ABC rumoured to be axing Q+A amid fresh round of cuts

<p>Long-running ABC current affairs program <em>Q+A</em> is reportedly facing the axe after 17 years on Australian television, with multiple media outlets citing unnamed sources within the national broadcaster.</p> <p>The influential panel show, which launched in 2008 with Tony Jones as host, is said to have been dropped ahead of its scheduled return in August. The decision places <em>Q+A</em> among a growing list of legacy programs facing the chopping block, coming just days after Channel Ten confirmed it was ending <em>The Project</em> following a 16-year run.</p> <p><em>Q+A</em> went into its scheduled hiatus in mid-May, and it remains unclear whether it will return at all in 2025. ABC’s new managing director, Hugh Marks, is expected to reveal sweeping changes at the public broadcaster this week, including potential staff redundancies and confirmation of the show’s fate.</p> <p>The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) warned ABC staff on Tuesday that job cuts were imminent, with employees reportedly being called into meetings to discuss a major restructure. Marks, who replaced David Anderson in March, has previously signalled a focus on streamlining the broadcaster’s operations, suggesting the ABC may need to “do fewer things better” in the future.</p> <p>In addition to cuts, the ABC is expected to announce new content initiatives, including a dedicated documentary unit championed by ABC chair Kim Williams.</p> <p>Created by executive producer Peter McEvoy, <em>Q+A</em> debuted in May 2008 and quickly became a flagship program for the ABC. Its format, inspired by the BBC’s <em>Question Time</em>, brought politicians, experts and members of the public together to debate national issues in real time.</p> <p>Following Jones’ departure in 2019, the show struggled to maintain its ratings. Hamish Macdonald took over as host in 2020, before stepping down amid mixed reviews. Stan Grant’s brief tenure in 2022 ended after he became the target of racist abuse unrelated to the show. The current host, Patricia Karvelas, has led the program since early 2023.</p> <p>While viewership has modestly improved under Karvelas, the show’s ratings remain among the lowest in the ABC’s current affairs stable. A 2023 “Garma Special” episode drew just 84,000 metro viewers – <em>Q+A</em>’s lowest figures on record.</p> <p>The ABC has not officially confirmed the program’s cancellation. However, the coming days are expected to bring clarity as the national broadcaster embarks on a major overhaul under new leadership.</p> <p><em>Image: ABC</em></p>

TV

Iconic singer reveals sad diagnosis

<p>Morten Harket, the iconic voice behind A-ha’s global smash "Take on Me", has revealed he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease – a progressive condition that may bring an end to his singing career.</p> <p>The 65-year-old Norwegian singer shared the news in a moving interview published on the band’s official website, explaining that although treatment has eased some of the condition’s physical toll, it has also affected his voice – the very heart of his artistry.</p> <p>“I don’t feel like singing, and for me that’s a sign,” Harket said candidly. “As things stand now, that’s out of the question.”</p> <p>For the past year, Harket has undergone deep brain stimulation, a complex treatment involving two surgeries to implant electrodes on both sides of his brain. The procedure delivers electrical impulses that help control tremors and muscle stiffness, but in Harket’s case, has also dulled his soaring vocal range.</p> <p>Despite the gravity of the diagnosis, Harket said he feels at peace with it. He credits his 94-year-old father for encouraging him to “use whatever works” in coping with the challenges of the degenerative disorder.</p> <p>“There’s so much to weigh up,” he said. “It’s a difficult balancing act between taking the medication and managing its side effects.”</p> <p>A-ha last toured in 2020 and played what may be their final show together in 2022 at the Hollywood Bowl. Harket said he has continued to work on new music but is unsure whether the songs will ever be finished.</p> <p>Still, in classic form, he offered fans words of hope rather than despair.</p> <p>“Don’t worry about me,” he said. “Spend your energy addressing real problems… and know that I am being taken care of.”</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

Mother accused of murdering daughter dies in hospital

<p>An already deeply tragic case has taken a further heartbreaking turn with the death of a woman charged with the murder of her three-year-old daughter.</p> <p><a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/chilling-new-details-emerge-after-qld-mother-s-alleged-murder" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lauren Ingrid Flanigan</a>, 32, was found unresponsive in her cell at the Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre on Friday night. Despite being rushed to hospital, she died from her injuries overnight, Queensland Corrective Services confirmed.</p> <p>Flanigan had been in custody since last Monday, when she was arrested in the front yard of her Bundaberg home. Police were called to the property after reports of a seriously injured child. Her daughter, Sophia Rose, was found with multiple wounds and died at the scene despite desperate efforts to save her.</p> <p>The devastating loss of Sophia had already shocked the community. Now, just days later, Flanigan’s sudden death has left many struggling to make sense of the unfolding tragedy.</p> <p>“Queensland Corrective Services officers provided immediate assistance before paramedics transported the woman to hospital, where she died last night, June 1,” a QCS spokesperson said. “Support is being offered to the responding officers and their colleagues.”</p> <p>Police have confirmed that the Corrective Services Investigation Unit (CSIU) is examining the circumstances of Flanigan’s death, and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.</p> <p>Flanigan had not entered a plea and was scheduled to appear in court in July. Her death now leaves many unanswered questions, while intensifying the sorrow surrounding an already harrowing case.</p> <p>Sophia’s father, Jai Ruane, a FIFO worker at a Central Queensland coal mine, was not home at the time of the incident. He has since returned and is caring for his two other children.</p> <p><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bundaberg-homicide-investigation-murder-probe-launched-after-threeyearold-girl-found-dead-in-queensland/fd891d0d-9c31-46a9-9668-44cda55655e0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Speaking to 9NEWS</a>, Ruane shared memories of his “bubbly” little girl, who he described as the “light” of his life. “She was always smiling, always wanting to help, just so full of life and love. She just had such a huge heart,” he said.</p> <p><em><strong>If you need help in a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For further information about depression, contact beyondblue on 1300224636.</strong></em></p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Bindi shares heartbreaking update from hospital bed

<p>Beloved Aussie conservationist Bindi Irwin has updated fans following a recent health scare that saw her <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/bindi-irwin-rushed-to-hospital-in-the-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rushed to hospital</a> during a trip to Las Vegas. The 26-year-old was in the city to attend the annual Steve Irwin Gala Dinner, held in honour of her late father, when she was suddenly hospitalised.</p> <p>In a heartfelt video recorded from her hospital bed, Irwin addressed her concerned followers, expressing gratitude for the outpouring of support she’s received.</p> <p>“Hey guys, Bindi here. I just wanted to thank you so much for your incredible well wishes. I just got out of surgery about an hour ago,” she said in the clip, visibly groggy but smiling.</p> <p>Irwin revealed the extent of her medical ordeal, explaining that doctors had removed her appendix and discovered 14 new endometriosis lesions, which were also excised. Additionally, surgeons repaired a hernia during the operation.</p> <p>“I’m sorry if I’m a little out of it in this video,” she said, “but I just wanted you to know that I’m on the road to recovery one step at a time and I am so lucky to have so much love in my life from my beautiful family.”</p> <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/DJkni9ypEfA/?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/DJkni9ypEfA/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Bindi Irwin (@bindisueirwin)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Her younger brother, Robert Irwin, 21, confirmed that Bindi’s appendix had ruptured, calling the situation an unexpected shock for the family. Speaking from the gala event, where he stepped in for his sister, he told reporters: “She’s going to be OK, but surgery – out of all the things we were ready for, that was not one of them.”</p> <p>This is not the first time Irwin has opened up about her health. In March 2023, she publicly shared her struggle with endometriosis, a painful condition in which tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, often causing chronic pain and fatigue. At the time, she underwent surgery and disclosed that doctors had removed 37 lesions and a large ovarian cyst, commonly referred to as a “chocolate cyst”.</p> <p>“Going in for surgery was scary but I knew I couldn’t live like I was,” she said last year. “Every part of my life was getting torn apart because of the pain.”</p> <p>She also recalled the sobering words of her doctor post-operation: “How did you live with this much pain?”</p> <p>Bindi’s family has rallied around her once again, with brother Robert writing under her latest post, “Stay strong Bindi! Love you!” Her husband of five years, Chandler Powell, also commented: “Strongest person I know.”</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

Bindi Irwin rushed to hospital in the US

<p>Conservationist and TV personality Bindi Irwin was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery in Las Vegas after suffering a ruptured appendix, her brother Robert Irwin confirmed over the weekend.</p> <p>The 26-year-old daughter of the late Steve Irwin had travelled to Las Vegas to attend the annual Steve Irwin Gala, which honours her father’s legacy and raises funds for Wildlife Warriors, the conservation organisation he founded. However, an unexpected medical crisis derailed her plans.</p> <p>“She’s going to be OK, but surgery – out of all the things we were ready for, that was not one of them,” said Robert Irwin, 21, in an interview with <em>People</em> at the gala. “She’s just come out the other side of endometriosis and now the appendix goes. Health is so important – it really is.”</p> <p>Bindi had reportedly intended to attend the high-profile event despite experiencing severe discomfort. “She came to Las Vegas and was ready to come to the gala, put on a brave face in a lot of discomfort and a lot of pain and said, ‘Nope, I’m just going to tough it out, I’m going to go for it,’” Robert said. “But the surgeon said, ‘No, your appendix is going. That thing’s gotta come out.’ Health has to come first.”</p> <p>Their mother, Terri Irwin, 60, also skipped the gala to be by Bindi’s side during her recovery. “She’s very sad,” Robert said of his sister. “She’s devastated that she and Mum can’t be here, but I know she’ll make a speedy recovery.”</p> <p>“Bindi has become an incredible advocate for women’s health particularly," <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">continued Robert, "</span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">and I think it’s really important to prioritise getting help.”</span></p> <p>Just a day before her hospitalisation, Bindi shared cheerful photos on social media alongside her mother and brother in Las Vegas. “Khaki by day – Bellagio chic by night! Here in #LasVegas for the #SteveIrwinGala raising funds and awareness for Wildlife Warriors,” she captioned the post. “Supporting conservation and remembering Dad’s extraordinary legacy.”</p> <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/p/DJdlZ9zOTNd/?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/p/DJdlZ9zOTNd/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Bindi Irwin (@bindisueirwin)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The Steve Irwin Gala is held annually to raise awareness and funds for conservation efforts in honour of Steve Irwin, who died tragically in 2006 after a stingray attack.</p> <p>Bindi has been candid about her long battle with endometriosis, which went undiagnosed for a decade. In a February episode of the A Life of Greatness podcast, she spoke openly about the debilitating symptoms and challenges she faced before undergoing surgery in March 2023. “Every day the fatigue and the battle,” she said, describing how the illness affected her daily life and relationships.</p> <p>“There’s no cure for endometriosis, but if you’re able to get surgery you have a better shot at life,” she said. “Maybe in five or 10 years, I’ll have to get another surgery, but for now, it’s all gone, which I’m very grateful for.”</p> <p>Despite her health setbacks, Bindi continues to inspire many through her advocacy and commitment to wildlife conservation – a mission she proudly carries forward in her father’s name.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

Q+A descends into acrimony over Welcome to Country debate

<p>The ABC’s flagship program <em>Q+A</em> 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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>However, Mr Dutton later suggested that Welcome to Country ceremonies were being overused and questioned their appropriateness for solemn occasions like Anzac Day.</p> <p>On <em>Q+A</em>, 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.</p> <p>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.”</p> <p>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.</p> <p>“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.</p> <p><em>Image: ABC's Q+A</em></p>

TV

Parents whose newborn died at Northern Beaches Hospital speak out

<p>The grieving parents of a newborn who died following a series of medical delays at Sydney’s Northern Beaches Hospital say their daughter’s death was “completely avoidable” – and are calling for the facility to be returned to full public control.</p> <p>Harper Atkinson died in February, a day after experiencing severe complications at birth at the 488-bed hospital, which operates under a controversial public-private partnership model. Her parents, Leah Pitman and Dustin Atkinson, believe she could have been saved if urgent care had been available when it was needed most.</p> <p>“She should be here. She should be in our arms,” Leah <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-16/harper-atkinson-death-northern-beaches-hospital-parents-speak/105180276" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told ABC’s 7.30</a>. “But she’s not – and it’s because there was no urgency. No theatre ready. No proper staffing. And now we’ve lost her.”</p> <p>Harper’s death is the second tragedy in recent months to put Northern Beaches Hospital under scrutiny. In September 2024, toddler Joe Massa collapsed and later died after a three-hour wait in the hospital’s emergency department. Healthscope, the private operator of the facility, admitted that was an “unacceptable failing”.</p> <p>The NSW government has since vowed never to repeat the public-private model used at the hospital, which serves around 350,000 people on Sydney’s northern beaches.</p> <p>Leah was initially sent home from the hospital on a Friday due to staff shortages. She returned the next evening after going into labour at home. Though her midwife had prepared a bath for a water birth, things quickly went wrong.</p> <p>“I felt this intense pain in my lower back, and then my waters broke – with blood,” Leah recalled. “I looked down and just thought, ‘Oh God, is that normal?’”</p> <p>By 9:30pm, concern was mounting. But it wasn’t until around 10:30pm that an obstetrician arrived and diagnosed a suspected placental abruption – a life-threatening condition for both mother and baby. He immediately called for a Category One caesarean section, the most urgent level of surgical intervention.</p> <p>But despite the emergency, Leah was left waiting.</p> <p>“They kept saying, ‘Theatre’s not ready. Theatre’s not ready,’” she said. “I assumed it was busy. We later found out there is no 24/7 theatre.”</p> <p>Northern Beaches Hospital operates its operating theatre using an on-call model on weekends. Staff must be within 30 minutes’ reach – a delay Leah and Dustin believe cost their daughter her life.</p> <p>“I was on the operating table 33 minutes after the call,” Leah said. “Harper wasn’t delivered until nearly an hour after the emergency was declared.”</p> <p>When she was born at 11:52pm, Harper was unresponsive. It took 21 agonising minutes before she drew her first breath.</p> <p>The following day, Leah and Dustin were told Harper would not survive. They made the heartbreaking decision to turn off her life support.</p> <p>“I should be holding her for the rest of my life, not just once,” Leah said through tears. “Once isn’t enough.”</p> <p>The family says they were told during a hospital debrief that it was not “economically feasible” to run a 24/7 theatre service. For Dustin, that explanation only deepened their pain.</p> <p>“Prioritising profit over healthcare. That’s what went wrong,” he said.</p> <p>Northern Beaches Hospital has launched a review into Harper’s death. But her parents say the issue is already painfully clear. “Time delays,” Leah said. “Things weren’t urgent enough.”</p> <p>The couple is now calling for the hospital to be brought fully back under public control – and for systemic change in how emergency obstetric care is delivered across the state.</p> <p>“I feel incredibly angry,” Leah said. “Her death, we feel, was completely avoidable.”</p> <p>“We’re sharing this because Harper deserves to be more than just another sad story,” she added. “We want change – so this never happens to another family.”</p> <p><em>Image: YouTube / ABC</em></p>

Caring

Our ancestors didn’t eat 3 meals a day. So why do we?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>Pop quiz: name the world’s most famous trio? If you’re a foodie, then your answer might have been breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s an almost universally accepted trinity – particularly in the Western world.</p> <p>But how did it come about?</p> <h2>The first meals</h2> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/when-did-we-become-fully-human-what-fossils-and-dna-tell-us-about-the-evolution-of-modern-intelligence-143717#:%7E:text=Fossils%20and%20DNA%20suggest%20people,%3A%2050%2C000%2D65%2C000%20years%20ago">Early humans</a> were nomadic. Forming small communities, they would travel with the seasons, following local food sources.</p> <p>While we can only guess what daily mealtimes rhythms looked like, evidence dating back <a href="https://global.oup.com/academic/product/feast-9780199209019?cc=nz&lang=en&">30,000 years</a> from the South Moravia region, Czech Republic, shows people visited specific settlements time and again. They gathered around hearths, cooking and sharing food: the first signs of human “commensality”, the practice of eating together.</p> <p>One of the best-preserved hunter-gatherer sites we’ve found is <a href="https://global.oup.com/academic/product/feast-9780199209019?cc=nz&lang=en&">Ohalo II</a> – located on the shores of the modern-day Sea of Galilee (also called Lake Tiberias or Lake Kinneret) in Israel, and dating back some 23,000 years.</p> <p>In addition to several small dwellings with hearths, it provides evidence of diverse food sources, including more than 140 types of seeds and nuts, and various birds, fish and mammals.</p> <p>The development of <a href="https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/development-agriculture/">agricultural knowledge</a> some 12,000 years ago gave rise to permanent settlements. The earliest were in the Levant region (across modern-day Iraq, southwestern Iran and eastern Turkey), in an area called the “Fertile Crescent”.</p> <p>Permanent agriculture led to the production of a <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/foodfeatures/evolution-of-diet/">surplus of food</a>. The ability to stay in one place with food on-hand meant the time it took to cook no longer mattered as much.</p> <p>It quickly became common to eat one <a href="https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/history-of-the-world-in-6-glasses-9780802718594/">light meal</a> early in the day, followed by a larger <a href="https://global.oup.com/academic/product/feast-9780199209019?cc=nz&lang=en&">hearth-prepared meal</a> later on. The specific timings would have varied between groups.</p> <h2>Eating together as a rule</h2> <p>The communal nature of foraging and hunting, and later farming, meant humans almost always ate their meals in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1525/gfc.2009.9.3.42">company of others</a>. In the ancient city-state of Sparta, in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.2307/293895">4th century BCE</a>, these practices were codified as common main meals called <a href="https://doi.org/10.1525/gfc.2017.17.2.51"><em>syssitia</em></a> (meaning “eating together”).</p> <p>These meals were consumed at the end of the day in communal dining halls. Food was served by young boys to tables of 15 or so men who lived together and fought in the same <a href="https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0063%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DS%3Aentry+group%3D5%3Aentry%3Dsyssitia-cn">military division</a>. The men gradually shared generational knowledge with the young boys, who themselves would join the tables by age 20.</p> <p>In the 5th century BCE, Greek historian Herodotus <a href="https://www.penguin.co.nz/books/the-histories-9780140455397">wrote about</a> how <em>syssitia</em> evolved from a Spartan military practice to having deep political meaning in society. Similarly, <a href="https://www.penguin.co.nz/books/the-republic-9780140455113">Plato</a> <a href="https://www.penguin.co.nz/books/the-laws-9780140449846">wrote</a> common meals were an integral component of civil society, and that missing a meal without good reason was a civic offence.</p> <p>By dining in <a href="https://doi.org/10.2307/293895">full view</a> of the rest of society, citizens were compelled to maintain self-discipline. Mealtime was also an opportunity for social linkage, and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1525/gfc.2017.17.2.51">important discussions</a> ranging from business deals to politics.</p> <p>The eating habits of Spartan women are missing in the texts, although it is implied they <a href="https://doi.org/10.1525/gfc.2017.17.2.51">ate at home</a>.</p> <h2>Bunches of lunches</h2> <p>Counter to the tough Spartan way of life, the Romans enjoyed their main meal, <a href="https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/1550/everyday-life-ancient-rome?srsltid=AfmBOooVPsJL24HR9woTdVNQwEG1uCU7q0k7r2beD-KD13m0KX-l1dSY"><em>cena</em></a>, earlier in the day, followed by a lighter meal just before bed.</p> <p>The northern European tribes tended towards two larger meals per day, as more <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.23071">sustenance</a> is required in colder climes. To the Vikings, these meals were known as <a href="https://www.historyonthenet.com/what-did-vikings-eat"><em>dagmal</em> and <em>nattmal</em></a>, or day meal and night meal. <em>Nattmal</em> was the cooked evening meal, while <em>dagmal</em> usually consisted of leftover <em>nattmal</em> with the addition of bread and beer or mead.</p> <p>In Australia, evidence suggests Aboriginal peoples tended toward a <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03122417.2022.2089395">daily single meal</a>, which aligns with the predominant method of cookery: slow-cooking with hot coals or rocks in an <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/03122417.2022.2089395">earth oven</a>. This underground oven, used by Aboriginal and also Torres Strait Islander communities, was referred to as a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=745326709638881&t=0"><em>kup murri</em></a> or <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/food/the-cook-up-with-adam-liaw/recipe/slow-cooker-kap-mauri/lfza7eqs4"><em>kap mauri</em></a> by some groups.</p> <p>This is similar to other Indigenous preparations throughout the Pacific, such as the New Zealand Māori <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/15528014.2024.2381305"><em>hāngī</em></a>, Hawaiian <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/20707103?seq=1"><em>imu</em></a>, Fijian <a href="https://www.proquest.com/docview/1021389307?accountid=8440&parentSessionId=605Pt1iTclBEC77VSlZvrnxxY%2Bdc7e%2Bx9pT4MgRLPqQ%3D&sourcetype=Dissertations%20&%20Theses"><em>lovo</em></a>, and even the Mayan <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s12231-012-9207-2"><em>píib</em></a>.</p> <p>The once-daily meal would have been supplemented with snacks throughout the day.</p> <h2>Three’s the magic number</h2> <p>The timing of meals was heavily influenced by class structure, local climate and people’s <a href="https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Cuisine+and+Culture%3A+A+History+of+Food+and+People%2C+3rd+Edition-p-9780470403716">daily activities</a>. Practicality also played a part. Without reliable lighting, meals had to be prepared and eaten before dark. In settled parts of Northern Europe, this could be as early as 3pm.</p> <p>So how did we go from one or two main meals, to three? The answer may lie with the British Royal Navy.</p> <p>Since its inception in the 16th century, the navy served <a href="https://www.historyhit.com/what-did-sailors-in-the-georgian-royal-navy-eat/">three regular meals</a> to align with the shipboard routine. This included a simple breakfast of ship’s biscuits, lunch as the main meal, and dinner as more of a light supper.</p> <p>Some sources suggest the term “<a href="https://www.grammar-monster.com/sayings_proverbs/square_meal.htm">square meal</a>” may have come from the square wooden trays meals were served in.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/660040/original/file-20250407-56-xgt2pm.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/660040/original/file-20250407-56-xgt2pm.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/660040/original/file-20250407-56-xgt2pm.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=455&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/660040/original/file-20250407-56-xgt2pm.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=455&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/660040/original/file-20250407-56-xgt2pm.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=455&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/660040/original/file-20250407-56-xgt2pm.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=572&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/660040/original/file-20250407-56-xgt2pm.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=572&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/660040/original/file-20250407-56-xgt2pm.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=572&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">Initially, sailors recieved a daily gallon of beer with meals. This was later changed to watered-down rum, the infamous ‘grog’, which is being handed out in this 1940 photo taken aboard HMS King George V.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205185139">Imperial War Museums</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">CC BY-NC</a></span></figcaption></figure> <p>The <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-20243692">Industrial Revolution</a>, which started around 1760, arguably also played a role in formalising the concept of three specific mealtimes across the Western world.</p> <p>The cadence of breakfast, lunch and dinner matched the routine of the longer, standardised workdays. Workers ate breakfast and dinner at home, before and after work, while lunch was eaten with coworkers at a set time.</p> <p>With minimal breaks, and no time for snacking, three substantial meals became necessary.</p> <h2>The fall of the holy trinity</h2> <p>Today, many factors impact the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2015.09.005">time and frequency</a> of our meals, from long work commutes to juggling hobbies and social obligations.</p> <p>The COVID pandemic also impacted how and what we eat, leading us to eat larger amounts of <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhealeco.2022.102641">higher calorie foods</a>. The rapid growth of <a href="https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980020000701">delivery services</a> also means a meal is no more than a few minutes away from most people.</p> <p>All of this has resulted in mealtimes becoming less rigid, with social meals such as <a href="https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781442229433/Brunch-A-History">brunch</a>, <a href="https://www.harpercollins.co.nz/9780261102354/the-fellowship-of-the-ring/">elevenses</a> and <a href="https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781442271029/Afternoon-Tea-A-History">afternoon teas</a> expanding how we <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18126235">connect over food</a>. And mealtimes will continue to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1525/gfc.2013.13.3.32">evolve</a> as our schedules become ever more complicated.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><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/250773/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rob-richardson-2328981">Rob Richardson</a>, Senior Lecturer in Culinary Arts & Gastronomy, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/auckland-university-of-technology-1137">Auckland University of Technology</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/dianne-ma-2331997">Dianne Ma</a>, Lecturer in Culinary Arts & Gastronomy, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/auckland-university-of-technology-1137">Auckland University of Technology</a></em></p> <p><em>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/our-ancestors-didnt-eat-3-meals-a-day-so-why-do-we-250773">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p> </div>

Food & Wine

King Charles admitted to hospital

<p>Reports from Buckingham palace have revealed that King Charles has been forced to cancel a series of public engagements after being admitted to hospital due to side effects from his ongoing cancer treatment.</p> <p>The Palace released a statement on Thursday evening confirming that the 72-year-old monarch had “experienced temporary side effects that required a short period of observation in hospital” following his scheduled and ongoing medical treatment for cancer. The King has since returned to Clarence House, where he resides with Queen Camilla.</p> <p>“As a precautionary measure, acting on medical advice, tomorrow’s diary program will also be rescheduled,” the Palace added. Although the Palace did not specify the exact nature of the side effects, sources suggest such occurrences are not uncommon among cancer patients.</p> <p>A royal insider described the medical incident to <em>The Daily Mail</em> as a “most minor bump in a road that’s very much heading in the right direction”. However, in order to “protect and prioritise [his] continued very positive recovery”, King Charles has regretfully cancelled his planned engagements in Birmingham on Friday.</p> <p>The King was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February last year and has been receiving outpatient treatment since then. Initially, he had to withdraw from public duties for several weeks but resumed engagements in April. Since then, he has travelled internationally – including a visit to Australia last October – and hosted numerous state visits while continuing his recovery.</p> <p>Last week, King Charles visited Ulster University’s Pharmacy and Pharmacology department in Northern Ireland to learn about their groundbreaking cancer research. During his visit, he shared words of encouragement with fellow cancer patients, quoting Winston Churchill’s famous phrase: “Keep buggering on.” Regarding the side effects of treatment, he remarked, “You just have to push on, don’t you?”</p> <p>While the specific type of cancer affecting the King has not been disclosed, reports suggest that it was caught at a very early stage. Royal sources remain optimistic about his recovery, and say his treatment is progressing positively.</p> <p><em>Image: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet/ Millie Pilkington</em></p>

Caring

Major inquiry launched into Northern Beaches Hospital following child's death

<p>A parliamentary inquiry into the Northern Beaches Hospital’s services will be launched following the tragic death of two-year-old Joe Massa.</p> <p>NSW Health Minister Ryan Park announced on Friday that he has asked parliament’s Public Accounts Committee to investigate the safety and quality of care provided by the hospital.</p> <p>The inquiry will examine services dating back to the hospital’s opening in October 2018 on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Joe Massa suffered a cardiac arrest at the hospital and died in September last year. His parents, Elouise and Danny Massa, claim Joe was incorrectly triaged and left waiting for hours, leading to brain damage.</p> <p>The grieving parents have urged the state government to review the hospital’s systems and protocols and take immediate action to upgrade its facilities.</p> <p>“We want change at that hospital so no other parent, no one of our family or friends, has to go through what we’ve gone through,” they said.</p> <p>The couple met with Minister Park, Premier Chris Minns, and NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce in February, when the parliamentary inquiry was discussed. On Friday, Park confirmed the inquiry would investigate accessibility issues that contributed to Joe’s death.</p> <p>“We made a commitment to Elouise and Danny to undertake the necessary reviews to understand how they and their son have been let down, as well as to learn what changes need to be made to prevent such a tragedy from occurring again,” Park stated.</p> <p>The inquiry will scrutinise past incidents at the hospital, including those subject to serious adverse event reviews (SAERs), assess the hospital’s responses, and determine whether necessary improvements were implemented. Additionally, it will examine patient and carer escalation systems, particularly the REACH (Recognise, Engage, Act, Call, Help) protocol, which was found to be insufficiently accessible in Joe Massa’s case.</p> <p>The inquiry will also evaluate the hospital’s measures to prevent adverse events, as well as staff standards and capabilities. Park noted that a previous parliamentary inquiry in 2019 examined the hospital’s operations and management. The upcoming inquiry will specifically focus on patient safety and care quality while considering whether past recommendations have been acted upon.</p> <p>Public Accounts Committee chair Jason Yat-Sen Li expressed his commitment to ensuring a thorough investigation. “I understand the strong community interest in this matter, and I am confident the committee is well placed to undertake this important inquiry,” he said. “I am determined to get this inquiry underway as quickly as possible, but I also want to get it right. We will announce the opening of submissions as well as hearing dates in due course.”</p> <p>The NSW Health Services Union (HSU), which has raised concerns about the hospital’s operations since its opening in 2018, said the investigation is long overdue. “We have consistently seen evidence that Northern Beaches Hospital prioritises commercial interests over patient care,” said HSU secretary Gerard Hayes.</p> <p>“From renting out maternity wards to film crews while mothers struggle with understaffed services, to charging grieving families unnecessary fees to release their loved ones’ bodies – these practices reveal a disturbing pattern.</p> <p>“We hope this inquiry will finally address the systemic issues our members have been reporting for years and put patients before profits at Northern Beaches Hospital.” </p>

Caring

Desperate Aussie dad sparks brutal immigration debate on Q+A

<p>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.</p> <p>Morgan Cox, a father of a one-year-old, raised his concerns on ABC’s <em>Q+A</em> 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.</p> <p>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.” </p> <p>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.</p> <p>“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.</p> <p>“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.</p> <p>However, Cox appeared visibly frustrated, questioning why the government could not simply halt immigration until housing supply could meet demand.</p> <p>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.” </p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p><em>Images: ABC</em></p>

Money & Banking

"I'm not ready to go yet": Leading Aussie doctor given months to live

<p>Leading melanoma researcher and Australian of the Year recipient Professor Richard Scolyer has revealed that he has only months to live following the return of his brain cancer.</p> <p>Diagnosed with incurable glioblastoma two years ago, Professor Scolyer chose to <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/doctor-beats-cancer-using-his-own-treatment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">undergo an experimental immunotherapy treatment</a>, defying his initial six-month prognosis. His remarkable journey was documented in a study published in late February, detailing the innovative approach he helped pioneer. However, after undergoing surgery last week, doctors confirmed that the aggressive cancer had returned.</p> <p>“Unfortunately, there is a larger volume of quickly growing brain cancer (glioblastoma, IDH WT, unmethylated etc.) in my left brain,” Professor Scolyer shared in an emotional social media post on Monday. “The prognosis is poor. Whilst some of my recurrent tumour was removed last week, some of it couldn’t be because of its site.”</p> <p>Despite the devastating news, Professor Scolyer remains hopeful that the experimental treatment he volunteered for could pave the way for future medical breakthroughs. Alongside his colleague and friend, Professor Georgina Long, he was named a 2024 Australian of the Year for their groundbreaking work in melanoma research and immunotherapy advancements.</p> <p>“I greatly appreciate the support of all my family, friends, and colleagues who have been looking after me so well and the incredible research that has been performed,” he said. “I hope the latter will change the field and patient outcomes in the not too distant future.”</p> <p>In a heartfelt interview on <em>A Current Affair</em> with Ally Langdon on Monday, the father-of-three shared his decision to forgo further experimental treatments, choosing instead to spend his remaining time with his loved ones.</p> <p>“It could help, but my heart’s not in the same place as what it was before,” he admitted.</p> <p>“It’s not fair, but there’s a lesson for everyone … make the most of every day because you don’t know what’s around the corner.”</p> <p>“I’m not ready to go yet. I love my life,” he said. “I guess I feel lucky that I’ve been able to go for so long without a recurrence of it.”</p> <p><em>Images: A Current Affair</em></p>

Caring

AFL star's wife spends wedding anniversary in hospital amid cancer battle

<p>AFL star Jeremy Finlayson's wife Kellie Finlayson has revealed she's had a bit of a setback with her health and is spending her second wedding anniversary in hospital. </p> <p>The 29-year-old is battling  terminal stage four bowel cancer that metastasised in her lungs. </p> <p>She took to Instagram to share the update from her hospital bed, with a picture of the happy couple showing off their rings on their wedding day, and an updated photo of herself in the ward, with the caption: "Happy anniversary darl. Two years ago V. Today!"</p> <p>"Happy anniversary to me," she added, using a crying with laughter emoji and a bandaged love heart emoji.</p> <p>The  AFL star shared his own anniversary message with an Instagram story, writing: "Happy anniversary <3" </p> <p>Kellie did not explain why she was hospitalised. </p> <p>The couple tied the knot back in March 2023 in South Australia.</p> <p>Kellie, who is a mother-of-one, was diagnosed with bowel cancer at the age of 25. </p> <p>She previously opened up about her diagnosis on the Nova podcast  <em>Head Game</em>, and shared just how hard her chemotherapy treatment was. </p> <p>"I lost a s--t ton of weight. I mean, I had a stoma, so I had a foreign object on my stomach. I wasn't the normal mum that she should have had, but I was as good as I possibly could be. It was hard," she said at the time. </p> <p>"I was allergic to one of the strands of that chemotherapy, which is why, when I did relapse, I had to change chemotherapy, which meant I lost my hair.</p> <p>"I was on my deathbed. I was getting anaphylactic reactions every three weeks to this chemotherapy. So I was essentially dying every three weeks, just to get better."</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

Grieving parents blame hospital over two-year-old's death

<p>Two grieving parents are calling for an independent investigation into a Sydney hospital after the death of their two-year-old son. </p> <p>Elouise and Danny Massa took their son Joe to the emergency department at Northern Beaches Hospital on the morning of September 14th after he had spent the night vomiting.</p> <p>The toddler had hypovolemia, a condition that occurs when the body loses too much fluid, and later tragically died.</p> <p>Joe's parents claim the hospital failed their son "at every level" and he would still be alive if he had received the proper care. </p> <p>In a statement provided to <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/grieving-parents-demand-urgent-investigation-into-sydney-hospital-after-death-of-twoyearold-son/a0de6011-adf3-49d2-8206-73ed21331c30" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>9News</em></a>, the parents said Joe's heart rate was at 183 beats per minute when they arrived at the emergency department, yet he was misclassified as a low priority, category three patient, instead of red zone, category two.</p> <p>The parents went on to allege that the Northern Beaches hospital missed critical warning signs, including when Joe lost consciousness, and his mother's requests for an IV drip were denied.</p> <p>"I can't tell you what it's like to hold your son in your arms … to be told to sit in your chair while your child is agitated, going in and out of consciousness, lips are turning blue," Mrs Massa told 2GB on Thursday morning.</p> <p>"To be told to wait and have your baby literally dying in your arms is unfathomable and should not be happening at any hospital."</p> <p>For almost three hours, Joe was not hooked up to monitoring equipment while sitting in an emergency department chair. </p> <p>A serious adverse event review conducted by the hospital after Joe's death identified multiple failures, with the report claiming there was a "delay and failure to recognise deterioration" in Joe's condition.</p> <p>Healthscope, which operates the hospital, said in a statement: "Northern Beaches Hospital offers its deepest condolences to the Massa family for the loss of their son, Joe. We recognise Joe's death has caused unimaginable heartache and grief for the family."</p> <p>"We have met with the family to apologise and hear directly about their tragic experience and to discuss the findings of the Serious Adverse Event Review."</p> <p>"We will continue to support the family in any way that we can as we implement the improvements identified in the review, including improvements around triaging processes and internal escalation processes." </p> <div>Joe's mother said no parents should have to go through the pain their family has endured since Joe's untimely death.</p> <p>"Joe was the most beautiful boy, loved by his sister and brother," she said.</p> <p>"He loved dinosaurs. He had the most infectious smile. He was just two months off turning two years old. He was, and is still, the light of our world. The system at Northern Beaches Hospital, the emergency department, entirely failed us at every possible level."</p> <p><em>Image credits: 9News</em></p> </div>

Legal

Best hotels in Australia revealed

<p>The <a href="https://www.forbestravelguide.com/award-winners" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2025 Forbes Travel Guide</a> has announced the winners of the Star Awards, with nine hotels and experiences in Australia being named in the list.</p> <p>Every property in the running for the awards is visited by highly trained inspectors who provide an evaluation based on up to 900 objective criteria.</p> <p>According to Forbes, the Star Rating system "emphasises service because your experience at a hotel, restaurant or spa goes beyond looks".</p> <p>Over 2000 hotels, experiences, restaurants and cruises were named on the global list, with nine Aussie winners featuring in the prestigious list. </p> <p>The only property in the country to receive a 5-star accommodation rating in the 2025 Forbes Travel Guide was Crown Towers in Perth. </p> <p>Touted as "the pinnacle of Perth luxury", Forbes described the property as "Perth's most extravagant stay. Exuding understated glamour."</p> <p>In the spa category the Crown Spa Perth, which is tucked away in Crown Towers Perth, was awarded 4-stars for its "unbridled opulence".</p> <p>The Darling Sydney has once again received recognition in the Forbes Travel Guide for the ninth consecutive year, while The Darling's "world class" spa was also featured. </p> <p>Check out the list below.</p> <p>9. The Langham - Sydney</p> <p>8. Park Hyatt - Sydney</p> <p>7. Park Hyatt - Melbourne </p> <p>6. Capella - Sydney</p> <p>5. Como The Treasury - Perth</p> <p>4. The Darling Spa - Sydney</p> <p>3. The Darling - Sydney </p> <p>2. Crown Spa - Perth</p> <p>1. Crown Towers - Perth</p> <p><em>Image credits: Crown Hotels</em></p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; font-family: 'Proxima Nova', system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Fira Sans', 'Droid Sans', 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333;"> </p>

Domestic Travel

"Why are you attacking my dad?": I'm A Celeb finalist reveals behind-the-scenes heartbreak

<p>The emotional on-air reunion between <em>I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here</em> contestant Matty J and his wife, Laura Byrne, along with their two children, Marlie-Mae and Lola Ellis, was a heartwarming moment <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/abrupt-viewers-stunned-by-i-m-a-celeb-winner-s-reveal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">during Sunday’s finale</a>. However, behind the scenes, Byrne has opened up about the significant challenges she faced while participating in the momentous event.</p> <p>In the lead-up to the finale, Byrne undertook an exhausting journey from Sydney to South Africa with their two young daughters. Speaking on the <em>Life Uncut</em> podcast, she detailed the arduous travel experience, which involved “three separate flights” and 24 hours of transit. “That in itself was really hard," she said. "It was like 24 hours by the time we got door to door. Midnight transfer with two children who were absolutely f***ing ropable.” </p> <p>The long journey was only the beginning of the difficulties though. Upon arrival, Byrne and the children had to share a single room with inadequate sleeping arrangements, all while preparing for a demanding day on set.</p> <p>Byrne also revealed that the experience of managing two young children on a chaotic production set was overwhelming. “I felt like I was the emotional buffer between the children and production … I felt like I’d just been flogged for days. It was hard. It was really hard for me,” she said.</p> <p>During the finale, Matty J and his fellow top three contestants – <em>Big Brother</em> star Reggie Bird and retired NRL player Sam Thaiday – were reunited with their families before participating in the final challenge. While this was an exciting moment for viewers, it was an emotionally challenging experience for the family.</p> <p>Matty J recalled the moment he had to part ways with his children soon after reuniting. “When we had our reunion, it was maybe half an hour I think where we had time together and then they’ve got to pull us apart,” he said. “The kids don’t get it, the kids don’t understand. They’re like, ‘I’ve just met my dad, and then I’ve got to go.’ And then we did that trial where we had to have s**t poured on our heads, and Lola’s in tears being like, ‘Why are you attacking my dad?’”</p> <p>Byrne explained that their children were repeatedly reunited with their father, only to be separated again. This happened three times – during the initial reunion, the final trial and then the announcement of the winner. The constant cycle of emotional reunions and abrupt separations took a toll, particularly on their youngest daughter, Lola.</p> <p>After the winner was announced, Byrne and the children expected Matty J to return home with them, but he was kept on set for several more hours. “They kept Matt on set until 6 o’clock and we went home earlier. And it was so hard on Lola particularly,” Byrne revealed. “And then I had to deal with her big emotions around ‘Why is my daddy not coming home?’ And it felt like this unfair false start.”</p> <p>She admitted that the combination of exhaustion, sleep deprivation and trying to manage the emotional needs of their children made the experience incredibly difficult. Byrne also shared that she had been against Matty J’s participation in the reality show right from the outset. “I wasn’t a supporter of it in the first place,” she admitted, reinforcing that the experience had only confirmed her concerns.</p> <p>Even Matty J himself struggled with the demands of the show. He confessed that he broke down early in his time at camp, an emotional moment that wasn’t shown on TV. “I just burst out crying, and I was like, ‘I f**king cannot do this,’” he recalled, explaining that a moment of solitude while washing dishes left him questioning his decision. “What have I f**king done? This is a nightmare.”</p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">It appears that, for the Byrne-Johnson family, what seemed like a joyful televised reunion was, in reality, a deeply exhausting and emotional ordeal.</span></p> <p><em>Images: Network 10</em></p>

TV

"Abrupt!": Viewers stunned by I'm A Celeb winner's reveal

<p>After a gruelling month of bug-eating, celebrity bonding and questionable jungle hygiene, Season 11 of <em>I’m A Celebrity! … Get Me Out of Here</em> wrapped up in a fashion so abrupt that even the credits seemed caught off guard.</p> <p>And the winner is…</p> <p>Sam Thaiday! The former Brisbane Broncos NRL player has joined an elite group of reality TV champions, becoming the sixth man (and fourth pro athlete) to claim the jungle crown. A remarkable feat, though fans barely had time to process it before the show’s ending hit like an unexpected power outage.</p> <p>Thaiday’s victory was followed by what can only be described as the world’s fastest television sign-off. No emotional speech, no teary gratitude, no dramatic last look at the jungle – just the words “Sam Thaiday wins” and a sudden, jarring cut to whatever program followed (presumably an infomercial about knives that never go dull).</p> <p>Viewers, understandably, were left bewildered. Social media reactions ranged from “abrupt” to “anticlimactic”, with one user likening the finale to “watching the season finale of Game of Thrones, only with fewer dragons and more termites”.</p> <p>Adding to the mystery, Thaiday, fellow contestant Matty J and host Julia Morris were spotted arriving at Sydney Airport earlier on Sunday – while the live finale was still airing. Either they had access to a teleportation device, or <em>I’m A Celeb</em> filmed multiple endings, choose-your-own-adventure style, before hastily selecting the right one based on viewer votes.</p> <p>This wouldn’t be the first time reality TV pulled such a move, but it does raise a few questions – like, did Sam even know he won? Or was he as surprised as everyone else when he touched down in Sydney to find himself suddenly more famous?</p> <p>Thaiday’s triumph capped off a season filled with unexpected eliminations – Dave Hughes and Sigrid Thornton among them – and some genuinely emotional moments. The final three, including two-time Big Brother champion Reggie Bird and former Bachelor star Matty J, had their families visit in the finale, leading to a lot of misty eyes and possibly the jungle’s first recorded case of a crocodile shedding tears out of sympathy.</p> <p>While Thaiday took the title, Bird remained a sentimental favourite. Ahead of the season, she revealed that her $250,000 winnings from her 2022 <em>Big Brother</em> victory had gone toward staying afloat rather than securing her dream home. “I feel like I’m a mouse in one of those spinning wheels," she told news.com.au "I just can’t get off this vicious circle.” A brutally honest assessment that may also apply to viewers endlessly watching reality TV finales that don’t quite deliver the dramatic payoff they expect.</p> <p>She also spoke about the harsh reality of the housing market: “I went to the bank to get a loan and couldn’t, because you need to borrow well over half-a-million dollars to buy a house on the Gold Coast, and I don’t have a job. No-one wants to employ me because of my vision. I’ve been trying to get a job, but I just can’t get any work, so I can’t get a loan.”</p> <p>It’s a sobering reminder that even reality TV winnings can’t always buy real-world security. And perhaps a sign that the true ultimate survival challenge isn’t the jungle – it’s the Australian property market.</p> <p>As for Thaiday, whether his jungle win translates to bigger opportunities remains to be seen. But if nothing else, he now has bragging rights as the man who won <em>I’m A Celeb</em> so decisively, the show itself barely had time to process it.</p> <p><em>Images: Network Ten</em></p>

TV

Dave Hughes reveals I’m A Celeb weight loss

<p>Dave Hughes spent 25 days in the jungle for this year's season of<em> I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! </em>and despite being eliminated, his three-and-a-half weeks of camp life had a staggering effect on his body.</p> <p>“I lost eight kilos and I’m stronger now than when I went in there,” he told <em>news.com.au</em>.</p> <p>He explained that when he first joined the show he struggled to do laborious tasks like carrying a crate of firewood back to camp without assistance.</p> <p>“I’d be holding one side of the crate while my fingers almost snapped off, with another burly bloke like (former NRL player) Sam Thaiday on the other side,” he said.</p> <p>“But by the end of the month, I’m carrying the whole crate on my own. My fingers are loving the task. I’m just living my best life.”</p> <p>He also made progress in the "jungle gym" a workout station contestants could use to keep fit. </p> <p>“There was a bench press there and on the first day, the heaviest weights, I could do 20 (reps). On the day I got kicked out, I did 52," he said. </p> <p>“Sam (Thaiday) says I now look like a pregnant greyhound … I think that’s a compliment, so I’m happy," he said. </p> <p><em>Image: I'm A Celeb/ news.com.au</em></p>

Body

Radio host reveals "ridiculous" amount he was offered for I'm a Celeb

<p>Beau Ryan has revealed the "ridiculous" amount of money he was offered to appear on <em>I'm a Celebrity... Get Me out of Here!</em></p> <p>The radio presenter and former NRL player has appeared on a plethora of reality TV programs since retiring from NRL in 2014, including <em>Dancing with the Stars</em>, <em>Top Gear Australia</em>, <em>Gladiators</em> and <em>The Amazing Race.</em></p> <p>While speaking with <em><a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/radio/beau-ryan-offered-ridiculous-amount-for-tv-show/news-story/9726320fdc4af29266cb5ca462c8ce59" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a> </em>to promote his new radio gig on Triple M, the 39-year-old opened up about his showbiz career and revealed he actually turned down his most lucrative offer.</p> <p>“I got asked to do the first six (seasons) of <em>I’m a Celeb</em>,” Ryan said. “The money for the second season, it was more than I’ve ever seen.”</p> <p>Ryan admitted that the offer, which was worth more than $500,000, came at a time when Network 10 was keen to attract big names for the relatively unknown show in its early seasons.</p> <p>“The money was big … because everyone didn’t know how the show was going to pan out,” he said. “Back then it was a lot more money and it was a ridiculous amount.”</p> <p>He revealed that he turned down the offer because he was contracted to work with Nine at the time, and it wasn't until 2022 that he jumped ship to Network Ten that he agreed to appear on the show for far less money.</p> <p>“I said (to Ten), ‘do you still have that offer from 2015 or 16?’ and they said, ‘no, we don’t,’” he laughed.</p> <p>Ryan was in the jungle for two weeks, quitting the show with just a few days to go because he was “mentally cooked and physically drained”.</p> <p>Beau also candidly shared that he’s rejected a number of other TV offers over the years, including <em>Celebrity Apprentice</em>,<em> The Masked Singer</em> and <em>SAS Australia</em>.</p> <p>“My kids love <em>The Masked Singer</em> … and were filthy when I said no to that,” Ryan laughed. “(But) I couldn’t do it because of timing and because I can’t sing.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Ten / Instagram </em></p>

Money & Banking

Dave Hughes spills on worst A-list celeb interview

<p>Dave Hughes has revealed the "rudest" A-list celebrity he's ever interviewed in the latest episode of  <em>I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!</em></p> <p>The radio star was talking about all his celebrity interviews throughout the years with campmate Max Balegde, who then asked him: “I want you to be honest – who was the rudest?” </p> <p>“If we’re going to be honest … it hurts me to say it, but it’s … Ben Stiller. I was a big fan, and he was just a pain in the a**e," Hughes replied. </p> <p>Hughes then joked that he might've  “ruined his Hollywood career” by calling out the A-list actor and director known for films like <em>Zoolander </em>and <em>Meet the Parents</em>. </p> <p>The radio broadcaster didn't reveal when he'd encountered Stiller or why the actor was a "pain in the a**e" . </p> <p>In the latest episode of <em>I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!</em> former MAFS star Samantha Moitzi was the first of this season's contestants to be evicted from the jungle. </p> <p>Last week, Aussie TV legend Sigrid Thornton was the latest celeb to join the show in its 11th season. </p> <p>It's the first time the actress appeared in a reality show during her 40-year career, telling <em>news.com.au</em>: “I felt like if I was going to say yes to a challenge like this, then this was the time for me. I mean, I’ve never done reality television; I’ve never done anything remotely like this.”</p> <p>“But I don’t hold any particular judgement around it; I’ve removed all potential judgement because I don’t know what it’s going to be. All I know is that it will be extraordinary, exciting, unexpected, and I hope a little bit wonderful.”</p> <p><em>Image: I'm A Celeb/ 10</em></p> <p> </p>

TV