is a specialized wildlife education company and private zoo based in Burwood East, Melbourne, dedicated to connecting people with native Australian animals. They offer a variety of interactive experiences ranging from mobile “incursions” to behind-the-scenes tours at their headquarters/

The post Sat, 21st, Feb, 2026: Josh Cox, Reptile Encounters: Why he took Alba the Dingo to Parliament House this week appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Richard Keane, CEO of Living Positive Victoria (LPV), launched a new edition of the HIV disclosure guide, “Disclosing your HIV Status: Your Rights and Responsibilities in Victoria,” on Wednesday, 11 February 2026.

Richard Keane emphasized that the guide aims to provide a sense of personal agency and self-empowerment. He noted that being fully informed of one’s legal rights and responsibilities is crucial for making decisions about when, where, and why to disclose, especially in a landscape where stigma and discrimination remain challenges

The post Sat, 21st, Feb, 2026: Richard Keane, CEO – Living Positive, The launch of the new disclosure guide in partnership with the HIV/AIDS legal centre appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Tim Reardon is the Chief Economist at the Housing Industry Association (HIA), where he leads the association’s economic research and policy advocacy for Australia’s residential building industry.

Releasing HIA’s new report, Taxation of Housing and its Impact on Supply, Tim Reardon, Chief Economist of Housing Industry Association, said governments cannot make homes cheaper by taking more from them.

“You don’t fix a housing shortage by taxing housing harder,” Mr Reardon said.

“And you certainly don’t make homes more affordable by destabilising the tax settings that support new home construction.”

The report finds that housing is already one of the most heavily taxed sectors in the Australian economy, with taxes applied at every stage of the housing lifecycle. Many of these taxes fall most heavily on new housing, directly increasing costs and reducing the feasibility of new projects.

“The political reflex has been the same for decades,” Mr Reardon said.

“First it was to blame investors. Then foreigners. Then foreign investors. Meanwhile governments quietly add more taxes, more charges and more costs to housing, and wonder why supply keeps falling short.”

HIA’s analysis shows that investors play a critical role in housing supply, commencing more than 40 per cent of new homes built in Australia, and an even higher share of apartments and rental housing.

“When you discourage investors, you don’t free up housing, you stop it being built,” Mr Reardon said.

“Investors don’t neatly switch from established homes into new construction when taxes rise. They leave the housing market altogether.”

https://hia.com.au/our-industry/newsroom/economic-research-and-forecasting/2026/01/stop-taxing-housing-harder-if-you-want-more-homes-built-hia-warns?srsltid=AfmBOooQfowpfnhUyCDTwqExK1c2CmARBq5m-gcKQHUKra2ACDjQvc1g

The post Sat, 21st, Feb, 2026: Tim Reardon, Chief Economist at the Housing Industry Assoc (HIA), Is the government pulling on the right levers to when it comes to building more homes? appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Is Australia getting more or less affordable? Are we heading toward resource scarcity — or an era of unprecedented abundance? Marian Tupy has spent 15 years crunching the data.

Returning to Australia following his 2023 tour, Tupy brings the ideas behind his acclaimed book Superabundance — a rigorous, evidence-based challenge to the doom-and-gloom narrative dominating Western culture. Using “time prices” — a measure of how many minutes of work it takes to buy everyday goods — resources on average became 72% more affordable between 1980 and 2018, even as global population surged. Australia tracked slightly above that average.

But not everything is getting cheaper. In Australia, housing, health, and education have become genuinely less affordable — and this is no coincidence. These are precisely the sectors where government regulation has suppressed competition and distorted prices. The solution lies not in more intervention, but in more freedom: up-zoning, deregulation, and trusting markets to do what they do best.

Marian L. Tupy is the editor of Human​Progress​.org, a senior fellow at the Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, and co-author of The Simon Abundance Index. He specialises in globalisation and global well‐​being and politics and economics of Europe and Southern Africa.

Tupy is the co-author of Superabundance: The Story of Population Growth, Innovation, and Human Flourishing on an Infinitely Bountiful Planet (2022) and Ten Global Trends Every Smart Person Should Know: And Many Others You Will Find Interesting (2020).

His articles have been published in the Financial Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, the Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Newsweek, the U.K. Spectator, Foreign Policy, and various other outlets both in the United States and overseas. He has appeared on BBC, CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, Fox News, Fox Business, and other channels.

Tupy received his BA in international relations and classics from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, and his PhD in international relations from the University of St. Andrews in Great Britain.

The post Sat, 21st, Feb, 2026: Marian Tupy, Centre for Independent Studies & visiting scholar in residence from Cato in the US: Super Abundance appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Rachel Westaway is the Liberal Member for Prahran in the Victorian Legislative Assembly, having won the seat in a historic February 2025 by-election. She is the first person of Thai heritage elected to the Victorian Parliament.

The post Sat, 21st, Feb, 2026: Rachel Westaway, Lib Prahran, Shadow Asst Min Small Business + Hospitality: her take on the CFMEU scandal; how will Angus and Jane do in Canberra? appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Katherine Copsey, is an Australian politician and lawyer currently serving as a member of the Victorian Legislative Council for the Australian Greens Victoria, representing the Southern Metropolitan Region. Elected in the 2022 Victorian state election, she assumed office on 26 November 2022.

Since February 2023, Copsey has held several leadership roles for the Victorian Greens, including Deputy Party Room Chair and spokesperson for Justice, Gambling Harm Reduction, Animal Protection, and Major Events. As of February 2025, she serves as the spokesperson for Public Transport and Roads.

Copsey’s legislative priorities centre on environmental and social justice, advocating for renewable energy, increased affordable housing, improved public transport, and community-focused urban planning.

The post Sat, 21st, Feb, 2026: Katherine Copsey, Greens, MLC for Southern Metro, Passing of the Vicarious Liability Bill appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Cameron is a skilled and tested solicitor who has secured over 60 settlements for survivors of child sexual abuse and recovered over $40 million in total damages for his clients.
He has secured settlements in excess of $1 million in a number of individual cases.
He regularly brings claims for survivors of child abuse against government, religious, charitable, and sporting institutions as well as public and private schools.
He is a clear communicator who enjoys making the legal system easy to understand for clients, walking them through the process, and explaining what they can expect.
He is a practical and proactive litigator whose familiarity with the court process helps him level the playing field between vulnerable survivors and powerful institutions.

Cameron’s experience includes:

• Settling 12 claims against the Victorian Government’s Department of Education for victims of abuse by teacher Peter Sutton, including one claim for over $1.4 million;

• Securing a $550,000 settlement against two Catholic religious orders for abuse of a former school student; and

• Securing a $500,000 settlement for a man abused in Bayswater Boys Home and Turana.

He has appeared in print and TV media discussing his clients’ cases and issues confronting abuse survivors.

He has volunteered at the Refugee Legal Night Service since August 2023.

“Vicarious liability is a legal doctrine holding a party (often an employer) responsible for the wrongful acts or omissions of another (usually an employee) committed during the course of employment, even if the superior is not directly at fault. It is a form of strict liability, commonly applied in workplace discrimination, harassment, or negligence cases”

https://humanrights.gov.au/resource-hub/by-resource-type/publications/sex-and-gender-rights/vicarious-liability

If this story has affected you in any way please go to the Joy Support page to find support:
https://joy.org.au/support/

The post Sat, 21st, Feb, 2026: Cameron Doig, Arnold, Thomas and Becker: Explaining the changes to legislation for Vicarious Liability in Victoria appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post Sat, 14th, Feb, 2026: Peter Khalil, – MP for Wills & Asst Min. for Defence; Reaction to Lib spill; news from Coburg and sale of Defence sites across Melbourne appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

As of late 2025 and early 2026, Dr. Monique Ryan, independent MP for Kooyong, has continued to heavily advocate for a total ban on gambling advertising in Australia, positioning the issue as a critical public health crisis. 

• Continued Pressure: Dr. Ryan has been consistent in challenging the Albanese Government over its delay in acting on the “Murphy Report” (June 2023), which recommended a comprehensive ban on online gambling ads.
• “Hard to Understand” Delay: She has highlighted the irony of the government moving to ban social media for children while failing to implement a similar ban on online gambling advertising that targets young people.
• Resignation from Parliamentary Sports Club: In October 2025, Dr. Ryan resigned from the Parliamentary Sports Club to protest its association with the gambling industry, stating the industry is “predatory and insidious”.
• Focus on Public Health: She argues that gambling addiction is a public health issue similar to drug addiction, driving domestic violence, family breakdown, and financial ruin.
• 2026 Legislative Focus: Her recent activities in 2026 have also centered on criticizing the government’s handling of HECS debt (Job-Ready Graduates scheme) and advocating for safer digital spaces.
• \
  Australia’s Gambling Commercials Crisis
• • The Problem: Australia is noted to have the highest per-capita gambling losses in the world, with roughly $32 billion lost annually.
  • Targeting Children: Dr. Ryan has stated that children are being targeted by betting ads on social media, creating a “generation primed for addiction”.
  • Call for Total Ban: She supports a total ban on gambling advertising across TV, radio, social media, and on sports uniforms.
  • Government Response: Despite overwhelming public support (reported at 85%) for a ban, the government has been accused of acting too slowly due to pressure from media companies and sporting codes that profit from gambling partnerships. 
  Dr. Ryan continues to urge the government to adopt all 31 recommendations of the Murphy Report to reduce the impact of gambling on Australian families. 

   

The post Sat, 14th, Feb, 2026: Dr Monique Ryan, Indi MP for Kooyong, Update from Canberra + Australia’s Addiction Gambling Commercials appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Punter’s Politics is an Australian political commentary podcast and associated political movement with the goal of making Australian politics simpler for everyday people. The podcast was launched in June 2024 by former economics teacher Konrad Benjamin, and has since gained traction for exposing corporate influence in Australian politics.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLg9ANGIggv/

https://www.punterspolitics.com/pages/media

The post Sat, 14th, Feb, 2026: Konrad Benjamin, Punter’s Politics, Fighting the good fight for Aussie Punters appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Tim Burrowes is the publisher of Mumbrella and Unmade. He co-founded Mumbrella in 2008 and sister title Unmade in 2021. He’s worked in the UK, Middle East, Asia & Australia and has specialised in writing about the communications world for the last 25 years. He wrote the book Media Unmade, published in 2021, and became the presenter of MediaLand on ABC Radio National in 2025.

The post Sat, 14th, Feb, 2026: Tim Burrowes. Publisher, Mumbrella, How ingrained is gambling advertising in the Australian Media landscape and why has Reform have stalled? appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Hector holds a PhD from Imperial College London in Reproductive Endocrinology. He undertook postgraduate training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at some of the most prestigious hospitals in Oxford and London, including highly competitive subspecialist training in Fertility and Reproductive Medicine. In addition, he completed a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and IVF at the Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne.

Part of his enthusiasm for practicing medicine comes from seeing research translated into clinical practice. His research has been highly cited in respected medical journals and has been incorporated in professional society guidelines that influence global IVF practice.

Hector holds a Clinical Senior Lectureship at the University of Melbourne, where his research focuses on luteal phase support and endometriosis. He is also leading a multidisciplinary team at the University of Oxford in the design and commercialization of a new egg collection needle, which has the capability to significantly boost egg numbers at IVF.

His special interests include fertility treatment for LGBTQIA+ couples, egg freezing, onco-fertility, PCOS, recurrent implantation failure, ovulation induction, age-related infertility and unexplained fertility.

Hector’s patients appreciate his accessibility, compassion and evidence-based approach to care.

Outside of work, Hector and his husband have recently adopted their beautiful Labrador Olive, and together they enjoy discovering new (doggie-friendly) brunch spots!

http://@dr.hector.georgiou

The post Sat, 14th, Feb, 2026: Dr Hector Georgiou, Melbourne IVF, New laws on Surrogacy appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Bill protecting intersex children from unnecessary medical, interventions that has just been passed by the Vic lower house

The Victorian Government’s Bill protecting intersex children from unnecessary and irreversible medical procedures without their consent has passed in the lower house.

Intersex people are born with innate variations of sex characteristics that don’t fit medical norms for female or male bodies.

As the intersex community has grown more visible, we have learned how common unnecessary and irreversible surgeries are to individuals, particularly those who are too young to consent.

It is believed that about 1.7 per cent of the population is born with an intersex trait. There are at least 40 known intersex variations.

In October 2021, the Australian Human Rights Commission urged all Australian governments to implement measures that prevent harmful medical interventions on intersex people without personal consent.  

In August 2025, the Australian Medical Association passed a motion calling for a deferral of surgical interventions for intersex people until they can give consent.

The Health Safeguards for People Born with Variations in Sex Characteristics Bill 2025 passed the lower house without opposition on Thursday.

The Bill prohibits deferrable medical interventions until a child can decide for themselves that they want that, introducing independent oversight of proposed treatment plans.

The passing of the bill reflects decades of tireless advocacy by intersex people and community organisations, building on similar protections introduced in the ACT in 2023.

https://qnews.com.au/intersex-reform-for-childrens-medical-interventions-passes-vic-lower-house/

The post Sat, 14th, Feb, 2026: Nina Taylor, Labor MP, Albert Park, Intersex Medical Intervention Reform for Children Passes Vic Lower House appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Before entering Parliament, Tim was a doctor treating and researching sexually transmitted infections like HIV. Before that, he was a GP.

Concerned by recent fires and heatwaves, Tim wanted to push the government to take climate change seriously by urgently replacing coal and gas as Victoria’s main energy sources. This is what prompted him to run for Parliament.

The priorities Tim has for his community are safer roads for walking and cycling, more green space, and trees to keep us cool in summer. He says that we also need to repair some of our crumbling public schools and build or buy more housing for our homeless.

Tim’s vision for Victoria’s future is that it runs by clean energy by the end of the decade, and cuts carbon emissions from farming, transport and other sectors.

The areas of public policy that he is most passionate about are reducing the size of the public housing waiting list and our prison population. He also wants to change the way we let advertisers promote unhealthy products such as junk food, alcohol and gambling.

The post Sat, 14th, Feb, 2026: Dr Tim Read; Greens MP, Brunswick, Chair of the Integrity Oversight Committee: Stepping down at the Next Election and Fighting for the Survival of VicHealth appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

St Kilda Festival is known as Australia’s largest community festival – a celebration of community spirit, Australian talent, and the beautiful St Kilda foreshore.

Since the first St Kilda Festival in 1980, this well-loved annual summer celebration has established itself as an iconic event that brings the community together.

Saturday – 14 February 2026

First Peoples First

The post Sat, 7th, Feb, 2026: Fred Gesha, Festival Lead, First People’s First Day, St Kilda Festival, First Peoples First appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The inaugural Melbourne Art Print Fair: edition1 is set to make its debut at Linden New Art, St Kilda, from February 7-9, 2025. This new event highlights the artistry and innovation of printmaking, bringing together Australia’s finest printmaking studios, artists and enthusiasts for three days of creativity, connection and inspiration.

The fair, conceived by the trio Kelly Gellatly, Kirsty Grant, Bronwyn Johnson of Kaleidoscope Editions, and Trent Walter of Negative Press, aims to elevate printmaking as both an art form and a medium for collectors.

Participating studios include Megalo Print Studio, Baldessin Press, Kaleidoscope Editions, Negative Press, Print Council of Australia, Spacecraft and Sunshine Editions. Visitors can expect to see the work of artists including Melinda Harper, Rob McHaffie, Peter Atkins, Brent Harris, Katherine Hattam, Kylie Banyard, Ellie Malin, Chris Ingham, Brook Andrew, Rose Nolan, Janet Burchill and Jennifer McCamley and Elizabeth Newman.

Director Kelly Gellatly shares that the fair was established, “to celebrate the creativity and collegiality of the printmaking community, and to share the joy we all experience in facilitating and making prints with some of Australia’s most exciting contemporary artists.”

The program will feature artist talks, demonstrations and the launch of major works, offering insights into the techniques and value of limited-edition prints. A special highlight is the inclusion of works from Viridian Press, the studio of master printer John Loane, showcasing Australia’s rich printmaking history and Loane’s collaborations with artists like Brent Harris and Aida Tomescu.

Linden New Art CEO Vincent Alessi underscores the fair’s importance, stating, “It is a unique and radical proposition in focusing exclusively on print works, an often neglected and misunderstood practice. The Fair celebrates printmaking, and the print agencies, who are often experimental and conceptual in their approach, helping artists realise new ways in their practice.”

Free to the public, Melbourne Art Print Fair: edition1 promises to ignite appreciation for printmaking’s artistry and significance.

For more information, visit Melbourne Art Print Fair.

The post Sat, 7th, Feb, 2026: Trent Walter from Negative Press & Kelly Gellatly  co-founders of Melb Art Print Fair, Melbourne Art Print Fair, Happening Now.  appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Bruce Wolpe is a Senior Fellow (non-resident) at the United States Studies Centre. Bruce is a regular contributor on US politics across media platforms in Australia. In recent years, Bruce has worked with the Democrats in Congress during President Barack Obama’s first term, and on the staff of Prime Minister Julia Gillard. He has also served as the former PM’s chief of staff.

Bruce’s most recent article for the ABC can be found here:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-01/stephen-miller-donald-trumps-immigration-policy-architect/106272938

The post Sat, 7th, Feb, 2026: Bruce Wolpe, Senior Fellow, US Study Centre, New Australian Ambassador  to the US; escalation of ICE activity in Minnesota: Where now with Epstein files? appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Josh Burns talks to Nevena and Macca about extremism, Sovereign Citizens, the Epstein Files, Federal Government Update.

Josh Burns @JoshBurnsMP is ALP @AustralianLabor member for McNamara and conviction politician

https://www.themonthly.com.au/josh-burns/2025-12-18/lessons-bondi

The post Sat, 7th, Feb, 2026: Josh Burns, MP McNamara, Latest from Canberra, and Latest on the Epstein Files. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Prior to entering Parliament, Georgie worked as a Digital Campaigner at United Voice (now United Workers Union), a Communications Adviser at Industry Super Australia and was Chief of Staff to Andy Meddick MP.

She was prompted to run for Parliament as she wanted to see more young people represented in our parliaments, and to advance animal protection at a legislative level.

Georgie is passionate about improving the protection of animals – whether they be farmed, native or companion animals. Her priorities include banning duck shooting, securing an inquiry into greyhound racing, supporting Victoria’s wildlife rescuers and carers, stopping commercial kangaroo slaughter, improving accessibility to vets and introducing a subsidised vet care system in the state.

The post Sat, 7th, Feb, 2026: Georgie Purcell, Senator, Nthrn Victoria, Animal Justice Party, Pets are now included in DV protections in VIC appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Charlie Lewis is Crikey’s reporter-at-large, focusing on politics, culture, history and the US. Got a tip? Contact him securely on Signal @clewis.25. He was Crikey’s Tips and Murmurs editor between 2020 and 2025. He has previously worked across government and unions and was a researcher on RN’s Daily Planet. He currently co-hosts Spin Cycle on Triple R radio.

Charlie Lewis  frequently analyses and critiques the politics of One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson, often highlighting her media coverage, policy positions, and use of populist rhetoric. Lewis has documented the normalization of her views and the media’s, in his view, amnestic approach to her long-term political activities. 

https://www.crikey.com.au/2025/12/19/pauline-hanson-media-coverage-one-nation/

The post Sat, 7th, Feb, 2026: Charlie Lewis, Reporter at large, Crikey, The Melania Movie, Has Mainstream Media Got Amnesia Over Pauline Hanson? appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post Sat, 7th, Feb, 2026: Weekly Wrap Up with Nevena and Macca, “Special Message from Macca” appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Alex Makin, has lived in Port Phillip for over a decade, residing in Port Melbourne and the Montague Ward, drawn to its vibrant community and central location to beaches, markets, arts and culture.

Alex brings extensive experience from both the private and not-for-profit sectors. He founded and ran a consulting business for nearly a decade before transitioning into strategic management roles within the not-for-profit sector. Alex is also a lecturer in postgraduate studies teaching Business Strategy, Marketing and Data Analytics.

His leadership journey began as one of Victoria’s youngest politically independent Mayors. He previously served on Maroondah City Council (2005 to 2012) and as Mayor in 2010, where he helped transform Ringwood into a dynamic urban centre. He will be drawing on this experience to help Fishermans Bend fulfil its potential as Australia’s largest urban renewal.

The post Sat, 31st Jan, 2026: Alex Makin, Lord Mayor, City of Port Phillip, Latest in City of Port Phillip including the forthcoming St Kilda Festival appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Lucio has held senior executive roles at Optus, Nine, and Seven, founder of three tech businesses, a former lecturer at RMIT and Deakin. His consultancy work includes partnerships with Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Goldman Sachs, NVidia, Mondelez, and SpaceX.

Lucio is also a  regular global speaker on innovation and emerging technology. He’s worked across major media
and tech companies, writes on AI for Forbes, and recently helped launch Australia’s first AI Film Festival,  Disrupt, to showcase how Australians are already using this technology in creative ways

The post Sat, 31st Jan, 2026: Lucio Ribeiro – Chief Innovation Officer, TBWA Australia; Will AI Democratise or Terrorise? appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Vicki Ward, as the Victorian Minister for Equality, was involved in the passing of an updated anti-vilification law in 2025. Key aspects of the update include making it easier for police to charge those who make hateful speech, lowering the threshold for criminal charges, and providing greater protection for the LGBTQIA+ community and people with a disability. The legislation removed a contentious defence for genuine political purposes after community concerns that it could be misused.

The Affirmation Station is Australia’s first dedicated, trans-led community and peer support hub, created in partnership with Transgender Victoria (TGV). It offers a space to explore gender identity, access peer navigation, shop for gender-affirming items, and engage in social activities.

Affirmation Station is Australia’s first trans-led community and peer support hub run by Transgender Victoria.

This dedicated trans-centric space offers a range of gender-affirming services in a friendly and safer environment. Connect with community, explore your gender and purchase gender-affirming items, all under one roof.

https://www.tgv.org.au/affirmation-station

The post Sat, 31st Jan, 2026: Vicki Ward – MP Eltham & Min for Equality, New Transgender Vic Affirmation Stations appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Ged Kearney is the Australian Labor Party MP for Cooper (since 2018) and serves as the Federal Assistant Minister for Social Services and Assistant Minister for Prevention of Family Violence. In this appearance  JOY Media, she discussed new more new Medicare Urgent Care Clinics opening + Fed/State hospital funding deal struck yesterday by National Cabinet

The post Sat, 31st Jan, 2026: Ged Kearney – MP Cooper – Asst Min for Prevention of Family Violence & Asst Min Social Service, new Medicare Urgent Care Clinics Opening appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post Sat, 31st Jan, 2026: Nicholas Reece – Lord Mayor of Melbourne, The LOVING exhibition at City Gallery, Midsumma, AO26 appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post Sat, 31st Jan, 2026: Misha Ketchell – Editor, The Conversation, Demise of VIcHealth; Coalition chaos; Australia Day bomb in Perth; Herzog visit; Trump’s Board of Peace appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post Sat, 31st Jan, 2026: Weekly Wrap Up with Nevena, Kenny and Special Guest Paul Horwell appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Josh Moyes, a queer kid growing up in Byron, just wanted a doll for Christmas, but ‘Santa’ left a bong. Finding Glitter in the Storm is a darkly comic queer coming-of-age story.

After moving from Geelong (Djilang) to the outskirts of Byron Bay (Bundjalung Nation), where the family bought a pirate ship, they were quickly crowned the town pirates – a perfect analogy for their beautiful dysfunction. Josh – queer, tender, and a rainbow rebel from a crew of renegade castaways – discovered how to find the sparkle looking from the shore at a sea of stoners and wave-chasers.

Josh playfully and respectfully unpacks contradictions in the Byron Bay laid-back lifestyle. The show offers a unique voice about the unexpected beauty in growing up different. Through heart, humour, and unfiltered honesty, this skilful storytelling will leave you grinning and a little braver.

 Josh Moyes (writer, actor). A neurodivergent artist, Josh began studying performance at WAAPA before completing a Bachelor of Creative Writing at Curtin University. He trained in Los Angeles with acclaimed acting coach Eric Morris, performed playback theatre at festivals around Australia, and his storytelling was praised at The Moth by comedian the late Cal Wilson as “superb – great story.”

With years in the community and humanities sectors, Josh brings lived experience and lyrical wit to the stage. Finding Glitter in the Storm marks the emergence of a distinctive new voice in Australian theatre – funny, fierce, and deeply human. Accompanied by an atmospheric musical instrument guest, this Midsumma premiere celebrates the courage it takes to keep dancing in the downpour – a love letter to the misfits and late bloomers, and a call to and from the inner artist in us all who never quite fit the script. A spectacle, it proves that glitter can always be found in the storm.

The post Sat, 24th, Jan, 2026: Josh Moyes – Writer & Actor, Finding Glitter in the Storm, Midsumma Premier From a Unique Queer Voice appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Oscar Revelins studied theatre, film, and television at the University of California, Los Angeles, before pivoting to English Literature and graduating with a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Western Australia.

He was born in Melbourne, spent nine years in Los Angeles, and then two in Perth, before settling back in Melbourne, where he currently resides.

In 2025, he published his debut novel Delicate Friends, won the Varnish Prize for Fiction with The Light Declines, received third prize at the My Brother Jack Literary Awards with Bishops, and was selected for the Perth Queer Film Festival with After The Funeral.

In 2024, he was published on the Grattan Street Press blog with his article What I Wish I’d Known Trying to Publish a Book at 23 with No Connections.

As a teenager in high school, his two novellas Smoke Tricks and Deserted received gold and silver keys respectively from the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards in 2017.

https://www.oscarrevelins.com/delicatefriends

Perth, Western Australia. Spring bleeds into a sweltering summer as twenty-year-old Austin finds himself in unfamiliar territory. After abandoning his grief-stained life in Melbourne, reinvention could be his salvation – if only he knew where to find it.

As Austin navigates class dynamics, social isolation, and a taut relationship with his estranged cousin, he meets Ezra: handsome, older, and romantically jaded. Where Austin is reckless and petulant, Ezra is measured and guarded, though despite their polarity, they find themselves entangled in an unorthodox friendship that teeters between desire and disaster.

When wounds from both their pasts reopen, they must face the uncertainty of vulnerability or risk losing themselves – and each other – in the process.

‘Delicate Friends’ explores the thrilling yet painful grey area between friends and lovers, and charts the masochistic games we play in the pursuit of belonging.

The post Sat, 24th, Jan, 2026: Oscar Revelins, Author of Delicate Friends appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Dr. Chris Pepin-Neff is an Associate Professor of Public Policy at the University of Sydney in the Discipline of Government and International Relations, specializing in emotional public policymaking, LGBTQ politics, and the “politics of shark attacks”. They authored Flaws: Shark Bites and Emotional Public Policymaking and are known for research on reducing public fear of sharks.

https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-10976-9

This book examines the policymaking process following highly emotional events. It focuses on the politics of shark “attacks” by looking at policy responses to tragic shark bites in Florida, Australia, and South Africa. The book reviews these cases by identifying the flaws in the human-shark relationship, including the way sharks are portrayed as the enemy, the way shark bites are seen as intentional, and how policy responses appear to be based on public safety. Flaws identifies politicians as the true sharks of this story for their manipulation of tragic circumstances to protect their own interests. It argues that shark bites are ungovernable accidents of nature, and that we are “in the way, not on the menu.”

https://www.abc.net.au/religion/chris-pepin-neff-sharkscaping-jaws-moral-panic-sharks/105471390

https://www.facebook.com/Sunrise/videos/1005377682658008/

The post Sat, 24th, Jan, 2026: Dr. Chris Pepin-Neff, Asso. Professor of Public Policy, Uni of Sydney, ‘The Emotion of Shark Attacks’. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Melissa Coade is The Mandarin’s news editor based in Canberra’s parliamentary press gallery. She has had various government, communications and legal roles, and has written for the Law Society of NSW journal (LSJ) and Lawyers Weekly.

The post Sat, 24th, Jan, 2026: Melissa Coade, Editor – The Mandarin (Sister Publication Crikey); Latest Machinations in Canberra appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Before representing Prahran in State Parliament, Rachel Westaway, had a distinguished career within corporate, industry and public service roles. This included as a senior Commonwealth Tribunal member in migration, child support and social security matters and as Victorian Assistant Commissioner for Freedom of Information. Rachel has run her own business and is also a qualified teacher.

A previous head of marketing at The Age Newspaper, New Idea magazine and SBS, an early career highlight was her creating the giant Caramello Koala working at Cadbury.
Rachel has raised three children with all attending local schools and has lived in the local area for over 20 years.

Her family has long been engaged in our great community, including with the Prahran Junior Football Club and Toorak Prahran Cricket Club along with our dynamic local arts sector.
Rachel is a strident supporter of our diverse community, from our local businesses, to our dynamic fashion, health and medical science, hospitality and creative sectors.

Rachel was born in Melbourne and comes from Thai Chinese heritage and is the former President of the Thai Australian Chamber, which encouraged trade and positive relationships between Australia and Thailand.

The post Sat, 24th, Jan, 2026: Rachel Westaway, Lib Prahran, Shadow Asst Min Small, Business + Hosp. Reinvigorating destination Melbourne, Midsumma Carnival, Federal Coalition Situation appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Aiv Puglielli is a member of the Victorian Legislative Council representing North-East Metropolitan Region for the Victorian Greens. With a background in the arts as a composer and producer, Aiv brings a creative lens to politics and is an advocate for climate action, housing justice and community-led solutions. Aiv has worked across grassroots campaigns and in
parliament since 2022, focusing on progressive policies that protect the environment while supporting workers and local communities.

Aiv discussed New addition to his family (adopted Great Dane Hildegard) and Midsumma

The post Sat, 24th, Jan, 2026: Aiv Puglielli, MP Greens, Nth Eastern Metro, Midsumma, Politics Update appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post Saturday, 24th, January, 2026: Weekly Wrap Up with Nevena and Macca appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Matt’s famous for winning Olympic gold in the 10m platform at Beijing 2008 with the highest-ever dive score and for being the first openly gay Olympic champion. Beyond diving, he’s a successful cabaret performer, author, speaker, and advocate for mental health and LGBTQIA+ issues, having transitioned from a trampolinist background to achieve diving’s “golden trifecta” (Olympics, World Cup, Commonwealth Games).

Matt is starring in an exciting new production of Afterglow,  for the Midsumma festival.

S. Asher Gelman international hit play AFTERGLOW is heading to Melbourne for its highly anticipated Australian premiere!

When Josh and Alex, a married couple in an open relationship, invite Darius to share their bed for a night, a new and intimate connection is ignited. As all three men come to terms with their individual definitions of love, loyalty, and trust, relationships are challenged and futures are shaken. A raw, funny, and sensual exploration of polyamory, commitment, and modern love.

The stellar cast of three comprises Julian Curtis (Gaslight, Cock, Dance Academy), gold medal winning Olympic diver Matthew Mitcham (Strangers in Between, Jock Night, The Pool) and Matthew Predny (Titanique, Avenue Q, Kinky Boots).

After its critical success Off-Broadway and productions around the globe, Afterglow now brings its modern, intimate exploration of desire, honesty, and connection to Melbourne audiences!

The post Sat, 17th Jan 2026: Matthew Mitcham, OAM OLY, Retired Australian Diver, Afterglow, Chapel off Chapel, Midsumma appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Frances has a special interest in  Children’s Literature (post-grad-cert Child.Lit Deakin University); her  reviews/interviews have been published in The Sydney Morning Herald,

The Age, UpperCase Magazine, The Courier Mail, The Brisbane Times, The Canberra Times and Illawarra Mercury.

Frances discusses her latest reviews and what’s she been reading over the summer.

The post Sat, 17th Jan 2026: Frances Atkinson – Freelance Writer, Book Reviewer, Critic & Cultural Commentator; ‘Summer Reads’ appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post Sat, 17th, Jan, 2026: Dean Narramore, Senior Meteorologist BOM, Extreme Weather Across Australia appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post Sat, 17th, Jan, 2026: Kent Burgess – Interim CEO, Thorne Harbour Health, Midsumma Events appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Prior to entering Parliament, Sarah worked as a general practitioner. She has experience working with people experiencing homelessness and in aged care, and she served as a councillor at the City of Greater Geelong from 2017 until she was elected to state parliament.

As a GP, she could see that the things that have the biggest impact on people’s health and wellbeing are our social and physical environment. They aren’t things that can be addressed in a clinic, they require systemic change by government. She sought to do this through her role as a councillor, but over the years she became increasingly frustrated, seeing her region being left behind by state governments. There was only so much that could be achieved at local government level on issues critical for our health and wellbeing, like improved public transport, affordable housing, access to healthcare and essential services, and action on the climate crisis. These issues are what prompted her to run for Parliament.

The post Sat, 17th, Jan, 2026: Dr Sarah Mansfield, Dep Leader Vic Greens, MLC Western VIC, How Vic has dealt with Anti-Vilification Laws appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Heather Corkhill is a dedicated human rights and anti-discrimination law and policy specialist. With combined qualifications and experience in law, mediation and film production, Heather is committed to promoting equity, diversity, and human rights for LGBTIQ+ Australians, addressing systemic issues through practical and innovative solutions.

The post Sat, 17th, Jan 2026: Heather Corkhill – Legal Dir, Equality Aust: Shortcomings of New Hate Speech Laws appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Charlie Lewis is Crikey’s reporter-at-large, focusing on politics, culture, history and the US. Got a tip? Contact him securely on Signal @clewis.25. He was Crikey’s Tips and Murmurs editor between 2020 and 2025. He has previously worked across government and unions and was a researcher on RN’s Daily Planet. He currently co-hosts Spin Cycle on Triple R radio.

The post Sat, 17th Jan, 2026: Charlie Lewis, Reporter at Large, Crikey, Cancellation Adelaide Writers’ Festival, Kevin Rudd, Hate Speech appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Executive Producer Kenny Hill drops by to talk about getting involved with Saturday Magazine

The post Sat, 17th Jan 2026: Weekly Wrap Up with Macca and Paul appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post Sat, 10th, Jan, 2026: Karen Bryant, CEO of Midsumma, What’s Happening in 2026? appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

https://www.ussc.edu.au/trump-takes-out-maduro-but-can-the-democrats-take-out-trump

“Deposing Maduro is one thing. But Trump’s assertion throughout his press conference on the attack that the United States would be running Venezuela, and that the United States would take over Venezuela’s oil industry to benefit the United States, was another.

Was Trump going back to Bush-Obama nation-building and the forever wars he decried?

While there are Trump MAGA isolationists not happy with this adventure, the clear military success of the mission has subdued their voices – for now.

Bruce Wolpe is a Senior Fellow (non-resident) at the United States Studies Centre. Bruce is a regular contributor on US politics across media platforms in Australia. In recent years, Bruce has worked with the Democrats in Congress during President Barack Obama’s first term, and on the staff of Prime Minister Julia Gillard. He has also served as the former PM’s chief of staff.

Bruce is author of Trump’s Australia, an examination of Donald Trump’s possible return to the presidency and the issues presented to Australia (Allen & Unwin, 2023), The Committee, a study of President Obama’s legislative agenda in Congress (University of Michigan Press, 2018, 2d Edition September 2021) and Lobbying Congress: How The System Works (Congressional Quarterly Books, 1990, 1996).

Trump’s framing opened another front: between the president and the Democrats in Congress. But just like so many other times over the last year, the Democrats have less impact when they fire in multiple directions”

The post Sat, 10th, Jan, 2026: Bruce Wolpe-Snr Fellow US Study Centre, Donald Trump takes Venezuela – is Colombia next? appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Luke Dennehy is an Australian freelance journalist, media, and PR professional known for his work in entertainment and media, including contributions to Melbourne’s JOY 94.9 radio station and their “Saturday Magazine” show, often discussing media, public relations, and events like the Australian Open, demonstrating strong connections in Australian media, sports, and entertainment. 

The post Sat, 10th, Jan, 2026: Luke Dennehy, Public relations, Tennis Australia, Australian Open, Pride Slam appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Alex brings extensive experience from both the private and not-for-profit sectors. He founded and ran a consulting business for nearly a decade before transitioning into strategic management roles within the not-for-profit sector. Alex is also a lecturer in postgraduate studies teaching Business Strategy, Marketing and Data Analytics.

His leadership journey began as one of Victoria’s youngest politically independent Mayors. He previously served on Maroondah City Council (2005 to 2012) and as Mayor in 2010, where he helped transform Ringwood into a dynamic urban centre. He will be drawing on this experience to help Fishermans Bend fulfil its potential as Australia’s largest urban renewal precinct.

Alex has a keen interest in the arts. He enjoys exploring local art galleries or watching a theatre performance delivered by local theatre companies.

The post Sat, 10th, Jan, 2026: Alex Makin, Mayor – City of Port Phillip, What’s Coming Up in 2026 appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post Sat, 10th, Jan, 2026: Josh Burns, ALP Member for McNamara; Royal Commission into Antisemitism & The Year Ahead In Politics appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Nevena also discusses with Macca why she loves the Australian Open

The post Saturday, 10th, Jan, 2026: Weekly Wrap Up With Nevena and Macca; Why Nev Loves the Oz Open! appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Aiv Puglielli is a member of the Victorian Legislative Council representing North-East Metropolitan Region for the Victorian Greens. With a background in the arts as a composer and producer, Aiv brings a creative lens to politics and is an advocate for climate action, housing justice and community-led solutions. Aiv has worked across grassroots campaigns and in
parliament since 2022, focusing on progressive policies that protect the environment while supporting workers and local communities.

The post 25/12/2025: Christmas Magazine: Aiv Puglielli – MP Greens, Nth Eastern Metro, Year in Review appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Katrina Jane Allen was an Australian medical researcher and politician. She was a member of the House of Representatives from 2019 to 2022, representing the seat of Higgins in Victoria for the Liberal Party

Former federal Liberal MP Katie Allen has died aged 59 after developing a rare form of cancer, her family has announced.

Dr Allen served as member for the now-abolished seat of Higgins in Victoria from 2019 to 2022.

Earlier this year, the former Liberal MP revealed she had a rare form of cancer known as cholangiocarcinoma.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-23/former-higgins-mp-katie-allen-died-of-cancer/106175744

The post 25/12/2025: Christmas Magazine: : WA Liberal Senator Dean Smith, Tribute to Katie Allen appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Vicki Ward, as the Victorian Minister for Equality, was involved in the passing of an updated anti-vilification law in 2025. Key aspects of the update include making it easier for police to charge those who make hateful speech, lowering the threshold for criminal charges, and providing greater protection for the LGBTQIA+ community and people with a disability. The legislation removed a contentious defence for genuine political purposes after community concerns that it could be misused. 

The post 25/12/2025: Christmas Magazine: Vicki Ward, MP Eltham, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Natural Disaster Recovery, Minister for Equality; The Year That Was… appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Prior to entering Parliament, Rachel was the executive of EROS Association and held leadership, project management, policy and research roles with the Family Court of Australia and Centrelink. Rachel holds postgraduate qualifications in public policy and an undergraduate degree in sociology and politics. She is also an acclaimed performer, travelling internationally to perform as Freckles Blue in Paris and London. Rachel has extensive experience in advocacy and campaigning, including successfully campaigning to end financial discrimination against small business, gaining the support of the Ombudsman.

Rachel put her hand up to run for Parliament for Legalise Cannabis Victoria as she believes it is time for law reform in this space. She is keen to initiate the conversation more broadly around the role of cannabis as the future for environmental ingenuity and creation.

Rachel has a keen interest in political processes and practices, is an advocate for women’s rights and equality, inclusivity, and progressive social and community development. She is also passionate about solutions to homelessness, particularly in regard to young people, and has lived experience after instability in home-life meant Rachel was independent from 16 years of age. She is a fierce advocate for cannabis law reform and is actively involved in the LGBTIQ community.

The post 25/12/2025: Christmas Magazine: Rachel Payne, Legalise Cannabis MP, South-Eastern Metropolitan Region; Politics Update. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

https://joy.org.au/board-of-directors/

The post 25/12/2025: Christmas Magazine: John Wintle, Joy Media President appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Rachel Westaway  is an Australian politician serving as the member for Prahran in the Victorian Legislative Assembly since winning the 2025 Prahran state by-election. She is a member of the Victorian Liberal Party.

The post 25/12/2025: Christmas Magazine: Rachel Westaway, Liberal, MP Prahran. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Photo courtesy of Josh Burns’ Facebook Page.

The post 25/12/2025: Christmas Magazine: Josh Burns, MP Mcnamara, Georgie Purcell, Animal Justice Party-SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post 25/12/2025: Christmas Magazine: Paul-Scott Williams, CEO Joy Media appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Joe Ball (he/him) is the Victorian Commissioner for LGBTIQA+ Communities, appointed in 2024.  A proud transgender man and long-time advocate, Joe has an extensive background in social services, mental health support and LGBTQIA+ community work. Previously associated with Switchboard Victoria, he has championed initiatives such as Rainbow Door and programs supporting survivors of family violence. Joe focuses on improving access to services, reducing stigma, and ensuring Victorian LGBTIQA+ communities are included in policy decisions.

Commissioner Ball (he/him) is a proud transgender man. He is a longstanding LGBTIQA+ advocate with a 25-year career in disability, housing and homelessness, and social services.

Commissioner Ball is a member of the Expert Advisory Group for the Federal Government’s 10-Year LGBTIQ+ Health and Wellbeing Plan. He has previously participated in several leading social service advisory committees and boards. This includes the Victorian Family Violence peak body Safe and Equal, the Community Advisory Committee for 1800RESPECT, the Victorian LGBTIQA+ Taskforce, the Victorian Family Violence Reform Advisory Group, and the National Suicide Prevention Governance Committee.

Joe was previously CEO of Switchboard Victoria for eight years, where he led the establishment of Rainbow Door, the state-wide LGBTIQA+ family violence and mental health helpline.

Throughout his expansive career, Joe has drawn upon the strength and guidance of LGBTIQA+ history and most importantly, the work of activists who have paved the way, the courageous voices with lived experience and the wisdom of LGBTIQA+ elders.

In 2020, Joe was honoured as an award recipient in the 50 Outstanding LGBTI+ Leaders in Australia.

The post 25/12/2025: Christmas Magazine: Joe Ball, Victoria Commissioner LGBTIQ+ Communities appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post Sat, 20th Dec, 2025: Kent Burgess, Interim CEO – Thorne Harbour Health; Update from Thorne Harbour Health appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Former Senator Rex Patrick was known as the ‘Transparency Warrior’ during his time in the Federal Parliament.

In addition to the normal tools used by senators to enforce transparency of Government (e.g. questions at question time, written questions on notice, Senate Estimates questioning, Inquiries and Senate orders for the production of documents) Rex also made extensive use of Freedom of Information request in the Federal domain and subsequent reviews by the Information Commissioner and the Administrative Appeals Tribunals (AAT).

Rex also made numerous requests under South Australian FOI laws and sought Ombudsman reviews and South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Reviews.

Rex believes that transparency is a critical element of a representative democracy. Without transparency citizens cannot properly participate in democracy – and the likelihood of corruption or maladministration occurring increases.

The post Sat, 20th Dec, 2025: Rex Patrick, “Transparency Warrior” & Former Federal Senator, High Court Fight on Political Donations appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Christopher is a member of the Victorian Bar and has a broad civil law practice. He specialises in employment and industrial law, anti-discrimination law, human rights and administrative law. Christopher is the Secretary of the Victorian Bar’s Indigenous Justice Committee, a member of the Industrial Bar Association Committee, the Australian Bar Association’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and the Victorian Bar’s LGBTIQ Working Group (which he helped to establish).

The post Sat, 20th Dec, 2025: Christopher McDermott, Deputy Chair, Mental Health Victoria appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Since 2019, Professor Ong has served as an advisor to the World Health Organization (WHO), contributing to global efforts to eliminate HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as public health threats. In addition, he holds leadership roles as Vice-President of the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) and as a Board Director of Health Equity Matters, reflecting his unwavering commitment to equity in healthcare.

The post Sat, 20th Dec, 2025: Prof. Dr Jason Ong, Dir. Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post Sat, 20th Dec, 2025: Neil Mitchell, Veteran Australian Journalist and Broadcaster, Musings on 2025 appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post Sat, 20th Dec, 2025: Misha Ketchell, Editor-in-Chief, The Conversation: The Year That Was In Politics appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Nevena talk to Ged Kearney, MP Cooper, Asst Min for Prevention of Family Violence & Asst Min Social Services; about the year that was, new legislation on family, domestic & sexual violence in LGBTQIA+ relationships protections.

Macca and Nevena are also joined in the studio, well rather ambushed by Josh Burns, Georgie Purcell and Peter Khalil to announce the delivery of $250,000 from the Federal Australian Government to fund Joy Media.

Special delivery of the cheque is from 6:57 minute mark.

The post Sat, 13th, Dec, 2025: Ged Kearney, MP Cooper; Josh Burns MP, McNamara; Peter Khalil MP, Wills: Special Announcement appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Ruchit Kulkarni graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Master’s degree in Atmospheric Science. His expertise lies in analysing the causes of extreme rainfall on a daily timescale across western New South Wales. Using historical records and modern datasets, he works to understand how our climate is changing and what that means for future risks. Ruchit is passionate about science communication and regularly engages with students and community audiences to discuss weather, climate, and natural hazards

The post Sat, 13th, Dec, 2025: Ruchit Kulkarni, University of Melb, Climate Expert, What’s Driving Australia’s Heatwave? appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

At the 2025 Prahran state by-election, Rachel Westaway was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly with a 13.4% two-party swing in her favour.

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Greens MP Sam Hibbins following revelations of an extramarital affair with a staffer^] and allegations of inappropriate behaviour toward an intern.

Westaway’s campaign was based on addressing “law-and-order” issues, including around the Chapel Street precinct.

At the time of her election, Westaway became the first Liberal candidate for a lower house seat across Australia to recover a seat from the Greens, after Prahran became the first lower house seat the Liberal Party had lost to the Greens, in 2014.

In October 2025, Westaway was appointed Shadow Assistant Minister for Small Business and Shadow Assistant Minister for Hospitality.

Following the change of leadership of the Victorian Liberal Party in November 2025 and subsequent Shadow Cabinet Shadow reshuffle, Westaway was appointed Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition (Metropolitan), Shadow Assistant Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, and Shadow Assistant Minister for Melbourne.

Glyn Lewis, Melbourne based author, was born in the UK, he immigrated to Australia, with his family in 1966, when he was 9. After a long rewarding career in Hospitality Management he tired at the age of 60, when he was inspired to write his fist children’s book after watching a mother read to her child in a local library.

He started his literary journey at 62 years of age. Now 67 years old, he is passionate about early learning in young children and thought he could contribute and create early learning in a fun and positive way. He now has twenty-nine children’s books published of which he is very proud of.

His literary journey has taken a different direction as he is now writing Suspense Psychological Thrillers. One is successfully published titled The Bride of Fire- The Armageddon Awakens. Another novel that he is working on is currently in production.

https://www.amazon.com.au/stores/author/B0CWGKWS6T/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=09f29923-e45f-4d0d-8b58-a290155fef1f

The post Sat, 13th, Dec, 2025: Rachel Westaway, State Member for Prahran, and Glyn Lewis, Local Author Spotlight. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

6 News is a streaming news channel run by a team of young journalists, bringing you independent and impartial reporting every single day.

They  have news bulletins every hour keeping you informed with the latest headlines here at home and around the world.
Their  full line-up includes programs on politics, sport, and law and government.  They also focus on breaking news, with rolling coverage and live press conferences to give you the full story.
6 News was founded by Leo Puglisi (then-aged 11) in 2019 and has since grown to be a reliable source of news for thousands of people every single day.

https://www.6newsau.com/?wix-vod-video-id=1t2NPkiVgK4&wix-vod-comp-id=comp-m2ubn10o

The post Sat, 13th, Dec, 2025: Leo Puglisi, 6 News, The Year That Was In Politics and News appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post Sat, 13th, Dec, 2025: Weekly Wrap Up with Nevena and Macca appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Myles discusses his first year in the hot seat at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Arts and what’s coming up

Myles commenced in the role of Artistic Director & CEO of ACCA in 2024 and was formerly Senior Curator of Australian and First Nations Art at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). Myles has a long-standing interest in cultural, gender and sexual diversity within both Australian and International contemporary practice and has worked across a broad range of exhibitions and projects. For over eight years Myles was one of a team of curators who oversaw major contemporary art exhibitions at the National Gallery of Victoria, including NGV Triennial, and Melbourne Now.

Myles is the curator of the upcoming touring show, The Stars We Do Not See: Australian Indigenous Art, presented in partnership with the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC. This exhibition is the largest exhibition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art ever presented internationally.

The post Saturday, 6th, Dec, 2025: Myles Russell-Cook, Artistic Director and CEO, ACCA; Highlights of his First Year appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Varun completed his medical degree from the University of Melbourne in 2014 and worked as a junior doctor at Monash Health in internal medicine before transitioning to General Practice.

Since completing General Practice training in 2020 he has also commenced further training in HIV medicine, and Sexual Health for all individuals.

Clinical interests include: General preventive medicine, Chronic disease management, Sexual Health, and Mental health.

For listeners triggered by this segment please visit Joy’s support page:

https://joy.org.au/support/

KODAK Digital Still Camera

The post Saturday, 6th, Dec, 2025: Dr Varun Kommidi GP, Prahran Market Clinic, TGA Announces Some Concerns over Ozempic. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Jenna Tuke is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Switchboard Victoria, taking on the role in early 2025 after extensive experience in health, human services, and LGBTIQA+ advocacy, particularly in sexual assault, family violence, and mental health, bringing expertise in crisis management, clinical leadership, and community support to guide the organisation’s growth in supporting Victoria’s LGBTIQA+ communities.

If you need support please visit the below links:

https://www.switchboard.org.au/qlife

https://www.switchboard.org.au/rainbow-door

https://www.switchboard.org.au/app-violence-support

https://www.switchboard.org.au/rainbow-families

https://www.switchboard.org.au/family-violence

https://www.switchboard.org.au/qtibpoc-program

https://www.switchboard.org.au/people-of-faith

The post Saturday, 6th, Dec, 2025: Jenna Tuke, CEO Switchboard Victoria, 2025 Retrospective. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

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The post Saturday, 6th, Dec, 2025: Wayne Gatt, CEO – Police Association Victoria, Tackling Crime in the City and What is a Designated Area? appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

As they discuss the year that was in film 2025.

For ten years, Glenn has been an active part of the Australian film scene as a critic and journalist. Getting his start with the Geelong/Surf Coast-based street press Forte Magazine, he progressed to writing regularly for Trespass and Onya Magazine as well as his personal blog.

In 2010, Glenn began writing film reviews and features for Australian print institution The Big Issue. In the following decade, he has contributed to world-renowned publications such as The Guardian, Vanity Fair and The Film Experience where he covers documentary film on a weekly basis. In Australia, his work has been published across outlets including Metro Magazine, ScreenHub, Flicks Australia, Junkee, SBS Film, SBS Sexuality, Broadsheet, Quickflix, Concrete Playground and the online edition of Overland Journal. He is also the regular film critic for Air Nuigini’s Paradise Magazine. His work has been republished by IndieWire’s Women and Hollywood blog and the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance union’s quarterly print publication The Equity Magazine. He has also been spotlighted by The Age.

The post Saturday, 6th, Dec, 2025: Glenn Charlie Dunks, an Award-Winning Film Critic, the year that was in film. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Konrad launched Punter’s Politics about one year ago, starting with satirical skits uploaded to social media and YouTube that cited reputable resources.

His first reel, “How dumb are Aussies?” skewered the decisions of successive governments that he said allowed corporations to “rip off” Australia over its natural resources.

The post Saturday, 6th, Dec, 2025: Konrad Benjamin, Podcaster, Punter’s Politics, the 58th Commonwealth Parliament; The Year That Was in Federal Politics appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Photo by James WF Roberts

The post Saturday, 6th, Dec, 2025: Weekly Wrap Up with Sally Capp and Kenny Hill appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Sarah Jane Witty is an Australian politician who has served as the member of parliament for the Victorian division of Melbourne since 2025. She is a member of the Labor Party. In the election, Witty defeated Adam Bandt, the leader of the Australian Greens, who had held the seat of Melbourne since 2010.

Prior to entering politics, Witty worked with several charitable organisations, including as CEO of The Nappy Collective and as a staff member at Homes for Homes. She also ran a ballet studio, owned a Subway franchise and worked as both a small business lender and insurer. Witty has also been a foster carer.

The post Sat, 29th Nov, 2025: Sarah Witty, ALP MP, Division of Melbourne, Federal Politics Update. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Hugo Toovey is an Army Major in his early 30’s and already a two-time Cancer Survivor. He’s a tireless Mental Health Advocate and founder of 25 STAY ALIVE.
If you didn’t know Hugo, you would assume that he was your typical everyday young Australian. And yes,  from the outside, he appears to be exactly that. However, the last 10 years of his life has been everything BUT normal. He is missing a testicle, part of his reproductive system, all of his abdominal lymph nodes,
his large bowel, his rectum and part of his small bowel.

Not only has Hugo survived both testicular cancer and bowel cancer, but he has also had ongoing battles with his mental health. Yet despite all of this, he is more determined than ever to use what he has gone through to save lives.

The post Saturday, 29th, Nov, 2025: Hugo Toovey, Founder of 25 STAY ALIVE appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Lucio is also a  regular global speaker on innovation and emerging technology. He’s worked across major media
and tech companies, writes on AI for Forbes, and recently helped launch Australia’s first AI Film Festival,  Disrupt, to showcase how Australians are already using this technology in creative ways.

The post Saturday, 29th, Nov, 2025: Lucio Ribeiro, Chief AI Officer at TBWA Australia; latest from fast moving world of AI, and the DISRUPT AI Film Festival (Aust. 1st GenAI film fest) appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Adrian D’Mello is an experienced professional who guides clients throughout the various stages of their financial lives. Younger professionals wanting to set themselves up for lifelong financial security. Pre-retirees who want to maximise the final years of their working lives to ensure they have sufficient funds to enjoy retirement. Retirees who want to enjoy the fruits of their labour while knowing their finances are in order.

In addition, Adrian is an Aged Care specialist, helping families navigate the complex aged care landscape. This includes matters relating to the cost of care, Centrelink, managing assets like the family home, and ensuring adequate cash flow.

The post Saturday, 29th, Nov, 2025: Adrian D’Mello, Financial Advisor at BG Private Estate Planning; What We All We Need To Know…. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

“Everyone knew that once Congress passed legislation requiring the Justice Department to release all the Jeffrey Epstein files, US President Donald Trump would go on a tear to “flood the zone” with other distractions so he could command the agenda.

And that’s exactly what he did. Over the next four days, Trump met with FIFA President Gianni Infantino in the Oval Office to announce expedited visas for fans at next year’s World Cup (though, pointedly, not for all)”

https://www.ussc.edu.au/trump-s-attacks-are-worsening-why-is-he-becoming-even-more-vengeful

The post Saturday, 29th, Nov, 2025: Bruce Wolpe, Senior Fellow, US Study Centre, Latest from the US, the Release of the Epstein Files; Trump’s LGBTIQA+ Supporters appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Richard also discussed the Community Launch to remember those we’ve lost, stand with people living with HIV, and celebrate progress toward equality and inclusion under the theme NO ONE LEFT BEHIND.

Some of the other topics discussed; what can we do to stand by and with people living with HIV?

Richard also reflected on some of the examples of progress toward equality and inclusion that he is most proud of…

The post Saturday, 29th, Nov, 2025: Richard Keane, CEO Living Positive, World AIDS Day, Monday 1 December. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Kenny and Paul also discussed with Aiv, his  thoughts on the Inner Melbourne Designated Area news from VIC Police that comes into effect this weekend

The post Saturday, 29th, Nov, 2025: Aiv Puglielli, MP Greens, Nth Eastern Metro, Environmental Protection & Biodiversity, Conservation Act appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post Saturday, 29th, Nov, 2025: Weekly Wrap Up with Paul and Kenny appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Basem ‘Bas’ Kerbage (he/him)
Basem is a human rights activist, queer rights activist, and founder of Queer Arabs Australia. Basem has a background in not-for-profit, and is a fundraising professional. A vocal advocate for people, and especially queer people of the Middle East North Africa, especially those in Palestine and Lebanon. Basem believes we do not get to pick and choose who has human rights, and that we are not free until we are all free.

Queer Arabs Australia (QAA) is the leading national organisation dedicated to supporting LGBTQIA+ individuals from Arab, Middle Eastern, and North African (MENA) backgrounds across Australia. Our mission is to create safe, inclusive, and culturally relevant spaces that address the unique challenges faced by queer Arabs and MENA individuals, including racism, Islamophobia, homophobia, and transphobia. They offer a range of services and community initiatives, including language support, social events, and advocacy, all designed to empower their members to thrive.

https://www.queerarabsaustralia.org/

The post Sat, 22nd, Nov, 2025: Basem Kerbage, Queer Arabs Australia (QAA), The Queer Arabs Australia Festival appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Lamestream is an independent news publication tackling the crisis in media. Their podcasts and newsletters cover how the media shapes news, culture, politics and current affairs, and how the industry’s transformation is reshaping the world we live in.\

Lamestream is hosted by award-winning journalists Osman Faruqi and Scott Mitchell. Between them, they have worked for almost every media organisation in the country.

With Lamestream, they’re using their experience, insight and contacts to help listeners make sense of how media and political institutions really work. They’ll share inside secrets, spill goss and break their own stories to unpack what’s really going on.

Osman Faruqi is an Australian Podcast Award and Kennedy Award-winning journalist and editor. He has worked as the Editor and Executive Producer of 7am and most recently was the Culture Editor at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. He has also worked as a journalist and editor at the ABC. He previously hosted the award-winning podcasts The Culture and The Drop.

Scott Mitchell is an Australian Podcast Award-winning journalist and editor. He most recently served as Editor and Executive Producer of the 7am podcast. Previously, he’s served as Digital Lead for the Audio Current Affairs division at ABC News, was a founding producer of the Rose d’Or-winning TV show You Can’t Ask That, and was one of the cast of ABC TV’s Hungry Beast.

The post Sat, 22nd, Nov, 2025: Scott Mitchell, Lamestream Media; What’s Really Going on in the Australian News Media, Where the Influence Lies? appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Her research focuses on understanding the role of ultra-processed foods in the food system and human health, evaluation of sustainable healthy diets, and nutrition policy. This includes substantial experience in the Nova food classification system and its identification of ultra-processed foods, dietary patterns research using complex datasets (e.g. national surveys, cohort studies), developing methodologies to incorporate food processing on health and sustainability assessments, and policy analysis.

She was able to attract >$1.5M in fellowships and grants, including an Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Fellowship (2021-23), succesful in a Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA), and led (CIA) a 2023 Heart Foundation Vanguard Grant. She was awarded a 2024 NHMRC Investigator Grant Emerging Leadership Fellowship to address the burden of chronic diseases attributable to ultra-processed foods in Australia (2025-29).

Dr Machado has supervised 4 Masters and 1 PhD student to completion, and currently supervises 4 PhD candidates, and 1 postdoctoral fellow.

The post Sat, 22nd, Nov, 2025: Dr Priscila Machado, Fellow, the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN) at Deakin University; What’s driving the Problem of Ultra Processed Foods & How Do We Fix It? appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

River Nile School is an Independent Senior Secondary School supporting young women aged 15–24 from refugee and refugee-like backgrounds, supporting them to learn, grow and belong through inclusive education, wellbeing and real-world opportunities.

River Nile School is a vibrant, multicultural community and welcome zone, full of hope and transformation. They celebrate diversity, amplify young refugee voices and help every young person to their strengths, purpose and place in the world.

https://www.rivernileschool.vic.edu.au/

The post Sat, 22nd, Nov, 2025: Francine Scully, River Nile School, Community Winner, Melbourne Awards, 2025 appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Puglisi began his media career in 2019, founding what was then initially known as HMV Local News but rebranded in 2020 as 6 News. Puglisi first came to attention in 2020 when he covered the secretive demolition of a bell tower at Hawthorn West Primary School in Hawthorn, Victoria

He has been the subject of a number of conspiracy theories, including that he was a “front” for the Morrison Government and that he was being funded by Rupert Murdoch. In 2025, Puglisi was nominated Victoria Young Australian of the Year.

The post Sat, 22nd, Nov, 2025: Leo Puglisi, Founder, 6 News Australia; Liberal Leadership Changes and the Rise of One Nation in the Polls. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Vicki Ward, as the Victorian Minister for Equality, was involved in the passing of an updated anti-vilification law in 2025. Key aspects of the update include making it easier for police to charge those who make hateful speech, lowering the threshold for criminal charges, and providing greater protection for the LGBTQIA+ community and people with a disability. The legislation removed a contentious defence for genuine political purposes after community concerns that it could be misused. 

The post Sat, 22nd, Nov, 2025: Vicki Ward, MP Eltham, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Natural Disaster Recovery, Minister for Equality; Affirming Your Identity Is Now Free In Victoria appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Victoria has become the first state in Australia to make it free for trans and gender diverse people to update their gender on their birth certificate following regulation changes made by the Allan Labor Government.

Minister for Government Services Natalie Hutchins today announced updates to the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act (Fees) Regulations 2019 – making it free to update a record of sex on a birth certificate.

Previously, trans Victorians paid $140.40 to be issued a new birth certificate while people born outside Victoria paid $122 for a recognised details certificate. These fees have now been abolished.

In line with existing fee waiver policy, applications to change a name at the same time as a record of sex change will also be free, and certificate postage within Australia will be waived.

Birth certificates are an important identity document used when enrolling for study, opening bank accounts, applying for a drivers licence or passport, or accessing government services – yet only one third of trans and gender Victorians currently hold identity documents that reflect who they are.

By making it free, the Government is making sure cost is never a barrier to a person having an identity document that reflects who they are.

Following changes to the law in 2020, Victorians do not need to undergo surgery to change the sex recorded on their birth certificate.

The announcement follows Trans Awareness Week and Trans Day of Remembrance, acknowledging the achievements and challenges facing trans and gender diverse Australians.

For more information about how to change a record of sex, visit bdm.vic.gov.au/change-record-sex.

The post Sat, 22nd, Nov, 2025: Nina Taylor, ALP, MP for Albert Park, Affirming Your Identity Is Now Free In Victoria appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post Sat, 22nd, Nov, 2025: Weekly Wrap Up with Nevena and Macca appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Paula, a Professor in the Monash Law Faculty and an internationally renowned scholar with expertise in international human rights law generally, with a particular focus on children’s rights and LGBTI rights. She developed the website antigaylaws.org to provide reliable and accurate information about the laws used to persecute LGBTI individuals around the world. As Founding Director of the Kaleidoscope Australia Human Rights Foundation, she is committed to fighting for equality and dignity for LGBTI persons in countries on our doorstep. There are still 20 Asia-Pacific countries where it is a crime to be gay, and Kaleidoscope works with local activists to change this.

The post Sat, 15th Nov, 2025: Prof. Paula Gerber, Monash Law, Her New Book: ‘Sex, Gender & Identity: Trans Rights in Australia’. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The Hon. Peter Khalil MP is the Assistant Minister for Defence and the Federal Member for Wills.

Peter was first elected to the House of Representatives for Wills, Victoria in 2016.

Previously, Peter was the Special Envoy for Social Cohesion from July 2024 to May 2025, Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security from September 2022 to October 2024, and has held numerous committee positions.

Peter is a second generation Australian. His parents migrated from Egypt to Melbourne for a better life. He grew up in public housing and played AFL and tennis semi-professionally after leaving school. Peter went on to study a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Law at the University of Melbourne and a Master of Laws at Australian National University.

Prior to entering Parliament Peter was the Executive Director of Corporate Affairs, Strategy and Communications at SBS and a Victorian Multicultural Commissioner. He also has served as a foreign policy and national security adviser to former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. He has also worked as a public servant at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Department of Defence.

The post Sat, 15th Nov, 2025: Peter Khalil, – MP for Wills & Asst Min. for Defence; State and Federal Politics Update; Australia-Indonesia Security Treaty appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post Sat, 15th Nov, 2025: Misha Ketchell, Editor-in-Chief, The Conversation, Media and Politics Update appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post Sat, 8th Nov, 2025: Kathleen Maltzahn, CEO Sexual Assault Services Victoria, New initiative Putting Survivors, Centre of Policy. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

https://theweek.com/world-news/rob-jetten-netherlands-prime-minister

The post Sat, 8th Nov, 2025: Rob Roelofs on Rob Jetten, The Netherlands First Openly Gay Prime Minister appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Since completing General Practice training in 2020 he has also commenced further training in HIV medicine, and Sexual Health for all individuals.

Clinical interests include: General preventive medicine, Chronic disease management, Sexual Health, and Mental health.

Varun talks to Macca and Kenny about New medication for prep that is a 6-monthly injection,  and how the bulk-billing issue is playing out.

Richard Keane is CEO of Living Positive Victoria, a community-based organization representing people living with HIV. He has worked in health promotion and community development for decades and is a leader in challenging stigma, advocating for health equity, and empowering people living with HIV through lived experience.

Richard joined Macca, Kenny and Varun live in the studio as they discuss world AIDS day + multicultural engagement strategy being launched on Monday 24 Nov.

The post Sat, 8th Nov, 2025: Dr Varun Kommidi, GP – Prahran Market Clinic; Richard Keane, CEO, Living Positive, PREP, World AIDS Day. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Before entering Parliament, James worked in both the private sector and the public sector. In the private sector, as a Group Company Secretary in the financial services industry. In the public sector, at the highest levels of State and Federal Government.   James has completed three university degrees, including a post graduate level law degree, a Juris Doctor, and a Masters Degree in Business Law.

The post Sat, 8th Nov, 2025: James Newbury, MP Brighton & Shadow / Att Gen / Min Equality / Anti Corruption appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The Fair Work Amendment (Baby Priya’s) Bill 2025, was passed on Monday, 3^rd November, 2025 in  Federal Parliament, ensuring employer-funded paid parental leave protections are now enshrined in legislation for grieving parents experiencing the stillbirth or death of a child.

The amendment introduces a new principle into the Fair Work Act that unless employers and employees have expressly agreed otherwise, employer-funded paid parental leave must not be cancelled because a child is stillborn or dies.

This brings it in line with government-funded paid parental leave and unpaid parental leave.

The amendment upholds the ability of employers and employees to negotiate and agree terms and conditions which deal with the stillbirth or death of a child.

This Bill is named after Baby Priya who died when she was just 6 weeks old.

After informing her employer that her child had passed away, Priya’s mum was faced with grieving the loss of her child at the same time as having her parental leave cancelled and negotiating with her employer about an unplanned and unexpected return to work.

Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Amanda Rishworth said she wanted to pay heartfelt tribute to Baby Priya’s parents and family, whose courageous advocacy had helped ensure that no other family would have to endure what they went through.

“Their strength and determination have driven meaningful change and with Baby Priya’s Bill passing Parliament we can provide certainty for grieving parents and safeguard their financial security,” Minister Rishworth said.

The post Sat, 8th Nov, 2025: Josh Burns, MP McNamara, Baby Priya’s Bill Passes Senate, Federal Parliament Update appeared first on Saturday Magazine.