The Front

If you love movies as escapist art, you might find the Monday’s Oscars ceremony a bit tedious. Today, our cheat’s guide to the movies vying for Best Picture – and a flashback to when movies used to be … fun.  Find out more about The Front podcast here. You can read about this story and more on The Australian's website or on The Australian’s app. 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.

Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei was reportedly gravely injured in a strike during the Middle East conflict. Plus, Qantas settles a covid legal challenge for $105m and Bluesfest bites the dust.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two years, 500 gigabytes of audio, and more than 200 voice actors. The Australian’s podcast adaptation of Hedley Thomas’ best-selling book Sick to Death is nearing its conclusion. It’s the story of the havoc wrought on the Queensland medical system by the incompetent surgeon Jayant Patel 20 years ago – and there’s still more to come. Today, Hedley and our production team get together to discuss this epic project – and why it still resonates in 2026. 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 by Claire Harvey, produced by Kristen Amiet and edited by Lia Tsamoglou. Our team includes Tiffany Dimmack, Joshua Burton and Jasper Leak, who also composed our music. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes is shedding 10 per cent of Atlassian’s workforce. Also today in The Front’s afternoon headlines, Australia will lower stringent sulphur standards in petrol and diesel to increase fuel supply to the regions. That’s as the International Energy Agency agrees to the biggest ever release of emergency public oil stocks - but jittery markets are already sending prices up, not down. Plus, what now for the Bondi Royal Commission?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

45-year-old economist Matt Canavan, once the apprentice to Barnaby Joyce, takes the fight for regional Australia to One Nation and his old master. Dennis Shanahan - who routinely shredded the National Party’s ‘stupid’ ex-leader David Littleproud, says it’s at last a proper fight.  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 music. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should the world release public emergency oil supplies to deal with wildly fluctuating oil prices, diesel shortages and petrol station queues? Plus - two more Iranian soccer representatives seek asylum. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Go home to war and oppression - or live in fear for your family’s life: that’s the terrible dilemma faced by Iran’s women’s soccer team. Today we go inside their incredible bid for freedom, and explore what happens next with Asia-Pacific correspondent Amanda Hodge.   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 by Claire Harvey, produced by Kristen Amiet and edited by Lia Tsamoglou. Our team includes  Tiffany Dimmack, Joshua Burton and Jasper Leak, who also composed our music. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why republican protesters are demanding answers from King Charles - plus, Australia’s missiles are rerouted to the Middle East, and Donald Trump’s latest declaration on Operation Epic Fury. That’s all in today’s afternoon headlines from theaustralian.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As one half of radio’s warring superstar duo lawyers up, the other says everyone’s got it all wrong. Media Diary editor Steve Jackson is here with the latest Kyle and Jackie O drama, plus an ABC reporter’s very sweary outing on social media - and is Karl Stefanovic an anti-vaxxer now?  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 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.

Ayatollah Mojtaba Khameini, the hardline son of the assassinated supreme leader Ali Khamenei, is elevated in Iran thanks to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Today in The Front’s headlines edition: the immediate crises on his desk, from ballistic missiles to fury from Iran's Gulf neighbours.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.