The Front

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
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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.
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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
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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.

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.