Films
Bridget’s back: Renée Zellweger hits Sydney for fourth film
Renée Zellweger is back as Bridget Jones for a fourth – and supposedly final – outing, Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy.
As Thomas Mitchell reports in The Sydney Morning Herald, the Oscar winner, 55, touched down in Sydney for the film’s Australian premiere on Sunday, part of a global press blitz ahead of its release this week.
Zellweger hit the red carpet alongside co-stars , and director Michael Morris, bringing a touch of Hollywood to town.
Television
Ex-Nine Brisbane news boss told to delete audio of sacking
Former Nine Brisbane news director Amanda Paterson was reportedly asked by HR to delete a legally obtained recording of her dismissal.
As James Madden reports in The Australian, on November 7, after 31 years with Nine, Paterson was called into a snap boardroom meeting. In a seven-minute Zoom call, national news boss Fiona Dear informed her that her contract was terminated immediately.
Nine cited delays in staff contracts, incomplete training, and an offhand party remark – “We’ve got rid of all the dickheads at Nine” – as reasons for her sacking.
Heston Russell demands ABC apology over false war crime claims
Former commando Heston Russell is urging Communications Minister Michelle Rowland to hold the ABC accountable after a delayed report blamed an “editing error” for adding extra gunshots to a news story. ABC lawyers were also accused of ignoring his complaints.
As Stephen Rice reports in The Australian, Russell is meeting with key ministers in Canberra this week, demanding a full apology for false allegations that he fired on unarmed civilians in Afghanistan. He’s also pushing for an independent inquiry – one not led by the ABC’s former editorial policy chief.
“This won’t go away – I’ll keep banging this drum through the election,” he said.
Publications
ABC delayed pulling George Pell article despite legal warning
The ABC took several days to remove a Louise Milligan article on the late Cardinal George Pell, despite warnings from the Albanese government that publishing it may have breached the law.
As Dennis Shanahan and James Madden report in The Australian, The Department of Social Services, which oversees the national redress scheme for institutional abuse survivors, also sent a similar notice to The Monthly, which ran a Milligan-penned feature on Pell as its February cover story.
Both outlets were told they had violated strict privacy laws, with DSS stating it takes the protection of sensitive information “very seriously” and will act as necessary.
Tech
WiseTech saga deepens as Richard White faces new misconduct claims
WiseTech billionaire Richard White has yet to sign his $10 million consultancy deal, as fresh allegations emerge months after the board cleared him of bullying and harassment.
As Max Mason and Kate McClymont report in The Australian Financial Review, White resigned as CEO in October after reports of financial dealings with ex-partners and claims of intimidation.
WiseTech’s chairman moved to contain the fallout with a legal review and advisory role, but the controversy isn’t over yet.
Google’s AI assistant coming … but not yet
Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai says universal AI assistants are coming, but Google users will wait until later this year to test its answer to OpenAI’s Operator.
As Tess Bennett reports in The Australian Financial Review, while ChatGPT Pro users in the US are already trying Operator, Google is developing Project Mariner, an AI that can type, scroll, and make decisions, powered by Gemini 2.0.
“Gemini 2.0 brings us closer to a universal assistant,” Pichai said.
ChatGPT blunder lands lawyer in hot water
A lawyer, short on time and struggling with a back injury, turned to ChatGPT for help drafting an immigration appeal – without verifying its output. The result? Seventeen fake case citations, quickly spotted by the immigration minister.
As Josh Taylor reports in The Guardian, embarrassed, the lawyer faced the federal court, which warned against unchecked AI use and referred the matter to NSW’s Legal Services Commissioner.
While AI is making inroads in law, adoption is cautious. A Thomson Reuters survey found 40% of firms are experimenting with it, but only 9% of lawyers use it daily.
Brands
From catwalks to TV screens: Camilla Franks’ White Lotus play
Fashion runways once drove sales, but Camilla Franks knows the game has changed. Her latest collection, in partnership with The White Lotus, proves that TV can be just as powerful as the catwalk – if not more.
As Lauren Sams reports in The Australian Financial Review, Franks said, “after the success of seasons one and two, we knew we had to go bigger for season three”.
Her brand, Camilla, featured in both previous seasons, propelling it to a global audience in ways traditional fashion shows once did.