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  Failed One Nation candidate apologises for homophobic comments | ABC News Top Stories 14.08.2026 1Min.

  A failed One Nation candidate has apologised for making homophobic comments labelling gay people as mentally ill in a video interview.  The Productivity Commission has published its interim report into the WA GST deal, calling it a "costly mistake" and recommending the government scrap it. Western Australian Premier Roger Cook has labelled the authors of the report as "east-coast clowns". And Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has won the Clacton by-election and skipped the final count announcement after declaring pre-emptive victory. Press the 'Follow' or '+' button on this show page to add us to your playlist, so you never miss an episode. For more news, politics and current affairs podcasts go to ABC listen.
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  Will 'east-coast clowns' kill WA's special GST deal? 14.08.2026 4Min.

  Get ready for an almighty battle between Western Australia and the productivity commission and the states who think it's had it too good for too long. The lucrative deal on how the proceeds of the GST are distributed has come under new scrutiny with a report declaring it has led to perverse outcomes that favour WA. How does the West benefit under the deal?almighty
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  What will the impacts of bird flu be on coastal communities? 14.08.2026 3Min.

  Australia's wildlife authorities and coastal communities remain on high alert as the deadly H5 strain of bird flu continues its advance across the country. Infections in wild seabirds have led to mass mortality events, sparking concern from conservationists, regional business owners, and biosecurity teams.
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  Nigel Farage celebrates victory over Count Binface 14.08.2026 3Min.

  Far-right populist politician Nigel Farage has won one of the most unusual by-elections in recent history in the UK. He was up against more than 30 independent candidates, among them a comedian known as Count Binface. But his victory party may be cut short as scrutiny continues over donations.
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  Should AI be taking notes about your health? 14.08.2026 3Min.

  Artificial intelligence tools are listening to many people's medical appointments, but they're not always producing accurate summaries. One patient has described how a letter from a specialist to her GP included a false suggestion that she was taking illegal drugs.  A so-called AI scribe had been used by the doctor. New research by a privacy watchdog has raised serious concerns about AI being used in medical settings due to its propensity to "hallucinate" false symptoms or conditions, and warned patients were at risk.
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  Third Sydney Airport take-off incident in less than three weeks 14.08.2026 2Min.

  Safety authorities are investigating a third runway incident at Sydney airport in as many weeks.
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  How former military lawyer David McBride ended up in jail 13.08.2026 4Min.

  David McBride is a former military lawyer who shared classified defence documents with a journalist. The material led to an ABC investigation that revealed allegations of soldiers being involved in illegal killings, even though that wasn't McBride's intention. Now, after spending years in jail, he's been freed on parole. What happened to him has raised questions about the plight of whistleblowers in Australia. 
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  Now the Tomago aluminium smelter is saved, how will we power it? 13.08.2026 3Min.

  A bailout of the country's largest aluminium smelter will cost taxpayers $2.5 billion, with the New South Wales and federal governments to split the bill down the middle. The Tomago aluminium plant is in the New South Wales Hunter region and is currently Australia's largest electricity user. So, will there be enough renewable power to keep it online into the future at an affordable price?
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  Will Mounjaro ever be added to the PBS? 13.08.2026 3Min.

  A new generation of weight loss medication has been up-ending the industry and Australians are trying to get their hands on the drugs. But they're expensive and the Australian Government has been locked in complicated negotiations with the manufacturer of Mounjaro to have it added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
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  Should prisoners keep their right to 'open air'? 13.08.2026 3Min.

  A bill set to pass the Victorian parliament this week would give prison guards the power to deny inmates their one hour a day of outdoor time. It's currently a legal right that was affirmed in a court ruling in January. But the government wants to limit that right, in part to protect itself from future lawsuits. That's got human rights lawyers and Victoria's representative body for First Nations' people up in arms. 
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  The furore over Albanese and Japanese melons explained 12.08.2026 4Min.

  The Prime Minister continues to be attacked by his political opponents over comments he made about the Japanese prime minister and a gift of melons.  Anthony Albanese spoke about the fruit on a comedy podcast last month, while making hand gestures in front of his chest. He's since denied he was being disrespectful to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. What is the furore all about?  
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  Why was Trump sneaked out of Air Force One in a catering truck? 12.08.2026 3Min.

  It sounds like something out of a blockbuster movie: the US president, an assassination threat, a decoy plane…and a catering truck.  But it’s no Hollywood plot. Some US new outlets are reporting that last month, an elaborate ruse took place in July when Donald Trump was in Ankara for a NATO summit. 
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  Why the RBA left interest rates on hold 11.08.2026 3Min.

  The Reserve Bank has decided to leave interest rates on hold today. But the governor is warning Inflation is still too high and if it doesn't come down another rate rise is inevitable.
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  Why rapists' names have been kept secret 11.08.2026 2Min.

  The Victorian Premier Ben Carroll has announced plans to abolish suppression orders protecting the identities of convicted rapists.  The moves come two weeks after he took over as leader and as his Labor government struggles in the polls ahead of the November state election. Legal experts say it's a good start, but doing away with suppression orders during trials is needed for better courtroom transparency. 
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  Why Israel rejected Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan 11.08.2026 3Min.

  US President Donald Trump has been claiming a major breakthrough for Gaza after his Board of Peace brokered a deal for Hamas to hand over its weapons. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Hamas's proposed plan for disarming is "unacceptable", rejecting the Trump administration's plans to end fighting in the Palestinian territory. What was proposed and what went wrong?
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  What is the Census and what happens if you don’t do it? 11.08.2026 4Min.

  After five years, it’s come back around again: Tuesday the 11th of August is Census night.  But what’s the Census for, and what happens if you don't do it?
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  Why are car insurances getting so expensive? 11.08.2026 2Min.

  If you thought your car insurance was getting more expensive, you're not alone. Premiums soared above inflation in the 2024-25 financial year and the corporate regulator ASIC has put some car insurance companies on notice for failing to explain why costs are rising. While the insurance sector says there's valid reasons for the trend, ASIC's investigation reveals there's still room for companies to charge less.
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  Why is SA holding a royal commission into AI? 10.08.2026 3Min.

  South Australia will hold a royal commission into artificial intelligence. It will be the first inquiry into AI at such a high level in Australia and is expected to run for nine months. But with SA's inquiry into social media leading to a ban for under 16s, could this inquiry also lead to national policy?
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  Sydney Airport's had two near misses on the runway within a fortnight 10.08.2026 2Min.

  Two planes narrowly avoided crashing into each other at Sydney Airport on the weekend. It was less than a fortnight after another near miss at Australia's busiest airport. Now, the federal transport minister has called in the head of Airservices Australia for an emergency meeting over staffing pressures and growing safety concerns.
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  Who killed Tupac? Three decades later, we may get some answers 10.08.2026 3Min.

  New details about the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur could be revealed in a murder trial set to begin in Las Vegas this week Duane "Keffe D" Davis, who police accuse of orchestrating the rap icon's murder, has pleaded not guilty. The case is one of hip hop's most enduring mysteries and Davis is the only person to have faced charges over Shakur's death.