Saturday Magazine

Nevena and John talk to ABC Journalist, Maddison Connaughton, Maddison Connaughton is an investigative reporter for Background Briefing. She has also worked at the ABC programs Four Corners and Media Watch. Prior to the ABC, she was editor of The Saturday Paper and a senior editor at Vice. Her reporting has also appeared in The Guardian, New York Times, The Observer, Foreign Policy and more. Looksmaxxing refers to a subculture focused on maximizing physical attractiveness. While some aspects involve standard self-care like grooming and fitness, the trend often moves into extreme and hazardous territory, particularly within online communities. https://theconversation.com/looksmaxxing-is-the-disturbing-tiktok-trend-turning-young-men-into-incels-221724 The post Sat, 28th Feb, 2026: Maddison Connaughton – ABC Journalist, ‘Looksmaxxing’ and its Bizarre Side Effects appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Nevena and John speak to Rachel Payne -Legalise Cannabis MP for South-Eastern Metropolitan, about her recent article in the New Matilda, about a lack of class in politics. Rachel Payne is a prominent Australian politician and a key figure in the Legalise Cannabis Victoria party. Since her election to the Victorian Legislative Council in 2022, she has consistently advocated for comprehensive cannabis law reform, focusing on decriminalisation, medicinal access, and road safety https://newmatilda.com/2026/02/25/why-im-an-mp-who-cant-use-the-c-words-often-enough/ The post Sat, 28th Feb, 2026: Rachel Payne -Legalise Cannabis MP for South-Eastern Metropolitan-The C-word (class) In Politics appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

John Safran discusses some observations in media and some life hacks that happened to him recently The post Sat, 28th Feb, 2026: Observations with John Safran appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Nevena and John talk to Cat Woods, about what’s hot on TV and Film. Cat Woods, is an Australian freelance journalist and editor based in Melbourne, with over 20 years of experience. She specializes in music, arts, culture, fitness and women’s wellbeing. The post Sat, 28th Feb, 2026: Cat Woods – Freelance Journalist, What’s Hot, what’s not on TV and Films, Nicole Kidman’s Scarpetta, Angelina Jolie in Couture appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Nevena and John talk to Mark Nielsen – Associate Professor, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Punch and his Plushie, Attachment Theory A baby macaque monkey named Punch has gone viral for his heart-wrenching pursuit of companionship. After being abandoned by his mother and rejected by the rest of his troop, his zookeepers at Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan provided Punch with an orangutan plushie as a stand-in mother. Videos of the monkey clinging to the toy have gone viral worldwide” “But Punch’s attachment to his inanimate companion is not just the subject of a heartbreaking video. It also harks back to the story of a famous set of psychology experiments conducted in the 1950s by US researcher Harry Harlow. The findings from his experiments underpin many of the central tenets of attachment theory, which positions the bond between parent and child as crucial in child development. What were Harlow’s experiments? Harlow took rhesus monkeys from birth, and removed them from their mothers. These monkeys were raised in an enclosure in which they had access to two surrogate “mothers”. A viral monkey, his plushie, and a 70-year-old experiment: what Punch tells us about attachment theory Mark joined the School of Psychology in 2002 as a UQ Postdoctoral Research Fellow after completing his PhD at La Trobe University. His research interests lie in a range of inter-related aspects of socio-cognitive development in young human children and non-human primates. His current research is primarily focused on charting the origins and development of human cultural cognition. He is: – Senior Research Associate, University of Johannesburg, South Africa – a member of: Association for Psychological Science; Society for Research in Child Development; Australasian Human Development Association – an Associate Editor: Journal of Experimental Child Psychology; PLoS ONE 0 an Editorial Consultant: Child Development; Developmental Science The post Sat, 28th Feb, 2026: Mark Nielsen, Associate Professor, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Punch and his Plushie, Attachment Theory appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Nevena and John speak to Michael Galea MP, State Member for S E Metro Region: Parliament Update Michael Galea is an Australian Labor Party member of the Victorian Legislative Council, representing the South-Eastern Metropolitan Region since his election in 2022. Based on parliamentary records from 2026, he serves as Deputy Chair of the Legal and Social Issues Committee and is active in committees covering economy, infrastructure, and the 2026 Commonwealth Games. The post Sat, 28th Feb, 2026: Michael Galea MP, State Member for S E Metro Region: Parliament Update appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

On the 18th of February 2026, the Victorian Greens will today move to establish a powerful parliamentary inquiry into the scale and scope of anti-LGBTQIA+ hate crimes across the state, following a disturbing string of attacks on gay and bi+ men. This comes following a troubling string of attacks on gay and bi+ men which have seen them lured to public places through fake online dating profiles and violently attacked. The inquiry, to be conducted by the Legal and Social Issues Committee, would examine how anti-LGBTQIA+ influencers and hate groups operate online, including far-right, misogynistic, and homophobic ‘alpha-male’ content, and explore strategies to protect young people from this influence. It would also look at the adequacy of existing responses to preventing these crimes, and the support available to victim survivors. The inquiry would examine ways to improve LGBTQIA+ community safety and support victim survivors of these and other hate crimes, as well as look into ways to combat anti-LGBTQI+ influence on young people particularly through hateful online content. The Greens are urging all political parties to support the inquiry, which is due to report by 1 September 2026. Quotes attributable to the Victorian Greens equality spokesperson, Aiv Puglielli: “No one should have to fear for their safety because of who they love. “We are seeing gay and bi+ men being lured to public places through fake online dating profiles and violently attacked just for being who they are. As a queer person, it is genuinely terrifying to see this terrifying escalation of violence towards my community happening before our eyes. “This doesn’t come out of nowhere. We know there’s a “manosphere” of anti-queer influences and far-right “alpha-male” networks that are grooming and radicalising young men online, building these hate networks and fuelling this very real hatred and people are being seriously harmed. “We can’t look the other way while LGBTQIA+ people are being harassed, threatened, and terrorised. Enough is enough. We need to get to the root of this.” https://greens.org.au/vic/news/media-release/victorian-greens-move-establish-inquiry-lgbtqia-hate-crimes The post Sat, 28th Feb, 2026: Aiv Puglielli MP, Greens rep for Nth Eastern Metro, Hate Crimes Enquiry; Victorian Greens move to establish an inquiry into LGBTQIA+ hate crimes appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Nevena and John Safran are in the hosting seats this week as they discuss the news, views, reviews of the week and what’s coming up in this week’s programme. The post Sat, 28th Feb, 2026: Weekly Wrap Up with Nevena and John Safran appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Last segment of the week, Fiona and Macca are joined live in the studio by Josh Cox. Dir. Reptile Encounters, and his special friend Alba The Dingo. is Burwood East, Melbourne, dedicated to connecting people with native Australian animals. They offer a variety of interactive experiences ranging from mobile “incursions” to behind-the-scenes tours at their headquarters/ The post Sat, 21st, Feb, 2026: Josh Cox, Reptile Encounters: Why he took Alba the Dingo to Parliament House this week appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Fiona and Macca were joined live in the studio by Richard Keane is the Chief Executive OfficerLiving Positive Victoria (LPV). He has held this leadership position since June 2018, bringing decades of experience in health promotion and community development to the role. Richard Keane, CEO of Living Positive Victoria (LPV), launched a new edition of the HIV disclosure guide, “Disclosing your HIV Status: Your Rights and Responsibilities in Victoria,” on Wednesday, 11 February 2026. Richard Keane emphasized that the guide aims to provide a sense of personal agency and self-empowerment. He noted that being fully informed of one’s legal rights and responsibilities is crucial for making decisions about when, where, and why to disclose, especially in a landscape where stigma and discrimination remain challenges The post Sat, 21st, Feb, 2026: Richard Keane, CEO – Living Positive, The launch of the new disclosure guide in partnership with the HIV/AIDS legal centre appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

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 residential building industry. In his most recent reports, Reardon identifies land supply as the primary constraint on Australian home building, rather than construction costs or interest rates. Housing Industry Association | HIA +1 Land vs. Construction Costs: Since 2000, residential land prices have surged by over 500%, while construction costs and skilled labour have risen by approximately 150%.Infrastructure Taxes: He argues that government policies requiring developers to pay infrastructure fees upfront are “artificial” demand drivers that embed high costs into land prices, ultimately borne by home buyers.Cost of New Homes: HIA estimates that approximately $570,000 in various taxes, fees, and charges are embedded in the cost of a typical new house-and-land package. Housing Industry Association | HIA +4 Releasing HIA’s new report, Taxation of Housing and its Impact on Supply, Tim Reardon, Chief Economist of Housing Industry Association, said governments cannot make homes cheaper by taking more from them. “You don’t fix a housing shortage by taxing housing harder,” Mr Reardon said. “And you certainly don’t make homes more affordable by destabilising the tax settings that support new home construction.” The report finds that housing is already one of the most heavily taxed sectors in the Australian economy, with taxes applied at every stage of the housing lifecycle. Many of these taxes fall most heavily on new housing, directly increasing costs and reducing the feasibility of new projects. “The political reflex has been the same for decades,” Mr Reardon said. “First it was to blame investors. Then foreigners. Then foreign investors. Meanwhile governments quietly add more taxes, more charges and more costs to housing, and wonder why supply keeps falling short.” HIA’s analysis shows that investors play a critical role in housing supply, commencing more than 40 per cent of new homes built in Australia, and an even higher share of apartments and rental housing. “When you discourage investors, you don’t free up housing, you stop it being built,” Mr Reardon said. “Investors don’t neatly switch from established homes into new construction when taxes rise. They leave the housing market altogether.” https://hia.com.au/our-industry/newsroom/economic-research-and-forecasting/2026/01/stop-taxing-housing-harder-if-you-want-more-homes-built-hia-warns?srsltid=AfmBOooQfowpfnhUyCDTwqExK1c2CmARBq5m-gcKQHUKra2ACDjQvc1g The post Sat, 21st, Feb, 2026: 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? appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Fiona and Macca are joined live on air by the controversial academic and writer, Marian Tupy, Centre for Independent Studies & visiting scholar in residence from Cato in the US: Super Abundance Is Australia getting more or less affordable? Are we heading toward resource scarcity — or an era of unprecedented abundance? Marian Tupy has spent 15 years crunching the data. Returning to Australia following his 2023 tour, Tupy brings the ideas behind his acclaimed book Superabundance — a rigorous, evidence-based challenge to the doom-and-gloom narrative dominating Western culture. Using “time prices” — a measure of how many minutes of work it takes to buy everyday goods — resources on average became 72% more affordable between 1980 and 2018, even as global population surged. Australia tracked slightly above that average. But not everything is getting cheaper. In Australia, housing, health, and education have become genuinely less affordable — and this is no coincidence. These are precisely the sectors where government regulation has suppressed competition and distorted prices. The solution lies not in more intervention, but in more freedom: up-zoning, deregulation, and trusting markets to do what they do best. Marian L. Tupy is the editor of Human​Progress​.org, a senior fellow at the Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, and co-author of The Simon Abundance Index. He specialises in globalisation and global well‐​being and politics and economics of Europe and Southern Africa. Tupy is the co-author of Superabundance: The Story of Population Growth, Innovation, and Human Flourishing on an Infinitely Bountiful Planet (2022) and Ten Global Trends Every Smart Person Should Know: And Many Others You Will Find Interesting (2020). His articles have been published in the Financial Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, the Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Newsweek, the U.K. Spectator, Foreign Policy, and various other outlets both in the United States and overseas. He has appeared on BBC, CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, Fox News, Fox Business, and other channels. Tupy received his BA in international relations and classics from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, and his PhD in international relations from the University of St. Andrews in Great Britain. The post Sat, 21st, Feb, 2026: Marian Tupy, Centre for Independent Studies & visiting scholar in residence from Cato in the US: Super Abundance appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Fiona and Macca are joined live in the studio by Rachel Westaway, as they discuss Victoria’s economy, CFEMU scandal and how the new Federal Liberal Leadership team is handling things so far. Rachel Westaway is the Liberal Member for Prahran in the Victorian Legislative Assembly, having won the seat in a historic February 2025 by-election. She is the first person of Thai heritage elected to the Victorian Parliament. The post Sat, 21st, Feb, 2026: Rachel Westaway, Lib Prahran, Shadow Asst Min Small Business + Hospitality: her take on the CFMEU scandal; how will Angus and Jane do in Canberra? appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca, Katherine and Fiona talk to Georgie Purcell. Georgie is a good friend to Saturday Magazine, is a Member of the Victorian Legislative Council (MLC) for the Northern Victoria Region, representing the Animal Justice Party (AJP). Elected in November 2022, she is currently the party’s sole representative in the Victorian Parliament. Why Minor Parties and Independents Matter Minor parties (like the AJP) and independents (collectively known as the “crossbench”) play a critical role in Australia’s democratic system by providing an alternative to the major party duopoly Balance of Power: When neither the Government nor the Opposition holds a majority—common in the Victorian Legislative Council and the Federal Senate—the crossbench decides whether legislation passes or fails.Specialised Representation: They give a voice to specific issues (e.g., animal welfare, environmental protection, or local community needs) that major parties may overlook to maintain broad appeal.Accountability and Scrutiny: Independents and minor parties can force detailed inquiries into government activity and extract amendments to bills that improve transparency and fairness.Diversity of Perspective: They represent the growing portion of the electorate (over 30% in recent years) that no longer feels aligned with the traditional Labor or Coalition blocks. The post Sat, 21st, Feb, 2026: Georgie Purcell- Senator, N Vic. Animal Justice Party, Why Minor Parties and Independents matter in our Political System! appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Fiona and Macca are joined live in the studio by Katherine Copsey, Greens, MLC for Southern Metro, Katherine Copsey, is an Australian politician and lawyer currently serving as a member of the Victorian Legislative Council for the Australian Greens Victoria, representing the Southern Metropolitan Region. Elected in the 2022 Victorian state election, she assumed office on 26 November 2022. Since February 2023, Copsey has held several leadership roles for the Victorian Greens, including Deputy Party Room Chair and spokesperson for Justice, Gambling Harm Reduction, Animal Protection, and Major Events. As of February 2025, she serves as the spokesperson for Public Transport and Roads. Copsey’s legislative priorities centre on environmental and social justice, advocating for renewable energy, increased affordable housing, improved public transport, and community-focused urban planning. The post Sat, 21st, Feb, 2026: Katherine Copsey, Greens, MLC for Southern Metro, Passing of the Vicarious Liability Bill appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca is back in the hosting seat and Jack’s back behind the panel and our very special guest host is Fiona Patten. Our first guest for this week is Cameron Doig, from the Law Firm, Arnold, Thomas and Becker, dissecting the news on the vicarious liability laws in Victoria. Cameron is a skilled and tested solicitor who has secured over 60 settlements for survivors of child sexual abuse and recovered over $40 million in total damages for his clients. He has secured settlements in excess of $1 million in a number of individual cases. He regularly brings claims for survivors of child abuse against government, religious, charitable, and sporting institutions as well as public and private schools. He is a clear communicator who enjoys making the legal system easy to understand for clients, walking them through the process, and explaining what they can expect. He is a practical and proactive litigator whose familiarity with the court process helps him level the playing field between vulnerable survivors and powerful institutions. Cameron’s experience includes: • Settling 12 claims against the Victorian Government’s Department of Education for victims of abuse by teacher Peter Sutton, including one claim for over $1.4 million; • Securing a $550,000 settlement against two Catholic religious orders for abuse of a former school student; and • Securing a $500,000 settlement for a man abused in Bayswater Boys Home and Turana. He has appeared in print and TV media discussing his clients’ cases and issues confronting abuse survivors. He has volunteered at the Refugee Legal Night Service since August 2023. “Vicarious liability is a legal doctrine holding a party (often an employer) responsible for the wrongful acts or omissions of another (usually an employee) committed during the course of employment, even if the superior is not directly at fault. It is a form of strict liability, commonly applied in workplace discrimination, harassment, or negligence cases” https://humanrights.gov.au/resource-hub/by-resource-type/publications/sex-and-gender-rights/vicarious-liability If this story has affected you in any way please go to the Joy Support page to find support: https://joy.org.au/support/ The post Sat, 21st, Feb, 2026: Cameron Doig, Arnold, Thomas and Becker: Explaining the changes to legislation for Vicarious Liability in Victoria appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Kenny are joined live on air by Peter Khalil, – MP for Wills & Asst Min. for Defence; Reaction to Lib spill; news from Coburg and sale of Defence sites across Melbourne The post Sat, 14th, Feb, 2026: Peter Khalil, – MP for Wills & Asst Min. for Defence; Reaction to Lib spill; news from Coburg and sale of Defence sites across Melbourne appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Kenny talk to Dr Monique Ryan, Indi MP for Kooyong, Update from Canberra + Australia’s Addiction Gambling Commercials As of late 2025 and early 2026, Dr. Monique Ryan, independent MP for Kooyong, has continued to heavily advocate for a total ban on gambling advertising in Australia, positioning the issue as a critical public health crisis. Continued Pressure: Dr. Ryan has been consistent in challenging the Albanese Government over its delay in acting on the “Murphy Report” (June 2023), which recommended a comprehensive ban on online gambling ads.“Hard to Understand” Delay: She has highlighted the irony of the government moving to ban social media for children while failing to implement a similar ban on online gambling advertising that targets young people.Resignation from Parliamentary Sports Club: In October 2025, Dr. Ryan resigned from the Parliamentary Sports Club to protest its association with the gambling industry, stating the industry is “predatory and insidious”.Focus on Public Health: She argues that gambling addiction is a public health issue similar to drug addiction, driving domestic violence, family breakdown, and financial ruin.2026 Legislative Focus: Her recent activities in 2026 have also centered on criticizing the government’s handling of HECS debt (Job-Ready Graduates scheme) and advocating for safer digital spaces. \ Australia’s Gambling Commercials Crisis The Problem: Australia is noted to have the highest per-capita gambling losses in the world, with roughly $32 billion lost annually.Targeting Children: Dr. Ryan has stated that children are being targeted by betting ads on social media, creating a “generation primed for addiction”.Call for Total Ban: She supports a total ban on gambling advertising across TV, radio, social media, and on sports uniforms.Government Response: Despite overwhelming public support (reported at 85%) for a ban, the government has been accused of acting too slowly due to pressure from media companies and sporting codes that profit from gambling partnerships. Dr. Ryan continues to urge the government to adopt all 31 recommendations of the Murphy Report to reduce the impact of gambling on Australian families. The post Sat, 14th, Feb, 2026: Dr Monique Ryan, Indi MP for Kooyong, Update from Canberra + Australia’s Addiction Gambling Commercials appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Kenny and Macca talk to Konrad Benjamin from Punter’s Politics. Punter’s Politics is an Australian political commentary podcast and associated political movement with the goal of making Australian politics simpler for everyday people. The podcast was launched in June 2024 by former economics teacher Konrad Benjamin, and has since gained traction for exposing corporate influence in Australian politics. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLg9ANGIggv/ https://www.punterspolitics.com/pages/media The post Sat, 14th, Feb, 2026: Konrad Benjamin, Punter’s Politics, Fighting the good fight for Aussie Punters appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Kenny talk to Tim Burrowes. Publisher, Mumbrella, How ingrained is gambling advertising in the Australian Media landscape and why has Reform have stalled? Tim Burrowes is the publisher of Mumbrella and Unmade. He co-founded Mumbrella in 2008 and sister title Unmade in 2021. He’s worked in the UK, Middle East, Asia & Australia and has specialised in writing about the communications world for the last 25 years. He wrote the book Media Unmade, published in 2021, and became the presenter of MediaLand on ABC Radio National in 2025. The post Sat, 14th, Feb, 2026: Tim Burrowes. Publisher, Mumbrella, How ingrained is gambling advertising in the Australian Media landscape and why has Reform have stalled? appeared first on Saturday Magazine.