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.

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.

The post Sat, 11th, Oct, 2025: Gabriel Shipton, Founder & Chair, The Information Rights Project; Freedom of the Press appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post Saturday 27th Sept, 2025: Weekly Wrap Up with Steve, Macca, Paul and Kenny appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Nevena and John talk to  Mahmood Fazal,  a Walkley Award–winning journalist focusing on crime, violence, imprisonment and terrorism, about his most recent Four Corners about; Sovereign Citizen’s Law Court

He is currently working at Four Corners and was previously as an investigative reporter for ABC RN’s Background Briefing.

Before joining the ABC, he worked for VICE as a senior staff writer and host of the series, Violent Times.

Mahmood is the writer of the Audible Original podcast No Gangsters In Paradise. His reporting has appeared in The Guardian, Rolling Stone, Sydney Morning Herald, The Monthly and The Saturday Paper.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-27/sovereign-citizen-movement-potential-violence-risk-four-corners/105701810

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-18/sovereign-citizen-movement-law-court-four-corners/105655100

The post Saturday, 30th August, 2025: Mahmood Fazal, Walkley Award–Winning Journalist Focus on Crime, Violence, Imprisonment, Terrorism; Sovereign Citizen’s Law Court 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 statewide 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.

https://www.vic.gov.au/victorian-commissioner-lgbtiqa-communities

The post Saturday, 23rd August. 2025: Joe Ball; Commissioner for LGBTIQA+ Communities (Victoria); Indigenous Treaty, Rise of Neo-Nazis and Racism appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Sandra Powell and Andrew King – collectively known as Sandrew – are Melbourne-based art aficionados who have been collecting local and international street art for more than 15 years. They have amassed the largest collection of street art in Australia, including the most artworks by Banksy in the country. Sandrew is dedicated to championing the underdogs of the art world. You can learn more about them on https://sandrew.com.au/, or follow them on https://www.instagram.com/sandrewmelbs

A ground-breaking exhibition of street art, The Outsiders Melbourne celebrates artists defying the art establishment.

Over the past 15 years, Sandra Powell and Andrew King have amassed the largest collection of street art in Australia, including the largest collection of Banksy artworks in the country. The pair – collectively referred to as ‘Sandrew’ – are renowned for their ongoing support of street art. They have curated exhibitions at home and abroad and are passionate in their advocacy of street art. Open to the public for the first time, The Outsiders Melbourne reveals an insider’s view of fabulous, iconic and rare works from this acclaimed private collection.

The exhibition will open with over 100 works by street artists, including locals Rone, Adnate, Vexta, Kaff-eine, Fintan Magee, Sofles and MEGGS, as well as internationals such as Banksy, Barry McGee, Vhils, Invader, Swoon, Hush, Shepard Fairey, Ron English and ELLE.

Highlights will include an entire room of Banksy artworks, featuring a new work, Firewall, seen for the first time in Australia; Matt Adnate’s Echoes of a Teenage Superstar, his portrait of Silverchair frontman Daniel Johns, a finalist in the 2023 Archibald Prize; a never-before-seen canvas by Rone, titled Red Planet; various works by the world’s most accredited female street artist, Swoon; Shepard Fairey’s portrait His Holiness, the Dalai Lama; Ron English’s masterpiece, Kiss and Make Up; E.L.K’s portrait of Saul Williams, which won Australia’s inaugural Stencil Art Prize; and a magnificent, important painting by Barry McGee, painted circa 1990.

The post Saturday, 2nd August, 2025: Andrew King, The Outsiders Melbourne: Celebrating Artists Defying the Art Establishment appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Nicholas Reece, is an Australian politician and policy activist, currently serving as the 105th Lord Mayor of the City of Melbourne. He is a senior executive at the University of Melbourne and a principal fellow at the Melbourne School of Government.

Nick discusses the recent attacks of Jewish businesses and a local synagogue as well as some members of Melbourne City Council, trying to remove LGBTIQA+ category from the Melbourne awards.

The post Saturday, July 5th, 2025, Nicholas Reece – Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Anti-semitism in Melbourne, Councillors attempt to remove LGBTQIA+, Award Category appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Paul and Macca talk to Aiv Puglielli, Greens for North East Metro, State Government Update-Safe Pill Testing and more.

The post Saturday 21st June, 2025: Aiv Puglielli, Greens MLC for North Eastern Metro-State Government Update. Legal Pill Testing appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

A professional lobbyist and policy advisor, Wayne also plays a wider role in guiding the Smart Energy Council policy and presenting industry submissions.

As manager of Government Relations, Wayne Smith is responsible for policy, advocacy, strategy and campaigning across the organisation.

Wayne has held senior roles in the renewables industry for over a decade, working and consulting for some of Australia’s leading renewable energy companies and industry bodies.

Wayne has been a senior adviser for a number of Federal Shadow Ministers and has previously worked for the Federal and ACT Governments, as well as a number of peak non-government organisations.

The post Saturday, 29th March, 2025, LIES DAMM LIES AND STATISTICS Wayne Smith- Smart Energy Council, LIES DAMM LIES AND STATISTICS appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Van Badham is a Melbourne-based writer, an internationally award-winning theatremaker and one of Australia’s most controversial social commentators. Formerly an academic in dramaturgy and cinema studies, she is currently employed as a weekly political columnist for Guardian Australia and as its Melbourne arts critic. Her work has been published by the UK Guardian, UK Telegraph, Vice Magazine, Australian Cosmopolitan, Fairfax, Daily Life, the Hoopla, Currency Press and Southerly, and she’s published chapters in books by Hardie Grant, Monash Press and UQP as well as a novel for PanMacmillan, Burnt Snow.

As a theatremaker, she is the recipient of three Premiers’ Awards for her stage writing, is a former Literary Manager of the Finborough Theatre, London, Artistic Associate of Malthouse Melbourne and a writer in residence at LAMDA, UK. In Australia, her previous commissioners include the MTC, Malthouse, Griffin, Merrigong, HotHouse, Terrapin and the Tasmanian Theatre Company. Her plays have been staged in professional productions across the UK, USA, Canada, Germany, Austria, Iceland and Switzerland. She was the first Australian playwright selected for New York’s Summer Play Festival. Van has numerous radio writing credits with the BBC.

A committed unionist, feminist, environmentalist and human rights advocate, Van is presently the Chair of Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust, a member of the Victorian State Government’s Women’s Advisory Council and the Vice-President of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, Victoria. She is a 2018 Ambassador for Melbourne’s Human Rights Arts and Film Festival, an advocate of the co-operative movement and active within climate action campaigns for Friends of the Earth, Victoria.

Van holds a BA/BCA (Hons) from the University of Wollongong, and a Masters from the University of Melbourne. Her personal interests include gardening, science fiction and Frankfurt School Marxism. She tweets via @vanbadham.

The post Saturday 11th January, 2025: Van Badham on Elon Musk and the Meta-Verse appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Some of the topics discussed with Misha, New media funding & News Media Bargaining Code announced Thursday. Facebook, Google.

The recent the antisemitic attacks, Josh Burns, Dutton and Albanese. Peter Dutton’s attack on the Aboriginal flag and the Opposition’s Nuclear policy. Rupert Murdock loses court battle over the family trust scandal and Childcare reform.

The post Saturday, 14th, December, 2024: Misha Ketchell, Editor The Conversation, News Media Bargaining Code, Rupert Murdoch, etc. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The Albanese government has named Jewish lawyer and businesswoman Jillian Segal as the county’s first antisemitism special envoy. The appointment was made in response to rising incidents of violence against Jewish people against the backdrop of the Gaza war. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government would also soon appoint an Islamophobia special envoy.

Antisemitism special envoys are not an invention of the Albanese government. They exist in many countries, including Canada, the United States and Germany.

In Australia, the antisemitism envoy’s responsibilities will likely include recommending stronger anti-vilification laws and better reporting of hate crimes. This will also likely include better support for hate crime victims, leading education and advocacy activities to combat anti-Jewish sentiment, and attending international conferences to discuss antisemitism with other global envoys. The envoy will report directly to the prime minister and the minister for immigration, citizenship and multicultural affairs.

https://theconversation.com/australia-has-its-first-antisemitism-special-envoy-with-an-islamophobia-special-envoy-to-follow-what-will-this-mean-234359

The post Saturday 13th, July, 2024: Matteo Vergani. Associate Prof, Deakin University; Antisemitism Special Envoy appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The first-time senator became the first federal Labor politician to cross the floor in 18 years;

The post Saturday, 29th June, 2024: Alex McKinnon, journalist, on ALP Senator Fatima Payman, Crossing the Floor over Palestine. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post Saturday, 8th June, 2024: Josh Burns, MP for MacNamara; New Legislation to tackle Anti-semetisim and Islamophobia, Federal Government Update appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/death-to-palestine-islamophobic-graffiti-sprayed-in-woman-s-driveway-referred-to-police-20240608-p5jk8i.html?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0ybbUhQuVcBCmAQMaVxlu5rdMgEY9MC4REezS5VyJdHUvGvo0gp_GApoI_aem_AUeKOIWM8PcPi6Fr_1iMRrizIxfVVT-xmwIu12NOVTZ4iglLjQ5dGORxHxOh6Fjq6nxJGqOagIDfajvSi3T-lBFd

The post Saturday, 8th June, 2024: Ingrid Stitt MP, Minister for Mental Health and Multicultural Affairs; Mental Health priorities in State Budget and New Legislation targeting Anti-Semetism and Islamophobia appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post Saturday 4th May, 2024: Josh Burns, Member for McNamara, Domestic Violence and Online Hate. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Paul are joined live on air by Dan Holmes, journalist, The Mandarin, Elon Musk Vs the eSafety Commission is a bizarre and interesting story

“Australia’s eSafety commissioner has obtained a Federal Court injunction to force the removal of harmful content from X, formerly known as Twitter.

The notice required X to take all reasonable steps to ensure the removal of the extremely violent video content of the alleged terrorist act at Wakeley in Sydney on April 15.

The commissioner issued a removal notice for video and images of the attack on April 16. X 0wner and noted “free speech absolutist” Elon Musk responded to these requests by calling the esafety commissioner the “Australian Censorship Commissar”, and refusing to make any changes”.

For full length article:

https://www.themandarin.com.au/244739-elon-musk-mocks-esafety-commissioners-takedown-orders/

Photo courtesy of https://www.themandarin.com.au/

The post Saturday, 27th April, 2024: Dan Holmes, journalist, The Mandarin, Elon Musk Vs the eSafety Commission appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post Saturday 20th, April, 2024: Weekly Wrap Up with Macca and Paul Horwell appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post Saturday, March 9th, 2024: Misha Ketchell, The Editor, The Conversation:Meta (Facebook) VS Australian Media appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post Saturday, 17th February, 2024: Anna Brown, CEO, Equality Australia, Recent court case involving Aboriginal baby shows urgent need for LGBTIQ+ reforms in NSW appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Zoe talks to Macca about going to see Taylor Swift, Doxing, personal daya, Parliamentary behaviour and so much more.

The post Saturday, 17th February, 2024: Zoe Daniel MP, Independent, Member for Goldstein appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

A recent study titled “Revisiting the Harm of Hate: A Quasi-Experimental Approach Using the National Crime Victimization Survey” delves into the longstanding question: Do hate crimes inflict more harm than other types of crimes? Utilising data from the National Crime Victimization Survey (2010–2020), the research employs advanced statistical methods, including propensity scores and inverse-probability weighting, to explore this issue.

While previous studies have indicated that victims of hate crimes often suffer greater physical and emotional harm than victims of non-biased crimes, these findings have been inconsistent, influenced by various factors like the characteristics of victims and offenders, the motivation for the crime, and the circumstances of the crime itself. This study aims to address these disparities and provide a more nuanced understanding of the impact of hate crimes.

The post Saturday, February 3rd, 2024: Matteo Vergani PhD Asso. Prof. Deakin Uni. Impact of Hate Crimes on Victims appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The two girls – described as “like sisters” – were found dead on the side of the Mitchell highway, next to a crashed ute, in the early hours of December 6, 1987.

White man Ian Alexander Grant, who is deceased but was 40 at the time, was found with his arm draped across the body of Cindy, who was bare chested and partially naked.

He was subsequently found not guilty of drink driving causing death by an all-white jury in 1990, with a further charge of interfering with a corpse being dropped on the eve of the trial.

13YARN 13 92 76

Aboriginal Counselling Services 0410 539 905

https://nit.com.au/28-11-2023/8803/coronial-inquest-opens-into-the-1987-deaths-of-indigenous-cousins-mona-lisa-smith-and-jacinta-cindy-smith

The post Saturday 13th January, 2024, Dechlan Brennan, Coronial inquest opens into the 1987 deaths of Indigenous cousins Mona Lisa Smith and Jacinta ‘Cindy’ Smith appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post Saturday, 23rd, December, 2023: Minister Steve Dimopoulos, Member for Oakleigh appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Please read the article here: https://www.crikey.com.au/2023/12/06/neo-nazis-ballarat-march-nationalist-socialist-network/

The post Saturday 16th, December, 2023: Cam Wilson, Associate Editor Crikey: Neo-Nazis and Online Extremism appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

He is also involved with the LGBTIQ+ Expert Advisory Group in Youth Justice (LEAG) and LGBTIQA+ Health and Wellbeing Expert Advisory Group. He has over 20 years of experience delivering projects across programs of work for critical communities, while delivering results tailored to the needs of multicultural and multi-faith communities. Alexander has extensive experience in community organisation leadership and strategies planning, change management and communication, research, analysis, and education-related activities. Alexander is passionate about multicultural and multi-faith LGBTIQ communities’ health and safety, and advocates for the rights of the community to ensure that their value and beliefs are respected.

The post Saturday 16th December, 2023: Alexander Teh, President – Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council (AGMC) appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Photo courtesy: https://theconversation.com/

The post Saturday, 2nd, December, 2023: Dr Graham Willett: Queer Archivist: 30 Years of Joy. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

AGUDA, the Association for LGBTQ Equality in Israel;  a national grassroots, volunteer-based, nonprofit human-rights organisation. They promote and advance new initiatives and cultivate leadership and partnership within all sectors in the community.

The Aguda strives for full equality for LGBTQ people and aspires to create a public climate of acceptance and respect towards the community.

If this discussion has caused you any issue or has been triggering please check out our external support services:

FIND SUPPORT

Photo courtesy of Hila Peer

The post Saturday, 11th November, 2023, Hila Peer- President of AGUDA, The Association for LGBTQ Equality in Israel, Tel Aviv appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Some of the questions raised in this conversation:

                                                          Voice response
Indigenous groups who supported the Voice campaign ended their week of
silence, accusing Australians who voted “No” of committing “a shameful act
whether knowingly or not, and there is nothing positive to be interpreted
from it”.

● In an open letter to the prime minister issued on Sunday evening, the groups said “that people who came to our country in only the last 235
years would reject the recognition of this continent’s First Peoples — on our sacred land which we have cared for and nurtured for more
than 65,000 years — is so appalling and mean-spirited as to be utterly unbelievable”

● The letter attributed the historic referendum loss to a lack of bipartisan support, as well as “lies in political advertisement and
communication” and racism

● “The proposal was tracking 60% support compared to 40% opposition for several years until the National and Liberal parties
preferred wanton political damage over support for some of this country’s most disadvantaged people,” the letter added (The
Guardian)

● Some Aboriginal leaders are understood to have distanced themselves from an earlier draft of the statement, circulated among
about 50 Indigenous people and organisations, and did not want their names associated with it (SMH)

● The official statement moderates the criticisms of that draft version, removing sections accusing Indigenous “No” leaders Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, Senator                                                              Kerrynne Liddle and Nyunggai Warren,  Mundine of being “front people for three right-wing organisations”, along with criticism of News Corp (The Age)
● Also removed was praise for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s “gallantry” in defeat as well as criticism for his failure to blame “No”voters
● There was little reflection on where the “Yes” campaign could have done better, amid separate revelations some within Labor thought “it was chaotically organised, its                                                  messaging verbose and imprecise, that it too often appealed to the converted” (The Saturday Paper)
● Leading “Yes” campaigner Thomas Mayo has tried to glean some positives, arguing that “though the referendum failed, the movement
for Indigenous rights and recognition has grown” (The Saturday Paper).

● But results maps very well to the result of the republic referendum in 1999
● Strong correlation between education/wealth and propensity to vote Yes
● Do we need to improve civics education?
● Is meaningful or progressive change possible in our system?

The post Saturday 28th, October, 2023: Josh Burns MP, McNamara and Misha Ketchell, Editor the Conversation. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post Saturday 28th, October, 2023: Misha Ketchell, Editor, The Conversation appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post Saturday 21st, Oct, 2023: Sen. Dean Smith, Shadow. Asst Shadow Min. Competition, Charities and Treasury. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post Saturday, 23rd, Sept, 2023, Anti Neo-Nazi Protest, Grace Hill, National Union of Students appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

https://www.vic.gov.au/lgbtiq-taskforce

Photo courtesy of Linkendin.

The post Saturday, 9th Sept, 2023: Jayde deBondt Pipan, Co-Chair of the Victorian Government’s LGBTIQ+ Taskforce appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post Saturday, 9th, September, 2023: Todd Fernando, Victorian Commissioner for LGBTIQ+ Communities appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

“Homophobic language should be considered and treated as seriously as racial and any other form of vilification. Additionally, social media has become a breeding ground for homophobic language and slander, making it an unsafe space for LGBTIQA+ community members.

Homophobic derogatory language is tragically commonplace in our game. Research reveals a chronic use of homophobic language at all levels of AFL, from junior football to elite tiers, permeating among spectators too:

• 73% of teenage Aussie Rules (amateur AFL) players aged 16 to 20 reported hearing homophobic slurs from teammates in the past month. 
• 43% of adult male VFL and Aussie Rules players admitted to using homophobic slurs with teammates in the past two weeks. 
• 62% of LGBTQ+ fans have witnessed verbal homophobia or transphobia at an AFL game.

The AFL, Clubs, Players Association, Fans Association, State Leagues, and grassroots football clubs need to actually live up to its title as the people’s game by embracing diversity and inclusivity in its fullest capacity. It’s time for the AFL to take a stand against the ostensibly normalized homophobic culture within the sport so Australian Rules football is a safe and inclusively welcoming environment for players, staff, volunteers, and fans.

As a collective of LGBTIQA+ supporter groups, we are calling on the AFL to:

• Implement mandatory diversity and inclusion training in every club for all players, and staff including security, game day staff, and administrators.
• Review and strengthen the current anti-discrimination policies within the league, including strict reprimands for offenders. 
• Actively promote a culture of acceptance and support for equality in the sport, from the grassroots levels up to the elite tiers. 
• An option for AFL clubs to opt-in for their men’s team to participate in a pride game from 2024 onwards once the club and playing group have conducted in-house training and are ready to actively and positively participate, working towards a full pride round of all 18 clubs by no later than 2026″.

https://www.change.org/p/a-call-for-action-to-the-afl-to-eradicate-homophobia-in-australian-rules-football?

The post Saturday 2nd September, 2023: Dion Alexander, AFL: Eradicate Homophobia. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post Saturday 2nd September, Neil Pharoah, Dir. TANCK, Australian Civil Society Update appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post Saturday 10th June 2023: Institutional Racism in Mainstream Australian Media. Prof Bronwyn Carlson & Faith Valencia-Forrester appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The post Saturday 27th May 2023: Stan Grant’s Stand Against Racism, Professor Bronwyn Carlson, Department of Indigenous Studies, Macquarie University appeared first on Saturday Magazine.