Placeholder Content Image

"Lots of NDAs": Channel Nine could face class action

<p>Channel Nine could face a class action over <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/damning-report-exposes-toxic-workplace-culture-at-channel-nine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">allegations of bullying</a>, sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct, according to one of Australia's leading employment lawyers Josh Bornstein. </p> <p>Bornstein told<em><a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/media/channel-nine-could-face-class-action-over-allegations-of-bullying-sexual-harassment-and-inappropriate-conduct/news-story/7e7f5979007ae16ae81621e48e48acab" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> news.com.au</a></em> that a class action might be an option for men and women who were the victims of a "hostile workplace". </p> <p>“There is a provision of the Sex Discrimination Act that is relatively recent and was introduced as a result of the Respect At Work changes,” he said.</p> <p>“It is a new provision that says that it’s a breach of the Act for an employer to maintain a workplace that is hostile for women.</p> <p>“So in light of the report, which indicates widespread bullying, sexism, punishment, sexual harassment, and favouritism of male reporters over female reporters getting access to stories, there is at least the basis on which to start considering whether a class action could be brought.”</p> <p>Bornstein is the principal lawyer at Maurice Blackburn, a law firm that has won more than  $4.3 billion in settlements for clients since their inception in 1998. </p> <p>“If the report is right, it’s systemic, which means many women have been impacted, and they’ve been subjected to an environment that’s hostile to them because of their gender, and if they’ve been harmed by that, a class action could give them some form of redress," he added. </p> <p>However, one of the complications would be the nondisclosure agreements some of the women may have signed before leaving the companies. </p> <p>“I’m aware there’s lots of NDA, particularly at Nine, and lots of releases as well.</p> <p>“A class action just requires a sufficiently large enough group of affected people who come together to lodge a case that says, ‘This is the sort of workplace environment we’ve been subjected to’.</p> <p>“They have to show that they’ve been subjected to the sorts of behaviours that are dealt with in the report and that or that adverse conduct was based on their gender, and then if they were able to show that the law had been breached, then compensation would be based on individual harm.”</p> <p>He added that in his opinion, while it might be better "for women to band together to pursue a collective case" it may be a bit more difficult as "there’s a fear that if you take on commercial networks, that’s the end of your career," which he said is a "well founded" fear. </p> <p><em>Image: FiledIMAGE / Shutterstock.com</em></p>

Legal

Placeholder Content Image

Damning report exposes toxic workplace culture at Channel Nine

<p>A damning culture investigation has revealed a history of systemic bullying and harassment within the Channel Nine workplace. </p> <p>The <a href="https://www.nineforbrands.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Intersection-Nine-Entertainment-2024-Report-FA.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a>, which was conducted by independent investigators, revealed their findings on Thursday, sharing the extent of the disturbing behaviour going on inside the network's offices.</p> <p>As stated in the report, Nine has “has a systemic issue with abuse of power and authority; bullying, discrimination and harassment; and sexual harassment”, with several employees sharing their own horror stories of working for the network. </p> <p>Dozens of female workers came forward with allegations of sexual assault, with one employee saying, “When I was in (location), (employee) tried to groom me. He also touched me on the bum at the Christmas party and at other times he would rub my legs under the table."</p> <p>“I saw him do it to other women.”</p> <p>Another staff member was warned not to let a senior male employee “touch (her) boobs”, adding, “His comments about my body were constant.”</p> <p>“He made me feel like I was just a piece of meat to be ogled at, and that he was the credible one just because he was the older man. Over time, this eroded my confidence. It just chipped away at it.”</p> <p>Other employees said the culture at Nine “destroyed (them) as a human being”, left them “broken” and a “shell” or gave them “debilitating” anxiety.</p> <p>“I was broken,” one former employee said. “I left the newsroom after a year. By the time I left my soul was gone.”</p> <p>If anyone complained about the toxic culture and inappropriate behaviour, they were allegedly sent to what was known as “punishment island”.</p> <p>“I have only been at the company a short time, but in my opinion there is a concerning culture among senior older men of sexual(ly) inappropriate jokes. There is sexual intimidation against young women and I find this completely unacceptable. I will always call them out,” another said.</p> <p>Others said talking about getting bullied at Nine had become commonplace, with one employee saying, “We used to talk about being bullied, harassed or publicly humiliated like you’d talk about the weather. Now when I look back it horrifies me how normalised it had become."</p> <p>Nine’s new chair Catherine West released a statement on Thursday after the report finding, saying, “We are deeply sorry ... I unreservedly apologise.”</p> <p>“Today is an incredibly difficult day for Nine as we confront these findings and reflect on serious cultural issues as an organisation."</p> <p>“The behaviour outlined in the report is unacceptable. Abuse of power, bullying, sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct is not OK. This behaviour has no place at Nine.”</p> <p>The report concluded with 22 recommendations to address the negative culture, including training, accountability and another external review in three years.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <div class="hide-print ad-no-notice css-svlwa0-StyledAdUnitWrapper ezkyf1c0" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: #292a33; color: #292a33; font-family: HeyWow, Montserrat, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"> </div>

Legal

Placeholder Content Image

10 signs you’re not on the right financial path

<p>Dreaming of owning a big house, nice car and a boat? Or just having enough cash to be comfortable?</p> <p>Here are 10 signs that you are not (yet) on the path to financial freedom.</p> <p><strong>1. You don't think about ways to make extra money</strong></p> <p>If you are paid a salary and nothing more, you are limited in the ways you can get ahead. The only way to save is to spend less. But if you switch it up and start to look for ways to earn more, your horizons open up. Most of the world's super wealthy have more than one income stream – some of which are usually passive, requiring no regular input. This could be something such as rental income from an investment property or the sale of a product such as an ebook. Add in some sensible savings habits and you will be on your way.</p> <p><strong>2. You leave your savings in a savings account</strong></p> <p>If you stick your cash in a savings account, it is basically doing nothing. You are better to look at ways to put that money to work. You could put it in a managed fund, buy shares or even lend it out via a peer-to-peer platform, to get a better return. Make sure you get good advice to understand what you are doing.</p> <p><strong>3. You borrow to buy</strong></p> <p>Borrowing to buy a house is fine. Borrowing to buy a car is (generally) not. If you are putting all your purchases on finance or credit card and paying them off with high rates of interest, you are pouring money down the drain. Live within your means if you want to get rich.</p> <p><strong>4. You don't know where your money goes</strong></p> <p>The first step to getting on the right track is to have a clear idea of what you're spending money on. If you don't know, chances are you're wasting it.  Have a look through your recent bank statements, draw up a budget. Stamp out some discretionary spending and you'll have more of that money to put to work that we mentioned earlier.</p> <p><strong>5. You're putting off planning for your retirement</strong></p> <p>If you think you are too young to have to worry about the future, you are doing yourself a huge disservice. When you are working towards a long-term financial goal, such as retirement, time is a huge asset to have on your side. The power of compounding means that any returns you make in a vehicle such as your KiwiSaver account then attract their own returns, over and over each year until you withdraw the money. The later you start saving, the more of that compounding power you miss.</p> <p><strong>6. You hate risk</strong></p> <p>It is great to be careful with your money but if you never take a risk, you miss out on returns. Over the long term, the biggest gains are usually from riskier investments, such as equities. You may also find ways to wealth by getting out of your comfort zone. Quitting your job and starting a new business is risky and scary, but could pay off if you have planned it well and know your stuff.</p> <p><strong>7. You don't have a plan</strong></p> <p>If you don't know how you're going to get rich, it probably isn't going to happen. Write down your goals. What do you want to achieve this week, month and year? What about in 10 years? If you can, identify someone who is in a position you'd like to get to and find out what they did to get there. Work out what you need to do to follow suit and break it down into small, achievable steps.</p> <p><strong>8. You don't pay yourself first</strong></p> <p>If you have decided to save money and think you'll just put aside everything that is left in your account at the end of the month, you will be horribly disappointed. This method almost always fails because there is invariably nothing left. Pay yourself first. Using your budget and plan, put aside the amount that you have worked out you can afford to save as soon as you get paid, and then live off the rest.</p> <p><strong>9. You think you're bad with money</strong></p> <p>It's a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you think you are bad with money, you won't pay any attention to your finances and they will get out of control. Stop thinking money is some sort of secret club that you could not possibly understand. Everyone can get a handle on it.</p> <p><strong>10. You don't know the basics</strong></p> <p>But having said that, it's important to get a good knowledge of the basic stuff. If you are not clear how your credit card works, or how your mortgage interest is calculated, get someone to help you break it down and bust the jargon. Websites such as Sorted have good tools or you can seek financial advice from your bank or an adviser.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>Written by Susan Edmonds. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>. </em></p>

Money & Banking

Placeholder Content Image

10 things you should never do on a cruise balcony

<p>While many cruise ship passengers may think they can abide by their own rules in the comfort of their cabins, there are still many cruise ship etiquette rules to follow.</p> <p>Even though some passengers may have private balconies in their rooms, that doesn't mean you can act as if no one is watching. It's important to follow these rules while in your rooms and on your balcony to ensure you'll never be forced to cop the consequences of bad behaviour. </p> <p><strong>1. Smoke</strong></p> <p>Smoking on cruise balconies is a real no-no. Not only is the wafting smoke an unpleasant smell, but a half-burning cigarette blown back aboard can potentially be a fire hazard.</p> <p><strong>2. Make too much noise</strong></p> <p>One think that’s often forgotten is the fact that when we’re standing on our cruise ship balconies we’re well within earshot of our neighbours, so keep the volume down.</p> <p><strong>3. Go nude</strong></p> <p>The thing people sun bathing in one their cruise ship balcony in their birthday suit don’t realise is many balconies are tiered, so you may actually be in view of others.</p> <p><strong>4. Stand or climb on railings</strong></p> <p>Now this should be obvious, but you should never stand on the railings or the verandah furniture can significantly increase your risk of being thrown overboard.</p> <p><strong>5. Throw items overboard</strong></p> <p>It might be tempting to toss a message in a beer bottle overseas, but there are strict regulations. Not only is this dangerous, it’s also not environmentally friendly.</p> <p><strong>6. Dry clothes  </strong></p> <p>It can be quite difficult to dry your swimmers when you’re off a cruise, but one strong gust of wind could mean you could go the rest of your cruise without bathers.</p> <p><strong>7. Leave the balcony door open</strong></p> <p>On a hot and humid day, leaving the balcony door ajar might seem like a good idea, but the gusty sea breeze can wreak havoc with any loose items in your cabin.</p> <p><strong>8. Light a candle</strong></p> <p>It might seem like it’s a good way to enhance the mood, but any open flame on a cruise ship is a fire hazard, and lighting a candle is almost always against regulations.</p> <p><strong>9. Leave the balcony light on</strong></p> <p>If your cruise balcony has outdoor lighting, make sure you turn if off when you’re not actually using it, to save electricity and not disturb your neighbours.</p> <p><strong>10. Amorous behaviour</strong></p> <p>Cruises are inherently romantic holidays, but you might need to avoid overt displays of affection. As mentioned above, balconies are not be as private as you think.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p>

Cruising

Placeholder Content Image

10 rules every good house guest follows

<p>You've been invited to stay in somebody else's house. You're instantly told "make yourself at home!" But you can't really, can you? Here's the unsaid rules of being a houseguest you just can't break. </p> <p><strong>1. Not arriving on time</strong></p> <p>Always provide your itinerary to your host before you arrive. If your flight or train is delayed, give them real-time updates. Google Map your journey in advance so you know exactly how to get to their house. It's awfully inconvenient as a host to be waiting to give a guest keys, but have them arrive two hours late because of an excuse like "I got lost".</p> <p><strong>2. Turning up empty handed</strong></p> <p>You don't need to bring much, but when staying at someone's house you need to arrive with a token of appreciation. A bottle of wine, some chocolates, or a kitsch little jar of jam you made. Turning up empty handed is expected by the host, but all good houseguests know a small gift is the right way to kick things off.</p> <p><strong>3. Keeping your shoes on</strong></p> <p>Perhaps you live in a shoes-on house when you're at home, but unless told so, you should never keep them on when staying at another's. Especially if you only see your host walking around bare foot, or in socks/slippers. Houseguests bring in extra dirt, fluff, and marks – the most conscious you can be of that, the better.</p> <p><strong>4. Turning down food</strong></p> <p>When you're staying in somebody else's home, you must eat what you are served. Hosts go to a lot of effort to make you feel welcome and cooking for you is a big part of that. If you have any dietary requirements, say so before you arrive and offer to bring a bag of shopping. Your host will probably refuse, but you've laid the groundwork for happy mealtimes for the duration of your stay.</p> <p><strong>5. Not cleaning up</strong></p> <p>Picture this: you're staying with a friend, and they're at work all day while you mooch around their house. The dishwasher is full but you don't know where anything goes in the cupboards. You pile your dirties in the sink, and your friend comes home to find them. Cue instant aggression that will forever remain unspoken. Avoid being a bad guest by cleaning up when you're a houseguest – even if you put things back in the wrong place.</p> <p><strong>6. Not asking to use laundry facilities</strong></p> <p>One of the most difficult things about travelling is getting your laundry done. When a washing machine and dryer become available, it's natural to want to jump on them. But you must ask your host first. They will always say yes – everybody understands what it's like to have to wear inside-out underwear when you've had no laundry facilities for a week – but it's just polite to ask.</p> <p><strong>7. Asking your host to quiet down</strong></p> <p>When staying in somebody else's house, there's a high chance of noises you're not used to. That could mean your host watching TV at midnight when you've got to be up early, or them talking loudly on the phone at 6AM while you're asleep. But you can't say anything about it. If you are noise-sensitive, always bring quality earplugs.</p> <p><strong>8. Bringing lovers home</strong></p> <p>We get it, maybe you're in an exciting new city and the options for a little sexy time are pinging at your phone every few minutes. But you cannot, under any circumstances, invite a new lover over to somebody's house when you're staying there. Even if you have their house to yourself, it's just a breach of respect. If you want to hook up, go to their place.</p> <p><strong>9. Leaving the bed unmade</strong></p> <p>Hosts generally accept there'll be some clean-up after you're gone. But don't leave the guest bed unmade, or your dirty sheets on it. Strip them off on your final morning, and either fold them nicely, or put them in the washing machine (this is one situation where you don't need their permission to use their laundry). Remake the bed with or without clean sheets if possible.</p> <p><strong>10. Not saying thank you</strong></p> <p>It doesn't have to be a formal written letter (though that would be nice, wouldn't it). But you must thank your hosts after you leave with a note, an e-mail, or even a text. It's something so easy to forget to do once you're gone, but ensures the host feels their hospitality has been appreciated. And if you've not broken any of the other rules, you'll definitely get invited back.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>Written by Lee Suckling. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>.</em></p>

Home & Garden

Placeholder Content Image

Channel 7 star hospitalised over heart issue

<p>Former Brisbane Lions AFLW star Kate McCarthy’s celebrations following the Brisbane Lions men’s AFL grand final victory were cut short after she was hospitalised due to an ongoing heart condition.</p> <p>McCarthy, 31, who played 42 games in the AFLW for the Brisbane Lions, St Kilda and Hawthorn across seven seasons before retiring, has been an active presence in the world of AFL even after stepping off the field. She currently serves as a commentator for Triple M and Channel 7, having provided coverage for Channel 7 during the AFL grand final weekend. McCarthy also co-hosts panel shows <em>Armchair Experts</em> and <em>Talking W</em>.</p> <p>Over the weekend, McCarthy celebrated the Lions’ dominant 60-point grand final win over the Sydney Swans and their AFLW team’s two-point victory over the Adelaide Crows, which pushed the women’s team to second place on the ladder.</p> <p>However, McCarthy took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday to reveal she had been hospitalised due to a heart-related issue, sharing a light-hearted post about the situation: “When the @brisbanelions & @lionsaflw double over the weekend sends you into ventricular tachycardia."</p> <p>Ventricular tachycardia is a condition where the heart beats faster than 100 beats per minute, causing a rapid and irregular rhythm. This can become life-threatening if left untreated, especially for individuals with underlying heart conditions.</p> <p>McCarthy’s heart issues are particularly dangerous due to her reliance on a pacemaker, which was implanted after she suffered from seizures as a child. At the age of five, McCarthy was diagnosed with an intermittent third-degree heart block, a condition where the electrical signals that control the heart’s rhythm fail to fire properly. After several seizures during her childhood, including a severe episode when she was 12, she underwent emergency surgery to install the pacemaker.</p> <p>Despite these health challenges, McCarthy’s sporting career has been nothing short of remarkable. She represented Queensland in cricket and touch footy and played for Australia in the latter before making her AFLW debut for the Lions in 2017. Her AFLW career highlights include being named an All-Australian and the Lions’ leading goal kicker in their inaugural season.</p> <p>McCarthy’s heart condition appears to be under control, with her pacemaker functioning as intended. While her health scare has been concerning, she reassured her followers that she is on the mend, humorously comparing her pacemaker’s performance to that of the Sydney Swans on grand final day.</p> <p>"On the mend now," McCarthy wrote, "but Monday night review shows pacemaker performing like the Swans on the big stage.”</p> <p><em>Images: Twitter (X)</em></p>

Caring

Placeholder Content Image

Another Channel 7 star quits in AFL shake-up

<p>Just last month Kane Cornes confirmed his move from the Nine Network to Channel 7 for the 2025 season, with colleague and veteran journalist Caroline Wilson doing the same. </p> <p>Now it has emerged that Channel 7 and Triple M commentator Luke Darcy has reportedly decided to walk away from the media industry all together, in the latest AFL shake-up. </p> <p>Darcy, a former ruckman who played 226 games with the Western Bulldogs, joined the media industry in 2007. He was initially with Network Ten before he moved to Channel 7 in 2011 and has since filled a variety of hosting and commentary roles. </p> <p>He also had a long-running breakfast show on Triple M with Eddie McGuire before that ended in 2020.</p> <p>Darcy got attention for his interview during the 2013 Essendon peptide saga and his repetition of the phrase, “say that again”. </p> <p>Now, he is choosing to walk away from the media to focus on his family's varied business ventures, according to the <em>Herald Sun</em>. </p> <p>A few of their business interests include a wellness spa in Bali, pubs and venues in Victoria, as well as a podcast on leadership. </p> <p>The news comes following a series of controversies involving Darcy, who on April this  year, confronted Cornes during a live Triple M radio segment, labelling the former  Port Adelaide midfielder “more mean spirited and nasty to people than anyone in the history of our industry”.</p> <p>The two have since cleared the air, to some extent, with Cornes saying that just last week he had crossed paths with Darcy during a footy game, and Darcy happily passed him some milk for a cup of tea. </p> <p>Wilson was among those that defended Cornes and called Darcy out for being out of line.</p> <p>It is unclear whether the controversy had any impact on Darcy's decision to leave the industry. </p> <p>A few footy fans were having a field day with the news, with one writing on Reddit: “Thank f**k. Insufferable that guy." </p> <p>“Nice bloke probably. But he’s the only actual voice I can’t stand listening to,” added another.</p> <p>“To give some credit he does sound genuinely excited/passionate for the game in much of his commentary," one defended. </p> <p><em>Image: news.com.au</em></p>

TV

Placeholder Content Image

Another Channel Ten star jumps ship to rival network

<p>As Channel Ten continues to make difficult choices about their future as they struggle to stay afloat, one high profile host has jumped ship to a rival network. </p> <p>According to <em><a href="https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/channel-ten-star-jumps-ship-to-nine-following-mass-axings-214525599.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo Lifestyle</a></em>, Rodger Corser, who was the host of the short-lived series <em>The Traitors Australia </em>on Ten, is set to host a new show on Nine titled <em>The Floor</em>, with Channel Nine allegedly swooping in to steal the actor and presenter "from underneath Network 10's noses".</p> <p>An industry insider told <em>Yahoo Lifestyle</em> that <em>The Traitors Australia</em> was being looked at again for another season, but Rodger's sudden move to Channel Nine has killed any hope that a third series would continue.</p> <p>As for Corser's new gig with Nine, <em>The Floor</em> is described as being a "game based around a floor grid of 81 squares, each of which is occupied by a contestant with expertise in a different trivia category. Pairs of contestants face each other in head-to-head trivia duels, with the winner taking over all territory controlled by the loser."</p> <p>After being made popular in the US with host Rob Lowe, the insider said Corser would be "perfect fit" to bring the show Down Under. </p> <p>"Nine didn't really want anyone else," they said. "<em>The Floor</em> is going to be massive and Nine are thrilled to have Rodger on contract."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

TV

Placeholder Content Image

New rendered image holds hope in William Tyrrell disappearance 10 years on

<p>A new rendered image has shown what William Tyrrell would look like now on the 10-year anniversary of his disappearance. </p> <p>On September 12th 2014, the then three-year-old disappeared from his foster grandmother's home in Kendall on the NSW Mid North Coast and has not been seen since, making his disappearance one of the nation's most enduring mysteries. </p> <p>Now, 10 years on, <em>Ten News</em> have released a rendered image of what William might look like now at 13, with experts hoping it might prompt someone to come forward with information. </p> <p>Criminologist Xanthe Mallett said the image was a way to keep William’s face in the public eye.</p> <p>“An image such as this could encourage someone who knows what happen to unlock the mystery,” Dr Mallett told <em>Ten News</em>.</p> <p>A $1million reward has been offered for information to help locate William, with a coronial inquest into his disappearance to take place at the end of this year.</p> <p>As William's family continue to struggle with the mystery around his disappearance, Close friends of Tyrrell’s foster parents, Clare and Alice Collins, have told <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/how-william-tyrells-loved-ones-are-spending-the-10-year-anniversary-of-his-disappearance-c-16030683" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>7News</em></a> reporter Michael Usher the family was “crushed” to still have no answers on the 10-year anniversary.</p> <p>“They remember William every minute of every day,” Clare said. “They’re living a nightmare.”</p> <p>Alice added, even a decade on, they believed “hope is the key”.</p> <p>“You hear cases from around the world with kids who had been abducted, and they turn up 10, 20 years later,” she said.</p> <p>“There is still a chance that he is out there ... it’s a big reach ... but in light of the fact that there is absolutely no evidence that William is deceased there is that very, very slim chance.”</p> <p>The pair appealed to anyone across the country with information as to where William might be to “make the call”.</p> <p>“It’s as though he’s just vanished ... we need answers ... Australia needs answers. Help bring William home ... and we will do everything in our power,” Alice said. “We are never giving up.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: NSW Police / Ten News</em></p>

Family & Pets

Placeholder Content Image

Network Seven claps back after Robert Ovadia's claims of "evil" conduct

<p>Channel Seven has clapped back at claims from former <em>7News</em> presenter Robert Ovadia that they are engaging in "evil" conduct, claiming they have found more inappropriate emails from the veteran journalist. </p> <p>Robert Ovadia, who worked with Seven for 23 years, was fired in June and has taken the matter to court claiming he was unfairly dismissed, while also claiming the network is hellbent on destroying his reputation. </p> <p>However, the network has finally spoke out about the claims, saying they have recent complaints from more female staffers about inappropriate behaviour. </p> <p>“Mr Ovadia commenced Federal Court proceedings against Seven over his dismissal for serious misconduct following the sending of inappropriate emails to a 23-year-old news producer and other employees of Seven," a Seven spokesman said.</p> <p>“In doing so, Seven is discharging its obligations to prevent sexual harassment at work, including as more recently expanded under recent legislation. Mr Ovadia was trained about these new legislative obligations by Seven and failed to comply with them.”</p> <p>The statement from the network went on to suggest there are further revelations to come, as more women have come forward with allegations of inappropriate conduct.</p> <p>“At the first hearing of those proceedings on Thursday, 29 August 2024 about Orders for the filing of evidence and timetable steps, Justice Raper asked Seven whether any other conduct would be relied upon by Seven other than set out in the termination letter," the spokesman said.</p> <p>“In that context, Seven confirmed it has had complaints or allegations about Mr Ovadia from 13 other employees. Although Seven was not required to provide examples of the other conduct it intends to rely on at this stage, Seven has provided Mr Ovadia and his lawyers examples of some of the inappropriate emails by Mr Ovadia, which will be further detailed in Seven’s defence required to be filed on 12 September 2024."</p> <p>“Out of respect for their privacy, Seven has not chosen to make further even more inappropriate emails public at this stage. In response to this, Mr Ovadia has made outlandish complaints about Seven being an ‘evil company’ with a ‘propaganda unit’ that is setting out to destroy his reputation. Seven is confident its position on this matter will be upheld by the Courts."</p> <p>In response to the statement, Ovadia took to Instagram to take another swing at his former employer while also maintaining his innocence. </p> <p>“I can be crass, I can be blunt, I can be obnoxious, my humour is dark – 20 years surrounded by trauma and danger will do all of that to you – but I do NOT mistreat women,” Mr Ovadia said in a lengthy Instagram post.</p> <p>“I’ll expect more smear over the coming months as this evil company (in whose service I risked my life and safety many times) now seeks to destroy my reputation further,” Mr Ovadia said.</p> <p>“When this kicked off, the day Seven first leaked this story, my teenage daughter asked if people will think her dad is a rapist. At least <em>Four Corners</em>’ laboured hatchet job got one thing right – the Seven Network is diabolical.”</p> <p>The journalist went on to share screenshots of conversations he had with female staffers who shared their words of support for Ovadia, saying they believe the allegations are false. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Legal

Placeholder Content Image

Can a 10-year-old be responsible for a crime? Here’s what brain science tells us

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/susan-m-sawyer-109573">Susan M. Sawyer</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nandi-vijayakumar-1644262">Nandi Vijayakumar</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757"><em>Deakin University</em></a></em></p> <p>The age a child can be arrested, charged and jailed in Australia is back in the spotlight.</p> <p>Last year, the Northern Territory became the first jurisdiction to raise the age of criminal responsibility from ten to 12. Now its new, tough-on-crime government has pledged to <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/incoming-chief-minister-says-age-of-criminal-responsibility-to-be-lowered-to-10-years-old/a1xm9jy9c">return it to ten</a>. It comes after Victoria <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-13/victoria-youth-justice-reform-criminal-age/104217160">walked back</a> its earlier commitment to raise the age to 14, settling instead on 12.</p> <p>But the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child says 14 should be the absolute <a href="https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/general-comments-and-recommendations/general-comment-no-24-2019-childrens-rights-child">minimum</a>. It raised this age from its earlier recommendation (in 2007) of 12, citing a decade of new research into child and adolescent development.</p> <p>So what does the science say? What happens to the brain between ten and 14? And how much can those under 14 understand the consequences of their actions?</p> <h2>Who is an adolescent?</h2> <p>Our research shows adolescence is a <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30169257/">critical period</a> for development. It’s the time children’s experiences and explorations shape how they develop cognitive skills (including critical thinking and decision making), as well as social and emotional skills (including moral reasoning).</p> <p>Adolescence also lasts longer than we tend to think. Important brain development begins during late childhood, around eight to nine years. Intense changes then follow during early adolescence (ages ten to 14). But these changes continue well into the twenties, and full cognitive and emotional maturity is not usually reached until around age 24.</p> <p>However, everyone’s brain matures at a different rate. That means there is no definitive age we can say humans reach “adult” levels of cognitive maturity. What we do know is the period of early adolescence is critical.</p> <h2>What does puberty do to the brain?</h2> <p>Puberty is a defining feature of early adolescence. Most of us are familiar with the changes that occur to the body and reproductive systems. But the increase in puberty hormones, such as testosterone and oestrogen, also trigger changes to the brain. These hormones <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306453017313252?via%3Dihub">increase most sharply</a> between ten and 15 years of age, although gradual changes continue into the early twenties.</p> <p>Puberty hormones change the structures in the brain which process emotions, including the amygdala (which encodes fear and stress) and ventral striatum (involved in reward and motivation).</p> <p>This makes adolescents particularly reactive to emotional rewards and threats. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2019.04.024">Our research</a> has shown the brain’s sensitivity to emotions increases throughout early adolescence until around 14 or 15 years old.</p> <p>At the same time, changes in puberty have <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000172">been linked</a> to increased sensation seeking and impulsive behaviours during early adolescence.</p> <p>This context is crucial when we discuss the behaviour of children in the ten to 14 age range. The way their brains change during this period makes them more sensitive and responsive to emotions, and more likely to be seeking experiences that are new and intense.</p> <h2>How do adolescents make decisions?</h2> <p>The emotional context of puberty influences how younger adolescents make decisions and understand their consequences.</p> <p>Decision making relies on several basic cognitive functions, including the brain’s flexibility, memory and ability to control impulses.</p> <p>These cognitive abilities – which together help us consider the consequences of our actions – undergo some of the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1741-13.2013">steepest development</a> between ages ten and 14. By age 15, the ability to make complex decisions has usually <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/lhb0000315">reached adult maturity</a>.</p> <p>But adolescents at this age remain highly susceptible to emotions. So while their brain may be equipped to make a complex decision, their ability to think through the consequences, weighing up costs and benefits, can be clouded by emotional situations.</p> <p>For example, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12085">research has shown</a> 13-14 year-olds were more distracted from completing a task and less able to control their behaviour when they viewed images that made them feel negative emotions.</p> <p>The social world of teenagers also has a significant impact on how they make decisions – especially in early adolescence. One study found that while older adolescents (aged 15-18) are more influenced by what adults think when weighing up risk, adolescents aged 12-14 <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0956797615569578">look to other teenagers</a>.</p> <p>Experiments <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0272431616648453">have also shown</a> adolescents aged 12-15 make riskier decisions when they are with peers than by themselves. Their brain responses also suggest they experience a greater sense of reward in taking those risks <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/scan/nsy071">with peers</a>.</p> <h2>How do teens understand the consequences of their actions?</h2> <p>The concept of <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp2122/Quick_Guides/MinimumAgeCriminalResponsibility">criminal responsibility</a> is based on whether a person is able to understand their action and know whether it is wrong.</p> <p>Moral reasoning – how people think about right and wrong – depends on the ability to understand another person’s mental state and adopt their perspective. These skills are in development <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.09.012">across adolescence</a>.</p> <p>Research suggests it may take more effort for adolescent brains to process <a href="https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn.2009.21121">“social” emotions</a> such as guilt and embarrassment, compared to adults. This is similar when they make <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/17470919.2014.933714">moral judgements</a>. This evidence suggests teenage brains may have to work harder when considering other people’s intentions and desires.</p> <p>Young adolescents have the cognitive ability to appreciate they made a bad decision, but it is more mentally demanding. And social rewards, emotions and the chance to experience something new all have a strong bearing on their decisions and actions in the moment — possibly more than whether it is right or wrong.</p> <h2>Early adolescence is critical for the brain</h2> <p>There are also a number of reasons adolescent brains may develop differently. This includes various forms of neurodisability such as acquired brain injury, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and intellectual disability, as well as exposure to trauma.</p> <p>Teenagers with neurodevelopmental disorders will likely cope differently with decision making, social pressure, impulse control and risk assessment, and face <a href="https://www.mcri.edu.au/images/research/strategic-collaborations/Flagships/Neurodevelopment/Neurodevelopment_Flagship_Brochure.pdf">extra difficulties</a>. Across the world, they are <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(19)30217-8/fulltext">disproportionately incarcerated</a>.</p> <p>In Australia, Indigenous children and adolescents are incarcerated <a href="https://www.indigenoushpf.gov.au/measures/2-11-contact-with-the-criminal-justice-system#:%7E:text=On%20an%20average%20day%20in%202021%E2%80%9322%2C%20there%20were%3A,AIHW%202023d%3A%20Table%20S76a">in greater numbers</a> than their non-Indigenous peers.</p> <p>Each child matures differently, and some face extra challenges. But for every person, the period between ten and 14 is critical for developing the cognitive, social and emotional skills they’ll carry through the rest of their life.<!-- 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/237552/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><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/susan-m-sawyer-109573">Susan M. Sawyer</a>, Professor of Adolescent Health The University of Melbourne; Director, Royal Children's Hospital Centre for Adolescent Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nandi-vijayakumar-1644262">Nandi Vijayakumar</a>, Research Fellow, School of Psychology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>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/can-a-10-year-old-be-responsible-for-a-crime-heres-what-brain-science-tells-us-237552">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Mind

Placeholder Content Image

"Fresh chapter": Channel 7 reveals new star line-up

<p>Channel 7 has revealed yet another shake-up in its news presenter lineup, following months of significant reshuffles and the departures of several high-profile television personalities from the network.</p> <p>On Sunday, the network announced what it described as a "fresh chapter" for its 7News Sydney team, with veteran broadcasters Angela Cox and Mark Ferguson appointed as co-anchors for the flagship 6pm bulletin.</p> <p>Cox, who has served as a weekend news co-presenter for the past four years, temporarily filled in for Ferguson while he was on leave during the Olympics. This period of transition occurred amid a series of changes initiated by Seven's news and current affairs director, Anthony De Ceglie.</p> <p>The timing of Ferguson's leave had sparked speculation about his future at the network, particularly against the backdrop of reported cost-cutting measures due to a significant drop in ad revenue. However, the latest announcement puts those rumours to rest, affirming Ferguson's continued role at the helm of 7News Sydney.</p> <p>Cox, who has spent two decades with Channel 7, including a notable seven-year tenure as a foreign correspondent in the US, expressed her excitement about the new role. "Mark’s warmth, integrity and authority behind the news desk has rightfully earned him a loyal following," she said. "He’s also a great bloke, always professional, very funny and a great husband and family man.</p> <p>"The news landscape has changed so much. The way we consume news is radically different now than even 10 years ago and 7NEWS is evolving too."</p> <p>Cox is set to co-anchor her first bulletin with Ferguson on Sunday, September 8, following his return from filming a special series of news reports.</p> <p>Ferguson, who has been the face of the 7News Sydney bulletin for a decade, celebrated his 40th year in the media industry in February. His vast experience and reputation as one of Australia's most trusted news voices make him a key figure in this new co-anchor format.</p> <p>"This new co-anchor approach brings a new sense of dynamism, innovation, and flexibility to the hour-long program," said De Ceglie in a statement. "I am incredibly excited to see Mark and Angela work together."</p> <p>Sunday's announcement is the latest in a series of changes within Channel 7's newsrooms. In July, star Brisbane newsreader Sharyn Ghidella <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/apparently-my-time-is-up-veteran-channel-7-anchor-s-abrupt-departure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was unexpectedly axed</a> after nearly two decades with the network, a move she revealed on social media after being informed of her departure while at a hairdresser's appointment.</p> <p>August saw the departure of veteran sports presenter Shane Webcke from the news desk, though he will continue contributing NRL insights for the network. Additionally, senior journalist Steve Hart <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/channel-seven-loses-veteran-reporter-to-rival-network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced his exit</a> from the Brisbane newsroom in an internal email to staff last month.</p> <p>In contrast to these exits, Channel 7 has also made strategic hires, including the recent addition of former ABC journalist Karina Carvalho as a 7News presenter in Melbourne.</p> <p>As Channel 7 continues to navigate these changes, the network's commitment to refreshing its news lineup is evident, with the Cox-Ferguson co-anchor team set to usher in this "fresh chapter" for 7News Sydney.</p> <p><em>Images: 7News</em></p>

TV

Placeholder Content Image

Another Channel Seven presenter announces shock resignation

<p>Veteran Channel Seven weather presenter Liz Cantor has announced her resignation on Wednesday after 17 years with the network. </p> <p>The TV host shared the shock news in a statement and revealed she has accepted a new position at Network Ten. </p> <p>"I was a seven, now I'm a ten. I feel honoured to be part of the return of local news to Queensland. I'm really excited to take weather out into our community," she said. </p> <p>She paid tribute to her former colleagues and shared her excitement at starting the new role alongside a gallery of photos from her time at Seven. </p> <p>"I just want to use this space to take a moment and jump in to say thank you to my 7News colleagues," she shared.</p> <p>"I cherish the friendships, experiences, lessons and growth I've experienced while running alongside you all, over the past 17 years.</p> <p>"You're the most incredible, hard working bunch of inspirational people. I count my lucky stars I got to share such an influential part of my life with you all."</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/C_NSXdcTySW/?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/C_NSXdcTySW/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by LIZ CANTOR (@lizcantor)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Cantor will start her new role on Monday. </p> <p>She joins Sharyn Ghidella, who was axed from Seven last month, but will soon join Network 10 to anchor the 5pm Queensland news bulletin. </p> <p>Her move to Network 10 will also bring the <em>10 News First </em>show back to the Brisbane studio after years of it being read from Sydney. </p> <p>In an <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C_OWPdxTOgF/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">update</a> shared on Wednesday morning, Cantor shared a photo alongside Ghidella in front of the Network 10 desk, sharing her excitement to be working with her again. </p> <p>"Also, @sharynghidella people know you as a calm, composed, intelligent news anchor - and you are all of these things - but I also know you as someone witty (YES!) and always encouraging and supportive of the people around you," she wrote. </p> <p>"I am beyond thrilled, to call you my colleague again. See you all Monday."</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

TV

Placeholder Content Image

Channel Seven loses veteran reporter to rival network

<p>A Channel Seven reporter has announced he is leaving the network to join a rival station. </p> <p>Journalist Steve Hart from the <em>7News</em> room in Brisbane shared that he is leaving the network after two years to join the WIN News, owned by Nine, in Wollongong. </p> <p>Hart, who first joined the Seven Network in 2022 after leaving Network 10, will have his last day on September 11th. </p> <p>The news was revealed in an internal email to staff on Tuesday, which cited “family reasons” as the driving force behind Hart’s decision.</p> <p>According to <a id="U841326290785qZ" href="https://www.couriermail.com.au/entertainment/veteran-journalist-steve-hart-leaves-channel-7-for-rival-network/news-story/8311df15d77a4e4aa251bc64a709f16c" data-tgev="event119" data-tgev-container="bodylink" data-tgev-order="8311df15d77a4e4aa251bc64a709f16c" data-tgev-label="entertainment" data-tgev-metric="ev"><em>Courier</em> <em>Mail</em></a>, Hart’s wife has been living in Sydney, and his regular weekend commutes to be with her have played a significant role in his choice to relocate closer to his family.</p> <p>The news of Hart's departure comes after the <em>7News</em> room in Brisbane has faces a series of controversies, with many high profile presenters fleeing the network. </p> <p>Hart's departure comes just one week after sports presenter Shane Webcke announced his decision to step back from the news desk, following discussions with management to reduce his work hours and focus on his family’s agricultural business.</p> <p>The departure of both Hart and Webcke is understood to be unrelated to the recent wave of redundancies at Seven, and comes after the ABC <em>Four Corners</em> investigation into <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/bombshell-allegations-of-toxic-channel-seven-workplace-aired" target="_blank" rel="noopener">toxic</a> workplace culture in the Brisbane newsroom. </p> <p><em>Image credits: 7News</em></p>

TV

Placeholder Content Image

Channel Nine revamps Today show line up

<p>Big changes are coming to Channel Nine's flagship <em>Today</em> show, following the <a href="https://o60.me/7hh8v2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">departure</a> of popular newsreader Brooke Boney. </p> <p>The shake-up to the morning show's line-up was confirmed on Monday and will affect both the weekday and weekend programs. </p> <p>Jayne Azzopardi, a former Sydney news reporter, will replace Boney on the morning news desk. </p> <p>Azzopardi's role as co-host of <em>Weekend Today</em> will now be taken over by Sophie Walsh, who will co-host alongside fellow veteran Nine presenter Clint Stanaway. </p> <p>Walsh has worked at Channel Nine for 15 years, after first joining the broadcaster as a news reporter in 2009. </p> <p>In another change for <em>Weekend Today, </em>senior journalist Lizzie Pearl will cover the news while Dan Anstey will present the weather. </p> <p>Renee Bargh, who has regularly featured on the <em>Today </em>show in the past has been officially welcomed to the team as an entertainment reporter. </p> <p>Confirmation of the changes comes after an emotional week among staff at the <em>Today</em> show with Boney's departure last Friday. </p> <p>"Thank you for accepting me. I know that I don't fit the mould and I'm grateful for each and every one of you for tuning in every day," Boney said during her farewell. </p> <p>The journalist, who was joined by her mother on the couch, became emotional as she reflected on her experience. </p> <p>"I'm so grateful for every opportunity that I've been given here, I've done things I never dreamed possible," Boney said.</p> <p>"For someone like me, I grew up in housing commission, so this is really beyond my wildest dreams.</p> <p>"I mean, I just spent a month at the Olympics. I've been to the Oscars... all around the world to do things that most people don't get to do."</p> <p>During her final show last week <em>Today</em> host Karl Stefanovic also told her that she was well loved and respected.</p> <p>“We love you and everything you represent, how hard you work,” he said.</p> <p>Boney announced her departure earlier this year after she was offered a position to study at Oxford University.</p> <p><em>Image: Nine/ Instagram</em></p>

TV

Placeholder Content Image

Larry Emdur's crazy pledge ahead of Logies

<p>Channel Seven presenter Larry Emdur is up for his first Gold Logie and he's so sure he won't win that he's made a wild pledge if he does end up being crowned. </p> <p>“I’m so confident I won’t win, I’ll happily get all the nominees name initials tattooed on my arse on the Morning Show live on Monday [if I do],” he told <em>news.com.au</em>.</p> <p>Despite the presenter hosting popular TV shows for over 30 years, including <em>The Price Is Right, Wheel of Fortune, Hey Hey It’s Saturday</em>, this is his first Logie nomination ever. </p> <p>Before his hosting hobs on TV, Emdur was a cadet journalist at Seven, where he earned the title of  ‘Australia’s youngest ever national newsreader’ when he presented the overnight news at just 19. </p> <p>While the title sounds pretty cool, the host revealed the truth behind how he got the role. </p> <p>“There’s a bit of a twist to that... it’s been slightly misrepresented over the years, but it was an overnight shift that no one wanted to do,” he said. </p> <p>“For me, I wanted to surf all day, so I was like, ‘OK, I’ll do the overnight shift’. And that gave me the title back then as the youngest national newsreader.”</p> <p>He landed his first job as a paperboy for Fairfax, and while it was "the crappiest early entry job", Emdur said he initially "wasn’t in there to be part of the media. I really just wanted to surf all day.”</p> <p>It wasn't until a journo gave him a tip-off suggesting he rewrite an existing article about crime in Bondi and offer it to a community newspaper when things started to kick off for his career. </p> <p>He wrote his very first article 'The Bondi Crime Plague by Larry Emdur’ on a typewriter and sent it to the<em> Bondi Spectator’s</em> office.</p> <p>“They were only doing bowling reports, commercials, adverts and stuff. So they weren’t big on news. And I just wrote a note saying, ‘I’m interested in getting into the media. Dear editor, could you let me know what you think of this?’,” he said. </p> <p>“That was a Monday, and Mum came into my room on a Thursday morning, woke me up and said, ‘Is this you?’ And [there it was] on page 3." </p> <p>“So, I was a reporter now. I was basically stealing stories, but I was a journalist. I thought, ‘This is unbelievable’.”</p> <p>He then interned for<em> Seven</em> during the Christmas period and got his early break producing a story that made it to air with the help of  late New Zealand musician Ricky May. </p> <p>“I put that down to Ricky May. He just picked me out his crowd and went, ‘Follow me. I’ll make a story with you.’”</p> <p>This was a pivotal moment in his career before he was eventually promoted to national news reading, and is now a popular figure on Aussie TV. </p> <p>Despite this, the <em>Morning Show</em> co-host still stands by his Logie prediction. </p> <p>“I feel confident that I won’t be getting a tattoo on my arse on the Morning Show,” he said. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

TV

Placeholder Content Image

Bombshell allegations of "toxic" Channel Seven workplace aired

<p>Allegations of a "soul crushing" and "degrading" workplace at Channel Seven have been aired by ABC's <em>Four Corners</em>, with current and former staff members lifting the lid on the "toxic" and "sexist" culture. </p> <p>The ABC program spoke to more than 200 people from Channel Seven for the bombshell expose in which staff made allegations of a “boys club” where women were forced to work harder than men.</p> <p>One female journalist claims she was told to handover her hard-won stories to male journalists while another said she had to work late while her male colleagues went out and got drunk.</p> <p>As a result of the culture at Seven, one woman allegedly was left feeling suicidal over the work conditions and threw herself in front of a car outside the network’s Brisbane office after allegedly working extremely long hours for not much more than minimum wage.</p> <p>The woman had tried to resign from her job, but claims the network wouldn't accept her resignation and was kept on for another six months. </p> <p>“The only way I can describe it is I felt like I had a noose around my neck,” the young woman told Four Corners.</p> <p>One of the woman’s colleagues received a call from her in which she was “wailing, hysterical, incredibly emotional”, and in notes taken of the incident, they wrote, “Couldn’t understand what she was saying apart from ‘they won’t let me go’, ‘i’ve f**ked up my career’, ‘I want to be hit by a car’.”</p> <p>The woman attempted suicide and mercifully, the car didn't hit her. She was taken to the hospital in an ambulance and never returned to Channel Seven. </p> <p>Another woman, who is suing Channel Seven for sexual discrimination, said she was left feeling suicidal after working on the network’s <em>Spotlight</em> program.</p> <p>She claims she was forced to work 10-12 hour days, seven days a week and was once forced to use her own money to finish a story, leaving her with no money for rent while she waited for expenses to be reimbursed.</p> <p>“[It was] incredibly stressful,” she said.</p> <p>The woman then fell ill with a serious respiratory illness, and doctors told her she needed some time away from work to rest and recover. </p> <p>“I just started sobbing because the pressure of going home and not going back to the office and what the retribution would be if I did that was so great,” she says.</p> <p>“[The doctor] said, ‘If you don’t go home now, you’re going to be in bed with pneumonia for six weeks … I’ll call an ambulance to your office if I have to.’”</p> <p>The journalist claims that the network wanted her to keep working at home.</p> <p>“I got to the point where I was suicidal, and I remember in one particularly dark moment where I’d worked all weekend,” she says.</p> <p>“I rang Lifeline, and I made a doctor’s appointment because I knew I was so close to taking my own life. And I had a child that I couldn’t do that to because I was a single parent.”</p> <p>One Seven employee, Olivia Babb, told <em>Four Corners</em> of the unsustainable salaries within the network, revealing how many of her colleagues have been forced to take up second jobs to make ends meet. </p> <p>On top of her fears of becoming homeless due to the minimum wages, Olivia also claims  she was “harassed and bullied” during her time at Seven.</p> <p>“It is one of the most degrading, soul-crushing places you can work,” the former reporter said.</p> <p>Solicitor Josh Bornstein, who has multiple clients taking legal action against Seven, said there was “enormous hostility to women”.</p> <p>In a statement after <em>Four Corners</em> aired, Seven West Media said it was “clearly concerned about allegations of poor behaviour and mistreatment of employees”.</p> <p><em><strong>Need to talk to someone? Don't go it alone. Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or <a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">lifeline.org.au</a></strong></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Four Corners</em></p>

Legal

Placeholder Content Image

“Wedding Of The Year!": Channel 10 presenter's intimate wedding

<p>Channel 10 presenter Narelda Jacobs has officially tied the knot with Karina Natt. </p> <p>The presenter, who hosts the network's midday bulletin <em>10 News First </em>married her partner in a star-studded ceremony in Sydney over the weekend.  </p> <p>“Wives,” Jacobs announced their marriage with a black and white photo of them on Instagram. </p> <p>Jacobs and Natt  said "I do" in front of a floral arch, with the pair rocking gowns from Aussie luxury label Zhivago. </p> <p>The pair both wore form-fitting gowns, with Jacobs adding fur accents to her gown, while Natt made statement with high shoulder pads on her dress. </p> <p>The lovebirds later on changed into matching sparkly dresses for the reception and kicked off their heels for dancing shoes. </p> <p>The romantic indoor ceremony held on Saturday was attended by the couple's family and famous friends including fellow presenter Angela Bishop, celebrity chef Kylie Kwong, former <em>MasterChef Australia </em>host Melissa Leong and comedian Luke McGregor. </p> <p>Their friends also took to Instagram to share footage from the fun-filled night. </p> <p>“One of the best things in life is bearing witness to this level of joy, love, and celebration. The biggest and most heartfelt congratulations to these two incandescent humans, @narelda_jacobs @karinaalyce,” Leong wrote on Instagram alongside a series of pics.</p> <p>“It filled my heart to celebrate your union, alongside the most extra and extraordinary gathering of friends and loved ones!” she added.</p> <p>“My feet are sore, and my heart is full. How good is love! I’m not crying, you are!”</p> <p>Jacobs was touched by the tribute, replying: “We’ve been in one big beautiful love bubble! Thank you for helping make our special day even more special Mel. Love you!!”</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/C-hwa8fMkIb/?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/C-hwa8fMkIb/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Jeremy Fernandez (@jeznews)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>ABC journalist Jeremy Fernandez shared a video montage of the celebrations on Instagram with the caption: “Wedding Of The Year! - Congratulations Narelda &amp; Karina." </p> <p>The wedding comes 18 months after Jacobs made their relationship Instagram-official with a sweet photo of them kissing during the World Pride celebrations in Sydney. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

Placeholder Content Image

Channel 9 slammed for "pathetic" Olympics move

<p>Aussie viewers have vented their frustrations at Channel 9 after the broadcaster chose not to show Jess Hull's Paris debut on their main channel. </p> <p>Viewers at home were eagerly waiting to see Hull's heat live, as she broke the 2000m world record in the lead up to the Olympics, but instead they were shown replays of the surfing heat from earlier. </p> <p>While Hull's race was shown on other secondary streaming channels on Nine, it was not on the main broadcast. </p> <p>Many were forced to watch Hull's race after it had already occurred. </p> <p>"Where is the 1500m heat with Jess Hull?" a confused viewer tweeted. </p> <p>"Agree, pathetic," replied another. </p> <p>“Channel 9 cutting to a surfing replay over showing Jess Hull’s 1500m heat live might just be the stupidest sh*t I’ve ever seen in sports producing in my life. And yes. I watched it on 9Now. But seriously,” Sprinter and athletics coach Tim Rosen said. </p> <p>“I wondered the same thing, why wouldn’t they show the third heat live with Jess Hull considering they spent the last half-hour talking her up?” Journalist Luke Dennehy tweeted. </p> <p>“Disgraceful @Channel9, Jess hull is racing, top hope and you cut to go to equestrian and rock climbing. Ridiculous decision,” one fan wrote. </p> <p>"Can’t wait to watch Jessica Hull’s heat on 9! Our fastest ever women’s 1500m runner and gold medal chance! Wait- what’s this? Surfing with no waves (at least an Aussie was in the final) equestrian, springboard diving … No Jess! Thanks @Channel9,” another wrote. </p> <p>“What is wrong with Channel 9’s coverage … prelim diving and surfing replay on their 2 free to air channels!! No Jess Hull!! …. do they not cover track and field unless there’s a big name competing!! … Really disappointing! Second rate coverage," a third added. </p> <p>“We missed the action because you completely forgot about it. Jess Hull is our only odds-on favourite for a track medal — she just ran her one and only Aus prime time race and you completely missed it," a fourth wrote. </p> <p>Hull finished in the top six and landed a spot in the semis, and she wasn't the only Aussie qualifier, with Georgia Griffith finishing fourth. </p> <p><em>Image: JAMES ROSS/EPA-EFE/ Shutterstock Editorial</em></p>

TV

Placeholder Content Image

Sandra Sully and Angela Bishop reflect on 60 years of Network 10

<p>Sandra Sully and Angela Bishop have reflected on their most memorable moments with Channel 10 as the network celebrates 60 years on the air. </p> <p>As the network looks back on 60 years servicing and informing the country, two of their long-running powerhouses have looked back on their careers at Network 10. </p> <p>Both Sully and Bishop have been fixtures of the 10 network since the 1990s, both carving out such influential roles within the Australian mediascape that they’ve earned Order Of Australia medals, honouring their work within the industry.</p> <p>The two journalists have looked back at some of their most memorable moments in their careers, ranging from covering breaking international news, keeping industry secrets and their hardest interviews. </p> <p>When asked about her most memorable news broadcasts, Sandra said that informing Australia about the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001 is something that will stick with her forever. </p> <p>“News strikes without warning,” Sandra tells <a href="https://www.pedestrian.tv/entertainment/sandra-sully-angela-bishop/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>PEDESTRIAN.TV</em></a>. </p> <p>“I was the deer in the headlights and in the chair that night, and it all unfolded while we were live on air. So I had to go with it.”</p> <p>Sully, who was part of the Ten Late News team at the time, said she remembers her broadcast on each anniversary of the devastating attacks. </p> <p>“It’s something that is actually always with me,” she continued. </p> <p>“September 11 every year is always a kind of sad time for me because we all thought World War Three was going to erupt that night, that what we were watching was the beginning of World War Three." </p> <p>“And I don’t think generations these days could ever fully appreciate what that was like, because news is so instant now. They can get it all day, every day, on any platform. And so it’s hard for them to appreciate what actually happened that night, and the world’s moved on. For me, it was equally daunting, challenging and rewarding.”</p> <p>When working in the media industry, one thing that comes with showbiz is keeping secrets, which is something Angela Bishop learned all too well in 2010 when Oprah Winfrey was planning her trip Down Under. </p> <p>“I’ve never kept something more in the vault in my life,” Angela said with a laugh. </p> <p>“Oprah rarely did interviews back then because at that time she had her show on every day, she just felt she didn’t need to, because people got to see her every day. I got a great one-on-one interview with her when she came out, and then I covered her tour.</p> <p>“That was an absolute pinch me moment being interviewing her up on Hamilton Island when she arrived, as two koalas started having sex right next to us in the tree.”</p> <p>While secret keeping is only part of Bishop's job, she has had decades of experience interviewing celebrities around the world. </p> <p>And while all of her interviews are memorable, not all of them are for the right reasons, as she explained how she struggled interviewing Sacha Baron Cohen during his pressrun for Borat in 2006. </p> <p>“He was in character the whole time, from when I met him to when it ended, and I had to keep up with him, just doing all of the Borat things that Borat does,” she explains.</p> <p>At one point, Borat asked her: “Where is the journalist?” and when Angelia replied that she was the journalist, Borat feigned surprise.</p> <p>“We say to let a woman be a journalist is like to let a monkey fly a plane,” he quipped.</p> <p>Angela said of the infamous interview, “I just had to think on my feet and in the sand while there was people around, interacting with us and everything.”</p> <p>Angela and Sandra both spoke candidly about why they've stayed with the network for so long, as Angela said, “It’s the cheekiness and the risk-taking nature of the network. It’s a bold place.” </p> <p>“And it’s just family. I lost my husband back in 2017 to cancer and it was really a crucial part of my healing how much support I got from 10. It felt like family here, they really looked after me during that time and so did the viewers. Channel 10 viewers are quite something.”</p> <p>Sandra added, “It’s always been the culture, and it’s always been the teamwork. Television news is the epitome of teamwork." </p> <p>“I’m really thrilled, honoured, privileged to be a part of the 10 family and to have been there so long. I try not to think about how long it is, and the poor audience have to put up with me, but it has been an absolute joy, because 10 have always taken it to the edge. They’ve always redefined what television is in Australia. They’ve done it with irreverence and humour, but also a strong sense of ethics and respect for the audience.”</p> <p>Image credits: Network 10</p>

TV

Our Partners