Sarah Davenport, Elizabeth Fouldes, Dom Niere and Sam Deshayes bring you the stories they've been following around Melbourne the country.  This week: The state government has been urged to support pill testing by a second coroner this year, as Queensland moves to become the first state to roll out the service at music festivals. The federal government’s Housing Future Fund has passed the senate after Labor reached a deal with the Greens after months of negotiations. A first of its kind hub for Melbourne’s gig workers has opened in the CBD to provide amenities for a growing cohort of workers without an office. Aspiring high school teachers will soon study for free under a state government initiative after a rally outside Parliament House last week. Victorian series 'Neighbours' returns to screens on Monday, but there’s trouble for interstate productions with funding cuts in New South Wales and a pay dispute in Queensland. And in sport: Kyra Cooney-Cross has become the latest Matildas player to sign with an overseas football club, making a deadline day deal to play for Arsenal in Europe’s Women’s Super League. Our team reports from SYN Media’s Melbourne/Naarm studios in the eastern Kulin nation.  We recognise this land has not been ceded and respectfully acknowledge its traditional owners — the Wurundjeri people and elders — past, present and emerging.

Sarah Davenport and Elizabeth Fouldes bring you SYN Media's weekly wrap of the biggest stories covered by the news and current affairs team. Declan Evans, Bridie Golding, Sura Mishra, Freddie Moffat, Ruby Littler, Tayla Oates, Nick Sarlos-Welsh and Loughlin Patrick report. SYN general manager Ruby Smith has launched the station's first 'Radiothon' pledge drive in over a decade - aiming to raise $50 thousand in three weeks. Grocery giant Woolworths will take over delivery service Milkrun in a deal the Australian Financial Review reports is worth around 10 million dollars. Professor Lucas Walsh has released a new report into food insecurity among international students; he shares his takeaways from this week's state budget. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has attended this week’s G7 summit in Japan as a guest, after U.S. President Joe Biden cancelled a Quad alliance meeting. Cerise Howard has been named as the new program director for the Melbourne Queer Film Festival; she aims to showcase the history of queer film culture. Jetstar has tightened up its check-in and boarding rules in a bid to restore punctuality to its beleaguered flight schedules - giving its passengers shorter windows. Ben Bjarnesen marks the fourth LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Day - founded by his organisation in a bid to improve reporting and policing for those impacted. Prominent ABC journalist Stan Grant is on 8 weeks leave after facing online abuse and threats against his family; a man has been charged over online threats to him. The federal government has confirmed it will move forward with regulations on 'Buy Now, Pay Later' services after the treasury found they contribute to financial harm. Doctor Quentin Maire shares new research showing many young people still feel hopeless after developing these feelings during the worst of the pandemic. A freshly-discovered fossil in South Africa has shown an ancient species of predator migrated across continents while active - after last being seen in Russia. A report into New South Wales policing incidents shows recommendations were made about mental health callouts before the death of a 95-year-old dementia patient. If this episode raised concerns for you, call 1800 RESPECT - the national sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line - on 1800 737 732.  Or, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.  In an emergency, always call Triple Zero (000). SYN Media's current affairs team covers local news on Panorama, political developments on Represent, and feats of athleticism on The Sports Desk.  Visit syn.org.au/news to keep up with the latest updates from the newsroom.

Sam Deshayes and Mia Ranaletta bring you SYN Media's weekly wrap of the biggest stories covered by the news and current affairs team. Elizabeth Fouldes, Bridie Golding, Tess McCracken, Sura Mishra, Freddie Moffat, Ruby Littler, Tayla Oates, Nick Sarlos-Welsh, Vince Trease and Loughlin Patrick report. Gene Bawden is a researcher with ‘Consenting Cities’ organisers XYX Lab, and tells SYN Media urban design choices can contribute to gendered violence risk factors. The state government has awarded a new contract to a firm set to overhaul the Myki public transport ticketing system - besieged by technical faults and cost overruns. International students will face higher visa fees and stricter work requirements as part of changes in the federal budget to strengthen the integrity of the migration system. Tasmania’s Liberal state government has been thrown into a minority after two MPs resigned from the party this week, taking aim at a proposed $700 million stadium. Melbourne looked a little more colourful this week as queer advocates marked an annual day of advocacy, but it comes amid a fraught time for the local community. CarSales editor Terry Martin speaks to SYN Media about what the federal government's National Electric Vehicle Strategy means for Australian consumers. Gambling advertising has come under the microscope as politicians from both major federal parties took aim at the industry - but has the Prime Minister been wedged? Apple has expanded its satellite emergency calling feature to Australia and New Zealand this week - but only to users of its newest devices, who'll need to pay up. Google has unveiled a new language model using machine learning alongside other hardware at its annual flagship showcase, set to be deployed across its products. And, research published this week may finally settle a long-standing debate about which sea creature is the world’s oldest animal; was it the sea sponge or comb jelly? SYN Media's current affairs team covers local news on Panorama, political developments on Represent, and feats of athleticism on The Sports Desk.  Visit syn.org.au/news to keep up with the latest updates from the newsroom.

Vi Truong and Nick Sarlos-Welsh bring you SYN Media's weekly wrap of the biggest stories covered by the news and current affairs team. Nyah Barnes, Declan Evans, Elizabeth Fouldes, Sura Mishra, Freddie Moffat, Ruby Littler, Tayla Oates, Lizzie Thompson, Vince Trease and Loughlin Patrick report. Researcher Dr Debajyoti Charkrabarty says Australia’s most marginalised people need federal government support and tells SYN Media what support is expected. The Albanese Government’s first May budget takes on cost of living and the deficit, with a $14.6 billion relief package and an expected $4.2 billion surplus reported. The budget’s cost of living package included a long-awaited proposal to expand access to the Single Parent Payment, lifting the cut-off from 8-years-old to 14. The budget also focused on energy, with the federal government announcing a $2 billion investment in green hydrogen production as it chases its net-zero targets. Warren Mundine and Jacinta Price have merged their separate campaigns against the voice to parliament as the referendum nears and the 'Yes' campaign strengthens. The state Liberal party has voted to expel MP Moira Deeming after she issued a defamation concerns notice to leader John Pesutto about her March suspension. Author Ronnie Scott is fresh from last weekend’s Melbourne Writers’ Festival, and tells SYN Media about queer representation and access to Australian publishing. King Charles and his Queen-Consort Camilla were crowned in the U.K. over the weekend in a scaled back ceremony, as Australians reflect on the monarchy's role. New reporting from Core Logic shows the rental crisis is worsening as prices continue to outpace wages, with Melbourne no longer Australia’s most affordable city to rent in. Missing Tasmanian teenager Shyanne-Lee Tatnell is yet to be found after disappearing two weeks ago, with her Launceston community still searching. A group of researchers have discovered evidence of microbes digesting plastic at cooler temperatures than previously thought possible - but it's not a silver bullet. Ballarat drivers will trial digital licences from July as the state government gears up to rework the system, adding real-time updates and on-the-spot verification from 2024. SYN Media's current affairs team covers local news on Panorama, political developments on Represent, and feats of athleticism on The Sports Desk.  Visit syn.org.au/news to keep up with the latest updates from the newsroom.

Asyiqin Sanif and Declan Evans bring you SYN Media's weekly wrap of the biggest stories covered by the news and current affairs team. Nyah Barnes, Taymi Brook, Isabella Coldbeck, Bridie Golding, Sura Mishra, Freddie Moffat, Lizzie Thompson, Vince Trease and Loughlin Patrick report. Researcher Niamh White on how campaigns targeting transgender people have become a concern of her queer history content study participants. The state government has announced it intends to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12 years old from late next year. Chefs have paid tribute to MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo, who died on the day of the cooking show’s return this week. Health Minister Mark Butler has announced a crackdown on ‘black market’ vapes amid a rise in use among young people. Senior Google computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton has quit the firm to freely discuss the risks of artificial intelligence. 7NEWS has revealed the federal government intends to announce an increase to Jobseeker payments, but only for people over 55. The James Webb Space Telescope has found water vapour near a distant planet, but where did it originate from? Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockcliff has received the AFL’s 19th licence from outgoing league boss Gillion McLachlan. The Guardian has revealed a Russian oligarch funded Premier League club, Everton, while barred from entering the U.K. Students and staff from five Melbourne universities took to the streets to protest poor working conditions in the education sector. The federal government intends to double how much medication is dispensed to Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme users at a time. Australia’s National Electric Vehicle Strategy aims to improve access as a a key part of the nation’s net-zero strategy - but how does it work? SYN Media's current affairs team covers local news on Panorama, political developments on Represent, and feats of athleticism on The Sports Desk.  Visit syn.org.au/news to keep up with the latest updates from the newsroom.

Adam Miller and Owen Gonsalves bring you SYN Media's weekly wrap of the biggest stories covered by the news and current affairs team.  Nyah Barnes, Isabella Chambers, Bridie Golding, Sura Mishra, Freddie Moffat and Loughlin Patrick report. Last Laugh: Comedian Sammy J bids farewell to political satire characters Great Wall: A report lambasts Australia's "broken," "unfair" migration system. Fading Voices: Support for a Voice to Parliament drops in some states. Goodbye, Possums: Barry Humphries, of Dame Edna fame, dies at 86. Growing Old: U.S. President Joe Biden launches campaign for second term. Bill Shock: Fox News' record defamation payout to Dominion Voting Systems. Close Up: Global research efforts furnish a second picture of a black hole. Last Season: Designer Tom Ford steps away from namesake fashion brand. War Footing: Once-in-a-generation review reshapes Australia's defence force. Journey's End: SpaceX starship explodes 4 minutes into maiden test flight. New Voices: Shadow cabinet reshuffle promotes anti-voice campaigners. Ramping Up: Disability Minister Bill Shorten sets sights on NDIS shakeup. SYN Media's current affairs team covers local news on Panorama, political developments on Represent, and feats of athleticism on The Sports Desk.  Visit syn.org.au/news to keep up with the latest updates from the newsroom.

Get your weekly wrap of the stories covered by SYN Media’s news and current affairs team every Sunday at 4 p.m. Tune into SYN 90.7FM or DAB+ in Melbourne or Geelong to listen live.  Stream live nationwide on the SYN website or the Community Radio Plus app.  And listen anytime online with your preferred podcast platform. SYN Media’s news and current affairs team includes volunteers broadcasting on Panorama, Represent and The Sports Desk.  They cover a range of stories including local news, science, fashion, politics and sport. Loughlin Patrick is SYN Media's current affairs editor.  Tayla Oates and Vince Trease are Panorama's executive producers.  Bridie Golding and Nyah Barnes are Represent's executive producers.  Sam Menhennet is The Sport Desk's executive producer. News reporters include Taymi Brook, Isabella Chambers, Isabella Coldbeck, Sarah Davenport, Sam Deshayes, Declan Evans, Elizabeth Fouldes, Owen Gonsalves, Ruby Littler, Tess McCracken, Adam Miller, Sura Mishra, Freddie Moffat, Asyiqin Sanif, Nick Sarlos-Welsh, Mia Ranaletta, Lizzie Thompson and Vi Truong.