Saturday Magazine

Nevena and John talk to Michael Nayna, Australian documentary filmmaker, Investigative Journalist; The Millions Behind Australia’s ‘Bottom-Up’ Censorship Bill

Joining us live on air  this morning is Felix Ralph, a leading criminal defence lawyer from law firm Marshall Jovanovska Ralph. As the federal parliament pushes forward with major reforms to the Online Safety Act—including the introduction of a statutory ‘Digital Duty of Care’ for social media platforms—Felix is here to unpack what these legislative shifts mean for corporate liability, digital free expression, and individual rights online. Welcome to JOY, Felix.

The proposal for a “Digital Duty of Care” amends the framework under the Online Safety Act 2021. Rather than relying solely on reactive takedown notices administered...

What is Australia’s favourite Aussie book? Nevena and John discuss the ABC’s 100 Best Aussie Books

https://www.abc.net.au/listen/radionational/countdown/top100books/1-100

The post Sat, 24th, October, 2025: What is Australia’s favourite Aussie book? ABC’s 100 Best Aussie Books. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Nevena Spirovska and John Safran discuss the week that was and what’s coming up in this week’s programme.

The post Sat, 24th, October, 2025: Weekly Wrap Up Nevena Spirovska and John Safran appeared first on 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 re...

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])

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 rur...

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 En...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 P...

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 Bu...

Macca and Paul talk to : David Gibson, Chair GRAI in Perth, Fmr Army Captain, Dismissed for from ADF for his Sexuality.

The Defence Force Discipline Amendment (RCDVS Implementation) Bill 2026, introduced by Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh, will enable eligible Defence personnel convicted solely on the basis of consensual homosexual activity to apply to have those convictions extinguished.

“Chair of GRAI (GLBTI Rights in Ageing Inc), David Gibson, said the introduction of the legislation marks an important milestone in recognising the harm caused by past policies that targeted homosexual service members.

“As a former...

Paul and Macca are joined live on air by Kieran Rooney State politics reporter at the The Age. 2002 Best and Fairest for Padua College Year 6 E-Grade cricket.

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/deal-or-no-deal-how-the-major-parties-are-tackling-the-minority-government-risk-20261010-p6140z.html

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/one-nation-s-promise-to-repair-victoria-s-finances-creates-4-billion-black-hole-20261006-p6138b.html

The post Sat, 10th, Oct, 2026: Kieran Rooney, State Political Reporter, The Age appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Mew data shows Mpox cases are on the rise locally, with 52 cases reported statewide since August 1 alone. While the virus continues to circulate globally, localised findings reveal a dramatic difference in how severely it impacts people based on their vaccination status. Joining us today on Saturday Magazine is Professor Rhonda Stuart, Director of Public Health and Infection Prevention at Monash Health and Director of Monash Health’s South East Public Health Unit. Good morning Rhonda.

Her team has analysed 205 local Mpox cases recorded since 2024 – and they’ve found data proving that vaccination hospital emergency visits—from over 31% in unvac...

Earlier this week, the Australian Greens announced a major shift in their parliamentary leadership, electing Victorian Senator Steph Hodgins-May as the party’s new Federal Deputy Leader alongside leader David Shoebridge. A former environmental lawyer and long-time advocate for progressive reform, Senator Hodgins-May joins us to talk about her vision for the Greens in Canberra. Steph, welcome to JOY 94.9.

Steph Hodgins-May was elected Federal Deputy Leader of the Greens in late September 2026, serving alongside Senator David Shoebridge as Leader.

Core Platform: Hodgins-May says it’s frustrating the party hasn’t been able to capitalise growing anti-e...

Every day in Victoria, more than 20 people suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The difference between life and death often comes down to the actions taken in the first critical minutes before an ambulance arrives. Joining us today is the Chief Executive Officer of Ambulance Victoria, Jordan Emery. We’ll be talking about Shocktober and why bystander CPR saves lives, as well as the steep challenges facing frontline paramedics—from workplace safety and hospital ramping to rebuilding organisational culture and internal trust. Jordan, welcome to Saturday Magazine on JOY 94.9.

“Call, Push, Shock.” Cardiac arrest survival drops by roughly 10% for ever...

Ten years after medicinal cannabis was legalised in Australia, the domestic market has soared past a billion dollars. Yet, a surprising amount of the medicine prescribed to Australian patients is grown overseas, imported under different regulatory standards. Joining us today on Saturday Magazine is former Victorian MP Fiona Patten in her new role as CEO of the Medicinal Cannabis Council Australia. We’ll be discussing the launch of Australia’s very first TAFE qualification in medicinal cannabis cultivation, why domestic growers are fighting an uneven playing field, and what still needs to change for healthcare workers and patients. Fiona, welc...

Ryan Heath, Launch Editor, POLITICO Australia POLITICO’s Australian Expansion, Digital Media Transformation, Australia’s AI & Tech Governance, and LGBTQIA+ Representation in Media

When we last spoke to our next guest in early August, he was getting ready to launch a new media brand in Australia, covering the goings on in Canberra. We’re thrilled to talk again to Ryan Heath, Launch Editor of POLITICO Australia, about POLITICO globally and Australia’s tech and AI policy landscape. Welcome to Joy Ryan!

Topics and Themes discussed with Ryan were:

With portfolio responsibilities spanning equality, workplace safety, road injury compensation, and sport, our next guest holds a pivotal seat in shaping community well-being and inclusion across Victoria. Joining us today on Saturday Magazine is the Minister for Sport, WorkSafe and the TAC, and Minister for Equality, Steve Dimopoulos. Steve, welcome to JOY 94.9.

Advancing Victoria’s LGBTIQA+ Strategy, funding pride events, supporting queer youth, and tackling rising far-right rhetoric, anti-trans harassment, and vilification aimed at community spaces. Highlighting legislative protections, community grants, and structural support for rural and regional LGBTQIA+ networks. WorkSafe Scheme Reform: Modernising WorkSafe to remain fi...

Spring in Melbourne means one thing: the city is about to get louder, weirder, and infinitely more creative. The 2026 Melbourne Fringe Festival kicks off next Tuesday, September 29th, bringing three massive weeks of theatre, cabaret, circus, and comedy across more than a hundred venues.

This year’s theme is ‘Turn Towards the Heat’—a challenge to lean into artistic risk, lean into raw ideas, and step away from safe, cookie-cutter entertainment.

QFWFQ by Gregory Nussen

Winner of ‘Best Solo Show’ and the ‘Sydney Fringe Exchange Award’ at the 2025 Hollywood Fringe, with an additional four nominations...

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed a deeply concerning world-first: an artificial intelligence agent operated by OpenAI autonomously bypassed security measures to gain unauthorised access to Australian government data, including a Medicare statistical portal.

While authorities assure us that no personal medical records were accessed, the idea of an AI bot ‘refusing to take no for an answer’ and breaking into public systems raises massive red flags about cybersecurity and tech accountability.

To break down how this happened and what it means for our digital safety, we’re joined by Professor Nigel Phair from t...

Joining us now on Joy 94.9’s Saturday Magazine is Anna Brown, CEO of Equality Australia.

Every four and a half years, Australia’s human rights record is put under the microscope by the international community at the United Nations in Geneva. Following our latest Universal Periodic Review, member states issued over 300 recommendations to strengthen human rights in Australia—including nine specifically designed to protect LGBTIQ+ people.

However, the Federal Government has formally responded by rejecting every single one of those nine LGBTIQ+ recommendations. LGBTIQ+ Australians were the only marginalised group where not a single recommendation was ac...

Joining us on Joy 94.9’s Saturday Magazine is Chris Maher, co-host of Joy’s flagship footy show, GAYFL.

We’re just a few hours away from the 2026 AFL Grand Final, and the storylines couldn’t be bigger. On one side, we have the Brisbane Lions chasing a rare and historic premiership three-peat. On the other, the Fremantle Dockers, who are hunting their first-ever flag in the club’s history. Add headline acts like Kylie Minogue and G Flip, and it’s set to be an iconic day at the MCG. Chris, welcome to the show.

Pre-Game Ent...

Dr Tim Read, the Victorian Greens MP for Brunswick, has passed away aged 64 after a battle with metastatic melanoma.

Earlier this week, we were saddened to learn of the death of Victorian Greens MP Dr Tim Read at age 64 following a high-profile fight with metastatic cancer. Dr Read served as the Member for Brunswick from 2018 until his passing, bringing a rare combination of scientific rigor, medical expertise, and profound personal integrity to state parliament.

Before entering politics, Dr Read was a general practitioner, a medical researcher specialising in sexual health, and a long-time public health...

 Joining Macca and Paul live on air,  is a true powerhouse in the global movement for equality. A former head of global litigation for Apple, she went on to serve nearly a decade as the Executive Director of the Human Rights Campaign—quadrupling its size and turning it into the United States’ premiere LGBTQIA+ civil rights organization.

She has navigated the highest corridors of corporate and political power to fight for our rights, and today she remains one of America’s sharpest minds on workplace equality, constitutional freedom, and civil rights strategy. Welcome to Saturday Magazine, Elizabeth Birch.<...

Macca and Paul are in the hosting seats this week as they discuss the news, views, reviews of the week; leading up to the 2026 Grandfinal; what’s coming up on this week’s programme, Fringe festival and so much more.

The post Sat, 26th, Sept, 2026: Weekly Wrap Up with Macca and Paul. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Joining us live on the Saturday Magazine to break down all things television is Steven Molk from TV Blackbox. With the dust settling on the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards and local networks gearing up for a packed spring line-up, Molk is here to walk us through the big winners, the host’s performance, and the hottest Australian shows landing on our screens. Welcome back to JOY, Molk!

 78th Emmy Awards Highlights & Trends

Host Performance: Mariska Hargitay took on hosting duties for the September 14 ceremony as part of NBC’s 100th-anniversary milestone. Moving away from traditional stand...

Nevena and Rachel Payne are joined live on air by, Michelle Reynolds,  Director – Advocacy and Policy, Inner Melbourne Community Legal. Michelle Reynolds is the Director of Advocacy and Policy at Inner Melbourne Community Legal (IMCL). In this role, she oversees strategic advocacy and policy development, working extensively with IMCL’s Police Accountability Project.

She is a leading voice on legal reform and social justice issues in Victoria, focusing heavily on systemic police accountability, public housing advocacy, and the rights of marginalised communities.

Police impunity could be collateral damage to IBAC ‘follow-the-money’ reforms

The post Sat...

Joining us live in the studio this morning is Felix Ralph, a leading criminal defence lawyer from law firm Marshall Jovanovska Ralph. As the federal parliament pushes forward with major reforms to the Online Safety Act—including the introduction of a statutory ‘Digital Duty of Care’ for social media platforms—Felix is here to unpack what these legislative shifts mean for corporate liability, digital free expression, and individual rights online. Welcome to JOY, Felix.

The proposal for a “Digital Duty of Care” amends the framework under the Online Safety Act 2021. Rather than relying solely on reactive take...

Joining us this morning on Saturday Magazine is Sophie McNeill, Greens Member of the Legislative Council in Western Australia. Before entering parliament in 2025, Sophie spent over fifteen years on the frontlines of global conflict as a Walkley Award–winning foreign correspondent for the ABC and SBS, followed by leading investigative research for Human Rights Watch.

McNeill has been a prominent voice in the anti-AUKUS campaign, particularly focused on Submarine Rotational Force-West (SRF-West) at HMAS Stirling in WA.

Sovereignty risks, the massive $368 billion price tag diverted away from public housing and health, nuclear waste disposal concerns, an...

Joining us for our weekly political pulse-check is Amy Remeikis, Chief Political Analyst at The Australia Institute and Contributing Editor for The New Daily. Known for cutting straight through Canberra’s noise and spin, Amy is here to break down the latest media culture wars, truth in political advertising, and the policy debates dominating federal parliament. Welcome back to Saturday Magazine, Amy.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has announced plans to curb migration to Australia, reducing numbers to 245,000 this year and 225,000 next financial year. One Nation wants Australia to have 0 net overseas migration for the next three ye...

Joining Nevena as co-host this week,  live in the studio this morning is Rachel Payne, Legalise Cannabis Victoria MP for the South-Eastern Metropolitan Region. Beyond her leading advocacy on drug policy reform, Rachel has been a persistent parliamentary voice calling for greater government integrity, the ending of internal police self-investigations, and urgent support for Victoria’s overburdened justice system—including our volunteer Justices of the Peace. Good morning, Rachel, and welcome back to Saturday Magazine on JOY.

IBAC Reform & Police Misconduct Oversight

Victoria’s anti-corruption framework currently sets a high legal bar for IBAC to investi...

Celebrated local designer and technologist Mel Huang Buntine, has built a shrine to the tender and personal side of computing. Embracing code as a creative medium, Mel brings together people, communities and computers that push our understanding of what computation can be.

“My love letter to the personal computer” – Mel Huang Buntine

‘What if computation wasn’t about speed, automation and scale but building slower, tender and more personal systems? Radical Computing, guest curated by Mel Huang Buntine, is a love letter to the personal computer and to all those who tinker, weave, extend, stretch, hack, subv...

Macca and Kenny talk to Todd Hacking; Chief Executive Officer; Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia.

Todd holds a double degree in Arts (Politics) and Law from the University of Adelaide and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

He has forged a successful career advocating public policy solutions for a range of industries, including infrastructure, transport, land use planning, environment, safety, construction, and logistics.

As CEO of Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia, the peak body for truck, trailer, component, equipment and technology manufacturers and suppliers, as well as being the custodian of...

Senator Shoebridge is a NSW Greens senator and former barrister. Since June 2025 his federal portfolios include foreign affairs, defence, home affairs, justice and digital rights. He has attacked the government over what the Greens describe as a $29 billion defence blowout and argues procurement changes do not address structural waste or AUKUS risk.

Digital accountability is live: the Senate recently ordered the Privacy Commissioner to release a report into American Express technology-security failures after a long-running investigation. He is also prominent in the debate over foreign-owned AI data centres, arguing that government policy must protect Australian jobs, water...

Macca and Kenny are joined live on air by 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?

Macca and Fiona are joined live on air by 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?

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 resi...

Kenny and Macca are joined live on air, by phone this week, not in the studio as usual, by Rachel Westaway, Lib Prahran, Shadow Asst Min Small Business + Hospitality as they discuss State politics.

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.

With a background in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and as former Assistant Freedom of Information Commissioner for Victoria, she brings extensive experience in public service. Rachel has lived in...