s afternoon headlines: inflation’s up - are interest rates next? Read more: Israel election latest: No clear winner as count continues Israelis vote in record numbers for knife-edge election Albanese, Chalmers deflect blame for rising inflation, as rate hike looms See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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October 27 · 12 min
The Australian ISIS bride accused of enslaving a 9-year-old
Among the many revolting crimes of the failed Islamist movement ISIS was the enslavement and mistreatment of women and girls. They are Yazidis, a long-persecuted ethnic minority. Now, a Yazidi woman says she was enslaved and raped as a nine year old girl in the house of an Australian woman, Hodan Abby. Abby - who’s not been proven to have done anything wrong - is still stranded in the Middle East and wants to come home. Her alleged victim, Aisha, wants Australia to hold her to account. Read more about this story at theaustralian.com.au and see the video by subscribing to our YouTube channel. ‘I want justice’: Yazidi slave survivor’s plea One Nation fails in bid to block brides’ return This episode of The Front is presented and produced by Claire Harvey and edited by Tiffany Dimmack. Our team includes Kristen Amiet, Lia Tsamoglou, Joshua Burton and Jasper Leak, who also composed our music. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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October 27 · 2 min
Did the ABC hire a Hamas terrorist?
Senior ABC brass have told a Senate committee they’re investigating whether or not a journalist they used to help cover the Israel-Hamas conflict was in fact a Hamas operative. Also in today’s afternoon headlines - the Government denies it is assisting another ISIS bride who is planning to return to Australia. Read more: ABC investigates whether journalist Roshdi Sarraj was Hamas terrorist ABC news boss under fire for 'flippant' response to terror claims See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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October 26 · 16 min
Albo, the shit sheet and the Helen Haines blame game
We all furiously agree public discourse is nasty and dangerous. But can politicians really change their ways - or will they just blame the manosphere, social media and their enemies? Dennis Shanahan is here. Read more about this story at theaustralian.com.au and see the video by subscribing to our YouTube channel. We’ll tackle the manosphere, says Albo Dennis Shanahan: Echoes of a 25-year-old tragedy This episode of The Front is presented and produced by Claire Harvey and edited by Joshua Burton. Our team includes Kristen Amiet, Lia Tsamoglou, Tiffany Dimmack and Jasper Leak, who also composed our music. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Showing 1–20 of 167 episodes