The Front

Communications Minister Anika Wells billed taxpayers thousands of dollars for members of her family to attend sporting events around the country.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The peaceful Pioneer Valley was meant to be a renewable energy hotspot – but farmers say their water has been contaminated. Today, when a green energy dream goes wrong. Read more about this story, plus see photos, videos and additional reporting, on the website or on The Australian’s app. This episode of The Front is presented and produced by Kristen Amiet and edited by Tiffany Dimmack. Our regular host is Claire Harvey and our team includes Lia Tsamoglou, Joshua Burton, Stephanie Coombes and Jasper Leak, who also composed our music. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new show reveals the pure rebellious genius of Comme des Garcons’ Rei Kawakubo and Sex Pistols muse Vivienne Westwood.  This edition of The Front is produced and hosted by Claire Harvey. Audio editing and sound design by Tiffany Dimmack. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeffrey Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre didn’t leave a will when she died by suicide in April. Now, a bitter legal battle has erupted over her estate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian’s investigative podcast Shadow of Doubt in 2023 raised serious doubts over the convictions of parents nicknamed Australia’s most evil.  They were accused of grotesque sexual abuse of their own daughter - but journalist Richard Guilliatt revealed inconsistencies, ‘recovered memories’, and some huge twists. Now - a fresh development raises the possibility they could get out of jail.  Read more about this story, plus see photos, videos and additional reporting, on the website or on The Australian’s app. This episode of The Front is produced and presented by Claire Harve and edited by Joshua Burton. Our team includes Kristen Amiet, Lia Tsamoglou, Tiffany Dimmack, Stephanie Coombes and Jasper Leak, who also composed our music. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Widows and children stranded in Syria after the collapse of the so-called caliphate are now back in Australia - and the Government says it didn’t “assist”, it just gave them passports. New notes, revealed by The Australian, tell a more nuanced story.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The superstar of Japanese pop, Ayumi Hamasaki, is the latest victim of a geopolitical dispute that’s flaring big-time. It’s China versus Japan - and it’s all about China’s number one issue: the future of Taiwan. Now, Australia's under pressure to choose a side. That’s today’s story. This episode of The Front is presented by Claire Harvey, produced by Kristen Amiet and edited by Lia Tsamoglou. Our team includes Joshua Burton, Tiffany Dimmack, Stephanie Coombes and Jasper Leak, who also composed our music. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Justice Michael Lee was right to find, on the balance of probabilities, that Bruce Lehrmann raped Brittany Higgins - that’s the decision from the full Federal Court in dismissing Lehrmann’s appeal. Now Lehrmann will have to pay more legal costs for his opponents, Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson. Hear our earlier episode about Lehrmann’s appeal grounds here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher - who aggressively pursued the concept of a Liberal conspiracy to cover up the rape of Brittany Higgins - has refused to say whether she accepts two courts’ rulings that the conspiracy was fabricated. In today’s episode - inside the fiery parliamentary hearings exploring why the Labor government is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars defending its actions in the Higgins matter.   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, Joshua Burton, Stephanie Coombes and Jasper Leak, who also composed our music.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was embarrassing, unnecessary - and expensive. The ABC’s bungled handling of two casual radio presenting shifts by Antoinette Lattouf cost the broadcaster - and therefore taxpayers more than $2.62 million dollars. Plus - the union pushing for AI to equal shorter hours and higher pay.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.