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New details emerge in Sam Kerr incident

<p>Court documents have revealed that Sam Kerr was taken into custody was taken into custody and placed in a holding cell on the night she <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/sam-kerr-s-alleged-racial-comments-revealed-by-uk-paper" target="_blank" rel="noopener">allegedly verbally abused</a> a UK police officer. </p> <p>The Matildas captain has pleaded not guilty to the public disorder charge of using insulting, threatening or abusive words that caused alarm or distress towards a police officer in Twickenham, London, on January 30, 2023.</p> <p><em>The Sun </em>reported that Kerr allegedly vomited in a taxi, was involved in a dispute about the taxi fare, and allegedly called an attending police officer a “stupid white b*****d”, which her legal team have argued that she actually called him a "stupid white cop".</p> <p>Kerr was <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/sam-kerr-s-lawyers-request-police-station-cctv-footage-interview-be-retained-20240314-p5fc9w.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> placed in a police custody suite inside a police station and was interviewed during that time.</p> <p>According to court transcripts, there were also numerous body cam clips filmed by police during the alleged incident, which will be used as evidence in court. </p> <p>Kerr's legal team have reportedly requested for video footage of the incident to be made available to them, and  last week they asked the Kingston Crown Court for any CCTV footage from outside a Twickenham station or from inside the custody suite to be provided to them.</p> <p>According to News Corp, her legal team is also yet to receive footage taken from two police body cam clips, and the transcript and audio from her interview while she was detained over the incident. </p> <p><em>The Daily Telegraph </em>reported that during her plea hearing, Kerr was also warned about delaying any decision to change her plea to guilty — should that change of plea occur.</p> <p>“Should there be any change in your position … the sooner you plead guilty to this matter, if that is your intention and your wish, the earlier you do that the better, do you understand?” Judge Judith Elaine Coello  said.</p> <p>“You will lose credit as time goes on and should you be convicted after trial; you will lose all credit you might otherwise have obtained. Are you clear on all of that?”</p> <p>Kerr is due to face trial in February 2025, and if found guilty could face up to six months in jail or an unlimited fine. </p> <p>Her lawyers are preparing to apply for the charges to be dismissed next month. </p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p> <p> </p>

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"Who cares?": Kyle Sandilands backs Sam Kerr

<p>Kyle Sandilands has weighed in on Matildas captain Sam Kerr's court battle, after it was alleged that she called a police officer in London a <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/sam-kerr-s-alleged-racial-comments-revealed-by-uk-paper" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"stupid white b*****d"</a> during a dispute over a taxi fare.</p> <p>Sandilands was quick to defend the Matildas captain during the <em>Kyle And Jackie O show </em>on Tuesday and insisted that calling someone that didn't warrant a criminal conviction. </p> <p>"It's not even a big deal. She call some guy 'white b*****d'. Who cares?" the 52-year-old shock jock said.</p> <p>"White b******s don't care about that. That's for the other races to worry about," he added, before newsreader Brooklyn Ross quickly changed the topic. </p> <p>Kerr, 30, is preparing to face a four-day trial next February, following the incident that occurred after a night out in Twickenham on January 30, 2023.  </p> <p>The football star appeared in a London court on Monday after she was accused of using insulting, threatening or abusive words that caused alarm or distress to the officer.</p> <p>Kerr has maintained her innocence, pleading not guilty to the charges brought against her.</p> <p>Her legal team hope to have the case thrown out when they return to court next month.</p> <p>In response to the controversy, the sport's governing body Football Australia (FA) said that while they were aware of the legal proceedings, they didn't know about the charges laid against Kerr. </p> <p>"As this is an ongoing legal matter, we are unable to provide further comment at this time. Our focus remains on supporting all our players, both on and off the field. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide support as appropriate," they said in a statement. </p> <p><em>Images: Kyle and Jackie O show/ Getty</em></p>

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Sam Kerr’s alleged comments may have had a racial element, but they were not ‘racist’

<p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mario-peucker-192086">Mario Peucker</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/victoria-university-1175">Victoria University</a></em></p> <p>Footballer Sam Kerr has been charged with “racially aggravated harassment” over a January 2023 incident in which she allegedly insulted a London police officer. According to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/mar/06/sam-kerr-allegedly-called-police-officer-a-stupid-white-bastard-source-says">widespread media reports</a>, she is said to have called the officer a “stupid white bastard”.</p> <p>Kerr has pleaded not guilty to the charge and has <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/sam-kerr-legal-team-reportedly-challenge-allegations-of-police-harassment/744598ef-75f9-4e03-acb5-7b37aecde8d1">reportedly denied</a> using the word “bastard”.</p> <p>According to section 33 of the British Crime and Disorder Act, to be found guilty of such an offence, the conduct would have had to cause – or have intended to cause – alarm or distress.</p> <p>Regardless of the court’s ultimate verdict, one big question seems to occupy the minds of many: does the phrase attributed to Kerr constitute racism?</p> <p>Kerr was born in Western Australia, and has Indian ancestry on her father’s side. Can she be racist towards a white person, and more specifically to a white police officer?</p> <p>Assuming it is true Kerr used the term “white”, there is a racial element. But “racial” is not the same as “racist”.</p> <h2>Definitions of racism</h2> <p>It is important to note here that “race” is not a biological category (there is only one human race). Race is a <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/race-is-a-social-construct-scientists-argue/">social construct</a>, invented and cemented centuries ago to legitimise colonial atrocities, oppression and forms of subjugation including slavery.</p> <p>There are many definitions of racism, but there has been a broad consensus for decades that racism is more than “just” prejudice and discriminatory behaviour. It is not simply a matter of less favourable treatment of an individual or group of people based on their actual or ascribed ethnic background, skin colour, origin or related characteristics.</p> <p>Racism also reflects and manifests as systemic exclusion and marginalisation based on historically rooted power imbalances and racial hierarchies that put white people at the top.</p> <p>To put it very simply, the scholarly (if not the legal) definition is that “<a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1998-07453-002">racism equals power plus prejudice</a>”.</p> <p>In a vicious cycle, everyday racism and discrimination are shaped and justified by racial hierarchies, while they operate continuously in a way that cements power imbalances and racial marginalisation.</p> <p>This may sound a bit abstract, but if we do not recognise this power dynamic, we trivialise racism as little more than name-calling. We will fail to understand how racism operates and how it continues to affect people from racially marginalised groups in their daily lives.</p> <p>One way to illustrate the systemic nature of racism is to look at the persistent lack of representation of people of colour in leadership positions in the corporate sector, the media and governments in Australia and elsewhere.</p> <p>In the United Kingdom, where the alleged incident occurred, institutional racism – including within the police force – has been recognised since the release of the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-stephen-lawrence-inquiry">Macpherson report</a> in 1999. It was reaffirmed in 2023 by the <a href="https://www.met.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/media/downloads/met/about-us/baroness-casey-review/update-march-2023/baroness-casey-review-march-2023a.pdf">Baroness Casey Review</a>, despite some political pushback.</p> <p>The review found “Met officers are 82% White and 71% male, and the majority do not live in the city they police. As such, the Met does not look like the majority of Londoners.”</p> <h2>Reverse racism?</h2> <p>Anti-discrimination legislation in the UK and Australia usually does not speak explicitly of “racism”. It outlaws certain acts that are motivated, partially or wholly, by a person’s race (or other personal identity markers).</p> <p>Legislators introduced these laws with the intention of enhancing the legal protections for those who were considered vulnerable to racism. In Australia, for example, the <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2004A00274/latest/text">Racial Discrimination Act</a> (1975) is often celebrated as a legal cornerstone in the country’s journey away from its racist “White Australia” history towards a modern multicultural society.</p> <p>The United Nations’ <a href="https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-convention-elimination-all-forms-racial">International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination</a> (1965), ratified by Australia in 1975 and the UK in 1969, makes its intention explicit when it calls on all state parties to make it an offence to disseminate “ideas based on racial superiority”.</p> <p>The issue of power structures should also be seen through an institutional lens. It is difficult to imagine a person on the streets of London with more institutional power than a white police officer.</p> <p>Being called a “stupid bastard” might hurt someone’s feelings. But while I’m in no position to judge whether Sam Kerr’s alleged actions have caused “distress” to the officer – as the law would require – labelling the incident as racist is clearly not in line with what racism means.</p> <p>Such a definition would not align with the concept’s institutional and systemic dimensions. It is not what anti-discrimination laws were intended to outlaw.</p> <p>Claims of anti-white or “reverse” racism are based on a shallow, misguided and inaccurate understanding of what racism really constitutes.</p> <p>If Kerr’s court case fails to acknowledge the deeper purpose of anti-racism legislation by equating “racial” with “racist”, it risks setting a highly problematic precedent that would undermine efforts to acknowledge and tackle racism in all its forms.</p> <p>What would be the message to those millions of people in the UK, Australia and elsewhere who have to face racism every day without recognition of the harm it causes and without the support and capacity to sue the perpetrators?</p> <p>What would they think about their right to equality and their place in society?<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225267/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mario-peucker-192086">Mario Peucker</a>, Associate Professor and Principal Research Fellow, Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/victoria-university-1175">Victoria University</a></em></p> <p>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/sam-kerrs-alleged-comments-may-have-had-a-racial-element-but-they-were-not-racist-225267">original article</a>.</p>

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Sam Kerr's alleged racial comments revealed by UK paper

<p>The legal controversy surrounding <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Matildas star Sam Kerr </span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">following allegations of racially charged remarks directed towards a police officer in London continues to unfold, after a UK newspaper published those alleged remarks. </span></p> <p>According to <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/26401266/sam-kerr-football-charge-crime-police-fifa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sun</a>, Kerr allegedly called a police officer a "stupid white bastard" during a dispute over a taxi fare. The details emerged as Kerr faced charges for using insulting, threatening or abusive words towards the officer, causing alarm or distress. The seriousness of the allegations is underscored by the potential consequences, with Kerr facing a maximum sentence of two years' imprisonment if convicted.</p> <p>The incident is said to have taken place in January 2023 shortly after Kerr's remarkable performance in a Chelsea FA Cup victory, and Kerr has maintained her innocence, pleading not guilty to the charges brought against her.</p> <p>The delayed prosecution in Kerr's case has sparked speculation, with reports suggesting that determining the appropriate charge was a complex process for the Crown Prosecution Service. However, as the trial approaches, the focus shifts towards the legal proceedings and the evidence that will be presented in court.</p> <p>Throughout her career, Kerr has been a prominent figure in the fight against racism in sport. Her past actions, including posing with an Aboriginal flag alongside her Matildas teammates, reflect a commitment to promoting inclusivity and unity. Kerr's accolades both on and off the field have solidified her iconic status, making the allegations against her all the more surprising.</p> <p>In response to the controversy, Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson and Football Australia CEO James Johnson expressed their lack of prior knowledge regarding the incident. </p> <p>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declined to comment directly on the matter, but said that Kerr's actions during her tenure as the national flag bearer exemplified pride and dignity. </p> <p>“I don’t comment on legal matters before Australian courts, let alone other ones,” Albanese said. “I will say this about my contact with Sam Kerr, she was our flag bearer at the coronation. My contact with her was exemplary. She did Australia proud at that time and I think that my contact with her has been nothing but delightful.”</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

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Matildas captain Sam Kerr to face criminal trial

<p>Matildas superstar Sam Kerr has found herself at the centre of legal proceedings in London, as she pled not guilty to charges stemming from an alleged incident involving a police officer earlier this year.</p> <p>Kerr, aged 30, appeared before Kingston Crown Court via videolink to contest accusations of using insulting, threatening or abusive language towards a police officer in Twickenham on January 30.</p> <p>During the hearing, Kerr confirmed her identity and entered a "not guilty" plea to the charge, which was later confirmed by the Metropolitan Police. The specifics of the charge were outlined in a police charge sheet, citing Kerr for a racially aggravated offence under Section 4A of the Public Order Act 1986. The incident allegedly occurred during police intervention related to a complaint involving a taxi fare.</p> <p>The trial, slated to commence in February 2025, is expected to span four days, during which two police officers will provide evidence. Meanwhile, Football Australia (FA) has issued a statement acknowledging the legal proceedings involving Kerr, asserting their commitment to support all players both on and off the field. However, due to the ongoing legal nature of the situation, further comments were withheld.</p> <p>“Football Australia is aware of the legal proceedings involving Sam Kerr in the United Kingdom,” the statement read. “As this is an ongoing legal matter, we are unable to provide further comment at this time. Our focus remains on supporting all our players, both on and off the field. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide support as appropriate.”</p> <p>The announcement comes after Kerr's unfortunate sidelining from both club and international duties. Suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during Chelsea's warm-weather training camp in Morocco, Kerr faces a prolonged period of rehabilitation, ruling her out of action for the foreseeable future. Her absence from the Matildas' lineup is particularly sorely felt, with preparations for the Paris Olympics underway.</p> <p>Despite the setback, Football Australia has not officially ruled Kerr out of contention for the Olympics. However, the typical recovery timeline for ACL injuries suggests a lengthy rehabilitation process, casting doubts on Kerr's participation in the upcoming tournament scheduled to begin on July 26.</p> <p><em>Images: Getty Images</em></p>

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Sam Mac gets emotional as he shares major family news

<p>Sam Mac has teared up as he announced the exciting news that he is soon to become a father of two. </p> <p>The <em>Sunrise</em> weatherman took to Instagram on Saturday to share a snap of him, his fiancée Rebecca, and their one-year-old daughter Margot, as Rebecca showed off her growing baby bump while Sam held an ultrasound photo. </p> <p>He captioned the photo, "Baby Mac (the sequel) premiering this August 2024 🍿Starring Margot as The Big Sister."</p> <p>On Monday morning's episode of <em>Sunrise</em>, hosts Nat Barr and Matt Shirvington congratulated Sam on the joyous news, who was crossing in live from Taronga Zoo. </p> <p>“Sam, you have some very exciting family news,” Matt asked Sam, who looked overjoyed as he shared the news with viewers. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C3tSo1KyGJE/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C3tSo1KyGJE/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Sam Mac (@sammacinsta)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“Thank you, we shared this photo over the weekend — I hope you appreciate it, it took 147 takes to get that photo,” Sam said as he became emotional talking about his growing family. </p> <p>He went on to mention his mother, Loretta, who had been campaigning for a second grandchild from the couple since the birth of their first.</p> <p>“Shout-out to my mum, Loretta, who has been the biggest campaigner for a second child,” Sam said.</p> <p>“She started the campaign while in the delivery ward for Margot. Everything is on track — 16 weeks,” he laughed.</p> <p>“Baby is due in August, team. Very exciting time.”</p> <p>Nat Barr quickly jumped in to say congratulations to the growing family.</p> <p>“Congratulations to all three of you,” Nat said.</p> <p>“That’s wonderful news,” Shirvo added.</p> <p class="css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word; margin: 0px 0px 1.125rem; line-height: 25px;"><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

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"We want Sam home": Distraught husband speaks out

<p>Samantha Murphy's distraught husband has issued a desperate plea to the community for knowledge about his wife's whereabouts, two weeks after she went missing. </p> <p>The 51-year-old mother from Ballarat took off for her daily run in the early hours of the morning of February 4th, and was never seen again. </p> <p>With Ms Murphy's disappearance now being labelled as "suspicious" by police investigators, Mick Murphy has shared an emotional message for the community to come forward with information about his wife.</p> <p>“We want Sam home please,” he told <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/samantha-murphys-husband-mick-murphy-speaks-out-as-police-continue-to-investigate-joggers-disappearance-two-weeks-on-c-13642464" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>7News</em></a>. </p> <p>Mr Murphy told the outlet his family are “doing the best we can under the circumstances”.</p> <p>He has made several pleas to the public for anyone to come forward if they had information about the mother-of-three’s disappearance. </p> <p>“People just don’t vanish into thin air. Someone’s got to know something,” he told reporters on Thursday.</p> <p>On Wednesday, police officially labelled Samantha's disappearance as "suspicious", as their investigation continues. </p> <p>“Call it unusual, call it suspicious. But it certainly is of significant concern to us,” Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said on Wednesday.</p> <p>He went on to say that there were still no new leads in the investigation, headed by the Missing Persons Squad.</p> <p>“It’s certainly unusual when we haven’t been able to locate any trace of her or any other evidence within that period of time,” he said.</p> <p>“It’s suspicious, whether that means there’s foul play involved or not, I don’t know, but obviously detectives are investigating a matter where a woman’s been missing for a significant period of time.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: 9News</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Sam Mac's big announcement

<p>Sam Mac has announced that he is ready to make his grand return on <em>Sunrise</em>, after one month of <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/sam-mac-takes-a-break-from-sunrise" target="_blank" rel="noopener">paternity leave.</a></p> <p>The <em>Sunrise</em> weather presenter said goodbye to viewers in October to help take care of his one-year-old daughter Margot, as his partner returned to work. </p> <p>“I know there’s been a huge build-up for this and I’m very excited to announce...I’m back at work on Monday,”  he announced the news via a live call in his home. </p> <p>The doting dad was seen playing with his daughter as he shared the news of his comeback, and opened up on his experience of paternity leave. </p> <p>He said that he “knew it would be hard, but it’s been so relentless”.</p> <p>“I hate to say this in front of her, she’s listening, but she’s such hard work,” he joked about his one-year-old who played with her toys beside him.</p> <p>“She is such a diva.</p> <p>“When I’m lucky enough to get her down for a sleep for about 45 minutes during the day, that 45 minutes is not spent relaxing.</p> <p>“It’s spent doing her washing, preparing her next meal," he added before applauding all the stay-at-home parents who work tirelessly to take care of their kids.</p> <p>"I want to take this opportunity to bow down to all the stay-at-home mums and also the dads who do it. You guys are the true heroes,” he said bowing down to the camera. </p> <p>“I’ve had a real taste of it over the last month and don’t get me wrong, it’s been magical.</p> <p>“I’ve got to see her learn how to walk, she’s doing her gardening now, she’s been reading lots of books.</p> <p>“It's been magic every day, but it’s also been super hard work.</p> <p>“So absolute respect to all the stay-at-home mums and the single mums and dads out there! You guys are legends.”</p> <p>The father-of-one couldn't help but show off his daughter's new skill, as the young tot stuck her tongue out at him after he asked: “Where’s your tongue?”. </p> <p>“I’m so glad she didn’t let me down with that,” he laughed.</p> <p>“She’s a Mac, she’s a performer. She turns it on when it matters." he quipped before sharing that she has learnt that most important word. </p> <p>“Can you say dada?” Mac asked her in a video clip he couldn't help but share to the world. </p> <p>The Sunrise weather presenter cheered when she echoed him, before asking if if she could say “Mamma,” to which she responded, “Dada”.</p> <p><em>Image: Seven</em></p>

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Matildas star Sam Kerr's secret proposal pics

<p>Sam Kerr has finally confirmed her engagement with Kristie Mewis. </p> <p>The Matildas captain took to Instagram to share her proposal pictures over two months after the couple's rumoured secret engagement. </p> <p>"September 1st, 2023," she captioned the photos, with a white love heart. </p> <p>The first photo showed Kerr down on one knee as she proposed to Mewis. It was then followed by a close up shot of the ring and the happy couple celebrating their engagement. </p> <p>Fans first speculated that the couple secretly got engaged in September after they spotted a diamond ring on Mewis' left hand in footage posted on Gotham FC's official Instagram page.</p> <p>Then on September 25, Kerr posted a series of photos with friends and loved ones, where fans again spotted the ring on her partner's hand. </p> <p>As Australia prepared for the three qualifying matches in Perth on October, and Kerr was honoured with a football centre named after her, the couple kept silent despite growing speculation.</p> <p>In early-November, Mewis confirmed the news in an interview with <em>People </em>magazine, just a few weeks before Kerr also confirmed the news. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cz57ikhs0Q_/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cz57ikhs0Q_/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Sam Kerr (@samanthakerr20)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Their engagement photos were met with congratulatory messages from friends and fans alike. </p> <p>"Here they are love you guys," wrote Matildas teammate Mackenzie Arnold. </p> <p>"LOVE LOVE LOVE," added Kerr's Chelsea teammate Millie Bright. </p> <p>"Congratulations lovers 🥰 " added Matildas teammate Alanna Kennedy. </p> <p>"We’re not crying happy tears, you are 🤍" wrote one fan. </p> <p>"The lesbian world is healing," commented another. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

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Sam Mac takes a break from Sunrise

<p><em>Sunrise</em> weather presenter Sam Mac is taking a break from the screen so he can take care of his one-year-old daughter, Margot. </p> <p>Sam revealed that he is looking forward to enjoying one month of parental leave to help out his partner,  Rebecca James, who is planning to go back to work.</p> <p>“She’s been thinking about it for the past few months and now that Margot is over a year old she’s ready to properly get back into the workforce,” he told <em>7Life</em>. </p> <p>The<em> Sunrise </em>presenter also thanked his team for allowing him to take so much time off to focus on his family. </p> <p>“It’s my turn to be getting Margot up, feed her and basically becoming her personal assistant/servant,” he joked.</p> <p>He added that Margot is “at a really good age right now”, and the doting dad can't wait to take her to the zoo, aquarium and spend more time with her. </p> <p>“She’s walking now which is awesome but it’s a bit daunting because we have to childproof the house … but really exciting times,” he said. </p> <p>“Margot’s changed so much even in the past couple of months.</p> <p>“So it’s super-exciting to have some proper quality time with her.”</p> <p>Sam and his partner also have a few exciting trips planned, including trips to  to Melbourne, where Rebecca’s family is, and Adelaide, where Sam’s parents are, just in time for Christmas. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

TV

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Sam Mac under fire for excluding mum from once-in-a-lifetime concert

<p>Sam Mac <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">had all the best intentions when he planned the surprise announcement for his dad's 70th birthday, but his execution had fans bombarding his page with furious comments. </span></p> <p>The <em>Sunrise</em> weatherman posted a <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@sammactiktok/video/7295241603319368962" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a> on Monday of him walking with his parents moments before he surprised his dad with tickets to former Beatles member Paul McCartney’s Sydney Concert. </p> <p>"I told my parents we were walking to a bar called SPM," the text overlay read on the TikTok. </p> <p>“I’ve been lying to you both – there is no bar,” Sam told his parents, who believed they were heading there to celebrate his dad's birthday. </p> <p>“There is no bar called SPM … SPM stands for Sir Paul McCartney,” he said.</p> <p>“Paul McCartney!” his mum exclaimed, but her excitement was short-lived. </p> <p>“Sorry mum, you’re not coming,” he laughed.</p> <p>“I’ll get you an Uber mum, it’s fine, you came to the Logies.”</p> <p>Sam's dad was clearly stunned as he teared up while hugging his son. </p> <p>The rest of the video showed Sam and his dad having a blast as they sang along to a few classic Beatle's songs like <em>A Hard Day’s Night, Hey Jude</em> and <em>Let it Be</em>.</p> <p>But fans couldn't let go of his snub. </p> <p>“Having sat through the Logies myself, it’s just not a fair comparison," one wrote. </p> <p>“Worse still, he brought her all the way there first and made her go home,” added another. </p> <p>"Should have given your mum your ticket. Date night for mum and dad," a third commented </p> <p>"She got dressed up for nothing. At least include her in the surprise. This isn't heartwarming, it's rude," a fourth commented. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cy-A67_JJn5/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cy-A67_JJn5/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Sam Mac (@sammacinsta)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Sam then clarified his actions in the comments. </p> <p>“Mum is normally the one getting spoiled. We had a great dinner,” he explained.</p> <p>“Dad and I rarely get one-on-one time. This was dad’s night, dad’s birthday. So special.”</p> <p>Despite the confusion of some fans after the snub, many of them also praised Sam. </p> <p>"Your dad will be talking about that for weeks!!" one wrote. </p> <p>“How beautiful you are to surprise them … you will always have that moment,”  added another. </p> <p>"Sam this is the best! You are such a special son. The look on your Dad’s face said it all. What a special memory for you both to treasure forever ❤️" </p> <p><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Sam Newman calls for an end to "divisive" Indigenous symbols

<p>Sam Newman has called for all "divisive" Indigenous symbols, including the Aboriginal flag, to be banned from major events after the defeat of the Voice to Parliament referendum. </p> <p>The former AFL player, who recently encouraged sports fans to boo during the Welcome to Country at the AFL grand final, has once again taken aim at First Nations Australians after Indigenous symbols were used on awards handed out at the Melbourne Marathon on Sunday. </p> <p>Speaking on his <em>You Cannot Be Serious</em> podcast, Newman questioned why Aboriginal artworks adorned the medals and ribbons handed out to participants of the marathon. </p> <p>"People just cannot help themselves," he said.  </p> <p>"The Melbourne Marathon was run last Sunday, and everyone who ran in it got a medal ... the pandering and sycophantic crap. All the ribbons had snakes and lizards and were decked out in Indigenous artwork."</p> <p>When challenged by his co-host, Newman doubled on his controversial opinion. </p> <p>"Why can't you just have an Australian flavour for the Melbourne Marathon? (Why) do you have to keep pandering to it all for? Why aren't we just one people? What do you do that for? They can't help themselves."</p> <p>Newman also welcomed the defeat of the Voice to Parliament referendum, and took aim at disappointed Yes voters who were mourning the defeat. </p> <p>He said, "The people who were the Yes voters said 'we're going to fly the Aboriginal flags at half-mast'. Well, that's good, we've got them half way down let's remove them right down to the bottom and not fly them at all."</p> <p>Ironically, after beginning the rant about the Voice, he welcomed the idea from Indigenous leaders to hold a 'Week of Silence' to grieve the outcome of the referendum. </p> <p>"How fantastic is that? Let's have a year of silence and not talk about it," Newman said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

News

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"I'm prepared for that": Sam Neill shares worrying cancer update

<p>In a poignant and candid interview with <em>Australian Story</em>, beloved film icon Sam Neill shared a heartbreaking update about his ongoing battle with cancer.</p> <p>The 76-year-old actor <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/let-s-not-worry-too-much-sam-neill-s-devastating-diagnosis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revealed that he was diagnosed</a> with a rare form of blood cancer, angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, earlier this year, a condition that has tested his strength and resilience in profound ways.</p> <p>Neill's journey through this harrowing ordeal has been nothing short of inspiring. He opened up about his initial chemotherapy treatment, which unfortunately did not prove successful. However, his dedicated medical team, led by a compassionate doctor, made the crucial decision to switch him to an anti-cancer drug. This treatment shift yielded encouraging results, putting Neill into remission for over 12 months.</p> <p>The actor's words carried a mix of hope and vulnerability as he admitted that, tragically, this anti-cancer drug would eventually stop working. “I’m prepared for that,” Neill stated with a remarkable degree of composure. He went on to share that while facing one's mortality is, understandably, not a comforting prospect, he remains unafraid of it.</p> <p>These words exemplify Neill's unwavering strength and courage, qualities that have defined his illustrious career in film and have been a source of inspiration to countless fans worldwide.</p> <p>Despite the physical toll of his treatment, which leaves him feeling as if he's been through "10 rounds with a boxer" in the days following each session, Neill continues to dedicate himself to his craft. Retirement is not even on the horizon for this determined actor, who still finds profound joy in being in front of the camera and collaborating with fellow artists.</p> <p>Currently, Neill is engaged in the filming of an adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s <em>Apples Never Fall</em> on the Gold Coast. Additionally, he is set to appear in the second series of the mini-series <em>The Twelve</em>, filmed in Western Australia. Through the highs and lows of his journey, Neill has found an unwavering source of support in his close friend, Australian actor Bryan Brown.</p> <p>Reflecting on his storied career, which has spanned over five decades and touched the hearts of many, Neill expressed his gratitude for the privilege of working alongside numerous talented actors. He stated, "I can't tell you how privileged I am to spend that amount of time with so many actors, so many of whom I've really enjoyed and so many of whom I've really admired." This sentiment underscores the depth of his love for his craft and the art of storytelling.</p> <p>Despite the challenges he faces, Sam Neill is not merely focusing on his film career; he's also been dedicating time to working on a new book, titled <em>Did I Ever Tell You This?</em>.</p> <p>In this book, he plans to share personal stories and anecdotes from his rich and diverse career. For Neill, this book is a way to leave a lasting piece of himself for his children and grandchildren, ensuring that his experiences and wisdom are passed on to future generations.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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"Nobody wins": Sam Newman provides update after explosive outburst

<p>The future of Sam Newman's podcast is in jeopardy after his co-host Don Scott has officially quit the program. </p> <p>The shock exit comes after Newman launched into an expletive-ridden tirade at Scott last week in a now deleted segment of the podcast, which ended with Newman telling Scott to "f**k off" as he left the building. </p> <p>Now, Scott has returned to the You <em>Cannot Be Serious</em> podcast, but only to confirm he isn't coming back. </p> <p>“You do whatever you want to do … (but) what is the point of trying to have a discussion with somebody who is going off their brain?” Scott asked.</p> <p>“You do not talk to anybody no matter whether it is on-air or wherever in life when they are not rational, so you walk away."</p> <p>“I’m not getting into this … This is like a domestic and nobody wins in a domestic."</p> <p>“You can put your view as much as you like and I am not here to defend or whatever else."</p> <p>“Everybody has a different personality. I am not in to conflict.”</p> <p>Newman, who refused to believe he overreacted during the argument, asked, “Can we finally say that you’re not going to do the podcast anymore? Is that what’s going to happen?”</p> <p>Scott replied, “That’s fine at the moment, no.”</p> <p>Newman doubled down, saying, “This is history … This is breaking news. Don has now left the building, as Elvis has, and he’s not going to do the podcast anymore."</p> <p>“This is another show of disgraceful behaviour from someone who is acting like a child … it’s beyond belief.”</p> <p>Later on social media, Newman said that if Scott wasn't taking part in the podcast anymore, he wasn't sure how long they would continue with the show. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyPXhh5vX0W/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyPXhh5vX0W/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by John ‘Sam’ Newman (@originalsmartassam)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“Won’t do it without Don, and even if he reconsiders, it will not be the same. So …”</p> <p>He finished the video by leaving the future of the podcast up the air, saying “<em>You Cannot Be Serious</em>, I don’t know if we’ll be on again but who cares.”</p> <p>Speaking to the <a href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/fiona-byrne/sam-newman-blows-his-stack-as-don-scott-quits-their-podcast/news-story/97e08f9c1549100c36e0dfc7fe46cfab" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Herald Sun</em></a> after the podcast dropped, Newman labelled Scott’s exit a “pathetic act of treachery”.</p> <p>“I am a friend of Don’s, yes, nice to know who you are dealing with though, someone who won’t stand up and face the music if you have a disagreement, not sure how that works,” he said.</p> <p>“Walking away from something shows a complete disregard for any relationship you have had in the past.</p> <p>“That is just a pathetic act of treachery.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Instagram </em></p>

News

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"F*** off, go home": Sam Newman loses it at podcast co-host

<p>Sam Newman's podcast could be on the rocks after an expletive-ridden tirade caused a rift between the pair. </p> <p>The former AFL player hosts the <em>You Cannot Be Serious</em> podcast with Don Scott, who stormed off in the middle of a recording. </p> <p>The<em> Herald Sun</em> first reported Newman’s foul-mouthed blow up at Scott over technical issues they were having in the studio. </p> <p>“Holy s**t. Jesus Christ, if you touch that f***ing thing again. Stop it, I’m serious, f*** you, God almighty,” Newman said.</p> <p>Newman went on to say: “I can’t do it. If you could f***ing do something properly for once in your f***ing life, don’t touch the microphone and speak into it and stop eating. F***. Go out, go home.”</p> <p>As Scott appeared to walk away, Newman said, “Good, f*** off”.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cx9g3W9vuRB/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cx9g3W9vuRB/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by John ‘Sam’ Newman (@originalsmartassam)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Newman posted a video to his Instagram page to promote the episode of the podcast, with his producer saying, "We've just had the biggest blow up that I've ever seen, and I don't know if Don is going to be back."</p> <p>Sam then chimed in, saying "Don has left the premises! This podcast could be the last one we ever do because he left!"</p> <p>Newman and Scott have both spoken publicly since the argument with Newman admitting he “temporarily lost it” when Scott broke a microphone and headphones.</p> <p>When approached by the <em>Herald Sun</em> for a comment on the blow up, Don Scott refused to confirm if he would ever return to the podcast, leaving its future up in the air. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Instagram </em></p>

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Sam Burgess reveals heart-warming family news

<p>NRL legend Sam Burgess has confirmed that he and his partner have welcomed their first child together. </p> <p>During an interview on <em>Sunrise</em>, the 34-year-old said that his partner, Lucy Graham, and their newborn daughter are both doing well. </p> <p>Their baby girl, who they named Robbie, arrived on Wednesday after a marathon labour, weighing in at 3.8kg.</p> <p>“Big news, little baby Robbie arrived earlier this week, grand final week we’re cheering,” he said on the breakfast TV show. </p> <p>“I’m on very limited sleep, I’m getting used to that again."</p> <p>“It’s been great and both mum and bub are doing well, all very happy here.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CxwpJ9KSCbP/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CxwpJ9KSCbP/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Sam Burgess (@samburgess8)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Burgess also told <a title="www.heraldsun.com.au" href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/nsw/sam-burgess-and-fiancee-lucy-graham-celebrate-birth-of-first-child/news-story/4abb978fed5ba7b8f13592007e16641c" data-tgev="event119" data-tgev-container="bodylink" data-tgev-order="4abb978fed5ba7b8f13592007e16641c" data-tgev-label="news" data-tgev-metric="ev"><em>The Saturday Telegraph</em>, </a>“It was a really, really long labour, it was hard going so I am just really happy and really relieved that everyone has come through safe and well."</p> <p>“I’m so proud of Lucy, she did amazing. Both my girls are amazing,” he said.</p> <p>Sam and Lucy delighted fans when they announced in March that they were expecting a baby, and later turned heads in July when they hosted a baby shower. </p> <p>Graham, who like Burgess is from the United Kingdom, moved to Australia recently in order to be with the former England and South Sydney Rabbitohs star.</p> <p>Burgess has two other children with his former wife, Phoebe Hooke, who are four and three respectively.</p> <p>Burgess began dating Graham, a hairdresser who has also had her own clothing brand, in 2022.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

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Sam Newman backs down on controversial Grand Final plans

<p>Sam Newman has remarkably backed down on his plans to boo during the Welcome to Country acknowledgement at the upcoming AFL grand final. </p> <p>The former AFL star <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/sam-newman-encourages-aussies-to-boo-during-welcome-to-country" target="_blank" rel="noopener">made waves</a> last week as he called for footy fans to boo and drown out the traditional welcome by First Nations Australians, with many quick to call his plans "racist" and "disrespectful". </p> <p>Newman even seemed to <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/sam-newman-grilled-point-blank-are-you-a-racist" target="_blank" rel="noopener">double down</a> on his claims that the Welcome to Country was somehow more divisive that uniting, as some outraged Aussies even called for him to be removed from thew AFL Hall of Fame. </p> <p>However, the 77-year-old has now quickly back-tracked his statements, saying he will not be booing during the Welcome to Country at the AFL grand final on Saturday. </p> <p>"I wouldn't boo at the grand final, but it was just a flippant throw away line, I disagree with the Welcome to Country at the grand final," he said on his podcast.</p> <p>"My point is that every single thing you go to now, you go into a library, you go into anywhere at all, the whole thing starts with it."</p> <p>"The whole thing makes you feel guilty for being here."</p> <p>"When is it ever enough that we say 'hang on a minute, this is enough, how much further do we want to keep going?'"</p> <p>Newman again went on to say that he believed the Welcome to Country ceremony does not "unite us".</p> <p>"I said last week that we should boo the Welcome to Country, it was an extravagant statement."</p> <p>"(The Welcome to Country has) gone overboard and the social elites are only trying to placate their own white prejudice by feeling virtuous that they keep going on and on with this."</p> <p>"This is why I criticised the AFL, it's just become a minefield of nonsense, they've got to pull it back."</p> <p>"(It's) not uniting us, that is my point. Standing on the MCG on grand final day and saying 'you're welcome to the country and we give you permission to play on the ground', that's not uniting us."</p> <p>"That's showing the world that we are a divided nation, that's my point."</p> <p>Since Sam Newman's original statement, senator <span style="caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;">Lidia Thorpe has </span><span style="color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Segoe UI, Roboto, Helvetica Neue, Arial, sans-serif, Apple Color Emoji, Segoe UI Emoji, Segoe UI Symbol, Noto Color Emoji;">blasted his comments, saying he is missing the point on what the Welcome to Country is about. </span></p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">"Sam Newman, I'm not sure why he's even in the news. He's irrelevant to any debate of the time," she said on <em>Today</em>.</p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">"It's about peace. The whole message behind it is respect."</p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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Sam Newman shares tragic update on Rex Hunt

<p>The renowned football commentator and former AFL/VFL star, Rex Hunt, has once again been admitted to a healthcare facility as he continues to battle with his mental health.</p> <p>Just last week, Hunt made a brief appearance at a media event and seemed to be in good spirits. However, on Friday, he was readmitted to a care facility.</p> <p>Sam Newman, a former AFL star and controversial media personality, has provided an update on Hunt's condition. Newman, who is a close friend of Hunt, expressed his concerns for Hunt's current state of mind. He emphasised the importance of Hunt taking a break from the public eye and focusing on his overall well-being – spiritually, physically, and mentally.</p> <p>“It is well documented that I am a friend of Rex Hunt and I worry for his present state of mind. He should give himself a break from public life and focus on his wellbeing spiritually, physically and mentally," Newman said to <a href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/fiona-byrne/sam-newman-urges-rex-hunt-to-prioritise-his-health/news-story/67ac590bd791341a26533f5ae7334243?amp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Herald Sun</a>. "He is a good friend, and we all want the best for him.”</p> <p>Another longtime friend of Hunt, former athlete, manager and former Mayor of Brighton John Locco, shared his hope for Hunt's steady progress towards recovery. Locco conveyed that many people are in support of Hunt and wish him well during this challenging time: “We are hopeful that over time that he can make steady progress to recovery and there are many people in support of Rex who wish him well in his current situation.”</p> <p>In July, Newman had previously disclosed that the 74-year-old Hunt, who battles bipolar depression, was not doing well. He revealed that Hunt was under the care of an institution and facing a decline in his mental health.</p> <p>Hunt's illustrious career includes two VFL/AFL premierships as a player and a successful stint as a football commentator on radio. He also gained fame through his television fishing show, which garnered a dedicated fan following.</p> <p>Hunt has been open about his mental health struggles, particularly after being hospitalised in January following an incident on a Victorian freeway. He acknowledged the role of painkilling drugs in his life, which he became dependent on after a neck operation seven years ago. This dependency led to significant changes in his life, especially in his mental and emotional well-being. Hunt even disclosed that he had experienced an opioid overdose at one point, resulting in a rapid decline in his health.</p> <p>In this difficult period, Hunt's friends and supporters continue to rally around him, hoping for his recovery and well-being.</p> <p><em>Images: Facebook / Getty Images</em></p>

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Sam Newman grilled point-blank: "Are you a racist?"

<p>Sam Newman has been left struggling to come up with an answer after being asked if he is a racist.</p> <p>The former AFL player spoke with Tony Jones on 3AW radio on Thursday, as he doubled down on recent comments that encouraged Australians to boo during Welcome to Country acknowledgements.</p> <p>While defending his opinions, Newman was asked point-blank by Jones, "Are you a racist?"</p> <p>Newman stuttered in response, "Now... what a... No, no, please..."</p> <p>Jones clarified his question, "I think there would be people listening to this at the moment with an open mind that would want me to ask that question."</p> <p>Newman became immediately defensive, asking in retaliation, "Please... now you tell me what you think a racist is besides saying me ... Who have I vilified? I don't think you know what racism is. </p> <p>"Racism is about hate primarily and it's if you defile, decry or degrade someone, think you're superior than them or try to dominate them."</p> <p>"It's the most overworked word in the English lexicon at the minute... you tell me why anything I've said and what I've done is anything to do with racism."</p> <p>Newman then went on to highlight the past controversy surrounding Indigenous AFL legend Adam Goodes, saying he was relentlessly booed while playing because of an incident on the field, and not because of his race.</p> <p>"[In 2015] Adam Goodes was booed because he pretended to throw a spear at the Carlton cheer squad after the Swans were beating them by 10 goals at half-time and wondered why people... people get booed on the football field, not because of their skin colour, but because of things they do," Newman said.</p> <p>"I know that, everyone knows that. Then the AFL waded into this... and said 'please don't boo Adam Goodes'. That's like red rag to a bull."</p> <p>Contrary to Newman's comments, Goodes had been booed for weeks prior to tha incident by the crowd every time he neared the ball, with the crowd escalating their behaviour, which resulted in fans being kicked out of the stadium.</p> <p>Newman also insisted he was not attempting to incite violence against First Nations Australians after he urged people to boo the Welcome to Country at the AFL Grand Final.</p> <p>"We like to go to the football and watch the game without being told to vote for the gay marriage proposal, which is fine, without being told to vote for the Voice - I know (the AFL) has retracted their direction to vote Yes for the Voice. Why do they get involved?" he said.</p> <p>"I'll tell you. It's an absolute hoax. It's a rort. Welcome to Country. Why do we have to be welcomed to the country we live in? Why is that? It is just a mark of division. The people who welcome you to country get a nice stipend out of it. Why do they charge to have it? It is just a rort."</p> <p>Just prior to his radio appearance, senator Lidia Thorpe once again blasted his comments on the <em>Today Show</em>.</p> <p>"Sam Newman, I'm not sure why he's even in the news. He's irrelevant to any debate of the time," she said on Thursday morning.</p> <p>"It's about peace. The whole message behind it is respect."</p> <p>"Sam Newman is not a respectful man at the best of times. He needs to educate himself."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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Sam Newman encourages Aussies to boo during Welcome to Country

<p>Sam Newman has caused a stir after he encouraged Aussies to boo during the Welcome to Country acknowledgement at the upcoming AFL Grand Final.</p> <p>The sporting legend, who staunchly opposes the Yes vote, told <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/afl/article-12538667/Sam-Newman-welcome-country-boo-AFL-grand-final.html?ito=social-facebook_Australia&fbclid=IwAR16kiBQgzp8PA53n2TtbysHYzk7AiC2jg_SLelrmeqsplqeUnvuELevJls" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Daily Mail Australia</em></a> that the traditional ceremony was being used for political power, and everyday Aussies shouldn't be forced to listen to it at events. </p> <p>“If we are at all serious about the Welcome to Country and the nonsense that has suddenly taken over in the last 20 years from a completely harmless introduction by Ernie Dingo some years ago and people have latched onto it,” he told the publication. </p> <p>“What about this, next time you go to a public event like the Grand Final or a football game or any public event in an auditorium and they trot out the Welcome to Country, start booing … or slow hand clapping.”</p> <p>Newman, a white Australian, also mentioned that he believes many First Nations Australians share his views on the ceremony.</p> <p>“Of course it’s being rude, and so who is forcing this nonsense onto us?” he continued. </p> <p>“Who is telling us that we should be welcomed to (the) country that we live in, that we try and cohabitate, cohabit with all the people that have come here – particularly the Indigenous people."</p> <p>“There’s so many people who say it and I keep saying it’s just a push for reparations and financial power. It is, and I’m saying, the next time you go to a football game, a final, and they trot this nonsense out just start booing and that’ll stop (it)."</p> <p>Senator Lidia Thorpe was one of many people who lashed out at Newman's comments, as she spoke to Karl Stefanovic on <em>Today</em> to explain the purpose of the Welcome to Country. </p> <div id="story-primary" data-area="story-primary"> <p>“We all are on stolen land, there has never been a treaty, and a Welcome to Country is a way to bring people along on an understanding of the country that you are all living on,” the independent Senator said.</p> <p>“It’s about peace and the whole message behind a Welcome to Country is about respect and bringing people together. And I think Sam Newman is — you know, he is not a respectful man at the best of times so he needs to educate himself and not be so racist all the time.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> </div>

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