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From the death of underworld matriarch Kath Pettingill to the tragic killing of Sunshine shopkeeper Van Viet Truong, Melbourne’s crime headlines have felt non-stop lately. At the same time, fire-bombings linked to illegal tobacco are allegedly spilling over into Melbourne’s bars and nightlife. But are these just isolated headlines, or is the face of crime in our city fundamentally changing? ABC Crime Reporter Olivia Jenkins joins us now to make sense of it all. Welcome to Saturday Magazine, Olivia Two men have been charged and one arrested after a joint agency investigation into the alleged movement of millions of dollars in cash from Tasmania to Victoria, suspected to be the proceeds of crime from the sale of illicit tobacco. The action was the result of a long-term Tasmania Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (TAS JOCTF) investigation into illicit tobacco in Tasmania. A 33-year-old from Hoppers Crossing, Victoria, and a 22-year-old from Sorell, Tasmania, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on 12 August, 2026. Both were charged with knowingly dealing proceeds of crime and recklessly dealing proceeds of crime. They face a maximum sentence of 25 years’ imprisonment if convicted. It is alleged they facilitated the movement of criminal proceeds in cash from Tasmania and Victoria using hire cars and a commercial passenger and freight vessel. Both were bailed to reappear at the court on 2 December, 2026. During the search warrants, officers seized more than $2.5 million worth of tobacco product, more than $1 million in cash, 9kg of silver bars (worth more than $30,000) and one ounce of gold (worth more than $4000). Police also seized five imitation firearms, including a gel blaster firearm, three registered firearms, a .22 rifle and ammunition, a cash-counting machine and mobile devices. The Sunshine Tragedy: Shopkeeper Van Viet Truong (60) died after allegedly intervening in a youth theft outside his grocery store. Five teenagers were charged (a 15-yo with manslaughter has been remanded in custody; others granted bail). Kath Pettingill’s Death (Age 91): Matriarch of the infamous family tied to the 1988 Walsh St police killings. Serves as the historical marker for Melbourne’s “old” underworld—identifiable family hierarchies now replaced by untraceable digital networks. Dating App Arrests: Five teenagers, aged between 16 and 18, have been arrested this week after allegedly using dating apps to lure men before assaulting and robbing them. To date, 47 similar arrests have been made across the state. Police say they have seen similar incidents occur right across the state, “particularly in local government areas taking in Manningham, Casey, Hume, Moorabbin and Knox”. Olivia Jenkins is the ABC’s crime reporter in Melbourne. She is the winner of a Young Walkley for public service journalism and has been the Melbourne Press Club’s young journalist of the year. She was previously a crime reporter at the Herald Sun The post Sat, 15th August, 2026: Olivia Jenkins, ABC Crime Reporter; Crime in Melbourne: what is changing, who is behind it, and are police and governments keeping up? appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Nevena and John are joined live on air by  Elliot Constable, who  was recently crowned the winner of Race Around the World, bringing to an end 100 days on the road. Unlike previous weeks, contestants on the ABC iview series were able to select their own destination for the reboot’s finale. For Constable, it was the favelas of Brazil. Topping the leaderboard of six filmmakers, Constable has won the crown and funding to produce his own project for the ABC. The post Sat, 15th August, 2026: Elliot Constable, Filmmaker, Race Around the World Winner appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Nevena and John are joined live on air by James Noble, Creative director and founder of Reigner Clothing. James Noble is an Australian fashion designer, film producer, and the founder and creative director of Reigner Clothing, an eclectic Melbourne-based label famous for its vibrant, rhinestone-encrusted, and heavily embroidered western-style suiting Noble originally worked in film production and hated traditional, corporate clothing. When planning his wedding to prominent Melbourne jeweller Millie Savage, he refused to wear a “boring old suit.” He decided to craft a Nudie Cohn-inspired rhinestone suit himself, sparking the official launch of Reigner Clothing in early 2020. Noble draws visual inspiration from retro Vegas casinos, California deserts, native Australian wildlife, and legendary country music tailors. His bespoke garments frequently feature playful, hyper-customised elements ranging from bedazzled eagles to pearl-encrusted prawns. The post Sat, 15th August, 2026: James Noble, Creative director and founder of Reigner Clothing; State of Fashion in Melbourne appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

We are officially at the halfway mark of the 74th Melbourne International Film Festival! Over 300 films, retrospectives, and red-carpet galas have been taking over Melbourne’s cinemas. But beyond the popcorn and packed theatres, what does the festival tell us about the state of cinema today—and where local Australian stories fit on the world stage? Joining us is MIFF Artistic Director, Al Cossar. The 74th edition features over 300 films, shorts, and XR experiences. Due to record audience demand, MIFF expanded into Southbank (Village Cinemas Crown) alongside staple venues like ACMI, The Capitol, Kino, and The Forum. There's a strong presence of Australian feature premieres (including The Fox and Sweet Milk Lake in the $140,000 Bright Horizons competition), plus queer cinema highlights like John Cameron Mitchell's live 25th-anniversary event for Hedwig and the Angry Inch. The post Sat, 15th, August, 2026: Al Cossar Artistic Director, Melbourne International Film Festival appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Nevena and John discuss the plight of David McBride. Former Australian Army military lawyer David McBride  was released from a Canberra prison on parole after serving a 27-month non-parole period, having been sentenced in May 2024 to five years and eight months for leaking classified defense documents that exposed alleged war crimes in Afghanistan. McBride was sentenced to a maximum five years and eight months in jail in May 2024, but is being released on parole after serving his full non-parole period of 27 months. McBride pleased guilty to three charges in November after the ACT supreme court upheld a commonwealth intervention to withhold key evidence the government argued had the potential to jeopardise “the security and defence of Australia”. The charges included stealing commonwealth information and passing that on to journalists at the ABC. The attorney general, Michelle Rowland, approved McBride's release on Thursday. A spokesperson for Rowland confirmed his release to Guardian Australia.  “Mr McBride's parole was considered and granted,” the spokesperson said. “The government does not provide specific commentary or details about individual parole matters.” https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/13/david-mcbride-released-jail-prison-parole The post Sat, 15th, August, 2026: The Plight David McBride; Whistleblower! appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Nevena and John discuss the mass student walk-out during the week, in an anti-racism, anti-Pauline Hanson protest. Students around the country walked out of school to join protests in capital cities and some regions against One Nation and its leader Pauline Hanson. The rallies have been condemned by Ms Hanson, who wrote a message to students on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), saying: “Whether you know it or not, One Nation and I are fighting for you.” In Melbourne, hundreds of students gathered outside the State Library in the CBD carrying anti-One Nation signs, banners and a pinata designed to look like Ms Hanson which was broken apart to reveal lollies. Organised by the National Union of Students, the rally saw speeches from both high school students and political leaders, including former Victorian Greens leader Samantha Ratnam. Ms Ratnam said she was impressed by the turnout. “It gives me hope that we can stop the rise of One Nation,” she said. “Everything is on the line right now.” Courtesy of ABC. The post Sat, 15th, August, 2026: The Anti-Pauline Hanson Student Protests! appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Nevena is in the hosting seat this week and her very special guest host is Author and  Media personality John Safran, as they discuss what’s coming up on this week’s programme and the week that was in news, views and reviews. The post Sat, 15th August, 2026: Weekly Wrap Up with Nevena and John Safran appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

A new Premier, new rules for how we vote, and growing fights over energy and workplace rights—Victorian politics is undergoing a massive reset. Premier Ben Carroll is attempting to carve out a ‘new direction’ for Labor, but with intense pressure over state debt, construction rorts, and controversial legislation, can he reset the narrative in time? With his take is Anthony Galloway, Victorian Political Editor of The Australian. Anthony had a story last week that the Victorian Labor Government had explored privatising Melbourne Water for five years to rescue the state's finances. Named “Project Nerva”, the business case examined ways to attract private investment to fund infrastructure upgrades, such as the Western Treatment Plant. Ben Carroll has been under pressure to rule out doing any sale in the future but is yet to do so. Jacinta Allan announced yesterday that she would not contest the next election after her resignation as Premier. Political Stakes: With the November State Election fast approaching, Carroll has very little time to turn around Labor's polling trajectory while facing aggressive attacks from Coalition Leader Jess Wilson on budget waste and project blowouts. Anthony Galloway is The Australian's Victorian political editor, having reported on some of the nation's biggest security and political stories over the past decade. He was previously foreign affairs and national security correspondent at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, chief political correspondent at Capital Brief and earlier a political reporter at the Herald Sun. The post Sat, 15th August, 2026: Anthony Galloway, Victorian Political Editor, The Australian appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Kenny are joined by Fiona Patten — Former Victorian MP &a Incoming CEO, Medical Cannabis Council and Robbie Swanks live in the studio Before she was a Victorian MP, Fiona Patten spent years campaigning on some of the issues politicians were often most uncomfortable talking about — sex, censorship, reproductive rights and personal freedom. She went on to help establish the Australian Sex Party with her partner, Robbie Swan, and eventually took that campaign for law reform into the Victorian Parliament. Now, as she prepares to move to Canberra to become CEO of the Medical Cannabis Council, another chapter of that story is being told in Robbie Swan’s new book, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Sex Party. It’s part memoir, part social history — and a look at the strange intersection of the sex industry, politics, censorship and activism in Australia. The post Sat, 8th August, 2026: Fiona Patten, Former Victorian MP; Incoming CEO, Medical Cannabis Council appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Fiona, Robbie, Kenny, John and Macca are joined live on air by Reverend Tim Costello — Alliance for Gambling Reform The federal government’s proposed gambling reforms have come under sustained criticism from anti-gambling-harm advocates, and this week Reverend Tim Costello told a Senate committee that the legislation fails the Prime Minister’s own tests for reform. Costello argues that the bill doesn’t do enough to separate gambling from sport, protect children or reduce the saturation of gambling advertising. He says Australia needs a national gambling regulator, a ban on inducements and stronger action on gambling advertising — and argues that incremental reform simply won’t work. Reverend Tim Costello is Chief Advocate for the Alliance for Gambling Reform, and he joins us now. Reverend Tim Costello put some very strong arguments to a Senate committee this week. He told senators that the proposed gambling legislation is, in his words, a “lineball” call as to whether it is actually better than the status quo. He also argued that Australia needs a national regulator, stronger restrictions on inducements and a much tougher approach to gambling advertising. The post Sat, 8th August, 2026: Reverend Tim Costello — Alliance for Gambling Reform appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca, Kenny and John are joined live on air by Ryan Heath — Launch Editor, POLITICO Australia / Canberra Playbook Politics is increasingly global — and Australian politics is no exception. The decisions made in Canberra are shaped by what’s happening in Washington, Beijing, Brussels and beyond, while issues like AI, trade, security, climate and social policy increasingly cross-national borders. POLITICO is launching Canberra Playbook later this month, bringing its particular brand of political intelligence, insider reporting and policy analysis to the Australian capital. Our guest is the person charged with getting it off the ground — Australian journalist Ryan Heath, the original author of POLITICO’s influential Brussels Playbook and now the organisation’s Australia Launch Editor. Founded in Washington in 2007, and employing more than 1,000 journalists and publishing professionals, POLITICO operates a mixture of free journalism and subscription products, including POLITICO Pro, which provides detailed policy and government coverage to professional and institutional audiences. Ryan Heath was the original author of POLITICO’s Brussels Playbook, launched about a decade ago, and was the first person to take the Playbook newsletter model beyond the United States. He is now returning to Australia to launch the Australian edition, Canberra Playbook, on August 17, coinciding with the return of the federal Parliament from its winter recess. Heath has described Canberra as: “a city purpose-built for power and policy” and a “geopolitical capital” connecting East and West. The argument is that Australian politics increasingly cannot be understood purely through domestic politics, and Australia’s relationships with the United States, China, Europe and the Indo-Pacific, as well as issues including technology, AI, defence, trade and energy, have international consequences A number of major international media organisations have established operations in Australia and then withdrawn – among them POLITICO's stablemate Business Insider Australia. The New York Times also closed its Sydney bureau in 2024 and discontinued its Australia-focused newsletter. By contrast, organisations such as the Guardian, BBC and Daily Mail have established significant and continuing Australian operations. POLITICO has also built its reputation around insider access, political intelligence and relationships with people who exercise power – will they be able to do that here? The post Saturday, 8th August, 2026: Ryan Heath, Launch Editor, POLITICO Australia / Canberra Playbook appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Kenny are in the hosting seats this week as they discuss what’s happened in the last 7 days, locally, around the country and globally. News, views, reviews of the week that was and who’s coming up on this week’s programme. The post Saturday, 8th August, 2026: Weekly Wrap Up with Macca and Kenny appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Kenny are joined live in the studio by Jason Heath, who has recently become the new General Manager of Joy Media The post Saturday, 8th August, 2026: Jason Heath, New GM Joy Media appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

This year’s Census represents a pretty significant change for Australia’s trans, gender-diverse and non-binary communities. For the first time, Australians aged 16 and over will be asked about their gender, alongside a separate question about sex recorded at birth. We’re joined by Michelle McNamara and Son Vivienne from Transgender Victoria Transgender Victoria has spent years advocating for this change, arguing that if communities aren’t counted, governments can’t properly plan for them. But there are plenty of questions: Do you actually have to answer the gender question? Why are there two questions? What happens if you’re not out at home? And how private is the information? The 2026 Australian Census is the first Census in which people aged 16 and over will be asked first about their sex as recorded at birth, and then their Gender. Transgender Victoria says comparing the answers to those two questions is the method the Australian Bureau of Statistics considers most accurate for counting trans and gender-diverse people. While the Census is compulsory, answering the gender and sexual orientation questions is a choice. TGV encourages trans and gender-diverse people to answer accurately so that TGD communities are properly represented in the national data. The ABS developed the approach in consultation with community organisations, including Transgender Victoria, and has been using the methodology for five years. TGV says information about sex recorded at birth can help with planning the healthcare some trans and gender-diverse people need, such as access to hormones and cancer screening It can also allow data such as the gender pay gap to be examined according to both sex recorded at birth and current gender. It is possible to request one's own census form for people who are not out at home yet, by either calling the ABS or completing a form through MyGov. TGV supports the new gender question but explicitly acknowledges that people with variations of sex characteristics aren’t specifically counted through a dedicated Census question. That said, Q9, which is about Gender, allows the respondent to select either ;non-binary ; or  another term  and write in a descriptor that fits. The Census asks for your legal name, rather than the name you go by. According to the ABS Census Privacy Statement referenced by TGV, responses to Q8 and Q9 are stored separately from a person’s name and address. TGV highlights the difference between the number of trans and gender-diverse people counted in the 2021 Census — around 50,000 — and estimates of more than 200,000 TGD people in Australia. The 2026 Census is intended to produce much better data because gender will now be asked directly of everyone aged 16 and over. www.tgv.org.au The post Saturday, 8th August, 2026: Michelle McNamara (she/her); Son Vivienne (they/them);Transgender Victoria; Census 2026. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

There has been a reshuffle in the Victorian Government — and one of the changes particularly relevant to our listeners is the decision to move Vicki Ward out of the Equality portfolio. Vicki is now Minister for Public Transport and Creative Industries, while the Equality portfolio has gone to Steve Dimopoulos, an openly gay minister. So what does that change mean for Victoria’s LGBTQIA+ communities? Does it represent a change in priorities for the government, or simply a reshuffling of ministerial responsibilities? And what does Vicki Ward want to achieve in her new portfolios? She’s joining us on Saturday Magazine. The post Saturday, 8th August, 2026: Vicki Ward ,Victorian MP, Minister for Public Transport &; Creative Industries appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Paul talk to MR B-Host of new show on Joy, Methodology about addiction and the everyday struggles of addiction and trauma. The post Sat, 1st August, 2026; MR B-Host of new show on Joy, Methodology appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Paul talk to Steve MinOn; First Name, Second Name: Best selling debut novel The journey will be long and difficult, one thousand miles. Try not to be too obvious. Stick to the backroads. You'll know you've arrived when you get there. Stephen Bolin leaves a bizarre note by his deathbed, asking his sisters to take his body back to his birthplace in Far North Queensland. When they ignore his request, Stephen's corpse makes the nocturnal pilgrimage alone. But what is compelling him and what will he find there? His journey, as a kind of jiangshi, takes him back through his turbulent family history: from his Chinese great-grandfather's life on the goldfields in 1860s Queensland, to his Scottish grandparents' migration to Australia as ten-pound Poms, and to his own coming of age and coming out in Brisbane and London. Original and satirical, First Name Second Name follows four generations of one family through a reckoning with racial, familial and sexual identity. Steve MinOn was an internationally awarded advertising copywriter and a restaurateur before becoming a writer of fiction and children's picture books. He grew up in North Queensland, and he now lives on Turrbal land in Magandjin/Brisbane. Steve's debut novel First Name Second Name (UQP 2025) won the Glendower Award for an Emerging Queensland Writer and was shortlisted for People's Choice at the Queensland Literary Awards. In 2026, it was shortlisted for the MUD Literary Award and nominated for the Dublin Literary Award. He has written often about outsiders and his family's mixed-race ancestral history, and his articles and short stories have been published in SBS Voices and various newspapers and anthologies. The post Sat, 1st August, 2026; Steve MinOn; Best selling debut novel; First Name, Second Name appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca, Paul and Kenny are joined live on air by Tom McIlroy, Political Editor, Guardian Australia; as they discuss the week that was in  Victoria and Federal Politics and Pauline Hanson. Tom McIlroy,  is the political editor for Guardian Australia. Based at Parliament House in Canberra, he spearheads the publication’s coverage of national politics, public policy, and federal elections. McIlroy was previously a political correspondent with the Australian Financial Review, reporting from the press gallery at Parliament House. Born and raised in Melbourne, he has reported for a range of newspapers in Australia and overseas, including The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, Ballarat Courier, Canberra Times and Houston Chronicle. A graduate of Melbourne University and RMIT University, McIlroy has been featured in a range of publications including Meanjin and Art Monthly Australasia. Based in Canberra, he writes on national politics, the arts, tax and the economy. Blue Poles is his first book. The post Sat, 1st August, 2026; Tom McIlroy, Political Editor, Guardian Australia; Victoria and Federal Politics Update. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca, Kenny and Paul are in the Driver’s Seat as they dissect and discuss a momentous week in state politics, the news, reviews and views of the last seven days plus so much more. The post Sat, 1st August, 2026; Weekly Wrap Up with Macca, Paul and Kenny. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Paul talk to Kate Fitzpatrick, Senior Programmer at MIFF; about this years Melbourne international Film Festival. Kate has worked in the Arts for over 15 years for organisations such as Australian Centre for the Moving Image. She has served on the jury for Melbourne Fringe, Melbourne Queer Film Festival, WA Screen Awards, Dome Under Film Festival, appeared on panels at SXSW Austin and Sydney, St Kilda Film Festival, Good Movie Mondays podcast, ABC radio and Triple R and was one of Screen International's Future Leaders in 2024. The post Sat, 1st August, 2026; Kate Fitzpatrick, Senior Programmer at MIFF; MIFF Programme 2026 appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Paul did a pre-recorded an interview Emily Walter, National Spokesperson for the 2026 Census. Emily Walter is a senior leader at the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and serves as the official Census National Spokesperson for the upcoming 2026 Australian Census, scheduled for Tuesday, 11 August 2026. Specialising in digital services and public-facing data programs, she is the primary public voice leading community outreach, media briefings, and public education campaigns for the national count. The post Sat, 1st August, 2026; Emily Walter, National Spokesperson for the 2026 Census appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca, Kenny and Paul are joined live on air by Alan Joyce, Former CEO QANTAS. Alan Joyce: Riding the Jet Stream is a compelling, factual and gripping memoir from one of Australia's most consequential chief executives. With a network spanning seven prime ministers and countless captains of industry, Alan Joyce provides a no-holds-barred account of some of the most important decisions taken during his career leading one aviation’s most respected brands. Few chief executives have been tested as relentlessly: the Global Financial Crisis, bitter industrial battles, unrelenting public scrutiny, and the near collapse of aviation during COVID. In a role where every decision is hugely consequential, Alan sets the record straight and tells his story as it happens – in real time, under pressure – in this candid memoir, tells the story of Joyce growing up in Dublin to becoming CEO of QANTAS and the one of the most influential openly Gay personalities in Australia. From grounding the Qantas fleet, to steering through a pandemic that brought global travel to a standstill, Alan's tenure is woven into some of the nation's most significant moments. The post Sat, 1st August, 2026; Alan Joyce, Former CEO QANTAS, Alan Joyce: Riding the Jet Stream appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca is joined in the hosting seat, for the first half of this week’s show by Misha Ketchell, Editor-in-Chief of the Conversation. Misha is the Editor of The Conversation Australia and New Zealand. He has been a journalist for more than 25 years. He was the founding editor of The Big Issue Australia and editor of Crikey, The Reader and The Melbourne Weekly. He was a reporter at The Age and worked at the ABC where he was a TV producer on Media Watch and The 7:30 Report and an editor on The Drum. Macca and Misha discuss New UK PM Andy Burham; job losses at Nine; what’s come out from the ALP conf in Adelaide Oasis Index and Big Mac Index Melbourne recently took top spot on the “Oasis index”, an annual metric published by Deutsche Bank that tracks the price of beer and cigarettes in cities around the world. The index tracks the cost of five beers and two packets of cigarettes, in US dollars, city by city. Inspired by the lyrics of the song Cigarettes and Alcohol, from Oasis's 1994 debut album Definitely Maybe. Melbourne's Oasis basket comes to US$111.20 (about A$160). That's slightly ahead of Sydney at US$109.50 (A$157), but roughly double the equivalent basket in New York – US$54.10 (about A$78). Sydney came a very close second, reflecting what the report called “Australia's relentless application of sin taxes”. If you're in Melbourne the Oasis index shows the same round of beer and cigarettes cost US$59 (A$84) in 2016. The cost has risen by 89%. The Oasis index is just one of many unusual metrics that aim to reveal economic insights by looking at spending habits on everything from lipstick to underwear. Big Mac Index Princeton University economics professor Orley Ashenfelter has travelled the world visiting McDonald's stores. Big Macs earned per hour index to show real wages. India: four hours to buy one big mac. Korea: two big macs per hour. Most developed countries sit at two big macs per hour. Maccas workers in Australia get 3.3 big macs per hour, putting us at or near the top. For years, economists have been using “novelty” metrics because these are often more relatable and easier for the public to understand. There are several famous examples. The hemline index, first introduced by economist George Taylor in the 1920s, is based on an assumption that the length of skirts rises and fall in line with the stock market. The hemline index suggests skirt lengths rise and fall based on the strength of the economy. The theory – which despite some supporting evidence, remains controversial – is that when the economy is flourishing, hemlines get shorter. By contrast, in an economic downturn, hemlines get longer. The men's underwear index was coined by the late former Chair of the US Federal Reserve Alan Greenspan. Greenspan noticed that during tighter economic conditions, men cut back on a basic but hidden necessity – boxers and briefs. People can't see what you are wearing under your clothes, so its easier to delay replacing threadbare briefs to save money. Then we have the lipstick index. This was coined after Estée Lauder chairman Leonard Lauder noticed, in 2001, that lipstick sales were increasing even while discretionary spending fell. The assumption here is that in times of economic uncertainty, consumers resort to affordable luxuries rather than big-ticket items such as holidays or cars. Psychologically, we still want to reward ourselves, but at a smaller scale. And no roundup of unusual indices should exclude the Big Mac index, introduced in 1986 by The Economist magazine to demonstrate purchasing power parity across the world. It prices an identical burger everywhere it's sold, so any gap in the US-dollar price is a rough signal of whether a currency is over- or undervalued. Universities Julie Hare, OZ most experienced higher education reporter:  ‘We've got vice-chancellors here in third-tier universities who are paid more than the vice-chancellors of Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard. It's insane.' NSW's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) earlier this month John Dewar clumsily attempted to explain away accusations put to him that he advantaged his employer, the advisory firm KordaMentha, to successfully win contracts at the University of Wollongong, where he had been seconded as an interim vice-chancellor. Dewar was employed by KordaMentha in February 2024 as a partner to run its higher education practice. A couple of months later, he was approached by the University of Wollongong's chancellor, Michael Still, to fill in as vice-chancellor. KordaMentha didn't seem to have a problem with their new high-profile hire jumping ship just four months after signing on. Why? Well, it seems the firm expected, quite confidently, that there would be a quid pro quo. That is, Dewar's appointment would lead to a lucrative pipeline of work for the consultancy. KordaMentha secured work at UoW that grew to contracts worth $3.8 million. International student numbers dropping, Chinese Students down around 30% But Job Ready Graduates continue. In 2027, one third of Australian university students will be paying $17,399.  A standard three-year arts degree more than $52,000, compared with a nursing degree, which will be less than $15,000. The discrepancy is a result of the Morrison government's Job-ready Graduates scheme. The Albanese government agrees the scheme has failed but it has no plan to replace it. Job-ready Graduates cut student contributions in teaching, nursing, engineering and IT courses to encourage them to do degrees the Coalition government saw as “job-ready”. At the same time, student contributions jumped for arts, business and law. In 2024, a major government report on higher education – the found the policy had “failed” and needed to be replaced. The new Australian Tertiary Education Commission says it is exploring what could replace Job-ready Graduates. The commission is not due to provide advice to the government on the matter until the second half of 2027. The post Sat, July 25th, 2026: Weekly Wrap Up with Macca and Misha Ketchell, Editor-in-Chief of the Conversation.  appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Misha and Macca are joined live on air Bruce Wolpe is a Senior Fellow (non-resident) at the United States Studies Centre. Bruce is a regular contributor on US politics across media platforms in Australia. In recent years, Bruce has worked with the Democrats in Congress during President Barack Obama's first term, and on the staff of Prime Minister Julia Gillard. He has also served as the former PM's chief of staff. The post Sat, July 25th, 2026: Bruce Wolpe; – Snr Fellow, US Study Centre, Uni. Syd; Latest from Washington including Trump’s standing; Iran; Coming Midterms appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Kenny are joined live on air by Michael Balk President, Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA); Pay Up: Should AI companies pay for the creative work they use? Artificial intelligence is changing how we create, consume and discover news, music, books and art. But as AI companies train their models on enormous amounts of creative work, artists, journalists and performers are asking a simple question: if your work is being used to build billion-dollar AI products, shouldn’t you be paid? Joining us this morning is Michael Balk, President of the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, to discuss the union’s Pay Up campaign. Michael is an actor and producer best known for his work in children's television and theatre as part of dirtgirlworld (An animated program that appeared in the 2010s and is now a touring show), but has also appeared in musicals, theatre productions and television commercials. The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA) is Australia’s union representing journalists, actors, musicians, screen workers, voice artists, photographers and other creative professionals. Its Pay Up campaign argues that generative AI systems are being trained using enormous collections of copyrighted creative works—including journalism, books, photographs, illustrations, music, scripts and performances—without creators’ knowledge, consent or payment. The campaign calls for governments to change the law so creators will receive an ongoing, fair payment whenever their work is used, rather than a one-off fee, under a system called Equitable Remuneration. It also calls on them to give workers a secure right to be paid when the works they create are licenced, traded or used in any way – including by AI companies. Equitable Remuneration currently does not exist in Australia, but does in the UK and other nations. Australian DJ and music producer Josh Fawaz used AI to generate vocals and drums for a cover of Madonna's 1989 hit “Like a Prayer” which spent 4 weeks on top of the National Radio Airplay charts and peaked at Number 2 on the ARIA charts. After initially saying nothing, he has now been compelled to add AI credits to the track on Spotify. The AI-assisted cover is currently beating Madonna's new single “Danceteria” on the ARIA charts. At its national conference this week, the ALP announced it would launch a Fair AI Taskforce through its Chifley Research Centre, which proposes to give Australian workers a greater say in how the technology shapes the nation. Microsoft signed a one-year pilot deal to access news articles from Nine Media to inform its Co-Pilot AI system, letting it use information from news stories to inform its answers – but not to give users access to the full story. Nine did not disclose the value of the deal. Nine Entertainment will lay off 30 people from The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald due to “the extreme state of disruption” caused by AI. The company has plans to retrain and to hire people for “digital-first, reader-savvy, data-informed roles”, The Guardian reports. According to the Reuters Institute's Digital News Report 2026, 10% of news consumers around the world use AI chatbots to get their news. For those aged under 35, it climbs to 16%. The post Sat, July 25th, 2026: Michael Balk President, Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA); Pay Up: Should AI companies pay for the creative work they use? appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Kenny are joined live in the studio by Aiv Puglielli Legislative Council Member for Nth East Metro; Aust Greens; as they discuss if Victoria should abolish street auctions? The Greens’ proposal to change how homes are sold Standing on a suburban footpath while an auctioneer calls for bids has become part of Melbourne’s identity. But should that tradition come to an end? The Victorian Greens say outdoor auctions create unnecessary pressure on buyers and are proposing legislation to move property sales indoors or online instead. Joining us is Greens MP Aiv Puglielli. The Victorian Greens have announced the housing policy they will take to the state election, which among other things would ban outdoor residential property auctions. Auctions could still occur indoors or online or in another private format, but not publicly, which the Greens argue create a performative atmosphere where buyers feel pressure to exceed their budgets because of competition, social expectation and fear of missing out. The Greens also propose: To compel agents to disclose auction reserve prices before sale; To require real estate agents and buyers' agents to declare fixed fees; To require vendors to foot the bill for building and pest reports. To Abolish stamp duty for homes up to $1.1 million in value Increase land tax to 5.3% for investors with more than $5 million in investment properties, Build over 88,000 public homes Cap maximum rent increase every year at wage growth rate (or inflation, whichever is lower). Jacinta Allan's Labor Government introduced laws in June that require agents to publish a reserve price at least seven days before any auction or sale, as well as to disclose the final sold price to the public. These laws come into effect on October 1. Labor has also promised to force sellers to pay for building and pest inspections if re-elected. The post Sat, July 25th, 2026: Aiv Puglielli Legislative Council Member for Nth East Metro; Aust Greens; Should Victoria abolish street auctions? The Greens’ proposal to change how homes are sold appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Kenny talk to Cr Alex Makin Mayor, City of Port Phillip Port Phillip’s 2026–27 Budget: investing in neighbourhoods while balancing rising costs The City of Port Phillip has adopted its 2026–27 Budget, promising continued investment in parks, streets, libraries, community facilities and services while navigating the financial pressures facing councils across Victoria. Mayor Alex Makin joins us to discuss the budget and the priorities shaping the year ahead. The City of Port Phillip includes St Kilda, South Melbourne, Port Melbourne, Balaclava and Elwood. It is also home to the Victorian Pride Centre, JOY Media and many LGBTQIA+ organisations, making inclusion and community wellbeing important considerations in council planning. The 2026/27 Budget is the second of Council's 4-year plan for Port Phillip, which includes a “significant capital works program to maintain, grow and improve services and facilities – despite rising costs and continuing high inflation, on-going rate capping challenges and government cost-shifting.” Council says “Due to financial pressures such as rising costs significantly outstripping rates growth and the continuing uncertain economic climate, additional revenue is needed to supplement rates income. This includes a general 3 per cent increase in fees and charges, unless it makes sense to vary.” Makin claims the budget will embed $2.4 million in efficiency savings. Budget 2026/27 includes an average rate rise of 2.75 per cent in line with the Victorian Government's rate cap, which Council says is lower than forecast inflation of 4.9 per cent. The budget is debt-free apart from existing leases which are part of the financing strategy. The default waste charge will rise $47.70 to $278, with $25.20 of this reflecting the inclusion of dumped rubbish and public litter bins (which have been removed from general rates). The other $22.50 has been driven by the renewal of the waste collection contract, a six per cent increase in the Victorian Government's landfill levy and inflation driving up waste expenditure. A planned $123.1 million in capital works and initiatives include: $26 million on parks, open space and streetscapes, including $530,000 towards the Sandridge Recreation Precinct in Fishermans Bend and new open space in Lakeside ($450,000) fencing for the off-leash dog park at Fennell Reserve in Port Melbourne ($440,000) and planning for further off-leash dog parks in Fishermans Bend footpath constructions in Fishermans Bend to improve walkability and sustainable transport further planning and development for places and precincts including precinct planning for Balaclava, Ripponlea and Lakeside/Domain areas with streetscape and open space works, additional greening at Acland Street Plaza, and place planning for Bay Street ($360,000) $20 million investment in essential infrastructure including road renewals and upgrades ($3.6 million) and footpath renewals and expansion ($1.6 million) drainage, flood and water management ($1.6 million) including Water Urban Sensitive Design building improvements totalling $50 million for projects such as the South Melbourne Town Hall restoration and redevelopment of six Children's Centres ($8.3 million). These items were included after the draft Budget was released: $70,000 for the National Theatre to unlock an additional $50,000 in funding from other sources to support the façade restoration and restroom upgrade $60,000 for the St Kilda Police and Citizens Youth Club's youth program Up to $15,000 to trial expanding our Accessible Beaches program to operate year-round in 2026/27 at Port Melbourne Beach and a report on the cost and further work that may be required to extend the program to South Melbourne and Sandridge Beaches. Council will also continue funding for: addressing loneliness and isolation and promoting social connection combatting discrimination, racism and antisemitism additional funding for Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design ($75,000) more local laws patrols and $450,000 for additional public place CCTV greater investment in local arts and events (funded through a reprioritisation of St Kilda Festival funds). Targeted support includes: Continuing the council-funded pensioner rates rebate up to $242, or a maximum of 50 per cent, when combined with the Victorian Government rebate. There's continued funding to support both affordable housing and local organisations assisting vulnerable members of our diverse community. This includes up to $60,000 to support local food security responses, with a focus on strengthening food coordination and improved integration between local food relief providers. The post Sat, July 25th, 2026: Cr Alex Makin Mayor, City of Port Phillip Port Phillip’s 2026–27 Budget: investing in neighbourhoods while balancing rising costs appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Our next guest has become something of a political celebrity in her own right. She’s appeared on television, stolen scenes from interviews and probably has stronger name recognition than some backbench MPs. Stella,   Barnaby Joyce unwittingly made headlines this week when during a live interview with the 7:30 Report, he yelled at his dog Stella to “Sit Down” while being asked if he was comfortable with some of Pauline Hanson's latest decisions – including her recent interview with controversial right-wing figure Tommy Robinson, comments referencing the White Australia policy and the funding of her trip to a fashion show in Sicily. The interruption has gone viral, with many discussing the way in which one ought to address a dog and how it ought to be treated. Barnaby Joyce apologised for yelling: “After getting to a point where I couldn’t really think straight, I had to tell her, in farm language, to be quieter…” “People in the regions laugh about it. People in the inner city think it's a war crime,” he said. He was on Today on Nine the next morning lovingly patting the dog. Stella is a two-year-old Border Collie-cross-Staffordshire Terrier. Pauline Hanson has laughed off the exchange, while One Nation has opened pre-ordering for dog leads emblazoned with “Sit Down” on its website as a piece of merchandise. Barnaby Joyce's wife, Vikki Campion, has written in her Substack that she will be banning the 7:30 Report from conducting interviews at their farm in the wake of the incident. “If you don’t do the interview you are accused of ‘hiding’ from transparency and if you do the interview, you are smashed for yelling at a dog… to sit down.” Meanwhile, Sydney Morning Herald columnist Michelle Cazzulino writes that Barnaby Joyce has delivered a political “masterstroke” in catering to his rural base and making critics seem like disconnected inner-city types. Meanwhile, Pauline Hanson drew criticism again this week for saying that Domestic Violence is “wrong, but it’s also a two-way street.” “I think today everyone’s sitting on a time bomb because the pressures on cost of living and people having to be able to pay the bills, tension that’s going on or if you lose your job or the kids, what’s happening with the children these days. Everyone is under so much pressure.” Alex Ward: Acting in the role of Stella is comedian Alex Ward, a queer comedian from Melbourne who has appeared on Have You Been Paying Attention?, The Project, Tonightly and many other shows. Alex is originally from Queensland and will be touring in August, as well as doing a show at Comedy Republic on July 31. Alex's wife is also expecting a baby (Alex has mentioned this on HYBPA). Alex is a very dry comedian and a great improviser. The post Sat, July 25th, 2026: Alex Ward; Stella Joyce, Barnaby Joyce's Dog; Political commentary from Australia’s most famous canine appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Misha talk to Zoe Daniel about Proposed AI regulation, job losses at Nine; the ALP Conf; update on her (+ Rex Patrick’s) high court action on electoral funding The post Sat, July 25th, 2026: Zoe Daniel, journalist, author & former independent federal MP for Goldstein appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Misha talk live in the studio with Dr Monique Ryan, Independent MP for Kooyong; Gambling Reform, Lobbying and Timing of Hecs Indexation, Allied Health Prac payments (+ her take on AI & Data Centre Regulation). The post Sat, July 25th, 2026: Dr Monique Ryan, Independent MP for Kooyong; Gambling Reform, Lobbying and Timing of Hecs Indexation, Allied Health Prac payments (+ her take on AI & Data Centre Regulation) appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Nevena and Macca are joined live on air by Dr Gemma Blackwood, from University of Tasmania; as they discuss Neal the Seal. If you’ve spent any time online recently, chances are you’ve come across Neil the Seal. Whether he’s smashing bollards, blocking traffic or taking an afternoon nap in towns across southern Tasmania, Neil has become an unlikely international celebrity. But according to media scholar Dr Gemma Blackwood, Neil's popularity tells us as much about us as it does about the seal himself. She joins us this morning to explain why one charismatic marine mammal has become a modern folk hero. Neil the Seal is a southern elephant seal who has become a recurring visitor to towns in Tasmania, regularly making headlines by hauling himself onto roads, footpaths, gardens and even parked cars. His adventures have attracted widespread media attention both in Australia and overseas, generating millions of views across social media platforms. Neil has inspired memes, fan pages, merchandise and extensive news coverage, becoming far more than simply another viral animal story. In her The Conversation article, Dr Gemma Blackwood argues that Neil has evolved into a modern folk hero. Rather than simply being famous because he’s unusual, Neil represents something people increasingly seek in an online environment often dominated by conflict and bad news.Her analysis draws on folklore and media studies, suggesting Neil functions almost like the trickster characters found in traditional stories: disrupting everyday life, challenging human expectations and reminding us that nature doesn’t always follow our rules. https://theconversation.com/neil-the-seal-is-more-than-a-viral-animal-hes-become-a-global-folk-hero-287066 The post Sat,18th, July 2026: Dr Gemma Blackwood Snr Lecturer, Comm and Media, Uni Tas; Neal the Seal appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Nevena and Macca are joined live on air by Professor Andrew Dodd Professor of Journalism, Uni Melb; On Derryn Hinch’s Passing. Few Australian media figures have been as divisive—or as influential—as Derryn Hinch. A broadcaster, newspaper columnist, television host, campaigner and senator, Hinch built a career on exposing injustice, challenging authority and often testing the limits of journalism itself. Following his recent passing, Professor Andrew Dodd from the University of Melbourne joins us to reflect on Hinch’s complicated legacy and what it tells us about Australian media today. Derryn Hinch was one of Australia's most recognisable media personalities, earning the nickname ;the Human Headline; through decades in radio, television and print journalism. Throughout his career, Hinch became known for an unapologetically campaigning style of journalism. He championed victims of crime, pushed for tougher laws around child sex offenders, challenged suppression orders and repeatedly argued that the public’s right to know should outweigh legal restrictions. His career was also marked by controversy. He was imprisoned for contempt of court after breaching suppression orders, dismissed from broadcasting roles on multiple occasions and criticised for blurring the line between reporting, opinion and activism. In 2016, Hinch entered federal politics, serving as a Senator for Victoria and continuing many of the campaigns that had defined his media career. In his The Conversation article, Professor Andrew Dodd argues that Hinch represented a distinctive model of journalism—one fuelled less by strict notions of objectivity than by a deeply personal sense of justice. Dodd suggests Hinch's principles were "imperfect" because they often conflicted with established legal and journalistic norms, yet they were driven by a genuine belief that journalism should challenge power and advocate for those who lacked a voice. https://theconversation.com/derryn-hinch-was-a-bombastic-journalist-fuelled-by-imperfect-principles-and-righteous-outrage-287293 Andrew has been a radio, TV, print and on-line journalist. He’s worked with ABC television and was a media and business writer with The Australian. He was also a broadcaster with community radio, Radio Netherlands and ABC Radio National, where he presented many of the network’s programs and founded the Media Report. He has written for several other publications and was a media writer for crikey.com.au. He was the journalism program director at Swinburne University and is now the Director of the Melbourne Public Humanities Initiative at the University of Melbourne. He is the founding editor of The Junction (https://junctionjournalism.com). The post Sat,18th, July 2026: Prof. Andrew Dodd Professor of Journalism, Uni Melb; On Derryn Hinch’s Passing. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Nevena and Macca are back in the hosting seat this week; as they discuss the news, reviews, views of the week that was and what’s coming up on this week’s programme. The post Sat,18th, July 2026: Weekly Wrap Up With Nevena and Macca appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The debate around free speech is once again making headlines after videos targeting Aboriginal, Indian Australian and transgender people prompted complaints and widespread criticism. To unpack where the lines are drawn between comedy, discrimination and vilification, we're joined by Reuben Kirkham from the Free Speech Union of Australia. Australia has no absolute constitutional right to free speech. Instead, freedom of political communication is recognised as an implied constitutional freedom, while speech is also regulated through Commonwealth, state and territory laws covering areas such as defamation, incitement, harassment and anti-vilification. Victoria strengthened its anti-vilification laws with the Anti-Vilification and Social Cohesion Act 2024, which broadens protections against serious vilification on the basis of protected attributes, including gender identity and sexual orientation. The Act creates both civil and criminal pathways for particularly serious conduct, although criminal offences require a high threshold and generally involve intentional or reckless conduct likely to incite hatred, serious contempt, revulsion or severe ridicule. The Free Speech Union of Australia advocates for broad protections for lawful expression and has often argued that offensive speech should generally be answered through public debate rather than legal sanction. The post Sat,18th, July 2026: Reuben Kirkham Co-founder, Free Speech Union of Australia appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Nevena speak to Kieran Rooney, state Political Reporter; The Age. The Victorian election is now just four months away, and the political battle is well and truly underway. New polling, preference deals and campaign strategy are all coming into sharper focus as parties compete for undecided voters. To help us make sense of it all, we’re joined by Kieran Rooney from The Age. Victorians will next go to the polls in November 2026, with Labor under Premier Jacinta Allan seeking a fourth term in government. An article by Kieran published on the 13 th of July says voters are showing signs of drifting back to the major parties, but notes only 24% of survey respondents nominated Allan as their preferred premier, while 43% backed Liberal Jess Wilson. That said, the article also says only 23 per cent of Victorians remain uncommitted ahead of November 28, with more than three quarters of the 1,000 people surveyed by Resolve Political Monitor saying they had made up their minds. The top issue for voters was economic management, with 37% marking this as the biggest influence, followed by Housing and Planning (16%) and Health and Hospitals (14%), with Transport and The Big Build at 7%. News received late last night confirms Victorian upper house MP Moira Deering will no longer be a Liberal candidate for the Western Metropolitan Region after the party's state executive voted to revoke her candidacy. There was also speculation that the government might be looking to revoke Group Voting Tickets ahead of the state election – but to do so, they would need to introduce measures to parliament before the last sitting week of this month. The post Sat,18th, July 2026: Kieran Rooney State Political Reporter, The Age; The latest VicPol polling; Election Update. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Nevena talk to Dr Renae Fomiatti Senior Research Fellow, at the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS) in the School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University; about Peptides and Image Enhancing Drugs;. Peptides have exploded in popularity, fuelled by social media, fitness culture and the promise of becoming a healthier, leaner or more youthful version of ourselves. But are they a medical breakthrough, another wellness trend, or something more complicated? Dr Renae Fomiatti joins us to unpack both the science and the social forces driving this phenomenon, particularly as they intersect with LGBTQIA+ communities. Peptides are short chains of amino acids that occur naturally in the body and regulate a wide range of biological functions, including hormones, endorphins, growth factors and immune modulators. Some peptide medicines have been rigorously tested and approved to treat conditions such as diabetes, osteoporosis and obesity. Others are sold online with claims about muscle growth, fat loss, recovery, anti-ageing or sexual performance despite limited clinical evidence or regulatory approval. Dr Fomiatti’s work extends beyond pharmacology into the sociology of health. Her Australian Research Council DECRA Fellowship examines how aesthetic drugs and non-surgical cosmetic practices are reshaping experiences of health, ageing and the body. Her broader research explores biomedicalisation—the increasing tendency to understand and manage everyday life through medical technologies—and the consumption of performance and image-enhancing drugs. This provides an opportunity to discuss not only what peptides are, why so many people feel compelled to seek biomedical solutions for appearance, performance and wellbeing, and how body ideals within some LGBTQIA+ communities intersect with broader cultural pressures and social media influencers. The post Sat,18th, July 2026: Dr Renae Fomiatti, Peptides and Image Enhancing Drugs; School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University  appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Justices of the Peace quietly perform thousands of essential services every year, yet many Victorians struggle to find one when they need one. Despite a recent recruitment campaign, Victoria has just over 3,700 JPs—far fewer than New South Wales. So why is there such a shortage, and what can be done about it? Rodney Lavin and Dean Beck from the Royal Victorian Association of Honorary Justices join us to discuss. Justices of the Peace are volunteer statutory office holders appointed by the Governor in Council. They perform a range of important community functions, including witnessing statutory declarations and affidavits, certifying copies of original documents and administering oaths and affirmations. Although many professionals—including lawyers, pharmacists, doctors, accountants and some public servants—are authorised to witness certain documents, JPs remain an important free, accessible service, particularly for people who cannot easily access legal services or who require assistance outside normal business settings. Victoria currently has around 3,700 JPs, after a recruitment drive in 2024 saw 800 new JPs appointed. However, this is understood to be significantly fewer than in New South Wales and Queensland. A petition to Parliament called on the Government to recruit 5,000 additional JPs by 2027, with 500 new appointments annually thereafter. The Government responded that future recruitment would continue to be based on demonstrated demand and ongoing monitoring. There are currently 129 Document Signing Stations across Victoria located in libraries, police stations and community centres where volunteer JPs provide free services. The Pride Centre is one of them. The discussion provides an opportunity to examine whether current arrangements adequately serve a growing population, particularly people in regional areas, culturally diverse communities, older Victorians and those who rely on free community services. The post Sat,18th, July 2026: Dean Beck, JP & RVAHJ President + Rodney Lavin, JP; Victoria’s JP Crisis. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Nevena are joined live on air by Dr Bill Swannie, Senior Lecturer, Thomas More Law School, ACU; Recent MSO vs Latouff rulings and freedom of speech. Recent court decisions involving the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and broadcaster Antoinette Lattouf have reignited debate about freedom of speech in Australian workplaces. On the surface, the two cases appear to point in different directions, raising questions about what employees can say publicly, what employers can regulate, and where the law now stands. Joining us is Dr Bill Swannie from Australian Catholic University, whose recent analysis explores what these decisions mean for workplaces across Australia. In August 2024, Gillham was performing in an Melbourne Symphony Orchestra recital. Introducing a piece of music, he made statements that Israel had committed war crimes by targeting journalists in Gaza. In response, MSO cancelled a performance by Gillham scheduled four days later and apologised by email to audience members. MSO later sought to require Gillham not to make a statement from the stage as a condition of reinstating the performance. Gillham refused the condition and MSO cancelled the concert. Gillham pursued MSO for unlawful discrimination, arguing it had acted against him because of his statements about journalists killed in Gaza. But he lost. Justice Graham Hill found the MSO's reasons for cancelling the concert were not because of his political beliefs, but rather to “address the anticipated adverse impacts” of his statements on the orchestra's business and reputation. Further, the court stated classical musicians cannot make statements on sensitive political or social issues from the stage without approval from the host. They stated this was a custom in the profession and an implied term in Gillham's contract. In the Lattouf case, the Federal Court found that the ABC unlawfully terminated Antoinette Lattouf's employment after she shared a Human Rights Watch social media post about Gaza during a short-term engagement. The Court concluded that the decision breached provisions of the Fair Work Act, including protections against adverse action because of political opinion. In his The Conversation article, Dr Swannie writes the following: “Under this judgement, it seems classical musicians in Australia contracted to orchestras or other organisations must now seek and be given approval before making statements on stage on “sensitive or political issues”. It is unclear what topics fall in this category. For example, an Acknowledgement of Country is considered by some people as sensitive or political. It is unclear whether comments on the environment or gender pay gaps justify cancellation of performances or further adverse actions against an artist, musician or performer. Ultimately, the discrepancy between the court's findings on the Lattouf and Gillham cases means we must await future decisions to clarify the balance between the freedom of artists, performers and musicians to make statements on public stages, and protecting organisers' commercial interests” This ruling will impact how comfortable artists feel about sharing their political opinions on stage, or working as contractors for arts organisations who don't explicitly share their opinions. https://theconversation.com/the-mso-and-lattouf-rulings-are-seemingly-at-odds-where-does-this-leave-free-speech-at-work-287288 Bill teaches and conducts research in many areas of law including privacy and media law, human rights, international law, constitutional law and intellectual property. He is an established researcher and author, having published articles in leading law journals in the areas of administrative law, human rights, media law and equal opportunity law. His articles have been cited by judges in judicial decisions and speeches. He is a member of the Australasian Law Teachers’ Association, Human Rights Teachers’ Network, and the Law Institute of Victoria. The post Sat,18th, July 2026: Dr Bill Swannie, Senior Lecturer, Thomas More Law School, ACU; Recent MSO vs Latouff rulings and freedom of speech appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Kenny talk to Asso. Prof. Brad E. Tucker  Astrophysicist and cosmologist, ANU; about space junk, debris and ‘space balls’. Six spherical objects were found around Forrest Beach and nearby north Queensland beaches in early July. Emergency services established exclusion zones and removed them. The Australian Space Agency says they are likely pressure vessels from a foreign rocket body that recently re-entered the atmosphere. The precise launching state had not been publicly confirmed at the time of briefing. Hazard claims must be qualified: residual hydrazine or other propellant is a plausible reason for caution, but public reporting had not established that these particular vessels contained toxic fuel. Under international space law, the launching state retains ownership of space objects and may be liable for damage. Australian must work through diplomatic and technical channels to identify and, if requested, return debris. Human injury from falling space debris is exceptionally rare, but uncontrolled re-entry is becoming a larger governance issue as launch rates rise. Sources:  Australian Space Agency reveals likely origin of Queensland “space balls” — Guardian Australia, 6 July 2026 How “space balls” put Forrest Beach in the global spotlight — Guardian Australia, 11 July 2026 Dr Brad Tucker: The Future of Space — Australian National University, accessed 10 July 2026 The post Sat, July 11th, 2026: Asso. Prof. Brad E. Tucker Astrophysicist and cosmologist, ANU; Space Balls and Debris appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Kenny and Macca are joined live on-air by Ruby Grant is a Senior Research Fellow at the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS). The $477,590 Australian Research Council-funded Out in Suburbia project, led by La Trobe University’s ARCSHS, investigates LGBTQ+ wellbeing in outer suburbs. It combats the lack of localized suburban support by uncovering how geography impacts mental health Current evidence reveals that LGBTQ+ people living in outer suburban areas experience higher rates of psychological distress and suicidal ideation than those in inner cities, alongside lower community connectedness. To bridge this gap, the Out in Suburbia team is co-designing tailored strategies with local councils and adapting the How2 LGBTQ-inclusive organisational change program for local governments. Ruby is a sociologist specialising in LGBTQ community health and wellbeing. Her research projects have explored lesbian, bisexual and queer (LBQ) women's sexual health, LGBTQ mental health, trans affirming healthcare, bisexual health, and LGBTQ-inclusion in education and healthcare. Ruby is the leading scholar of Tasmanian LGBTQ community wellbeing, with her work providing key insights into the role of place in shaping LGBTQ identity, health, belonging and inclusion in regional and rural areas. Ruby draws on feminist and queer perspectives from sociology, social geography, and public health to develop new understandings of the needs and experiences of LGBTQ people, with a strong focus on partnering with Government and community organisations to promote diversity and inclusion. She is the author of Sexual Citizenship and Queer Post-feminism, and numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters. At ARCSHS, Ruby leads QSOX: Queer Women's Substance Use Over Time (LP210100122), a longitudinal qualitative project exploring LBQ women's use of alcohol and nicotine. This project uses feminist and critical drugs scholarship to examine the roles of alcohol and nicotine in LBQ women's lives and communities, offering a more nuanced perspective extending beyond minority stress explanations for higher rates of substance use among this population. As a longitudinal study, QSOX aims to examine factors influencing changes in substance use and help seeking behaviours among LBQ women across an 18 month period. In leading this project, Ruby draws on her extensive experience in engaging community organisations, co-ordinating a steering committee of partners including: Thorne Harbour Health, ACON, LGBTIQ Health Australia, Quit Victoria, and the Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association (VAADA). Sources:  Out in Suburbia project page — La Trobe University / ARCSHS, accessed 10 July 2026 Major funding for outer suburban LGBTQ wellbeing — La Trobe University, 2025 Associations between residential location and LGBTQ experiences — Gender, Place & Culture, 2024 The post Sat, July 11th, 2026: Ruby Grant, Snr Research Fellow, ARCSHS, La Trobe Uni; ‘Out in Suburbia’. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Senator Shoebridge is a NSW Greens senator and former barrister. Since June 2025 his federal portfolios include foreign affairs, defence, home affairs, justice and digital rights. He has attacked the government over what the Greens describe as a $29 billion defence blowout and argues procurement changes do not address structural waste or AUKUS risk. Digital accountability is live: the Senate recently ordered the Privacy Commissioner to release a report into American Express technology-security failures after a long-running investigation. He is also prominent in the debate over foreign-owned AI data centres, arguing that government policy must protect Australian jobs, water, energy and data rather than simply facilitate large US technology investments. Senator David Shoebridge profile and portfolios — Parliament of Australia, accessed 10 July 2026 David Shoebridge — latest media — Australian Greens, 1 July 2026 Senate orders release of American Express privacy report — ABC News, 2 July 2026 Angus Taylor attacks One Nation economic plan — ABC News, 9 July 2026 The post Sat, July 11th, 2026: Senator David Shoebridge Aust. Greens Sen. for NSW; State of affairs in Parliament appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Kenny are joined live on air by, Tania Davidge: Executive Director and Chief Curator, Open House Melbourne. Cian Davis: Director, Bates Smart Melbourne Most of us walk past Melbourne's most interesting buildings without ever seeing what is inside. Open House Melbourne changes that for one weekend, and this year one of the star attractions is Orica House, often described as Australia's first skyscraper. Tania Davidge and architect Cian Davis join us. Open House Melbourne Weekend runs 24–26 July 2026. The program opens buildings, infrastructure and design practices to the public through tours, talks and events. Orica House, completed in 1958 and historically known as ICI House, is widely regarded as Australia's first skyscraper and a landmark of postwar modernism. Bates Smart staff will lead guided tours on 25 and 26 July. Useful angle for Cian: what the building introduced technically and culturally; what has survived; and how adaptive reuse can preserve modernist architecture without freezing it in time. NICA: The Joys of Circus runs on 24 and 25 July and marks 25 years of the National Institute of Circus Arts. It adds a celebratory performing-arts dimension to a weekend often perceived as building-focused. Tania Davidge and Cian Davis Open House Melbourne Weekend 2026 — Open House Melbourne, accessed 10 July 2026 2026 Program Broadsheet — Open House Melbourne, 23 June 2026 Meet the team — Tania Davidge — Open House Melbourne, accessed 10 July 2026 Orica House event listing — Open House Melbourne, 2026 NICA: The Joys of Circus — Open House Melbourne, 2026 The post Sat, July 11th, 2026: Tania Davidge: Executive Director and Chief Curator, Open House Melbourne, Cian Davis: Director, Bates Smart Melbourne appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

In the last segment for this week’s show,  Macca and Kenny  talk to Lucio Ribeiro Chief AI & Innovation Officer, TBWA Australia; Forbes Australia columnist; co-founder DISRUPT AI Film Festival  The AI movie revolution apparently belongs to young digital natives pressing one magic button. Except the festival data says the average Australian entrant was nearly 45, the strongest films took hundreds of decisions, and most creators were men using a stack of foreign-owned tools. Lucio Ribeiro helped run the experiment, and he's back with the results. Sources:  DISRUPT AI Film Festival white paper — DISRUPT AI Film Festival, 2026 DISRUPT research report — Swinburne Figshare, 2026 TBWA AI research: creative AI as national infrastructure — Little Black Book, 2026 SAG-AFTRA statement on synthetic performer — SAG-AFTRA, 2026 Australia AI copyright debate — Guardian Australia, 1 July 2026 The post Sat, July 11th, 2026: Lucio Ribeiro Chief AI & Innovation Officer, TBWA Australia; Forbes Australia columnist; co-founder DISRUPT AI Film Festival appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Kenny are in the hosting seats this week as they discuss the news, views, reviews of the week that was. The post Sat, July 11th, 2026: Weekly Wrap Up with Macca and Kenny appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Kenny are joined live on-air by Rachel Withers Freelance writer; Crikey contributor; co-host, Spin Cycle on Triple R. The Coalition is trying to outflank One Nation, the teals are becoming a party without quite calling themselves one, and now a government envoy wants a new body looking over the ABC's shoulder. To separate the politics from the spin, we're joined by writer and broadcaster Rachel Withers. Rachel Withers is a freelance writer with an unfortunate penchant for Australian politics. She is the former editor of The Politics and currently co-hosts Spin Cycle on Triple R radio. Sources:  Envoy calls for independent oversight of ABC — ABC News, 9 July 2026 ABC and SBS reject call for Israel-coverage oversight — Guardian Australia, 9 July 2026 Proposed solutions are ill-conceived and dangerous — Guardian Australia, 10 July 2026 IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism — IHRA, accessed 10 July 2026 Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism — JDA, 25 March 2021 Rachel Withers author profile — Crikey, accessed 10 July 2026 The post Sat, July 11th, 2026: Rachel Withers Freelance writer; Crikey contributor; co-host, Spin Cycle on Triple R appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

As the USA leads into the 250th anniversary of American Independence, Bruce Wolpe talks Macca and Paul through what's going on in the USA right now. Bruce also discusses his review of the hottest new book on Trump by Jonathan Swan and Maggie Haberman of the NY Times.  It will be in Saturday’s AGE  print edition. Trump earned $US2 billion+ in his first year as president.  This issue will metastasize. “American Pride Falls to 25-Year Record Low,” found Gallup. “Just a third of the public believes the American Dream still exists,” found the AP. “Nearly identical shares of adults from Trump, Harris and swing states say they believe the nation's best years are in the rearview mirror — 58% in all,” NBC News. President Trump returned to the White House with an epiphany about mixing business and politics during his first term in office. “I found out that nobody cared,” Mr. Trump told The New York Times in January, revealing a remarkable indifference to potential conflicts of interest. That was months before Mr. Trump's latest financial disclosure revealed on Tuesday that he made about $1.4 billion from his family's cryptocurrency businesses during his first year back in office — even as the Trump administration has relaxed regulation of crypto companies. By tradition, American presidents have generally tried to avoid appearing to profit from the presidency, often taking actions to separate themselves from the kinds of corporate entanglements that could create conflicts of interest. Mr. Trump has chosen a different path, smashing through the few norms he paid even glancing attention to in his first term, like having his family restrain its international business activity. “I got no credit in the first term,” he said in January. Now, he and his family have amassed a mammoth windfall, and so far at least, Mr. Trump appears largely unconcerned that he will face the kind of political fallout that would discourage other leaders from similar moneymaking endeavors. Even before the release of his financial filing, polling showed disapproval among Americans when it came to Mr. Trump's handling of his family's business. One Pew Research Center survey from September found that more than 60 percent of Americans felt that Mr. Trump in his second term “definitely or probably” had “improperly” used the office of the presidency to enrich himself, friends and his family. The same poll found that nearly two-thirds of Americans believed that Mr. Trump had not set a high moral standard for the presidency. Overall, Mr. Trump pulled in at least $2.2 billion during his first year back in office, a figure that includes other parts of his vast holdings, like real estate assets. That is compared with at least $622 million his enterprises brought in for all of 2024, before he returned to the White House. And it eclipses the revenue reported by Mr. Trump's family business in 2020, the last full year of his first term, when it suffered steep declines as the pandemic upended the hospitality industry. And Mr. Trump and his family in his second term have only doubled down when it comes to business ventures that are profiting from his administration's actions. Donald Trump Jr. has also expressed similar sentiment to his father, saying that his family got no credit for its restraint in Mr. Trump's first term. That includes legislation that Mr. Trump signed last July to promote a form of cryptocurrency called stablecoin, four months after his family-backed firm introduced its own stablecoin. With his two sons standing just feet behind him on Wednesday, Mr. Trump appeared unconcerned when asked about criticism that he was profiting from his presidency. “We're all profiting,” Mr. Trump said as he once again spotlighted the stock market. “I'm profiting because I have a lot of money and a lot of cash and I give it to institutions. I don't know if they know what they're doing or not, but they buy a vast array of things.” Donald Trump Jr.'s venture capital firm, 1789 Capital, invested in Vulcan Elements three months before the company received a $620 million government loan. Investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald, which is headed by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's sons, has been a financial adviser or underwriter for many startups that have received government support. The post Saturday, 4th July, 2026: Bruce Wolpe, Senior Fellow, US Study Centre, 250th anniversary of American Independence appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

As one of Australia's leading financial and political commentators, Sally's role at Canstar is to help Australians make better financial decisions. As Canstar's spokesperson, Sally provides her insights daily on trends and changes in the personal finance sector, translating often-complicated topics to help people understand how they might be impacted. She also helps identify and advocate for excellence in banking, insurance, energy and other key financial services sectors.  With mounting cost-of-living pressures, every dollar counts. That's why a few well-chosen switches could see you saving more than $10,000 a year. That's a nice little chunk of extra change in your back pocket! Canstar's Cost of Living Comparison looked at a wide range of everyday bills—from mortgages and credit cards, through to home and health insurance, utilities and even groceries—to see where households could cut costs. And the results are certainly illuminating. We considered the kind of household expenses you might typically see in a year, then explored potential savings. In some cases, savings came from switching to the cheapest product, and in others, from selecting Canstar 5-star rated products that balance cost and value. Individual results will vary, but our findings show just how much can be saved by reviewing and comparing everyday expenses. Here are our top tips to save heading into the new year: Shop around for loans Your mortgage or car loan could be quietly costing you more than necessary. For example, if you're paying off a $600,000 home loan or a $40,000 five-year car loan, your interest rate might be well above others on the market, and you could stand to save thousands annually simply by switching to a provider with a more competitive rate. By switching to a 5-star rated product, you could enjoy meaningful savings while maintaining quality service. Insurance doesn't have to break the bank. Canstar found that, by selecting a 5-star rated policy, a 40-year-old non-smoker could save: $244–$332 per year on income protection insurance $170–$252 per year on life insurance Hundreds more on home, contents, car, or health insurance The post Sat, 4th, 2026, Sally Tindall, Director of Data Insights, Canstar, Cost of Living Crisis. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Joining Macca and Paul live on air this week was Giordano Nanni, founder of The Juice Media and the creator of the brutally funny Honest Government Ads series, which takes the kind of language governments use to sell us things and strips it back to what they might be saying if they were accidentally telling the truth. His latest target is Palantir, the US data and surveillance giant now embedded in government systems around the world, including here in Australia. Giordano Nanni is the Melbourne-based founder/writer behind The Juice Media, best known for the satirical Honest Government Ads series. Before satire, he completed a PhD in history, researched settler-colonialism, published books, and worked on the public-facing Coranderrk inquiry/verbatim theatre project. He has said YouTube gave him a much larger, more democratic platform than academia for sparking public debate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBW9QCVDSjY The post Sat, 4th July, 2026: Giordano Nanni, Founder of The Juice Media / Honest Government Ads. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Our last segment for the week, was a very special one for Macca. Joining us live in the studio is one of the organisers of the Melbourne Tartan Festival, a celebration of Scottish culture, music, dance and community right here in the heart of Melbourne. The centrepiece is tomorrow's Tartan Day Parade down Collins Street, with hundreds of pipers, drummers, dancers, clans, societies and even Scottie dogs. And this year there's something extra special: a world record attempt for the largest ladies pipe band ever assembled.  The Melbourne Tartan Festival is an annual celebration of Scottish culture, music, dance, clans, community and heritage in the heart of Melbourne. It was first held in 2018 and is a joint initiative of the Victorian Scottish Heritage Cultural Foundation and the Scots of Victoria Co-ordinating Group. (Victorian Scottish Heritage Foundation)  The Melbourne Tartan Day Parade is on Sunday 5 July 2026, starting at 2.00 pm on Collins Street from the Spring Street / Old Treasury Building end. Expect pipers, drummers, Highland dancers, clan and society representatives, and Scottie dogs. The parade heads down Collins Street, turns into Regent Place, and finishes with a short recital near The Westin. (Melbourne Tartan Festival) The post Sat, 4th July, 2026: Melbourne Tartan Festival: Bernadette Rae, Glenrae Dancers Campbell Wilson, Pipe Major of City of Melbourne Highland Pipe Band appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Paul talk to Dan Powell – LGBTIQ First Nations Senior Project Coordinator, NAIDOC Week, 2026 Dan is a proud Yorta Yorta Aboriginal man (he/they) and the First Nations How2 Program Coordinator at Rainbow Health Australia (La Trobe University), where he coordinates a best-practice model helping Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations better support Rainbow Mob and improve LGBTIQ+ and First Nations health outcomes. A 2025 NAIDOC Pride Award winner, he brings a rich background spanning Aboriginal Youth Justice, case management, and disability services to his work advancing inclusion for Queer and Koorie communities across Victoria. Outside of work, he’s a devoted dog dad who loves music and a good boogie with friends. The post Sat, 4th July, 2026: Dan Powell – LGBTIQ First Nations Senior Project Coordinator, NAIDOC Week, 2026 appeared first on Saturday Magazine.