Saturday Magazine

Macca and Nevena are joined live in the studio by Frances Atkinson, an avid reader, freelance writer, book reviewer (The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald) and works as a Media Adviser.  

The post Sat, 20th, Sept, 2025: Frances Atkinson, Book Reviews, Journalist, Critic & Cultural Commentator appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Nevena talk to Konrad Benjamin, Podcaster, Punter’s Politics, the 58th Commonwealth Parliament, Winter Ball, and what it’s like being a Political Punter

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.

It compared Australia’s Petroluem Resource Rent Tax forecast for the 2022-23 financial year ($2.6 billion) to that of Qatar’s energy export tax expectations that year ($76b) and Norway’s take ($133.8b) in the year to December 2023, despite Australia being among the world’s biggest natural gas exporters.

The reel quickly went viral and amassed two million views on Instagram until it was removed by the platform with little explanation.

Konrad reposted it and says it has now been seen five million times on YouTube and other platforms.

He has since uploaded dozens of reels targeting everything from the Australian Taxation Office to the Australian Passport Office, offshore investment in property during a housing crisis, and the country’s private healthcare model.

“I’m presenting what I think to be the important politics, what politics ought to be,” Konrad said.

“We all agree on 80 per cent of stuff, but we’re fed the 20 per cent of division, the culture war rubbish that corporations want us talking about.

“Because as long as we’re doing that, we’re distracted from the things and the issues that everyone agrees on that would massively change our lives.”

If Konrad’s rapid growth in followers — who he says are mostly “tradies and millennials” — is anything to go by, a lot of people feel the same way.

In less than 12 months he has amassed about 330,000 followers on Instagram, set up a website and a podcast that has been joined by several politicians, and has “patreons” backing him financially.

He has also raised more than $80,000 to erect billboards across the country ahead of the federal election — a move that is sure to cause a few headaches for all sides of government — as he continues to highlight Australia’s comparatively small gas royalties.

The post Sat, 20th, Sept, 2025: Konrad Benjamin, Podcaster, Punter’s Politics, the 58th Commonwealth Parliament, Winter Ball, and what it’s like being a Political Punter appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Nevena are joined live on air by Peter Khalil, MP Wills – Asst Min for Defence, Pacific Relationship, Parliament Update as they discuss Trunp, Palestine and so much more.

The post Sat, 20th, Sept, 2025: Peter Khalil, MP Wills – Asst Min for Defence, Pacific Relationship, Parliament Update appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Nevena, Macca, Paul and Stephen are joined live in the studio by Tom Ballard.

Thomas Colin Ballard is an Australian comedian, broadcaster, actor, and writer. Starting out in radio, he became known as a Triple J host, along with his friend Alex Dyson, over seven years with the station

The post Sat, 20th, Sept, 2025: Tom Ballard, Stand Up Comedian, TV & Radio Personality: HIS New Play: jks: a comedy(?) 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; as they discuss new legislation on family, domestic & sexual violence in LGBTQIA+ relationships protections.

The post Sat, 20th Sept, 2025: Ged Kearney, MP Cooper, Asst Min for Prevention of Family Violence & Asst Min Social Services appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Nevena talk to Vicki Ward, MP Eltham and Minister for Equality: Update Anti-Vilification Laws

The Allan Labor Government is backing a new helpline to support LGBTIQA+ Victorians targeted by homophobic violence.

In August, Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Equality Vicki Ward  announced the new service will be delivered by Switchboard Victoria through its Rainbow Door helpline, providing free and confidential support from trained LGBTIQA+ professionals.

The service will give people with clear advice on their rights, how to report incidents to police, and connect them with medical, legal and counselling services – all in a safe environment.

It follows a series of recent assaults where perpetrators used dating apps to target the LGBTIQA+ communities, particularly men.

The Labor Government’s Anti-Hate Taskforce will also hear directly from LGBTIQA+ Victorians about the violent attacks in its next meeting – because everyone deserves to feel safe, respected and represented as we work together to reject hate in all its forms.

All Rainbow Door staff are trained in trauma-informed practice, ensuring survivors are supported with compassion and dignity, perpetrators are held to account, and individuals are empowered with knowledge and choice.

Switchboard has worked with Thorne Harbour Health, Q+Law, Victoria Police and other community partners to build a strong support network. Referral options will also include the Victims Support Agency and sexual assault services.

The post Saturday, 20th September, 2025: Vicki Ward, MP Eltham and Minister for Equality: Update Anti-Vilification Laws appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Nevena and Macca are joined by Lydia Jupp from the Star Observer as they discuss footage of fracking sites in background of RuPaul’s DJ sets this  week, reignites criticism of drag star’s environmental practices.

A decade ago, no one would have associated the world’s most famous drag queen with the toxic extraction technique, but ever since he revealed he and his husband were “leasing mineral rights to oil companies” on their massive Wyoming ranch in a 2020 appearance on NPR’s Fresh Air (ironic), “RuPaul fracks” has become a commonplace meme in queer culture.

Uploaded to TikTok, the video shows Ru DJing at Montreal’s Parc Jean-Drapeau on Saturday, with footage of what appears to be an oil-exploration site as his set’s background.

https://www.starobserver.com.au/artsentertainment/rupaul-appears-to-use-fracking-footage-in-background-of-dj-set/238701

The post Sat, 20th Sept, 2025: Lydia Jupp: Star Observer: Controversy with Ru Paul’s DJ set as Fracking Takes Places In The Background appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

This week Nevena and Macca are in the hosting chairs as they discuss the week that was in news, world affairs and politics.

Nevena and Macca discuss everything from Censorship, Trump, recognizing Palestine and so much more.

The post Saturday, 20th September, 2025: Weekly Wrap Up with Nevena and Macca appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Fiona are joined live on air by Andrew Staite CEO Pinnacle Foundation, as they discuss the 2025/26 Fellowship.

Andrew is managing director & chief executive officer of The Pinnacle Foundation. He is also non-executive chair of executive search and outplacement firm, SHK.

The post Saturday, 13th Sept, 2025: Andrew Staite – Pinnacle Foundation-LGBTIQA Mentorships. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Fiona and Macca talk to Not Drowning, Waving’s David Bridie.

The first time David Bridie left Australia was to travel to Papua New Guinea.

This trip, taken in 1986, when Bridie was in his early 20s, marked the beginning of a lifelong connection to the island nation and its music.

By this time, Bridie, the leader of Not Drowning, Waving, was already established on the Australian music scene. But his friendship with Papua New Guinean musician George Telek (aka Telek) would become career-defining.

Bridie and Telek’s bond laid the groundwork for Not Drowning, Waving’s fifth album, Tabaran, which is now 35 years old. Tabaran features prominent contributions from not just Telek but various other musicians who frequented the Pacific Gold Studios in Rabaul, including Pius Wasi and Emmanuel and Ben Hakalitz.

These musicians will all join Bridie and the rest of Not Drowning, Waving to celebrate the album’s 35th birthday, as well as the 50th anniversary of Papua New Guinea’s independence, at Melbourne Recital Centre on Saturday 20 September.

The post Saturday, 13th, Sept. 2025: David Bridie-50 Years of Papua New Guinea-Independence; Not Drowning, Waving. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.