Headlines: First woman appointed to AFP Commissioner role

Today's headlines:

For the first time, the next Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) will be a woman. 

An investigation into Queensland’s forensic services lab has identified widespread issues, finding the state’s DNA testing is at a "point of critical failure."

More than 140 migrants are believed to have died after a boat capsized near Yemen. 

And today’s good news: Australian Meg Harris has won gold in the women’s 50m freestyle at the swimming world championships in Singapore.

Hosts: Emma Gillespie and Lucy Tassell
Producer: Emma Gillespie

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:05):
From The Daily Os. I'm Emma Gillespie, I'm Lucy Tassel.
It's Monday, the fourth of August. Here's what's making headlines
this evening.

Speaker 2 (00:14):
For the first time, the next Commissioner of the Australian
Federal Police will be a woman. Current AFP Commissioner Ryes
Kershaw has announced he will retire a year earlier than expected,
with Deputy Commissioner Chrissy Barrett named as his replacement. Kershaw
confirmed he was stepping down at a press conference today,
where he described the quote toll the role has taken

(00:34):
on his family life. Barrish, Kershaw's current deputy, will be
promoted to Commissioner for a five year term from October.
As the country's highest ranked police officer. She's promised to
quote ensure the AFP continues to keep Australian safe and
identifies and disrupts threats to our national security, including emerging
criminals who have quote mixed motivations.

Speaker 1 (00:59):
And Mistigation into Queensland's forensic Services lab has identified widespread issues,
finding the state's DNA testing is at a point of
quote critical failure. The review found Forensic Science Queensland FSQ
has provided unreliable DNA results to police and the courts
since early twenty twenty three. It comes after several FSQ

(01:21):
failures led to two commissions in twenty twenty two and
twenty twenty three. Then Premier Anastasia Palache said restoring queensland
As faith in the state's forensic and scientific services was imperative. However,
the latest report into FSQ shows testing delays have worsened
since those two inquiries. The current media and DNA testing

(01:41):
time for major crimes is around four hundred and twelve days,
while outside the required fourteen day turnaround. The report also
found sexual assault victims awaiting up to a year for
rape kit test results. Premier David Chrisifully called the findings
nothing short of a betrayal of victims, but said the
government is quote detO to restore integrity in the justice system.

Speaker 2 (02:05):
More than one hundred and forty migrants are believed to
have died after a boat capsized near Yemen. According to
the United Nations Migration Agency, one hundred and fifty four
Ethiopian migrants were on board the vessel when it sank
off the coast of southern Yemen on Sunday local time.
The International Organization for Migration or IOM, has confirmed twelve

(02:26):
survivors were located near the wreck, but sixty eight bodies
have been recovered so far. The UN agency told the
Associated Press a further seventy four missing passengers are likely deceased.
The IOM said many Ethiopian migrants quote set off on
perilous journeys to Yemen, driven by the hope of reaching
other countries in search of a better life. It follows

(02:48):
several recent migrant shipwrecks in the region.

Speaker 1 (02:53):
And today's good news. Meg Harris has won gold in
the women's fifty meter freestyle at the Swimming World Chairampionships
in Singapore. It's the first time and Ozzie has won
the event in ten years and is the twenty three
year old's first individual gold medal on the world stage.
Harris won silver in the fifty meter free at the
Paris Olympics last year, where she also won gold with

(03:15):
the women's four by one hundred meter relay team, which
was her second gold after relay glory in Tokyo. Australia
also picked up two silvers on the final night of
competition thanks to Jenna Forrester in the four hundred meter
im and the women's medley relay team. It comes after
Molli O'Callahan claimed her eleventh career World Championship gold to
equal Iain Thorpe's record. On Friday. Australia finished second overall

(03:39):
behind the US with eight gold, six silver, and six
bronze medals.

Speaker 2 (03:44):
That's the latest from the Daily Ooz newsroom. If you're
looking for something else to listen to, you can check
out today's deep dive, where we unpack the latest on
Australia's economy and whether it's calming down.

Speaker 1 (03:54):
We'll be back tomorrow morning with another deep dive, but
until then, have a good one.

Speaker 2 (04:02):
My name is Lily Maddon and I'm a proud Arunda
Bunjelung Calkatin woman from Gadighl Country. The Daily oz acknowledges
that this podcast is recorded on the lands of the
Gadighl people and pays respect to all Aboriginal and Torrestrate
island and nations. We pay our respects to the first
peoples of these countries, both past and present.