Steve Cannane

A cross-party delegation of jet-lagged and obstinate Australian parliamentarians arrived in Washington DC last September to advocate for Julian Assange’s freedom. Those in the room reflect on how the “robust”, and at times “aggressive”, meeting went.

For the first time, two of the people closest to the negotiations to free Julian Assange have revealed what it took to convince the United States to release the man who had published hundreds of thousands of their most secret documents.

A former financial planner who stole $3.3 million from his clients to fund his sports betting addiction writes to the prime minister from his prison cell, urging him to adopt the recommendations made by a parliamentary inquiry into online gambling harm.

Paul Montgomery was brought in by these brothers as a trusted friend to run the financial side of their business but as they made him general manager, he stole millions, was duchessed by gambling company VIPs and lost it all while on a multi-million dollar losing streak.

The credibility of the Albanese government's much vaunted wagering self-exclusion scheme BetStop has been called into question after loopholes in the system allowed a Sydney man to lose nearly $70,000 despite signing up to a lifetime ban.

When the prime minister answered a question about protecting children from gambling harm he gave statistics that mystified experts and advocates. The source of the figures remains a mystery.

Kate and the message she wants the PM to hear

Gambling advertisements could be broadcast during TV programs that are popular with children, prompting concerns that the federal government's plans to restrict the ads won't go far enough to protect young people from harm.

Gambling reform advocates say greater action is needed to crack down on offshore gambling operators who are illegally targeting Australians, including recovered addicts.

Horrified by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Ozzy signed up to fight with the Ukrainian foreign legion despite having no military experience. Within weeks, he was on the front lines, dodging attacks from rockets and suicide drones.