Chinese fighter plane aggressively challenges a RAAF aircraft. Plus, just 10 passengers on a 170-seat jet: why Rex is struggling. And, what shocked Hedley Thomas about abusive relationships as he launches a new doco.

To find out more about The Front you can link here and for more from the newsroom at The Australian link here or search for The Australian in your app store.

This episode of The Front is presented by Claire Harvey, produced by Hareem Khan, and edited by Tiffany Dimmack and Joshua Burton. The multimedia editor is Lia Tsamoglou, and original music composed by Jasper Leak.