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"Bloodbath": Mass defection at Channel 7 as top reporters jump ship

Channel 7 is facing a growing crisis, with three of its prominent journalists abruptly resigning to join rival Network 10 in what’s being dubbed a “bloodbath” in the newsroom. Senior 7News Sydney reporter Bill Hogan, seasoned foreign correspondent Amelia Brace, and Denham Hitchcock – a key figure in the network’s flagship current affairs show Spotlight – have all defected, according to The Australian. The trio will join a new long-form investigative unit at Network 10, led by head of broadcast news Martin White. Brace and Hitchcock reportedly began their new roles on Monday, leaving Seven’s Martin Place offices just hours after resigning. Hogan is expected to follow suit after completing a three-week notice period. Network 10, owned by US media giant Paramount since 2017, is bolstering its news division with a renewed focus on in-depth investigative reporting. The initiative is seen as an effort to compete with established programs such as the ABC’s Four Corners, Nine’s 60 Minutes and Channel 7’s own Spotlight. Brace, whose new role comes with a reported $270,000 salary – a $50,000 jump from her Seven pay – bid farewell to colleagues last Friday with a candid message. “It feels off to not have an official ‘last day’ to say goodbye,” she said, “but it’s best for me to just fade away for now. Stand up for yourselves, and each other… and think of me every time you have to find a f**king case study.” Hitchcock’s move adds another layer of drama. Having returned to Spotlight in February after a sabbatical spent sailing with his family, he now departs again – this time for what he calls a full-circle moment. His father once worked at Channel 10, and Hitchcock shared his enthusiasm in a social media post. “Well, here we go. I’ve switched channels,” he wrote. “But also in a way – I’ve come full circle. I grew up watching my father on Channel 10 News every night. I had a bunk bed with Eyewitness News stickers all over it – and can still sing the theme song.” As the talent exodus accelerates, questions are mounting about the future of Seven’s news strategy – and whether the network can stem the flow of high-profile losses. Images: Instagram, Network 10

“We miss her every day": Arrest made in 30-year cold case breakthrough

In a major breakthrough in a decades-old missing persons case, a 64-year-old man has been charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder in connection with the disappearance of Illawarra mother Pauline Sowry, last seen in 1993. Sowry, also known by her married name Pauline Lawrence, was 49 years old when she vanished from the northern suburbs of Wollongong in December 1993. Despite an unconfirmed sighting in 1994, a 2008 coronial inquest concluded she had likely died. Her case was reopened in 2022 under Strike Force Anthea, leading to Thursday’s arrest at a unit on Murphy's Avenue in Gwynneville. Police allege the man charged had a connection to Ms Sowry. He has also been charged with concealing a serious indictable offence. “The reason for his arrest is specifically in relation to the suspected disappearance of Pauline,” Assistant Commissioner Joe Cassar said during a press conference. “This is a significant development, and we wanted to tell the public as soon as possible.” Assistant Commissioner Cassar declined to provide details about what led to the arrest but confirmed that investigations would continue “until we can locate Pauline”. Earlier this year, police and the Sowry family announced a $500,000 reward for information leading to a conviction. While the reward has not yet been paid, Cassar acknowledged it acted as a catalyst for new leads in the case. One such lead included the discovery of clothing in bushland in Wollongong’s south, uncovered during a search nine months ago. The garments are still undergoing forensic examination, and authorities have not confirmed if they belonged to Ms Sowry. “We’ll continue to analyse that clothing and any additional items recovered from today’s search warrant,” Cassar added. Ms Sowry had recently separated from her husband at the time of her disappearance. He has since been ruled out as a person of interest. Her son, Jason Lawrence, welcomed the news of the arrest in a statement released Thursday. “We have waited more than 30 years to hear today’s news,” he said. “We miss her every day, and her disappearance has taken a huge toll on myself and our entire family. We thank the police officers for never giving up hope and we look forward to the outcome of this investigation.” Assistant Commissioner Cassar acknowledged the emotional weight of the developments, calling it a “bittersweet time” for the family. The investigation remains active as police continue to search for answers and work towards justice for Pauline Sowry. Images: NSW Police

Family & Pets

The Project in peril as Channel Ten plots bold news overhaul

Speculation is mounting over the future of Channel Ten’s flagship current affairs program The Project, <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-14748609/Brutal-sign-Project-canned-Channel-10.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">with reports suggesting</a> the long-running panel show may be on the chopping block amid a broader shakeup at the network. According to <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/the-project-under-review-as-ten-plans-to-announce-new-show/news-story/280ab62724d67c2eed16bb04cafc3e97" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Australian</a>, The Project is “100 per cent” under review as Ten’s current affairs division undergoes scrutiny in response to dwindling ratings. The show, which first aired in 2009, is reportedly struggling to connect with audiences across key demographics. “The Project is a bit too old and irritating for younger viewers online… and a bit too young and irritating for older viewers on television,” the outlet reported, summarising the show’s struggle to appeal to either end of the age spectrum. Recent ratings appear to reflect this disconnect. Over the past week, The Project failed to break into the top ten most-watched programs, with Tuesday night’s episode recording its highest audience at 945,000 viewers. Friday’s episode fared worst, drawing just 626,000 viewers. In contrast, rival bulletins from Seven and Nine consistently drew more than 2 million viewers during the same 6pm timeslot. The program’s declining viewership comes amid broader criticism of its perceived political slant and the fallout from the departures of several high-profile hosts, including Carrie Bickmore, Peter Helliar and Lisa Wilkinson. Despite a relaunch in 2023 featuring Sarah Harris, Sam Taunton, Michael Hing and Waleed Aly, the shakeup has yet to reverse the trend. Michael Hing’s departure earlier this year marked another shift in the panel’s makeup. Adding to the uncertainty, Daily Mail Australia <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14509357/Channel-Ten-cancels-Project.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported earlier this year</a> that Channel Ten executives were eyeing a new "news magazine show" to rival established programs like Nine's 60 Minutes, Seven's Spotlight, and the ABC's Four Corners. A “crack team” of producers – referred to internally as the “investigations unit” – is reportedly being assembled to lead this new venture. Dan Sutton, a seasoned Channel Ten reporter, is tipped to serve as the executive producer, with screen testing currently underway for potential reporters. Network Ten confirmed the formation of the investigative unit in a statement to Daily Mail Australia, saying: “Following the continued growth and success of our news brand, 10 News, we are investing in a 10 News investigative unit that will work on long-form investigative stories as part of our news offering across all our platforms.” When pressed about the future of The Project, however, a network spokesperson maintained that there were “no changes” currently planned. "The Project remains an integral part of our content line-up and rest assured, it’s not going anywhere," they reiterated, echoing a similar statement made in July of last year. The show has also been experimenting with new distribution strategies, including the decision earlier this year to upload full episodes to YouTube in a bid to capture younger audiences. Segments from the show continue to be shared widely across social media platforms like Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). One glimmer of hope for the embattled program came last Tuesday, when former host Carrie Bickmore made a brief return to the panel to celebrate the tenth anniversary of her charity, Carrie’s Beanies 4 Brain Cancer. The special appearance helped boost ratings to 945,000 viewers – the highest for the week. Despite the network’s reassurances, the combination of faltering ratings, a changing panel and mounting speculation over a new investigative format suggests that The Project could be heading into uncertain territory. Whether it can reestablish its place in the Australian television landscape – or be quietly phased out – remains to be seen. Image: Channel Ten / The Project

Olympic rugby player killed in tragic incident at just 30

The rugby world is in mourning following the sudden and tragic death of Fijian rugby star and Olympic silver medallist Josaia Raisuqe, who died at the age of 30 in a devastating road accident in France. Raisuqe, who had been playing for the French Top 14 club Castres Olympique since 2021, was reportedly killed when his vehicle was struck by a train at a level crossing. Local authorities confirmed the fatal collision occurred late Wednesday night, with news reaching his club the following morning. In a heartfelt statement, Castres announced the postponement of their upcoming fixture against ASM Clermont, saying, “The entire CO family is shaken by this terrible news. Josh had been part of the club since 2021. He was a wonderful teammate, very much appreciated by all, and by the Castres supporters who had adopted him. We extend our sincere condolences and our thoughts to his family and loved ones.” Born in Fiji, Raisuqe had a dynamic rugby career that began with the national sevens team, culminating in a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Fiji lost to host nation France 28-7 in the gold medal match, but Raisuqe's contribution was pivotal throughout the tournament. His strength, speed and spirit made him a beloved figure both at home and abroad. The Fiji Drua, who compete in the Super Rugby Pacific competition, joined the chorus of tributes, writing, “We lost more than a player – we lost a brother, a teammate and a true son of Fijian Rugby. Rest in peace, Jo. Your spirit will forever live on in the game and in our hearts.” Raisuqe’s impact stretched beyond the field. His partner posted an emotional tribute on Instagram, alongside cherished photos of their time together: “Babe, my love, my beautiful husband. Thank you for all my love. I love you all my life, way up there.” Raisuqe began his professional career in France in 2015 with Stade Français, later joining second-division side Nevers. Known for his fiery play and passionate spirit, he once made headlines in 2021 for exuberantly lifting a referee in celebration after a victory – an act that, despite earning him a red card, endeared him to fans as a joyful and larger-than-life personality. Castres chairman Pierre-Yves Revol remembered him as “a radiant boy on and off the field, a pillar of the Fijian community we have at the club and to which we are very attached”. He added, “It is also difficult at this time not to mention the faith of all these (Fijian) players and of Josaia. My thoughts are with his fiancée and his entire family.” As tributes continue to pour in from across the rugby world, Josaia Raisuqe is remembered not only for his strength and skill, but for the light he brought to every locker room, every field and every heart he touched. He is survived by his partner, his family in Fiji, and his extended rugby family around the world. Images: Instagram

Caring

7 films to watch this Mother’s Day

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> With Mother’s Day almost upon us, you may be wondering what gift you’ll give mum – or any of the mums in your life. This year, why not skip the fancy dinner and offer one of the most precious gifts there is: quality time, in front of the TV. When I asked seven experts what movies they’d recommend for Mother’s Day, I wasn’t expecting I, Tonya or Alien: Romulus – but their responses have made me realise just how multifaceted the experience of motherhood is, and how weirdly and wonderfully it can be reflected onscreen. So here’s what to watch if you want to laugh, cry, or scream, in an ode to mothers everywhere. <h2>I, Tonya (2017)</h2> The first film from Margot Robbie’s production company LuckyChap Entertainment – which earned Robbie an Oscar nomination for best actress – is an ideal viewing choice for anyone wanting to support Aussie female talent. Former American figure skater Tonya Harding became a household name in 1994, after her then-husband Jeff Gillooly <a href="https://time.com/5027311/i-tonya-movie-true-story/">orchestrated an assault</a> on her primary rival, Nancy Kerrigan, in a bid to block Kerrigan from representing the United States at that year’s Winter Olympics. I, Tonya presents the event, and those of Harding’s career leading up to it, from a more sympathetic perspective than usual. Although it is careful to open with the caveat that the story is derived from “irony-free, wildly contradictory, totally true interviews with Tonya Harding and Jeff Gillooly”, the film presents Harding’s life as one of abuse and cruelty at every turn. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OXZQ5DfSAAc?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> The judges can’t stand her “unfeminine” power. Her husband only shows love through violence. And her heartless mother, LaVona (Alison Janney) is desperate to cash-in on the financial gains from her career success, while simultaneously resenting it. Janney’s performance as LaVona won her the Academy Award for best supporting actress, a title thoroughly deserved as an ice-cold LaVona chainsmokes through barbed criticisms and physical threats. While I, Tonya may not be the most obvious choice for a film to watch on Mother’s Day, it certainly will make you appreciate yours. – Jessica Gildersleeve <h2>Stepmom (1998)</h2> Stepmom, starring Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon, is a family weepy for anyone who needs a cathartic cry. Directed by Chris Columbus, the comedy–drama follows the story of terminally ill woman Jackie Harrison (Sarandon) as she comes to grips with the fact her ex-husband’s new girlfriend Isabel (Roberts) will soon be her children’s stepmother. The film, like others under Columbus’ direction, is a critique of domestic dysfunction (think Home Alone, Mrs Doubtfire, or Nine Months), and an exploration of the lengths characters will go in order to restore the ruptured (nuclear) family, whether literally or symbolically. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QNUu1d7i26g?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> Despite its melodramatic machinery and predictable ending, Stepmom offers a nuanced portrayal of the struggles of children during separation or divorce. We see 12-year-old Anna and her little brother, Ben, an aspiring magician, caught in an emotional tug-of-war between their loyalty to their dying mother and their natural affection for their new stepmum. In an honest moment, an anxious Ben asks his dad, “can you ever fall out of love with your kids?” “No, that’s impossible,” Dad responds. In an equally realistic thread, the sullen Anna begrudgingly turns to Isabel for advice on boys, clothes and makeup – their relationship soon resembling one of sisters rather than adversaries (controversially, Roberts’ character even takes it upon herself to explain the concept of “snowblowing” to the tween). In 1998, Stepmom was ahead of its time – not in its representation of motherhood, but in its acknowledgement the nuclear family was, even back then, a thing of the past. – Kate Cantrell <h2>Double Jeopardy (1999)</h2> Like most thrillers made in the 1990s, Double Jeopardy begins in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States: the epicentre for murder and mist. Libby Parsons (Ashley Judd) is living the idyllic waterfront life with her husband Nick (Bruce Greenwood) and son Matty. After being convinced by Nick to go yachting, Libby wakes up on the boat (during what could best be described as a mist storm) to discover Nick is missing, and there is an endless path of blood from her hands to the yacht’s edge. Libby is tried and convicted for Nick’s murder. While grieving her son in jail, she finds out her husband is actually alive and has framed her. Libby’s cellmate tells her about the “double jeopardy” rule: you can’t be tried for the same crime twice. The montage of Libby preparing for revenge in jail signals an uptick in campy action. Upon her release, we’re introduced to parole officer Travis (Tommy Lee Jones). A game of cat and mouse ensues that is equal parts thrilling and ridiculous. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u22fy9OTaxo?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> Ultimately, Libby must choose between vengeance and getting her son back. Will she follow the rules and wait, or will she put her relentless jail workouts to good use? Double Jeopardy is profoundly stupid and fun, with all the unexpected charm of a midday movie that pulls you in, despite not making much sense. It’s just the kind of movie my mum and I have found ourselves glued to on a Saturday afternoon – cheerleaders for revenge. – Kathleen Williams <h2>Monster-in-Law (2005)</h2> What lengths would you go to protect your son from marrying someone unsuitable? One of the first references to the roles of the mother-in-law can be traced back to <a href="https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Representations_of_the_Mother_in_Law_in/gdxfDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=mother+in+law+latin&pg=PA73&printsec=frontcover">Latin literature</a>, and the comedic play Hecyra, by Roman playwright Terence, which was first <a href="https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=13480">successfully performed</a> in 160 BC. The play’s comedic twist is that the mother-in-law is accused of hating her son’s wife. The 2005 box office hit Monster-in-Law (2005) follows this trajectory and takes it to the extreme. Viola Fields (Jane Fonda) becomes manipulative and acts downright dirty to prevent her son, Kevin (Michael Vartan), from getting married to his fiancée Charlie (Jennifer Lopez) – who she thinks is not good enough for him. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/njLr1z66EfA?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> This romantic comedy has the conventions of love, romance, a wedding, and overall impending chaos. It is about a mother trying to do what she thinks is best for her son, as well as the fragile links between romantic love, familial love and matriarchy. In parts, the film transgresses into slapstick territory, as Kevin remains oblivious of Viola’s volatile antics towards Charlie. The tension between the two strong female leads hilariously spirals out of control in the lead-up to the wedding. Monster-in-Law is a feel-good film that draws on the close bond between mother and child, making it good viewing for Mother’s Day. – Panizza Allmark <h2>The Wild Robot (2024)</h2> There’s a cultural belief that once your baby is in your arms, you’ll immediately know how to look after them, or that you can draw on your own experience of being mothered, or find the right path in one of eleventy billion parenting books. But even if you did have a good experience of being mothered (and many don’t), or you find some great books, parenthood remains a journey of uncertainty and trial and error. When I took my young children to see The Wild Robot, I laughed and cried way more than them. Not just because the animation was so beautiful, or because the story was so moving, but because of the non-didactic moments that resonated so strongly with how we parents feel. We often don’t know what we’re doing; we’re trying our best, and wishing it will be the right thing – playing out an internal war between wanting to protect our children and wanting them to forge their own path. In The Wild Robot, Roz the robot (voiced by Lupita Nyong'o) is focused on helping her adopted gosling Brightbill (Kit Connor) learn how to fly – something she has no experience of. More importantly, Brightbill must fly on a migration flight with other birds, where she can’t join him. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/67vbA5ZJdKQ?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> The film mirrors the beautiful and horrifying knowledge parents carry: if we do our job, our children will become their own individuals who are able and willing to leave us. All we can hope is we’ve formed a bond that will make them want to return. – Rebecca Beirne <h2>My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)</h2> Was your mother born overseas? It’s likely. Nearly half of all Australians <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/2021-census-nearly-half-australians-have-parent-born-overseas">have a parent born overseas</a>. Or perhaps you married into a family where your “new mum” was born overseas? Your mother-in-law counts on Mother’s Day. Don’t forget it. And if you married into a wonderfully loud Greek/Italian family as I did, then your mother-in-law is likely a hard worker who deserves to be entertained. So why not offer her, and all the mums in your life, a sweet, disarming rom-com about a clash of cultures and a life milestone all mums can get behind: a wedding. A Big Fat Greek Wedding, to be precise. Written by and starring Nia Vardalos, this film tells the tale of Toula Portokalos, who, at the “advanced” age of 30, remains persistently unmarried in the early aughts Chicago. In Greek terms, this is already a tragedy. The title does a lot of heavy lifting in terms of what comes next. The real charm of the film is the clash of cultures that anyone with any ethnic background will recognise. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/O2mecmDFE-Q?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> My Big Fat Greek Wedding was a small film with huge global success. Will your mum care it was made with a budget of just US$5 million but <a href="https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-first-my-big-fat-greek-wedding-was-the-blockbuster-nobody-saw-coming/">grossed more than US$360 million worldwide</a>, making it one of the most profitable films of all time, with a more than 6,150% return? Probably not. But she’ll love John Corbett, that tall guy who was also in Sex in City (and he’s really good in this one). Just make sure you skip the sequels. – Ruari Elkington <h2>Alien: Romulus (2024)</h2> Not everyone wants to watch saccharine romantic comedies on Mothers’ Day. If you can relate, dystopian horror film Alien: Romulus (2024) offers much darker pleasures. Feminist scholars have long found the Alien franchise to be rife with symbolism and repressed fears about motherhood, birth and reproductive organs. Alien: Romulus goes further than the original 1979 film in making the theme of sexual violation explicit. As you might expect from Fede Álvarez, the director of Evil Dead (2013), there is plenty of body horror as human characters are assaulted and orally impregnated by Alien species. The film also includes neo-Marxist messages about “the company” and its violation of workers’ bodies. Working mums may enjoy the dark humour of a futuristic corporation that literally sucks the life out of workers before politely thanking them for their service. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OzY2r2JXsDM?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> Leading action woman Rain Carradine (Cailee Spaeny) is more vulnerable and relatable than the iconic character Ripley of previous films. When Rain discovers her work contract has tipped over into slavery, she joins up with her ex-boyfriend Tyler (Archie Renaux) and his pregnant sister Kay (Isabela Merced) to hijack a space station. They must then manage a coolly indifferent IT operating system called “MU/TH/UR” to control the ship. The fact Kay is pregnant does not bode well; her baby eventually bursts out as a hideous alien-human mutant which tries to eat her. Alien Romulus is basically every unspeakable anxiety about pregnancy and motherhood realised through spectacular special effects. It’s also the franchise’s best film since the original. – Susan Hopkins<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/255004/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jessica-gildersleeve-141286">Jessica Gildersleeve</a>, Professor of English Literature, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-southern-queensland-1069">University of Southern Queensland</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kate-cantrell-444834">Kate Cantrell</a>, Senior Lecturer – Writing, Editing, and Publishing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-southern-queensland-1069">University of Southern Queensland</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kathleen-williams-538927">Kathleen Williams</a>, Senior Lecturer in Media, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888">University of Tasmania</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/panizza-allmark-198784">Panizza Allmark</a>, Professor of Visual & Cultural Studies, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/edith-cowan-university-720">Edith Cowan University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rebecca-beirne-183948">Rebecca Beirne</a>, Senior Lecturer in Film, Media and Cultural Studies, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-newcastle-1060">University of Newcastle</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ruari-elkington-105955">Ruari Elkington</a>, Senior Lecturer in Creative Industries & Chief Investigator at QUT Digital Media Research Centre (DMRC), <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/queensland-university-of-technology-847">Queensland University of Technology</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/susan-hopkins-157472">Susan Hopkins</a>, Senior Lecturer in Education (Curriculum and Pedagogy), <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-the-sunshine-coast-1068">University of the Sunshine Coast</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/stepmums-alien-mums-robot-mums-vengeful-mums-7-films-to-watch-this-mothers-day-255004">original article</a>. Image: Shutterstock </div>

Movies

Q+A descends into acrimony over Welcome to Country debate

The ABC’s flagship program Q+A erupted into heated exchanges on Monday night as panellists clashed over the role and frequency of Welcome to Country ceremonies, amid growing national debate sparked by political and community divisions. The discussion was triggered when audience member Peter asked how tensions over the ceremonies could be resolved "amicably" and "in the interest of all parties", following escalating disagreement between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton during the current federal election campaign. Liberal MP Paul Fletcher argued from the Q+A panel that while it was important to recognise the “distinctive place” of Indigenous Australians, many in the community felt there were now too many ceremonial acknowledgements. The issue has been further inflamed after neo-Nazis booed a Welcome to Country delivered by Bunurong man Uncle Mark Brown during the Anzac Day Dawn Service at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance – a move that was swiftly condemned by both major political parties. However, Mr Dutton later suggested that Welcome to Country ceremonies were being overused and questioned their appropriateness for solemn occasions like Anzac Day. On Q+A, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek defended the tradition, particularly at Anzac Day events, arguing it was "perfectly appropriate" to acknowledge the service of Indigenous Australians in the military. Fletcher countered that veterans should be consulted on the issue, prompting a sharp exchange when Plibersek retorted that he was speaking as if Indigenous veterans did not exist. Fletcher accused her of using “straw man rhetoric”, insisting, “The role of Indigenous people in defending Australia over many conflicts has been very significant. Nobody is contesting that for a second.” Greens leader Adam Bandt also weighed in, launching a scathing attack on Dutton’s handling of the matter. “It’s gutter politics from an Opposition leader whose campaign is in free fall and he’s starting to punch down,” Bandt said. He accused Dutton of spreading misinformation during the Voice referendum campaign and likened his tactics to those of US President Donald Trump. “He’s playing from the Trump play book as his campaign is in free fall. Punching down. Playing from the Trump play book and we’ll call it out," Bandt said. Image: ABC's Q+A

Prince Louis turns 7, loses teeth, gains fans

The Prince and Princess of Wales have released a new video of their youngest son, Prince Louis, in celebration of his 7th birthday – and fans were quick to notice one majestic omission! The young royal, known for upstaging grown adults with nothing but facial expressions and unfiltered energy, beamed into the camera with a grin so wide it could be measured in acres – revealing a spectacular dental vacancy. Yes, Prince Louis is now officially a member of the exclusive “Missing Front Teeth Club”, joining generations of British children, Jack-o'-lanterns and occasionally stressed-out rugby players. The video, taken behind the scenes of a photoshoot with photographer Josh Shinner, captures the birthday boy mid-adventure, clad in jeans, a jumper and brown boots – aka, "British Boy Chic". In a moment of cinematic glory, Louis approaches the camera like a pint-sized action hero, then flashes his now-iconic toothless grin. But it wasn’t just his smile that had viewers grinning: it was his voice. “I can jump down from there!” Louis proclaims, boldly sizing up a log that looked suspiciously like it had auditioned for a Bear Grylls special. He then executes the leap, presumably sticking the landing, though the palace has yet to confirm whether a royal stunt double was involved. This rare vocal cameo marks only the second time the public has heard Prince Louis speak. The first was in 2020, when he interrogated naturalist Sir David Attenborough with a hard-hitting question: “What animal do you like?” (Attenborough's answer: monkeys – though many suspect he now ranks Louis higher.) Royal fans rejoiced at the annual tradition of birthday content, with one commenting, “He’s growing up so fast — and shrinking his dental real estate just as quickly!” The official photo was released with the caption: “Wishing Prince Louis a very Happy 7th Birthday!” Though some believe it should have added, “...and a speedy return of those front teeth”. At press time, Buckingham insiders declined to comment on whether the Tooth Fairy was knighted in a private ceremony earlier this week. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> 📽️🎞️ Seven today! <a href="https://t.co/n3lNIXesCR">pic.twitter.com/n3lNIXesCR</a> — The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1915035767518232641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2025</a></blockquote> Images: X (Formerly Twitter) / Josh Sinner

Family & Pets

"Repeat offenders": New cameras rake in $30 million in just six months

South Australia’s mobile phone detection cameras have netted more than $30 million in fines in just six months, revealing a staggering level of distracted driving despite a prior grace period. Since the cameras were officially activated on September 19, 2024, police have issued 46,476 fines to motorists caught using their phones behind the wheel. That’s an average of 200 people a day being caught – a drop from the 350 daily detected during the initial warning phase. During the three-month trial period following their mid-2024 introduction, the high-tech cameras sent out 64,454 warning letters. But once enforcement began, authorities wasted no time. In the first three months alone, 28,120 expiation notices were issued. The number dipped slightly in the next quarter, with just over 18,000 further infringements recorded. Superintendent Shane Johnson said while the declining numbers were a positive sign, the prevalence of repeat offenders remained troubling. “The number of repeat offenders has been disappointing, and police continue to investigate these offences,” he said. “Some registered owners have been issued with over 20. That is absolutely a serious concern for us.” Among the most alarming cases was one registered driver who racked up an astonishing 41 fines. In total, 308 drivers received four or more fines during the six-month period. South Australia's Police Minister Stephen Mullighan described the level of mobile phone use among drivers as “unacceptably high” but said the figures highlight the effectiveness of the detection technology. Motorists caught by the cameras face a $556 penalty, a $102 Victims of Crime Levy, and three demerit points. And while South Australia is pushing ahead – with two more detection cameras soon to be deployed – authorities have yet to reveal their locations. However, officials also cautioned that collecting the fines is another challenge altogether. In Queensland, for example, $160 million in seatbelt and mobile phone fines remains unpaid. SA Police used the release of the new data to remind drivers just how dangerous it is to take their eyes off the road – even briefly. “Being distracted by a mobile for two seconds at 60 kilometres an hour means a driver travels 33 metres without their eyes on the road,” a police spokesperson said. “At 100 kilometres an hour, that distance increases to 55 metres.” With enforcement ramping up and new cameras on the way, authorities hope the downward trend continues – and that more drivers will finally put the phone down. Images: SA Police

Legal

What would – and should – happen to the ABC under the next federal government?

<div class="theconversation-article-body">Who could possibly argue with the idea that the ABC should be efficiently run and produce excellent programs? No one, you would think. So why, then, has there been immediate resistance to Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/dutton-tells-abc-to-show-excellence-or-face-funding-razor-gang-20250402-p5lofu.html">statement</a> that, if elected next month, a Coalition government would “reward excellence” and “keep funding in place” if the ABC is “being run efficiently”? The fact that Coalition governments – and Dutton himself – have historically been deeply hostile to the public broadcaster is part of it. Many have picked up on the implicit threat that if his government did not find “excellence”, its funding would be cut. But there’s more than that. For example, who defines “excellence” and “efficiency”? Second, the ABC is set up by statute to be run independent of government. Third, the ABC has been subjected to a slew of efficiency reviews, in 1988, 1997, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-03-15/abc-efficient-under-funded-kpmg-report/8183700">2006</a>, <a href="https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/sites/default/files/ABC_and_SBS_efficiency_report_Redacted.pdf?acsf_files%20_redirect">2014</a> and <a href="https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/sites/default/files/2018-national-broadcasters-efficiency-review-redacted.pdf">2018</a>. Overwhelmingly, they found the ABC does more with fewer resources than its counterparts in the commercial media. For example, in 2006, at the behest of the Coalition government led by John Howard, KPMG found the ABC was a “broadly efficient organisation” providing a “high volume of outputs and quality relative to the level of funding it receives”. Let’s translate the consulting-speak. The ABC’s annual budget of $1.2 billion costs $43 per person in Australia. The cheapest subscription to Netflix costs more than twice that amount - $95.88 – and of course the ABC provides much more than a single streaming service. Fourth, Coalition governments’ record of antipathy towards the ABC is most obvious in how they fund it. <hr /> <iframe id="WOgDZ" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: 0;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/WOgDZ/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <hr /> As ABC chair Kim Williams said <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/about/media-centre/speeches-and-articles/abc-chair-kim-williams-am-address-to-the-melbourne-press-club/105132866">last week</a>, in real terms the ABC’s funding is $150 million less than it was in 2013 when the coalition last came to power. This is notwithstanding the current Labor government’s restoring of at least some lost funding. Add to this the fear that Dutton is seeking to emulate Donald Trump. Amid the tempest of economic and social measures the US president has brought in since his inauguration in January, his attacks on public and international broadcasting have passed unnoticed by many. By executive order, Trump has <a href="https://mailchi.mp/poynter/president-trumps-latest-press-target-voice-of-america?e=1e851c3327">abolished Voice of America </a>(VOA), which began during the second world war. VOA has provided news to nearly 50 countries, including those that did not have press freedom. Its broadcasts are by statute meant to be accurate and objective. It has been an arm of soft power diplomacy for the US. Trump has also threatened to defund the public broadcasters, National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), labelling them “radical left monsters”. The difference between public broadcasting in the US and Australia is that for the former, the government provides only a small percentage of its funding. Most of it comes from donations from citizens, grants from foundations and corporate sponsorship, according to <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2025/03/27/will-trump-defund-npr-and-pbs-heres-what-we-know-as-president-attacks-the-broadcasters/">a recent report</a> in Forbes. PBS and NPR occupy a smaller part of the overall US media landscape than the ABC and SBS in Australia, but NPR’s reporters in particular have been actively, if dispassionately, reporting on the Trump Mark II administration’s tumultuous first few months. Like the VOA, the ABC’s international broadcasting arm is largely invisible to audiences in its host country. This means any cuts could well pass unnoticed, unlike, say, if the ABC said it could no longer afford to air the children’s TV series, Bluey. Through radio, TV, and now online, the ABC has broadcast to Australia’s neighbours since the second world war, initially as an agent to spread democratic value, but in more recent decades to model effective public interest journalism. The ABC, like the BBC, has a charter of independence. The ABC’s work in the international arena, through Radio Australia and ABC Australia, is vital, not only to bolster national security by providing trusted news and information about Australia and its allies, but by working alongside and supporting local Indo-Pacific news organisations. The Albanese Labor government appears to have understood this threat, providing some extra funding for the international services mostly in response to China’s increased presence in the region, as Alexandra Wake argued in her <a href="https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-47571-9">2024 book</a> Transnational Broadcasting in the Indo-Pacific. Labor’s funding boost remains inadequate, though, to properly broadcast an Australian voice to the region because, she argued, of increasingly fraught relations between nations, and a complex political and media environment. One of the most pressing priorities now is to extend the Labor government’s Pacific Security and Engagement Initiatives (the original $8 million per year) which is due to end in June 2026. Without this, the ABC will have transmission to the region, but next to no appropriate content. Australia needed to rectify past mistakes by increasing international broadcast funding and protecting that funding from future government cuts. Australia also needed to adopt the long-term thinking that China displayed if it was to counteract China’s strategic ambitions for the region. By closing VOA, Trump and his government efficiency wrecking ball, Elon Musk, have actually left open an opportunity for Australia to lean into the unique strategic advantage granted by Australia’s economic and geographical place in the region. The move to cut US aid supporting journalism extends to smaller outfits such as Benar News Pacific, which recently <a href="https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/philippine/letter-from-editors-benarnews-pauses-operations-04022025104657.html">told its audience</a> it was “pausing operations”. For the past decade, Benar News (and its parent Radio Free Asia) has been reporting across the region on security, politics and human rights. “The US administration has withheld the funding that we rely on to bring our readers and viewers the news from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh, the Philippines and island-states and territories in the Pacific,” it said in a letter from the editors. Such local news services may be small but are a vital bulwark in the multi-polar world Trump seeks to shape.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/248117/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/matthew-ricketson-3616">Matthew Ricketson</a>, Professor of Communication, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alexandra-wake-7472">Alexandra Wake</a>, Associate Professor, Journalism, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michael-ward-421548">Michael Ward</a>, PhD candidate in media and communications, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-would-and-should-happen-to-the-abc-under-the-next-federal-government-248117">original article</a>. Image: Instagram </div>

"Frankly, it's pathetic": The Project hosts lash out at wombat snatcher

The hosts of The Project have lashed out at US hunting influencer Sam Jones after she pulled out of a scheduled interview at the last minute. Jones, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/wombatgate-explodes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">who sparked outrage</a> by snatching a baby wombat from its mother and sharing a video of the incident with her 92,000 Instagram followers, has faced further condemnation for her recent actions. Jones was set to appear on The Project on Sunday night to answer tough questions from the panel but instead opted to provide a pre-recorded video statement. The decision did not sit well with host Hamish Macdonald, who described it as "pathetic". <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/outrage-should-not-be-selective-wombat-snatcher-speaks-out" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In her video message</a>, Jones apologised for her actions but also took aim at the Australian government for allowing farmers to kill wombats. "It was an incredible mistake, and there hasn't been a moment I haven't regretted it," she stated. However, she then shifted the blame, saying, "The same government that is calling for my head is the one that spends millions of your tax dollars to mass slaughter native Australian animals." Jones later posted a statement on Instagram about the controversy. Addressing the audience, Hamish Macdonald said, "I think we probably just need to be totally straight and honest with you at home, we were all here earlier this afternoon to do an interview with her and ask her questions, but she pulled out of that and instead provided that video statement. I think, frankly, it's pathetic, given what's happened." He continued, "Obviously, no one condones violence or threats of violence or any of the things that have been thrown her way, but honestly, to say you're 'genuinely sorry' but not be willing to explain yourself, and then point the finger at the Australian government – I think it's pretty lousy." Co-host Sarah Harris then chimed in, saying, "I think the infuriating stuff came in her apology afterwards, where she said, 'Oh you know, the Australian government allows the slaughter of wombats.' It's just not true. We know that wombats are protected here." Harris pointed out that offenders harming a wombat could face fines of up to $40,000 and two years in prison. Macdonald then doubled down on his criticism, calling Jones' statement "riddled with misinformation". He added, "This is typical of influencers. They only want to make their own statements to the world, with no responsibility or accountability. The reality is, there's been a strong public response because Australians are proud of their wildlife and the incredible nature that we have." Following Jones' decision to cancel her interview, viewers of The Project quickly took to social media to voice their disapproval. One Facebook user wrote, "Sounds like, 'Sorry, not sorry'." Another commented, "She is only sorry she got caught," while a third remarked, "Typical American turning this whole wombat episode into an Australian political error. She needs to get her FACTS straight." Jones has yet to respond to the fresh wave of criticism, but the backlash against her actions and response shows no signs of dying down. Images: Instagram / The Project

Desperate Aussie dad sparks brutal immigration debate on Q+A

An Australian father, fearing that another rent hike could push his family into homelessness, directly challenged the federal government’s immigration policies on national television. Morgan Cox, a father of a one-year-old, raised his concerns on ABC’s Q+A program on Monday night. The episode, broadcast from the federal election battleground of Wyong on the Central Coast of New South Wales, saw an emotionally charged exchange between Cox and Federal Health Minister Mark Butler. Cox detailed his dire financial situation, explaining that he had recently received notice of a $180-per-week rent increase – an additional $10,000 annually. “I tried to find a cheaper place and there just aren’t any," Cox said. "What little is available, there’s dozens of people lined up. Lots of them are immigrants and they have plenty more money than I can possibly get.” The audience applauded as he pressed the government on whether it planned to curb immigration to align with housing availability. In response, Butler expressed sympathy, acknowledging the widespread struggles with housing affordability. “I’m so sorry you’re going through that and it’s a story we all hear right across the country, particularly in the bigger states around the big cities,” Butler said. He then noted that the government was working to bring immigration levels down to sustainable levels, but said that it is difficult to control departures of temporary residents. “What we’ve found after those efforts is that the arrival numbers have returned to about pre-Covid levels, but we’re not managing the exits – the people returning home after studying or short-term skilled work. We’re working very hard on that,” Butler explained. However, Cox appeared visibly frustrated, questioning why the government could not simply halt immigration until housing supply could meet demand. Former NSW Treasurer Matt Kean, also on the panel, argued that the issue was more complex than immigration alone. “The reality is that we need more housing supply," he said. "More supply into the system means more availability for renters, for homeowners – more choice.” He further criticised excessive bureaucracy in housing development. “There’s way too much red tape and green tape stopping housing developments, whether it’s Sydney, Melbourne, or right across Australia,” he added. As housing affordability continues to be a pressing concern for many Australians, the government clearly faces increasing pressure to strike a balance between population growth and adequate housing solutions. Images: ABC

Money & Banking

Steve Price slams woman's savvy Airtasker job

Steve Price has launched into a tirade on The Project over a story about a woman's savvy use of Airtasker. The Sydney woman posted a job on the site to pay a stranger $100 if they delivered her a pair of sneakers to the Ivy nightclub, after her high heels began hurting her feet at 1am. Her ingenuity quickly went viral, with The Project panellist Georgie Tunny explaining the situation. "Someone came through (and delivered the shoes), and her followers applauded her, calling it genius hack," Tunny said. <div class="embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: currentcolor !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; vertical-align: baseline; width: 591px; outline: currentcolor !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7476683192787946770&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40aimee.clairee%2Fvideo%2F7476683192787946770%3Fembed_source%3D121374463%252C121468991%252C121439635%252C121433650%252C121404359%252C121497414%252C73319236%252C121477481%252C121351166%252C121487028%252C73347567%252C121331973%252C120811592%252C120810756%252C121503376%253Bnull%253Bembed_masking%26refer%3Dembed%26referer_url%3Dwww.dailymail.co.uk%252Ftvshowbiz%252Farticle-14454879%252FThe-Project-Steve-Price-sneakers-nightclub-heels.html%26referer_video_id%3D7476683192787946770&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign-sg.tiktokcdn.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-alisg-p-0037%2Fo4gbklEViYI8Bu8LPiDDiBnRVC8KAIVEAZBDy%3Flk3s%3Db59d6b55%26x-expires%3D1741222800%26x-signature%3Dr1zBofQ2NEGTc0Et0FGfYs3KRQY%253D%26shp%3Db59d6b55%26shcp%3D-&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> Steve Price, however, wasn't impressed by the woman's determination to be comfortable, blasting her "ridiculous" request. Price crinkled his face in disgust at the harmless story and let loose, mincing no words as he shared his opinion. "Don't be stupid. That's the most ridiculous, over-privileged w**ky thing I've heard of" he said. "That woman has too much money. She got secondhand smelly sneakers," Steve added. Georgie defended the woman, saying that in her clubbing days, she would absolutely have paid someone a decent sum in order to be in comfortable shoes and spare her feet. Image credits: The Project

Money & Banking

"Could not be happier": Channel 7 commentator's baby joy

AFL great and Channel 7 commentator Dale Thomas and his wife Natasha have announced that they are expecting their first child together. The couple told family and friends over Christmas before announcing their baby joy to the public on Monday. “Tash and I could not be happier to be welcoming our baby into the world in August,” the former Carlton and Collingwood player said. “Last year started with the high of our wedding and ended with this fantastic news. “Telling loved ones over the Christmas period made for some wonderful memories and some brilliant reactions, and we will treasure this forever. “This next chapter has us both so excited. “As happy as we are to be sharing this great personal news, we also want to acknowledge and send big love and thoughts to those who are still waiting for their baby joy. “We appreciate how difficult and sensitive it can be.” <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGusT0yz1zr/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGusT0yz1zr/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Dale Thomas (@dthomas_39)</a> </div> </blockquote> The couple also shared a video of the moment they found out they were expecting, and revealed the due date is in August on Instagram. "Baby Thomas, due August ❤️ We love you so, so much," they captioned the video. The comments were flooded with well-wishes from friends, with footy commentator Abbey Holmes writing: "YAY. Cats outta the bag!! So so so excited for you both. Bring it on xxxxxxxxxxxxxx." "OMFG this is the best news ever!!!! What a wonderful Monday surprise. Congratulations to the both you. Good job," added MasterChef's Khanh Ong. The happy news comes a year after they tied the knot in Dunkeld. Images: Instagram

Family & Pets

"It's time": ABC legend announces retirement

ABC’s chief election analyst Antony Green has announced his plans to step down from the public broadcaster after 30 years in his distinguished role. Green announced that he would be retiring after the next federal election, which is rumoured to take place between March and May 2025. “By the time of the next election, I’ll be 68 and I know I’m not as sharp and quick as I was five years ago,” Green said, according to the ABC. “It gets harder and harder. It’s like a footballer, sometimes they play on a season too long, and I’m making sure I don’t do that.” Green, who has covered more than 90 Australian elections, said it was “time to retire” but he would “stay on” for a couple years “handing over work and doing other things”. “Essentially I’m deciding to retire and work less,” Green said. “I got this job as an election worker 36 years ago and I decided I enjoyed doing it – I’ve done a lot of development since. It’s been a long, fun journey.” Green’s final on-air appearances will be the West Australian state election on March 8th and the federal election, which is yet to be announced. Casey Briggs will step in as ABC’s chief election and data analyst after Green's departure, as she announced he would be missed. “For more than three decades Antony Green has set the bar for election analysis. He is sharp, fast and, even under the immense pressure of the night, manages to keep his sense of humour,” Briggs said. “For me, it has been such a privilege to have had a front-row seat to watch and learn from the master at work." “We will all miss him from our screens, but I’m thankful that at least we get a couple more chances to celebrate his monumental contribution to Australia and its democracy.” ABC journalist Annabel Crabb said covering four federal elections with him had been “one of the great pleasures of (her) professional life”. “What a gift it is to our democracy and to our national broadcaster that in 1989 this wee maths nerd saw the ad in the paper for a research position at the ABC and the late Ian Carroll recognised in him the sprouts of the Tree Of Wisdom he’d become!” Crabb wrote in a social media post. “A legendary figure. A migrant success story. A generous colleague.” Image credits: ABC

Retirement Life

"Treasured friend": Veteran ABC journalist dies aged 85

Julie Copeland has passed away aged 85. Copeland first started working with 3AW in Melbourne before moving onto broadcast with the ABC in the 1970s and 80s, working on programs The Coming Out Show and radio program First Edition. Tributes have poured in for the veteran ABC journalist who passed away in January. She has been remembered as a “a respected colleague, treasured friend, mentor and teacher” in the ABC’s coverage by fellow journalist Daniel Browning. Copeland, who hosted Arts National, Arts Talk and Sunday Morning Arts with Julie Copeland, has also been remembered for her expertise, as a "master practitioner of the craft". She later went on to host The Europeans, a weekly politics and culture program covering topics like Italian Politics, the East German dissident writers and contemporary Greek philosophy. Former ABC presenter Jon Faine told the Sydney Morning Herald that Copeland was “remarkable in so very many ways and taught us a lot about broadcasting”. “She was so generous, always sharing her experience and informally mentoring without being bossy, a rare skill.” Social media users have also paid tribute to the presenter, with one writing: “Very sad to hear this.” “She was an impressive broadcaster and person with a powerful intellect. I’m sad to hear of her passing,” another wrote. Copeland is survived by her husband John Slavin and sister Cherryl Barassi. Image: ABC

Caring

From securing pets to building ‘insect hotels’ – here are 7 ways to attract birds to your garden

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rochelle-steven-22148">Rochelle Steven</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/murdoch-university-746">Murdoch University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/david-newsome-117672">David Newsome</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/murdoch-university-746">Murdoch University</a> Home gardens can provide vital habitat for Australian birds. But there’s more to it than just planting certain types of shrubs and flowering trees. After decades of encouragement to include native plants in home gardens, urban environments have come to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989423003700">favour certain species</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-9993.2006.01584.x">neglect others</a> including some of our most loved birds, such as fairy-wrens. Birds that thrive on nectar such as honeyeaters, and bossy birds with bold personalities such as noisy miners, some parrots and magpies, tend to dominate the scene. But it doesn’t have to be this way. We wanted to explore how urban gardens can best support a wider range of Australian birds. <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10531-025-03011-2">Our new review</a> of research on this topic revealed seven key considerations. These fall into two themes: reducing threats and improving habitat. We found there’s no point doing just the good things (such as plantings) if we don’t stop doing the bad things (such as killing insects, poisoning owls and letting cats hunt). It’s like trying to fill a bucket with a hole in it. So let’s acknowledge the complexity of nature and take a broader approach to attracting birds to our gardens, by ticking off the items on this shopping list. <h2>1. Secure pets</h2> Domestic cats kill <a href="https://www.publish.csiro.au/wr/pdf/WR19174">millions of Australian birds every year</a>. So no matter how innocent your cat looks, it remains a highly evolved predator. The only guaranteed way to protect birds and other wildlife from cats is to keep them contained inside or in purpose-built enclosures, 24 hours a day. You can find out about building your own cat enclosure from <a href="https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/livestock-and-animals/animal-welfare-victoria/cats/enclosures-and-fencing/building-a-cat-enclosure-attached-to-an-existing-structure">government</a> and <a href="https://catiospaces.com/catios-cat-enclosures/cat-behavior-enrichment/build-diy-catio-plan-for-your-cat/">retail</a> experts online. Dogs can also stop birds taking up residence in your garden. The mere <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2013.10.005">presence of a dog can deter some birds</a>. Keeping dogs contained at night can reduce the level of disturbance to nocturnal birds. But if you really want to attract birds to your garden, you may choose to keep your dog inside more. <h2>2. Avoid using insecticides and outside lights</h2> Many flying and ground-dwelling insects are <a href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2002549117">in decline</a>. This is bad news for many birds including fairy-wrens, willie wagtails, fantails and robins who rely almost entirely on insects for food. But we can avoid using insecticides or any other form of lethal control such as bug zappers in our own gardens. Ideally, accept insects as a natural part of your garden. Don’t try to deter them, unless they pose a risk to public safety, such as swarming European honeybees or hordes of European wasps. You can also consider favouring native plants that naturally are resisitant to unwanted insect attack. Excess artificial light is also taking a toll on insects. Consider whether you really need to leave that outdoor light on all night. Review your existing outdoor lighting using the <a href="https://darksky.org/resources/guides-and-how-tos/lighting-principles/">five principles for responsible outdoor lighting</a>, ensuring all artificial light is useful, targeted, low-level, controlled and warm-coloured. <h2>3. Stop poisoning raptors</h2> The use of rat poison, especially those labelled as “fast action”, is <a href="https://theconversation.com/rat-poison-is-killing-our-beloved-native-owls-and-tawny-frogmouths-and-thats-the-tip-of-the-iceberg-212184">killing native owls</a> and other <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147673">birds of prey</a> at an alarming rate due to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.207">secondary poisoning</a>. In other words, raptors are dying after eating rats and mice that have taken the bait. Many countries have regulated the sale and use of these products for this reason, but Australia is lagging behind. So if you “give a hoot” about our owls, <a href="https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/what-is-the-most-humane-way-to-kill-pest-rats-and-mice/">switch to snap traps</a>. There are also various other effective, humane and efficient <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-control-invasive-rats-and-mice-at-home-without-harming-native-wildlife-180792">options</a> available, including removing unwanted fruit from the ground, keeping sheds tidy, and securing compost bins to keep rodents under control. <h2>4. Prevent window strikes</h2> Birds can fly into windows when they’re unable to differentiate between the glass and the surrounding environment. Strikes may be lethal upon impact or result in injury. A stunned bird is also more vulnerable to predators. In Australia, bird lovers can <a href="https://birdlife.org.au/preventing-bird-strike/#:%7E:text=Why%20do%20birds%20collide%20with,help%20solve%20this%20problem%20too.">reduce the risk</a> by using <a href="https://store.birdlife.org.au/product/anti-collision-bird-stickers/">decals</a> which are decorative stickers intended <a href="https://www.sureguard.com.au/page/birds-eye-view-window-strike-deflector">for windows</a>. Screens, hanging plants or mobiles can also be placed in front of windows to help the birds avoid collisions. <h2>5. Create an inclusive garden</h2> The diversity in Australian birds extends to their diets. Beyond honeyeaters, the nation is home to huge numbers of insectivores, carnivores, seed-eaters and fruit peckers. Australian gardens typically have plenty of bottlebrush and grevilleas, which <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2004.06.004">stacks the deck in the bold honeyeaters’ favour</a>. So when buying new garden plants, try catering for a wider variety of bird species. Choose dense shrubs with small white, yellow or blue flowers to attract insects. These bushy plants also make excellent habitat for small birds. Retaining trees ensures our larger birds have nesting sites too. If you get the garden design right, with a variety of plants to suit all tastes, there is <a href="https://birdlife.org.au/a-guide-to-feeding-wild-birds-in-australia/?srsltid=AfmBOooHbf9Du1CarsSg044tVUVFxfBdopOwrOmELrQWcCSdwfKv432v">no need to feed the birds</a>. <h2>6. Encourage insects</h2> <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-09/blue-banded-bee-australian-insect-of-the-year-inaugral-vote/104572938">Native bees</a> and flies play a crucial role in ecosystems, both as pollinators and food for birds. You can provide insects with nesting habitat in the form of insect “hotels”, food (namely flowers and other insects) and safety from pesticides. These <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2015.05.003">small gestures can make a huge difference</a>. <h2>7. Water the birds too</h2> With the <a href="https://climatekids.nasa.gov/heat-islands/">urban heat island</a> effect and growing frequency of extreme heat waves, birds are in need of reliable sources of fresh water. Offer this <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11252-024-01530-4">crucial resource</a> in a water feature such as a bird bath or pond. <h2>Whole neighbourhoods for birds</h2> Your garden has never been more important for birds. Doing your bit in your own backyard can make a visible difference – you will see the birds for yourself. But true conservation gains can only be made when people work together at a larger scale. Why not start a conversation with your neighbour about attracting birds to your garden? Creating one garden for birds is great, but when we start talking about whole neighbourhoods for birds, that’s magic!<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/247561/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rochelle-steven-22148">Rochelle Steven</a>, Lecturer in Environmental Management, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/murdoch-university-746">Murdoch University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/david-newsome-117672">David Newsome</a>, Assoc. Professor of Environmental Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/murdoch-university-746">Murdoch University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/from-securing-pets-to-building-insect-hotels-here-are-7-ways-to-attract-birds-to-your-garden-247561">original article</a>. </div>

Home & Garden

The Project reveals which star is not returning for 2025

The Project has revealed which major star of the panel show will not be returning for the 2025. According Network Ten, comedian Michael Hing will be leaving the program in 2025 after first joining the cast in 2023. Ten confirmed his departure in a statement, saying, "For the last two years, we have loved Michael Hing’s quick wit and hosting hijinks as a regular on The Project." "We wish Michael every success for his nationwide stand-up tour and look forward to welcoming him back to the desk between gigs in 2025." Hing also shared the news on social media, explaining that he is leaving The Project in order to focus on his stand-up comedy tour of Australia, which runs from February to July. He wrote, “Unlike last year (when I didn’t do a tour), this year I’m not eagerly (terrifiedly) awaiting the birth of our first child. And now that we have said child, I’m embarking on the biggest tour I’ve ever done: Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Gold Coast Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney (not exactly a big effort) and Newcastle." “I should mention as well, with the size of the tour, and my ongoing commitment to not being entirely absent from the baby’s life, I’m going to take a step back from being on The Project next year.” The network also revealed that The Project panel would be reduced to three co-panelists on Fridays, commencing from February. Image credits: Instagram

Christmas can be challenging for people with hearing loss. Here are 7 ways you can help

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/katie-ekberg-1534998">Katie Ekberg</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/flinders-university-972">Flinders University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/louise-hickson-2280688">Louise Hickson</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a> For many people, Christmas can be the most social time of the year. The holiday period is often filled with parties, lunches, dinners and celebrations of all kinds with family, friends and colleagues. For adults with hearing loss, however, these social gatherings can bring unique challenges. Communicating with others can be difficult, particularly in group conversations. And the more <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14992027.2019.1670363">background noise</a> there is (for example, Christmas music or children playing), the harder it is. For age-related or acquired hearing loss, hearing ability typically starts to decline from <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0107720">age 50 onwards</a>. <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/hearing-health/resources/publications/one-in-six-australians-experience-hearing-loss-poster-0?language=en">One in six Australians</a> experience some hearing loss, so it’s possible someone around your Christmas dinner table will be struggling to hear. Unfortunately, many adults with hearing loss suffer these challenges in silence. Our <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14992027.2023.2293651">research</a> shows adults with hearing loss often hide their hearing loss from others, even close family members and friends, because of feeling shame due to stigma. But there are some things you can do to ensure a loved one with hearing loss is included this Christmas. <h2>Stigma and stereotypes</h2> Stigma is when someone is treated differently by others due to a particular physical or social attribute. Across a <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14992027.2023.2293651">series of studies</a>, we conducted surveys and interviews with adults with hearing loss, their families and hearing care professionals to explore experiences of stigma for adults with hearing loss. Our research also included video recordings of real-life conversations between adults with hearing loss and their families and friends. The <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14992027.2024.2353862">results</a> suggested people often associate hearing loss with negative stereotypes of ageing, disability, reduced intelligence, having a problem or weakness, and difference. For example, one participant with hearing loss told us: <blockquote> Once they are aware that you can’t really comprehend or hear what they’re saying, they treat you different. And it’s not always positive, it’s quite often negative […] Even people who are familiar with you, my twin brother, he thinks that there’s something wrong with me because I can’t hear him properly. </blockquote> Old age was the most common stereotype associated with hearing loss. For example, one adult with hearing loss commented: <blockquote> I guess it’s just a sign of ageing. Like wearing glasses and grey hair. </blockquote> But as hearing can start declining from middle age, many adults experiencing hearing difficulties do not fit this stereotype. We see this stereotype appear in popular media as well. For example, in the TV show Bluey, the character Bingo dresses up as a “<a href="https://www.bluey.tv/characters/granny-rita/">Can’t-Hear-Anything granny</a>” in a number of episodes. In <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14992027.2024.2418970">our research</a>, people with hearing loss reported feeling embarrassment, shame, frustration, sadness and fatigue from trying to manage their hearing difficulties during everyday conversations. In the results of <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14992027.2023.2293651">a survey</a> currently under peer review, almost two-thirds felt other people laughed about or treated their hearing loss as a joke, often making them feel uncomfortable. An example <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14992027.2024.2389189">of this teasing</a> can be seen in a real-life conversation we recorded with a grandfather with hearing loss and his extended family while having afternoon tea. After the older man has ongoing trouble hearing his granddaughters, his wife teases him with the question “You got your hearing aids in Grandpa?”, which receives laughter from his son and granddaughters. While this sort of teasing might seem light-hearted, it can cause someone with hearing loss to feel embarrassed when they have trouble hearing. A key finding from <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14992027.2024.2406885">our interview research</a> was that adults with hearing loss respond to experiences of stigma by not telling others about their hearing loss. Similarly, in an international <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14992027.2023.2293651">survey of 331 adults</a> with hearing loss, the results of which are yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal, one in four had not told anyone about their hearing loss. Others only told certain people in specific circumstances. There might, therefore, be family and friends at your Christmas gatherings facing the challenges of hearing loss without anyone knowing. <h2>Supporting loved ones with hearing loss this Christmas</h2> For adults with hearing loss, experiences of stigma can cause them to start to withdraw from social situations, participate less in conversations, and become more <a href="https://journals.lww.com/psychosomaticmedicine/abstract/2013/02000/social_isolation_and_loneliness__relationships.9.aspx">socially isolated and lonely</a>. But a greater awareness about hearing loss and inclusive communication can help tackle the stigma. Here are some simple ways you can be more inclusive of people with hearing loss this festive season: <ol> <li> Think about the location of your event – how noisy is it? When possible, choose restaurants and social settings that are quieter. Outdoor settings will generally be less noisy than indoor ones (apps such as <a href="https://theambientmenu.com.au/">The Ambient Menu</a> can help you choose). </li> <li> Turn down background noise if you can (for example, TV, radio, music). </li> <li> Speak face-to-face as much as possible. This allows for lip-reading so that people are not just reliant on their hearing. If you know someone has difficulty hearing, move closer to them and talk clearly and slightly more slowly. </li> <li> Arrange seating in a way that allows everyone to face each other. Round tables are best. </li> <li> Give people the opportunity to choose where they are seated around a table or in a restaurant. Adults with hearing loss may position themselves in the middle of a table or next to specific people they need to hear. </li> <li> If you are at an event with speeches, use a microphone when possible. </li> <li> If you notice a person not joining in the conversation you could ask them if they can hear OK and, if not, what you can do to help.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/245943/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> </li> </ol> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/katie-ekberg-1534998">Katie Ekberg</a>, Senior Lecturer, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/flinders-university-972">Flinders University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/louise-hickson-2280688">Louise Hickson</a>, Professor of Audiology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/christmas-can-be-challenging-for-people-with-hearing-loss-here-are-7-ways-you-can-help-245943">original article</a>. </div>

Body

Another ABC reporter announces shock departure

Another ABC reporter has announced their departure. Music reporter Zan Rowe has announced her exit from ABC Breakfast after ten years on the program. Rowe is the popular host of the Take Five series and has been a star for the ABC, on both radio and television. "As just announced on news breakfast I'm gonna be winding up my weekly music news segment next week will be my final week," she told her followers in an Instagram story. "I've been doing it for ten years," she continued. "It's an idea that i pitched a decade ago. I've had such a good time doing it both in Sydney remotely and then on the couch in Melbourne. "It's been amazing to bring music news but also music analysis and discussions around what's happening with artists these days," she added. "It's been a real pleasure and privilege to do that." The presenter then signed off by saying: "Take away one thing and you can make space for other things. "2025 the land of opportunity." Her departure follows Michael Rowland's <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/abc-veteran-announced-his-departure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announcement</a> that he will also step down from the program on December 13, after 15 years on the show. The ABC is yet to announce the new host for the breakfast show, but it is rumoured that the frontrunner to replace Rowland is former ABC correspondent James Glenday, who has been the presenter of ABC Canberra’s news bulletin for the past year. Last month he announced his departure from the Canberra role, on the same day as Rowland's departure, with Glenday saying that he was looking forward to an “exciting new role” in 2025. In just four months, the breakfast show have lost four of their experienced presenters, including Lisa Miller's departure in August, and Tony Armstrong's departure in September. Images: Zan Rowe/ Instagram

Music

ABC veteran announced his departure

Longtime host of ABC News Breakfast Michael Rowland has announced his departure from the coveted role. Rowland shared the news on-air on Monday morning, revealing that his last day on the show will be December 13th, despite ABC bosses asking him to stay on the show into next year. “I have some news to announce - and the teams here, they know this news already - I’m leaving News Breakfast at the end of next week," he said. "I’m sorry to the viewers out there for the short notice, but I’m not one for long and drawn out farewells.” “I love working on News Breakfast. Every morning is a buzz and it’s by far the best job I’ve had at the ABC. But after 15 years of 3am starts my body is screaming ‘enough!’. The hours have finally caught up with me.” “I am looking forward to a break and spending more time with my family. My beautiful children were 7 and 5 respectfully when I started the show and they’re now in their 20s,” he said. “There has been an enormous amount of family sacrifice that has gone on to enable me to do the job for 15 years, so looking forward to spending time with them and my beautiful wife, Nicky, as well.” “I will miss the fabulous Brekky team, but I will miss our viewers even more. I am intensely proud of helping build the News Breakfast audience over the years. Thank you all sincerely for entrusting me with your mornings.” Rowland will remain with the ABC and will return to the national broadcaster in mid-2025 to work on “exciting projects.” The presenter and news journalist started his career at the ABC in 1987, and was appointed co-host of News Breakfast in 2010, covering major events such as federal and state elections, four US presidential elections, the Black Summer bushfires and floods in NSW and Victoria, the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings, and the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Image credits: ABC <p class="paragraph_paragraph__iYReA" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1.5rem 0px; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, blinkmacsystemfont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">

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Christmas can be challenging for people with hearing loss. Here are 7 ways you can help

Another ABC reporter announces shock departure

ABC veteran announced his departure

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