Saturday Magazine

Macca, Paul and Nevena are joined live on air, at South Melbourne Market by legend of Australian stage and screen, Todd McKenny.

Todd is an Australian dancer, theatre performer and TV personality. He is best known as a judge on the Australian television talent show Dancing with the Stars. As a theatre performer, he has appeared in numerous productions, notably singer Peter Allen in the theatre production. The Boy from Oz.

Todd has recently just completed a tour of the West End classic production of Cats.

Todd with his daughter Charlotte.

Photos courtesy of Betty Sujecki

The post Radiothon 2026; Sat, 13th June, Todd McKenny, Australian Theatre Legend, Outside Broadcast: Sth Melb. Market appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Nevena, Macca and Paul are joined live on air by Nina Taylor.

Nina Taylor is an Australian politician. She has been a Labor Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly, representing the district of Albert Park since November 2022. She was previously a member of the Victorian Legislative Council between 2018 and 2022, representing the Southern Metropolitan Region.

Before entering Parliament, Nina was a member of the Glen Eira City Council. She had previously worked for the Community and Public Sector Union, completed articles in law at a corporate law firm, and volunteered at the Women’s Legal Service.

Her first jobs were as a schoolteacher and in long-term disease management portfolios in the pharmaceutical industry. She is also multi-lingual with proficiency in French and German.

Red Wolf Photography Aust.

Photos courtesy of Betty Sujecki

The post Radiothon 2026; Sat, 13th June, Nina Taylor-ALP, State Member, Albert Park, Outside Broadcast: Sth Melb. Market. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca, Nevena and Paul are joined live on air from the outside broadcast at South Melbourne Market for Radiothon 2026.

The post Radiothon 2026; Sat, 13th June, Sophie McCarthy Executive Dir. South Melbourne Market. Outside Broadcast: Sth Melb. Market. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The final guest for this week was Sophie Torney, she joined Nevena and Paul live in on-air.

Kew has been Sophie’s home for her and her family for nearly thirty years.

Sophie Torney, former Mayor of Boroondara, current Councillor is an Australian businesswoman, tech entrepreneur, and community independent politician who served as the Mayor of the City of Boroondara (2024–2025). She is prominently known as a community “teal” independent candidate contesting the inner-east Melbourne state seat of Kew, against state Liberal and Opposition leader Jess Wilson.

In November 2024, she was elected by her peers to serve as the Mayor of Boroondara for the 2024–2025 term, completing her leadership role in late 2025. During her mayoral term, she focused heavily on implementing the council’s Climate Action Plan, shifting facilities to all-electric power, and expanding the city’s green spaces and trail networks.

The post Sat, 6th June, 2026: Sophie Torney, Studley Ward Councillor, Fmr Mayor Boroondara, Independent Seat of Kew appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Nevena and Paul are joined live the studio by filmmaker and writer, John Safran as they discuss the re-launching of the Reality TV Show, Race Around the World.

John Safran is a Melbourne writer and filmmaker. His book Puff Piece, exploring Big Tobacco and vaping, was shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards. His debut, Murder in Mississippi, won the Ned Kelly Award for Best True Crime. His latest documentary, Who The Bloody Hell Are We?, looking at the secret history of Australia, was nominated for an Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts award. His first two television series John Safran’s Music Jamboree and John Safran vs God won the Academy’s comedy awards. Squat is his fourth book published by Penguin Random House.

The post Sat, 6th June, 2026: John Safran, Reality TV Show, Race Around the World 2026. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Nevena and Paul are joined live on air by Cameron McTernan, Lecturer & Researcher at Adelaide University; as they discuss the  implications of Gina Rinehart – Australia’s richest person – buying into Southern Cross Austerio

Cameron is a researcher and educator at Adelaide University specialising in social media, political communication and media industries. He is currently an:

Executive Committee member for the Australian and Aotearoa-New Zealand Communication Association

Areas of interest and research include Media Diversity and Pluralism in Australia, Political Communication, Social Media and Streaming Services.

MDIA 2021    Research Methods in Media and Communication

Read his book: Social Media in Society (Palgrave Macmillan)

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2025-1029

The post Sat, 6th June, 2026: Cameron McTernan, Lecturer & Researcher at Adelaide University; Implications of Gina Rinehart – Australia’s richest person – buying into Southern Cross Austerio appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Next, Nevena and Paul are joined live on air by Rohan Best, Assoc Prof – Dept of Economics, Macquarie Business School; as they discuss cost-of-living relief through energy policy and pricing.

Rohan’s research covers economics and finance, including energy economics and household finance. His publications have been in journals such as Energy Economics, Ecological Economics, Environmental and Resource Economics, Energy Policy, Applied Energy, the Energy Journal, the Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, the Economic Record, the Australian Journal of Public Administration, and the Journal of Cleaner Production. He is  interested in policy development to reduce inequality and improve cost-effectiveness, such as through equitable reverse auctions.

The post Sat, 6th June, 2026: Rohan Best, Assoc Prof – Dept of Economics, Macquarie Business School; Cost-of-living relief through energy policy and pricing appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Our next guest is  Bruce Wolpe, Senior Fellow, US Study Centre, Latest from Washington DC; as Bruce, Nevena and Paul discuss the latest news from Washington and Trump’s upto.

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.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that across the United States, parties are choosing their candidates for the midterm elections in November, and there is a shift among Democrats towards more relatable, practical solutions to lure swinging voters turned off by the party’s elitist image at the last general election.

USSC Non-Resident Senior Fellow Bruce Wolpe was quoted in the article on the upcoming midterms and what it could look like for US Democrats.

https://www.ussc.edu.au/the-democrats-taking-the-fight-to-the-republicans

The post Sat, 6th June, 2026: Bruce Wolpe, Senior Fellow, US Study Centre, Latest from Washington DC. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Our next guests on air are friends of the show Georgie Purcell and Josh Burns.

Georgie has recently been in the press for  helping the hamlet of Elphinstone end plans to start a puppy farm in the area.

An application for a proposed dog breeding facility in Elphinstone in Central Victoria has been withdrawn following lobbying from residents and animal activists.

The puppy farm had planned to operate 24 hours a day and house up to 150 dogs including corgis, golden retrievers and Cavalier King Charles spaniels.

The application for the facility, lodged with Mount Alexander Shire Council in April, stated it “mandates scheduled caesarean sections at specialised veterinary clinics”.

Animal Justice MP and Member for Northern Victoria Georgie Purcell said it would have been an “extraordinary” first.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-04/breeder-withdraws-plan-for-controversial-puppy-farm/106753744

Youth Housing

Josh was on air today to discuss the Federal Government’s Youth Housing crisis campaign.

This budget will deliver nearly $60 million over four years to directly address the youth housing penalty, providing thousands of young Australians access secure housing, helping to reduce youth homelessness.

The Federal Government will invest $59.4 million over four years from 2026-27 for community housing providers (CHPs) to help house young people at risk of housing insecurity and homelessness.

The new Youth Housing Supplement will provide funding to community housing providers (CHPs) that house eligible young people receiving Youth Allowance or ABSTUDY.

Funding will help offset the lower rental income associated with housing young people on lower-rate income support payments, making it easier for providers to offer homes to vulnerable young Australians.

The measure is expected to support:

Funding profile ($m)

Why does this matter?

Young people are now among the groups most at risk of homelessness in Australia, with 19 to 24-year-olds experiencing the highest homelessness rate of any age cohort.

At the same time, many young people face a structural barrier accessing community housing.

Most community housing providers charge income-based rents, typically around 25 per cent of a tenant’s income plus Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA. Because Youth Allowance and ABSTUDY are significantly lower than payments such as JobSeeker, the Disability Support Pension and the Age Pension, providers receive substantially less rental income from housing young people.

In some cases, providers receive up to 54 per cent less rental revenue from a young tenant compared with an older tenant on the Age Pension or Disability Support Pension.

Sector organisations have argued this creates a “youth housing penalty” where young people can unintentionally become harder to house within the current funding model, despite often having high levels of vulnerability and support needs.

Young people are now among the groups most at risk of homelessness in Australia:

Housing and homelessness organisations have argued for years that the current system creates a structural disincentive to house young people.

The Youth Housing Supplement directly responds to this issue by helping providers absorb the revenue gap and create more pathways into stable housing.

The Home Time campaign, the measure responds to extensive advocacy from the Home Time campaign, a national alliance supported by more than 170 housing, homelessness and social welfare organisations across Australia.

Home Time has campaigned for reforms that recognise the unique drivers of youth homelessness and create long-term housing pathways for young people, rather than relying solely on crisis accommodation and emergency responses.

The proposal also responds to recommendations from the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee, which identified a youth housing supplement as a targeted way to reduce youth homelessness.

Atlas spent a decade moving in and out of homelessness as a young person.

During that time, he saw many other young people fall through the cracks, including peers who lost their lives while homeless.

He says stable housing can fundamentally change the trajectory of a young person’s life.

“This Youth Housing Supplement is an incredible investment from the federal government into on the ground action that will make it easier for young people to get out of homelessness and find safety.”

“I was in and out of homelessness for 10 years, and in those years, I saw too many people lose their lives. Kids who died on the streets, kids who never truly had a chance to find anything else. Investments like this one will save lives.”

Atlas says the measure gives hope to young people who have become accustomed to falling through the cracks.

“I can’t fully articulate what this supplement means for the young people who are currently experiencing homelessness.”

“This subsidy is just the first step of many in the changes we need to make to create a truly equitable system but for the first time in a long time there is hope.”

“Helping more people into homes is a big focus of this Budget.”

“Right now, it’s too hard for too many Australians to get into their own home and get ahead and that’s why we’re building more homes, fast-tracking approvals, and helping thousands of young people to pay the rent.”

Treasurer Jim Chalmers

“When a young person has a safe place to live, everything else becomes more possible – education, health, and stable employment.”

“This investment is about unlocking safe and secure housing for vulnerable young Australians so they have the solid foundation they need to build strong, secure and independent lives.”

Minister for Social Services Tanya Plibersek

“The fact that young Australians are now among the groups most at risk of homelessness should stop us in our tracks, and that’s why this government is acting.”

“Getting a roof over your head can change the course of a young person’s life, bringing stability, safety and the chance to build a future.”

=Minister for Housing Clare O’Neil

The post Sat, 6th June, 2026: Georgie Purcell, Animal Justice Party: Puppy Farms & Josh Burns, ALP, Macnamara; Youth Homelessness Campaign. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Elizabeth Birch is one of the most influential figures in modern LGBTQ+ rights advocacy in the United States. A lawyer and former Apple executive, she led the Human Rights Campaign from 1995 to 2004, transforming it into America’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organisation and helping bring issues of equality and inclusion into mainstream political and corporate life.

Black Tie Dinner, the largest LGBTQ fund-raising dinner in the Nation, presents an annual award in Birch’s honor called the Elizabeth Birch Equality Award. The award is given annually to an individual, organization, or company that has made a significant contribution of national scope to the LGBTQ community. Elizabeth Birch was the first recipient of the award in 2004, and later returned to the dinner in 2009 to present the award to Judy Shepard.  The Black Tie Dinner is held annually in Dallas, Texas.

When Birch took over, the LGBTQ+ rights movement in America was still fighting for basic workplace protections and public acceptance.

She transformed the Human Rights Campaign from a relatively modest advocacy group into a major political force in Washington. During her tenure:

She is often credited with helping shift LGBTQ+ rights from a niche activist issue into a mainstream civil rights issue discussed by major corporations and politicians.

One of the most fascinating parts of her story is that she worked inside Apple before becoming a full-time activist. She helped push corporate America toward domestic-partner benefits and LGBTQ+ workplace protections, arguing that equality was good for innovation, recruitment and culture.

In 2000, Birch became the first leader of a major LGBTQ+ organisation to address a US national political convention when she spoke at the Democratic National Convention. At the time, that was considered a major breakthrough for LGBTQ+ visibility in American politics.

The post Sat, 6th June, 2026: Elizabeth Birch, famed, American LGBTIQA+ Activist. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.