Saturday Magazine

Running as an independent in traditionally “safe” seats, local community priorities in Malvern, housing/heritage balance, crime, climate, and integrity in state politics

Small business owner, building designer, and educator. She lives locally in Malvern East.

Zigouras has previously run as a member of Labor and of the Greens for other seats.

Running as an Independent for the seat of Malvern in the Victorian state election. Makes a big deal of saying she is not backed by Climate 200 in the way that Monique Ryan is.

         “Safe seats don’t produce strong representation—they produce political neglect.” She emphasises representing local residents rather than party bosses, caucus, or big business.

Policy Pillars:

Integrity & Transparency: Transparent, honest representation and restoring trust in parliament.

Tough & Smart on Crime: Stronger policing on the beat coupled with evidence-based rehabilitation to address repeat offending.

Housing & Affordability: Expanding housing stock while preserving neighbourhood character.

Malvern has historically been considered a safe Liberal seat held by senior opposition figures, but incumbent and former Liberal leader Michael O’Brien is retiring at the election. Amelia Hamer is running for the Liberals. The rise of community independents in inner-east Melbourne reflects a broader shift among voters seeking alternatives to major party polarisation.

Welcome back to Saturday Magazine on JOY 94.9. Can a community independent turn one of Melbourne’s historically safest electorates into a contested battlefield? Christina Zigouras is a local small business owner, building designer, educator, and Independent candidate for Malvern in the upcoming state election. Christina, welcome to Saturday Magazine

The post Sat, 17th, Oct, 2026: Christina Zigouras , Independent Candidate for Malvern (2026 Victorian State Election) appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Kenny and Macca are joined live on air by Rachel Westaway MP (Member for Prahran, Shadow Assistant Minister for Tourism, Hospitality & Major Events, and Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition [Metropolitan])

Strongly advocating for increased police presence and Protective Services Officers (PSOs) at transport hubs (such as Prahran, South Yarra, and Windsor stations) and along key retail/nightlife corridors like Chapel Street and Greville Street to address local crime and anti-social behavior concerns.

Youth Mental Health: Champions the Coalition’s policy initiative to establish a specialised Youth Mental Health Centre of Excellence in Victoria, targeting early intervention and dedicated crisis support for young people.

Suggested On-Air Introductions

Option 1: Comprehensive & Story-Led (30 Seconds)

“Welcome back to Saturday Magazine on JOY 94.9. Representing one of Melbourne’s most vibrant and diverse inner-city seats, Rachel Westaway is the Liberal Member for Prahran and Shadow Assistant Minister for Tourism, Hospitality and Major Events. Today, she joins us to discuss local community safety, calls for increased police and PSO presence along Chapel Street, the Coalition’s proposed Youth Mental Health Centre of Excellence, and what local small businesses need right now. Rachel, welcome to Saturday Magazine!”

The post Sat, 17th, Oct, 2026: Rachel Westaway, Lib Prahran, Shadow Asst Min Small Business + Hospitality appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Kenny are joined live on air by Joe Ball (he/him), Victorian Commissioner for LGBTIQA+ Communities.

Joe is currently the  Victorian Commissioner for LGBTIQA+ Communities. He is a proud transgender man and long-time community advocate, previously serving as CEO of Switchboard Victoria.

Advocates for the rights and needs of LGBTIQA+ Victorians across state government policy, programs, and community services. A central priority of his office is delivering outcomes under Victoria’s Pride in Our Future strategy statewide.

Core Philosophy: Deeply grounded in grassroots activism, lived experience, and making sure regional and rural queer communities receive equal support, safety, and visibility.

Focus: The “Our United Future” Regional Town Hall Tour

Joe, has been  been travelling across regional Victoria and connecting with local communities.  And they discussed  some of the key things they’re hearing from LGBTIQA+ Victorians outside Melbourne right now, and and what’s happening in the regional areas…

The post Sat, 17th, Oct, 2026: Joe Ball (he/him), Victorian Commissioner for LGBTIQA+ Communities appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The shifting landscape for political independents, lessons from the 1997 turning point, and grassroots community energy today.

Susan Won the seat of Gippsland West as a progressive Independent in a historic 1997 by-election, interrupting Jeff Kennett’s formidable coalition government. She was re-elected in 1999 and held the balance of power alongside fellow country independents Craig Ingram and Russell Savage. Architect of Stability: Davies initiated and led the drafting of the historic Charter that governed how the independents supported the Steve Bracks minority Labor government, ensuring a stable, transparent parliament.

Founded the Bass Coast Community Foundation and the Energy Innovation Co-operative in South Gippsland/Bass Coast. She continues to work on local energy and local food security (Grow Lightly) while running a 24-hectare sustainable farm in Outtrim.

Working on a memoir documenting this critical era in Victorian political history.

The post Sat, 17th, Oct, 2026: Susan Davies, Former Independent MP for Gippsland West (1997–2002) & Regional Community Advocate appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Dr. Ryan recently led calls against proposed government cuts to private health insurance rebates affecting older Australians, commissioning Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) analysis showing that rebate reductions would hit low-income pensioners hardest.

Everyone apart from the government hates this bill. The Senate rejected it on Wednesday, health minister Mark Butler is reintroducing it unchanged, saying the Senate didn’t consider it.

Acknowledges the system needs structural reform (“paying more for less each year”), but strongly opposes funding state or federal savings on the backs of vulnerable retirees.

Welcome back to Saturday Magazine on JOY 94.9. Dr. Monique Ryan is the Independent Federal Member for Kooyong and a key member of the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters. Today, she joins us to discuss her campaign to protect older Australians from private health insurance rebate cuts, as well as the JSCEM inquiry examining electoral integrity, campaign finance, and third-party influence in our elections. Dr. Monique Ryan, welcome back to JOY 94.9!

The post Sat, 17th, Oct, 2026: Dr. Monique Ryan MP,Independent Federal Member for Kooyong appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Kenny are in the hosting seats this big week

Editor and Executive Director of The Conversation Australia and New Zealand, an independent, non-profit news and analysis outlet where academic experts write directly for the public.

An exploration of AI voice technology and audiobooks. As synthetic, AI-generated voices become routine, researchers are analysing why listeners feel alienated when conversational disfluencies (breath pauses, hesitations, natural variations in speech) are removed.

The Story: Research examining how AI-generated deepfakes and synthetic political content are already influencing voters ahead of the Victorian state election. Which demographics are most vulnerable to synthetic media deception, and how can voters spot misinformation in state campaigns?

Analysis by housing researchers putting recent rate hikes, tax reform debates, and property price slides into national perspective—examining whether Australia’s housing market is actually stabilizing or facing deeper structural hurdles.

“What Might Turning Off the Algorithm Look Like? Chinese Social Media Provides Some Hints”

Analysis by University of Melbourne researchers (Fan Yang, Luke Heemsbergen, and Robbie Fordyce) examining WeChat in China—a platform that has operated an algorithm-free, subscription-first feed model for over a decade. As the Australian government introduces its Digital Duty of Care legislation allowing users to switch off algorithmic recommendations, this research reveals that turning off algorithms doesn’t automatically create a digital utopia. Instead, content creators adapt by flooding feeds with rapid, AI-generated clickbait during peak “golden hours” to stay visible.

Welcome back to Saturday Magazine on JOY 94.9. Joining us now to break down the week’s big research-backed stories is Misha Ketchell, Editor of The Conversation. Today we’re looking at what happens to human communication as AI voices start talking back, the impact of deepfakes on Victorian voters, and putting Australia’s housing market in perspective. Misha, welcome back to JOY 94.9!

The post Sat, 17th, Oct, 2026: Misha Ketchell, Editor & Executive Director, The Conversation, Politics Update appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Paul are joined live on air by Annitta Macauley,  who is the Social Support, Events & Diversity Manager at Lifeview.

Before Lifeview, Annitta worked in disability for 18-years. She started at Lifeview as a Social Support Assistant and then was promoted to Social Support Coordinator.

In 2019, she became the Social Support and Events Manager. Annitta has a Diploma in Business Administration, a Diploma in Leadership and Management, is a qualified grief counsellor and has a Certificate III and IV in aged care with a major in lifestyle.

Her areas of speciality are grief, lifestyle, music and arts. Annitta is passionate about finding meaningful activities for residents.

Her hobbies include arts and crafts, spending time with family, friends and her puppy, as well as music. Her favourite thing is to hear the residents singing along to music!

The post Sat,10th, Oct, 2026: Annitta Macauley; Social Support and Events Manager, Life View appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Paul and Macca are joined live on air and in the studio by Adam Brackman, VPC Volunteer Program, Volunteering at the VPC

Adam is a seasoned executive consultant with a wealth of experience in IT solutions and transformational change programs, having worked across both the government and private sectors in the US, Singapore and Australia. With a career spanning several decades, Adam has been instrumental in driving innovation and efficiency in various organizations.

Having semi-retired from his professional endeavors, Adam has now chosen to focus on his background in volunteer program management. His commitment to social causes has shaped his perspective and approach, enabling him to lead impactful initiatives that foster community resilience and support. Adam’s work in various volunteer roles showcases his passion for making a difference and his ability to inspire others to contribute to meaningful change.

Having joined the VPC in April of 2024 as a volunteer, Adam continues to advocate for causes close to his heart, leveraging his extensive experience to mentor others and support community programs and is the Interim Concierge and Volunteer Program Coordinator at the VPC.

The post Sat, 10th, Oct, 2026: Adam Brackman, VPC Volunteer Program, Volunteering at the VPC; Concierge & Volunteer Coordinator appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Paul and Macca are joined live on air by The Hon Peter Khalil MP is the Federal Member for Wills and the Assistant Minister for Defence. First elected in 2016 and representing the Australian Labor Party, his electorate includes northern Melbourne suburbs like Brunswick, Coburg, and Pascoe Vale.

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, 10th, Oct, 2026: Peter Khalil – MP for Wills & Asst Min. for Defence appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Paul  and Macca are joined live on air byJames Newbury, MP Brighton & Shadow / Att Gen / Min Equality / Anti Corruption; as they discuss Vicarious Liability Legislation, Net Zero, Sussan Ley, Melbourne Crime and State deficit Shortfall.

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.

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