The Morning Edition

We know that Donald Trump has made a habit out of rewarding dictators and throwing off the shackles of long-standing relationships with allies. Today international and political editor Peter Hartcher discusses Donald Trump’s latest appeasement of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, and the threats he’s issued to Oman.   Background reading Trump threatens to bomb ally Oman as US-Iran war agreement expires Trump praises North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, slashes military drills with Seoul   The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris, from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more, rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or whichever platform you find your pods.

Another scandal involving an alleged sexual assault has erupted in the AFL. One player from the Sydney Swans football team was spoken to by police after an alleged sexual assault said to have taken place in the early hours of Monday. Today, The Age’s chief AFL writer, Jake Niall, discusses what's known, and not known, about what's unfolded. And, just a note, we're not suggesting the players are under investigation by police, just that they are assisting with their inquiries. Background reading:  'Men run the AFL and it is time they fixed its dark underbelly.' ‘Extremely disappointed’: Cox breaks silence as police release update on Swans investigation.

Our four biggest banks say that fewer people are taking out mortgage loans. One has even forecast a significant fall in house prices in two cities. Meanwhile, Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock has issued a stern warning ... Today, senior economics correspondent Shane Wright discusses whether the housing bubble is indeed starting to burst.   Background reading Air is coming out of the housing bubble. Is now the time for first home buyers?   The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris, from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more, rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or whichever platform you find your pods.

Which dog owners among us haven’t wondered about their pets: What are they thinking? Do they like me? Are they – oh no! – judging me? Well, a new study has revealed that dogs are even better at reading our emotions than chimpanzees, our closest evolutionary relative. Today, science reporter Angus Dalton on how researchers reached this conclusion, and how to help our dogs lead their best lives. The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris, from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more, rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or whichever platform you find your pods.

We’re back to talking about melons and the podcast interview that continues to cause dramas for the prime minister. Six weeks ago, Anthony Albanese appeared on a podcast called ‘Bush Deep’ and was asked about the worst gift he received. Melons, he replied, gifted to him by Japanese prime minister. What was said, and not said, has become the focus of attacks from the media, the Coalition and One Nation this week. So why has the issue reared its head again? And is it affecting Albanese’s reputation or are the Coalition and co over-egging it? While all this was going on, the main game for the government was economic management. Rates were placed on hold, but the Reserve Bank boss Michelle Bullock reminded everyone that she’d raise them if she had to. It comes as all the big banks forecast further drop-offs in house values – aren’t more affordable homes what we want? Or are the government's tax changes wreaking havoc on our struggling economy? Today’s episode is hosted by Jacqueline Maley, with chief political correspondent Paul Sakkal.

Donald Trump has suffered a cascade of humiliations at the hands of Iran and Iranian allies in the last two weeks. But, according to international and political editor Peter Hartcher, humiliation is the least of Trump's problems now. In today's episode, Hartcher discusses the strikes from Houthi rebels over the weekend, which confirm a new front to this war. And the significance of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan creating a new pact, dubbed the 'Islamic NATO'.   The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris, from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more, rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or whichever platform you find your pods.

Car insurance in Australia has leapt by nearly 50 per cent in the last six years and this week, the financial regulator blasted insurers for failing to adequately explain to customers why they have jacked up prices by so much. So what's behind the spike in premiums? Insurers talk about the cost of repairing cars these days and global volatility, but there's plenty of evidence that companies will reduce the cost if you threaten to walk. Today's guest, national consumer affairs reporter Elias Visontay, talks about the real reason premiums have risen so steeply, and what you can do about it. The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris, from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more, rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or whichever platform you find your pods.

Kyle Sandilands commanded massive audiences on commercial radio before his now infamous sacking. And on Monday, his new subscriber-only live show was launched. It was the old Sandilands but even more uncensored, and with a political bent, featuring guests such as NSW Premier Chris Minns and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson. So why do we care, and what does this new era of media – free of the rules of commercial radio – signify? And why would politicians appear on his show anyway? Today's guests are culture reporter Kayla Olaya and senior columnist Jacqueline Maley. The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more, rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or whichever platform you find your pods.

In a win that has sent shockwaves through the Democratic Party, an unabashedly left-wing epidemiologist has been chosen as the Democrat nominee to fight for a senate seat in Michigan in November. Some see it as a desperate move at a time when the Republican Party is moving full steam ahead to prosecute opponents such as Dr Anthony Fauci, Joe Biden's former COVID tsar, who was browbeaten just over a week ago in a heated Senate hearing. Today, North America correspondent Michael Koziol discusses why Democrats are gambling their ability to regain power in November on an insurgent who has argued for the US to cut military aid to Israel. And why Republicans are grilling Fauci on his decisions during the COVID pandemic. The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more, rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or whichever platform you find your pods.

This week on Inside Politics, we take a look at some of the major policy challenges facing the Albanese government – from migration numbers, to gambling-advertising reform and the news media bargaining code between Australian media and big tech companies. Joining host Jacqueline Maley are chief political correspondent Paul Sakkal and federal political correspondent Natassia Chrysanthos. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more, please rate, review & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or whichever platform you find your pods. Background reading: Coalition will force Albanese to cede ground on gambling reforms Needs work: Burke’s plans for migration overhaul delayed due to cabinet questions ‘Publicity-seeking extremists’: V’landys weighs in as gambling inquiry gets personal

There’s a battle brewing over which country will lead the world in Artificial Intelligence, and the US has bet the house, economically, that it will be the winner. Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher on what previous infrastructure booms – such as the craze for building railways in the 1840s or the dotcom boom of the 1990s – tell us about where all this will lead, and which countries might be hit hardest in an AI bust. The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more, please rate, review & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or whichever platform you find your pods. Some background reading for you: It’s the new battleground for China v the US. But Beijing has one big advantage 

Is Alan Jones guilty of multiple counts of indecent assault? Or are the allegations against him - by six men - the result of treachery, desperation and opportunism, as Jones’ barrister has argued? Today crime reporter Clare Sibthorpe on the allegations aired in court, so far, in the trial of Alan Jones, which began this week. If you like this podcast and want to hear more, please rate, review & subscribe on Apple, Spotify or whichever platform you find your pods.

It’s the latest health buzzword, proposed as a magic cure for everything from dementia to low libido. But is it safe, or even advisable, to take supplementary testosterone?  Today, we talk to Madeleine Heffernan on what the experts want us to know, and what this latest cultural obsession says about us right now. If you like this podcast and want to hear more, please rate, review & subscribe on Apple, Spotify or whichever platform you find your pods.

Virginia Giuffre was fearless in taking down some of the world's most powerful people. As Jeffrey Epstein's most prominent victim, she helped expose his crimes and hold his friends to account, including the man formerly known as Prince Andrew. But despite her heroic battle in the most notorious sex trafficking case of the 21st century, few knew about one of her toughest fights. It was one she fought privately, at home in Australia. Today, Good Weekend magazine senior writer, Melissa Fyfe, and WA Today reporter, Carla Hildebrandt, on their four-part investigative podcast, Virginia. And just a warning, this episode contains mentions of suicide, domestic violence and other content that may be distressing to listeners. If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732), Lifeline 131 114, or Beyond Blue 1300 224 636.

It’s been another roller coaster this week for mortgage holders. Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock issued a stern warning about inflation, before the clouds parted a little when there was a welcome dip in the numbers. We check in with the state of the economy with senior economics correspondent Shane Wright, before crossing to state political editor Chip Le Grand after quite a momentous week in Victoria. This week, Jacinta Allan was ousted as premier, with Ben Carroll taking the reins ahead of what is shaping up to be a genuine three-way contest in the November election between the Labor government, the Coalition and One Nation. Today’s episode is hosted, as usual, by Jacqueline Maley.

They are wars on different fronts, but both are showcasing what international and political editor Peter Hartcher says are the deep misjudgements of leaders. Reporting this week revealed US armaments are running low as war continues in the Middle East. And the ramifications of the “unbelievable” nuclear deal that US President Donald Trump signed with Saudi Arabia are beginning to surface. Meanwhile, in the Russia-Ukraine war, Hartcher says the decisions being made by Vladimir Putin aren’t much better, with the Russian president poised to begin a widespread and desperate recruitment drive for more soldiers. Today, Peter Hartcher on what he calls the inglorious, disgraceful and counterproductive decisions of Trump and Putin.

Victorian politics is in turmoil. On Tuesday morning, Jacinta Allan stood down as the state's49th premier after more than 25 years in parliament. In a bonus episode of The Morning Edition, state political reporter Kieran Rooney discusses what brought Allan down, who has replaced her and what it means for the state election in just four months’ time. Background reading: 'Slow, then fast, the downfall of a premier under siege' The one thing Jacinta Allan left out of her farewell speech is Carroll’s first priority

The Victorian government made headlines, for all the wrong reasons, in 2023, when it pulled out of hosting the Commonwealth Games on the grounds that it was too expensive. Now, the Games are on in Glasgow, with many locals barely registering that it’s even taking place in their city, according to our reporter on the ground. Today, senior sports writer Michael Gleeson on whether the competition, which started in 1930 as a means of uniting the colonies and honouring the monarchy, is on its last legs. 

There are not that many company CEOs who the general public knows by name. But Alan Joyce is one of them. In part, it's because of how customers and employees were treated by Qantas, the company he led, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, senior reporter Chris Zappone discusses why Alan Joyce is now telling his side of the story.

The Labor party is facing fresh scrutiny over where it gets its money. Five days ago, it was the result of revelations that the party collected more than $4 million in gambling donations in five years – a chunk of that while it dithered on gambling reform. And now, another donation has raised eyebrows. Today investigative reporter Lucy Macken on the billionaire’s son who allegedly offered to donate money to the Labor Party at an exclusive dinner aattended by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese – and why it has raised questions.

It has been quite the week in federal politics, and our attention has been sucked by two One Nation clangers. First, Barnaby Joyce yelled at his dog on national television, then Pauline Hanson made some incredibly controversial remarks about domestic violence. Meanwhile, our guests for today, chief political correspondent Paul Sakkal and federal political correspondent Natassia Chrysanthos, are tuning in under the fluorescent lights of the Labor Party National Conference in Adelaide. Today’s episode is hosted, as usual, by Jacqueline Maley.

Why, six years on, is Donald Trump peddling the falsehood that the 2020 election was stolen? And how many Americans now believe it? Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher discusses what the timing of Trump’s renewed fixation may tells us about his ulterior motives. Background reading Trump’s three-pronged threat to American democracy

Christopher Nolan’s $250 million film The Odyssey was always going to inspire – and enrage – fans. That’s what you get when you take on one of the oldest surviving stories in history and refashion the hero at its centre. The New York Review of Books editor-at-large Daniel Mendelsohn is today's guest. The classics scholar discusses what Nolan is trying to tell us with his version and why it's provoked people such as Elon Musk and Donald Trump Jr.

If you’ve ever felt that you are being rushed through a healthcare appointment, you’re not alone. Now a number of optometrists have told our mastheads that they are being pressured to rush appointments, and even skip providing clinical tests, in order to sell, sell, sell. Today, health reporter Rachel Rasker on the optometry chains allegedly prioritising money over patient health.

There are nearly one and a half million registered medical devices on the market in Australia. Now, you would think that life-saving treatments such as pacemakers, defibrillators and pain pumps would be subject to the same sorts of clinical trials as prescription drugs. Right? Today, investigative reporter Liam Mannix on which devices have attracted the most complaints, and the medical device under investigation by a coroner after a tragic case in a regional town in Victoria.

We switch to sunnier climes this week, to a posh hotel in Sicily. It’s where the TV series White Lotus was filmed, and it’s also where our colleagues at The Australian Financial Review spotted One Nation leader Pauline Hanson poolside with billionaire Gina Rinehart. So what’s Hanson doing in Europe? In today’s episode, host Jacqueline Maley and chief political correspondent Paul Sakkal talk about who Hanson met overseas and how that plays for voters back home in Australia. Also, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese gave a landmark speech this week about the government’s approach to AI.

The madness of Donald Trump surfaced again in the past day or so, according to many seasoned onlookers. First, the president of the United States announced that he would impose a shipping toll on the Strait of Hormuz, something that would jack up petrol prices and spike inflation. Then he backed down, before he then threatened to take out Iranian bridges and power plants – a move that could be considered a war crime. Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher reports from Washington DC on what might be the American president’s most consequential flip-flop to date.

For nearly a century, the FIFA World Cup has carried fans throughout the world to great heights of unity and joy. This year's tournament, which is coming to a close, revealed some of the best of America. Scottish fans were welcomed by the city of Boston, and supposedly drank the city dry, while Japanese fans in Dallas marvelled in the delights of Texas barbecue. Then there was the game itself and its stars, such as Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi and Jude Bellingham. But a maelstrom of complications threatened the sense of inclusion this year, particularly due to host country United States being at war with Iran. Deputy editor Nick Ralston today discusses the joy and tension he witnessed at matches in the United States and Canada - as well as that viral Aussie chant about Donald Trump.

A growing majority of Australians want housing prices to fall, in some cases by more than 20 per cent, according to new polling exclusive to our mastheads. Could it be that our decades-long obsession with growing house prices is finally coming to a halt? Today senior economics correspondent Shane Wright talks about why conventional wisdom about what voters want from housing seems to be wrong.

Melbourne property developers, entrepreneurs and small business owners are promising huge sums to Pauline Hanson’s partybefore November's state election. They say it’s in return for advocacy on key policy areas.It is advocacy these donors think will be stronger coming from One Nation, rather than the party they once supported – the Coalition. But the identities of these donors are, so far, shrouded in secrecy. Senior reporter Sarah Danckert says one reason is because they’re feeling some shame about their promise to One Nation. In today’s episode, Danckert explains why Hanson is attracting more donations from business circles beyond her most wealthiest backer, mining magnate Gina Rinehart.

This week, we’re talking about a visit from Narendra Modi to Australia and why Anthony Albanese wants to bask in the Indian prime minister’s limelight, despite questions around Modi’s human rights record. And in an environment where One Nation and the Coalition want to go hard on migration, Albanese’s friendship with Modi looks like it stands in stark contrast. But that’s not what piqued everyone’s interest in Canberra this week. We’re still talking about Albanese’s perplexing podcast interview in which he said he’d "shag" popstar Kylie Minogue and joked about melons and the Japanese PM. And, we cover the new data that shows how bad Australia’s inflation is compared to other nations. This week’s episode is hosted by Jacqueline Maley and features chief political correspondent Paul Sakkal.

China launched a rare ballistic missile from a nuclear-powered submarine into the Pacific on Monday. It wasn’t just putting nearby countries, like Australia, on notice. It was making a statement that has changed the world, says international and political editor Peter Hartcher. He joins Samantha Selinger-Morris to discuss why this missile launch differs greatly from the one China launched two years ago, and why we have yet to hear a response from US President Donald Trump.

Allegations of cheating and sporting corruption have followed the revelation that Donald Trump intervened in the FIFA World Cup to overturn the suspension of an American player. But the ramifications of this unprecedented event might far outlast the tournament. Today, Sydney Morning Herald deputy editor Nick Ralston and North America correspondent Michael Koziol on the politics of Trump's intervention before the United States' knockout loss to Belgium.

Over the weekend, a particularly deadly strain of bird flu was confirmed in NSW for the first time. This takes the total of confirmed cases nationwide to six. Today, science reporter Angus Dalton on how much of a risk we’re dealing with.

The death of 17-year-old Thai girl, Thanchanok Donhomla, has shocked Australia, and sparked fear among sex workers in Pattaya. Thanchanok's body was found in a suitcase and dumped in long grass by a railway. The man accused of murdering her is 45-year-old Australian, Simon Peter Carman. He is being held in the Pattaya Remand Prison. Today, guest host Benjamin Preiss talks to Southeast Asia correspondent Zach Hope who says, in the world’s sex capital, a rampant industry funded by anonymous male tourists has come into sharp focus.

The government's capital gains tax and negative gearing changes are now legislated, and this week there has been some early data on how these changes are hitting the property market. Plus, Labor's compromise on gambling advertising reforms and Angus Taylor's leadership of the Liberal Party. Senior economics correspondent Shane Wright and federal political correspondent Natassia Chrysanthos join Jacqueline Maley to discuss. 

In December last year, Australia was confronted with its worst-ever incident of antisemitic violence when gunmen killed 15 people on Bondi Beach at a Hanukkah gathering. That came after the firebombing of the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne and an arson attack on the Lewis' Continental Kitchen in Sydney. The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, or ASIO, has now warned that hatred of Jews is one factor virtually all violent extremist cohorts have in common. How did we reach a point where so many Jews now say they feel unsafe in Australia? Today’s discussion, guest-hosted by Benjamin Preiss, is with international and political editor Peter Hartcher.   Background reading It’s the unique hate that inflames all others, and Australia is failing to quell it

The Victorian government has staked its reputation, to a large extent, on an ambitious infrastructure program – termed the Big Build by state Labor, the program includes major road and rail projects totalling billions of dollars.  Victoria Police however, say there is no doubt gangland-linked corruption has infiltrated the Big Build.  Today, investigative reporter Nick McKenzie joins Benjamin Preiss on the revelations of wrongdoing within Victoria's Big Build.   Background reading ‘Organised, strategic and out of our remit’: Police issue reality check on Big Build corruption

Karl Stefanovic was the face of Australian morning television for 25 years. Lauded for wearing the same suit for a year to highlight sexism, laughed at for showing up drunk on air following the Logies. Now he’s agreed to part ways with Nine, the owner of our mastheads, after he featured far-right, anti-Islam British activist Tommy Robinson on his podcast. Today, columnist and senior journalist Jacqueline Maley on whether the Stefanovic saga is the new rite of passage for the middle-aged man, or, if it signifies a fundamental shift in mainstream media.

For decades, neuroscientists have offered opposing theories for how our brains process the risks and rewards of daily life. Some thought our brains dedicate the most energy into managing everyday realities. Others have thought our brains fire up when we’re thrown something unexpected. Now we have an answer. And it might make you re-think how you live. Today, science reporter Angus Dalton on findings by researchers from the University of Sydney, published in The Journal of Neuroscience, that might help explain how our brains are functioning, in this age of information overload.

This week independent MPs Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender announced they would form a new political party, Community Strong Australia. Steggall was successful as the first teal candidate, winning the prize seat of Warringah on Sydney’s north shore from former prime minister Tony Abbott in 2019. Spender took Sydney’s blue-ribbon electorate of Wentworth from Liberal David Sharma in 2022. But the leaderless Community Strong is a high-risk strategy, as all other teal MPs have declined to join. Today, Steggall is a special guest on Inside Politics with Jacqueline Maley to talk about, amid the fracturing of the Coalition and the rise of One Nation, why now is the right time for Community Strong Australia.

More Australians feel unsafe in the world than ever before, according to new research from the Lowy Institute. And it is this environment of fear – fear of a bad economy, of terrorism, of immigration – that makes for an environment ripe for a political party like One Nation to prosper. Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher on how Australia is experiencing a moment he has never witnessed before, and where the solutions lie.   Background reading This is the Australia that Pauline Hanson has been waiting for – a frightened country

After months of criticism, and two significant scandals, Sir Keir Starmer has resigned as British prime minister. So, why is the country on the cusp of having is seventh prime minister in only 10 years? Today, Europe correspondent David Crowe on Starmer’s drastic fall, and on Andy Burnham, the unconventional politician who’s expected to take his place.

With heritage-listed sandstone turrets and iron gates, the Redeemer Baptist School promises Sydney parents the private school dream: a prestigious, disciplined education for a fraction of the cost.  But its academic awards, state-of-the-art facilities and charitable works conceal a darker reality. Today education reporter Emily Kowal talks to The Morning Edition host Samantha Selinger-Morris on allegations from former students who say the school ordered them to share bedrooms with teachers, and subjected them to authoritarian control. Or, as the school’s student diary put it, “Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.”

For decades now, if someone died, there were two choices: burial, or cremation. But soon, Australians may get a third choice for how they choose to farewell their loved ones, thanks to a growing trend overseas. Today, senior writer Bevan Shields on human composting: a method of burial that may give you the ick, but that is giving many others profound peace of mind.

The hottest ticket in Australian politics this week was Pauline Hanson's first address to the National Press Club, which happened on Wednesday. The Press Club, set up in the early 1960s, has become a rite of passage for any aspiring political leader. But Hanson has been an outsider, and the Press Club represents the type of institution she rejects, so until now the One Nation leader has never made an appearance there. Her speech, as Inside Politics host Jacqueline Maley and chief political commentator James Massola discuss, was extraordinary for her position on Australian culture, late-term abortions, Muslim migration and her attack on female journalists.

A big first-game upset over Turkey sets the scene perfectly for a grudge match in Australia’s crucial game against the World Cup hosts at 5am on Saturday morning (AEST). Behind the scenes, a fiery cocktail of history, spiteful friendlies, and straight-up disrespect from American soccer pundits has turned this Group D clash into a highly personal grudge match. In this bonus episode, host Samantha Selinger-Morris talks to sports reporter Vince Rugari, who will be on the ground in Seattle, to break down the trash talk, the tactical madness of Tony Popovic, and why this insanely talented, multicultural Australian squad might just have the youth and stoicism to silence a hostile American crowd. Background reading: https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/yank-hypocrisy-why-mike-grella-s-socceroos-slander-rings-so-hollow-20260615-p606xk.html

What have Iran and the United States actually agreed to in the memorandum of understanding that the two countries announced over the weekend? Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher breaks it down for us, to work out if it’s a peace deal, a ceasefire, or something else entirely. Background reading  Trumped-up peace deal at the mercy of another nation, and it’s not Iran Everything you need to know about the US-Iran peace deal

This weekend thousands of teenagers will sit the entry exam for one of four select-entry government schools for high-achieving students in Victoria. It’s a nerve-recking experience and the stakes are high. Many students will miss out on a place. In NSW, competition is also fierce for a spot at select-entry schools. Students in both states spend countless hours preparing for the exams. Today, Age education reporter Jackson Graham and Sydney Morning Herald education editor Christopher Harris explain how select-entry schooling became such a big deal and such big business.

They are one of the big four accounting firms. Government agencies and major corporations trust them to audit their books and ensure everything is above board. So what happens when one of these auditors is accused of a catastrophic failure of integrity? KPMG will face this question and many others when it fronts a Senate inquiry this week. The explosive claims emerged after a whistleblower brought allegations the firm misused confidential client data to potentially win business with other companies. Today, senior business reporter Colin Kruger explains why this scandal extends well beyond the big end of town and might affect anyone with an investment or super fund.