Evening News Briefing - 8 August 2025

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Alo from the Amplifying Newsroom. I'm haden visera a warning
from our local Drug harm Reduction service after a Sydney
man was charged with supplying vape liquid legs with the
highly potent synthetic opioid nitazine. Directions Health Services CEO Broadwyn
Hendry says they have been aware of vapes being used
as an alternate way to consume illicit substances in the Act.

(00:24):
She says this can be particularly dangerous if the person
doesn't know exactly what is in the vape.

Speaker 2 (00:30):
They've a very high risk of harm, of overdose and
even fatal overdose, and also a high risk of creating
a dependency if they're not knowing what they're consuming.

Speaker 1 (00:42):
More funding from the Act government to prevent suicide within
our First Nation's communities. One point five to two million
dollars has gone to our original and Torres Strait Islander
organization Dittaly to help deliver cultureally sensitive supports. Mental Health
Minister Rachel Stephen Smith says the funding will provide certain
for recruiting local staff. Minister Claire O'Neill wants housing on

(01:04):
the agenda at the upcoming Economic reform roundtable. The government
has promised to build one point two million homes by
the end of the decade, but isn't on track. O'Neil
says slashing red tape is her priority.

Speaker 3 (01:16):
What I really want from the roundtable is to walk
out of that room with a clear package of what
our next set of reforms look like.

Speaker 2 (01:23):
On housing.

Speaker 4 (01:24):
It is too hard to build a house in our
country today.

Speaker 1 (01:26):
Funding is coming online for community led initiatives that celebrate
and support cultural diversity in the Capital. Forty nine organizations
will share in nearly one hundred and forty thousand dollars
in funding as part of the Act's latest Multicultural Inclusion grants.
It'll go towards cultural festivals, educational workshops and programs to
promote inclusion. Convicted rapist to Gareth Ward has resigned from

(01:50):
State Parliament just hours before he was due to be
expelled by his colleagues. A Supreme Court yesterday denied his
fight to keep his seat. Premiere Chris Min's clearly frustrated
by the events of the week.

Speaker 3 (02:02):
Obviously, we believe this resignation should have come earlier, and
the circumstances relating to it meant that a lot of time,
effort and energy was spent in the New South Wales
Supreme Court.

Speaker 1 (02:13):
Most Australians believe we need to do more to combat
climate change. According to a new survey. The Yugov's Polls
found more than three quarters of people questioned said they
wanted the government to work harder on limiting the risk
from extreme events, regardless of their political preferences. A new
Little line club has been welcomed to the family at
Canberra's National Zoo for the first time in twenty three years.

(02:35):
Three month old Nira weighs just under fourteen kilos and
has already out and about with her mum and dad
at the zoo. It comes ahead of Worldlone Day celebrations
on Sunday.

Speaker 4 (02:45):
So we do have plenty of keeper talks for lions
on our catwalk as well as some stores with our
conservation team, but also just to chat and engage with
our delightful visitors about the birth of beautiful Mara.

Speaker 1 (02:57):
Wildlife manager Sophie Denrinos there and Canberra's Thoroughbred Park is
set to host a viral food festival this weekend, giving
locals the chance to try some of the internet's most
famous food. Kicking off tonight and running until Sunday night.
Event coordinator Sam Adams says there'll be over forty trending dishes.

Speaker 5 (03:14):
The Big Mac tacos and there in the signature style
Big Mac sauce but on tacos all the way down
to the you know your sweet treats and dessert. So
we've got the Swufle pancakes, the viral device Strawberry chcolates.
Of course, we could pull a VNT together without bringing
those guys down.

Speaker 1 (03:28):
And that's letters from the Camber newsroom this Friday. Check
back again on Monday morning for our next updates.