Election 2025
Coalition-friendly ads flood key seats as campaign enters final sprint
A wave of pro-Coalition ads is flooding ultra-marginal electorates like Bennelong and Bradfield, with third-party groups ramping up spend in a targeted endgame push.
As Tom McIlroy writes in The Australian Financial Review, as the federal campaign enters its final 10 days, ad dollars are being deployed with precision, aiming to sway undecided voters in pivotal markets.
With up to 2.5 million Australians tipped to vote early ahead of Anzac Day, the ad space is heating up, and not just with saturation, but with spin.
Right to disconnect laws face rollback threat from coalition
Australia’s right to disconnect laws are under pressure, with the Coalition signalling a repeal if elected.
As Josh Butler reports in The Guardian Australia, the move is raising red flags for agencies and brands investing in workplace wellbeing and sustainable work culture.
The laws, passed earlier this year, enshrined the right for workers to ignore after-hours emails and calls unless deemed reasonable, an appealing shift for talent in high-burnout sectors like media, marketing and tech.
Social Media
YouTube’s Wiggles play: how late lobbying helped dodge under-16s ban
YouTube pulled out all the stops to sidestep the federal under-16s social media ban.
As Josh Taylor writes in The Guardian Australia, newly-released emails revealing a last-minute lobbying blitz, included a direct pitch from global CEO Neal Mohan invoking The Wiggles as part of the platform’s kid-safe case.
Just 48 hours before Communications Minister Michelle Rowland announced YouTube’s exemption, Mohan argued the platform was “fundamentally different” from rivals.
Legal
Subpoena showdown as Nine fights back in Roberts-Smith legal twist
The legal fallout from Ben Roberts-Smith’s failed defamation case has taken another turn.
As Stephen Rice writes in The Australian, Nine is now pushing to limit subpoenas targeting its lawyers and key witnesses, amid explosive claims about leaked legal strategies and secret recordings.
In a fresh skirmish at the Federal Court, Roberts-Smith’s team argued journalist Nick McKenzie crossed ethical lines by allegedly accepting privileged information from the soldier’s inner circle, with a private recording now central to their case.
Former TV exec’s home caught in money laundering probe
The Bellevue Hill home of former A Current Affair bureau chief Stephanie Jandegian and her husband Garrett was raided in February as part of a multi-agency investigation into money laundering and unexplained wealth.
As Yoni Bashan writes in The Australian, in a no-knock 6am entry, officers from Strike Force Raptor seized documents and a phone, but confirmed no charges or arrests.
MAFS drama spills into court as ex-contestants clash over online claims
The off-screen fallout from Married At First Sight has landed in court, with groom Ryan Donnelly seeking an AVO against TV ‘wife’ Jacqueline Lee Burfoot, claiming her social posts labelled him a “danger to women” and triggered a wave of abuse.
As Madeline Crittenden and Shannon Tonkin reports in The Daily Telegraph, Donnelly filed the order just days after Burfoot launched her own legal action, escalating the reality show’s headline-grabbing tensions.
He’s now lawyered up, alleging her online commentary caused reputational damage beyond the screen.
Tech
Apple and Meta hit with $1.9 billion fines
Apple and Meta have been fined a combined AU$1.9 billion by the European Commission for breaching EU digital competition laws, ramping up tensions between Big Tech and European regulators.
According to news.com.au, Apple copped AU$890 million for blocking app developers from offering cheaper deals outside its App Store, while Meta’s penalty reflects ongoing scrutiny of its advertising practices and market dominance.
The hefty fines add fuel to the fire in the transatlantic trade relationship.
Meta brings AI glasses to Australia
Meta is rolling out its AI-powered smart glasses in Australia this week.
As Amelia McGuire writes in The Australian Financial Review, Harvey Norman and JB Hi-Fi wil be stocking the Ray-Ban collaboration that combines recording, translating and real-time content capture, all from your face.
Priced at around $500, the glasses feature built-in cameras, speakers, and live translation tools.
Google’s AI Overviews linked to sharp CTR declines
New research reveals a sharp decline in click-through rates (CTR) for traditional search results when Google’s AI Overviews are in play.
While Google insists its AI Overviews improve engagement, fresh research paints a different picture, showing they may be changing how users interact with search results.
Recent analysis by Ahrefs, a data platform which researches website performance and SEO, reveals that Google’s AI Overviews are significantly impacting organic search traffic, with a 34.5% reduction in click-through rates (CTR) for top-ranking pages.
Retail
Cue Clothing and Veronika Maine appoint new CEO
Cue Clothing and Veronika Maine have secured a new CEO, Melanie Remai, poaching her from Trenery in a strategic move following the brands’ acquisition by UK-based Hilco Capital.
According to Carrie LaFrenz in The Australian Financial Review, Remai’s hire marks the first major leadership change since the sale, as the fashion group looks to refine its position in the competitive Australian womenswear market.
Previously with Country Road Group, Remai brings valuable experience from a stable that includes high-profile labels like Witchery and Mimco.
Brands
Tesla’s first-quarter revenue takes a hit amid protests and boycotts
Tesla’s first-quarter 2025 results show a significant downturn, with total revenue falling to US$19.34 billion, missing market expectations and down 9% year-on-year.
As Bernard Keane writes in Crikey, the company’s automotive revenue dropped 20%, while net earnings plummeted 71%, hitting just US$409 million.
The losses come amidst ongoing protests and a boycott against CEO Elon Musk.
Television
MasterChef’s mental health makeover
After 16 years on air, MasterChef Australia has undergone significant changes, both on-screen and behind the scenes.
As David Knox writes in TV Tonight, the show’s format and contestant conditions have shifted, particularly in response to growing concerns over well-being and mental health.
Contestants no longer live in communal houses or endure complete media blackouts, allowing for a more balanced approach.
MSNBC’s Jen Psaki admits network’s Trump coverage leans negative
MSNBC host Jen Psaki has openly acknowledged that the network’s liberal audience tunes in expecting critical coverage of former President Trump.
As Anna Young writes on Sky News Australia, Psaki said viewers not looking for balanced reporting but rather content that challenges the opposition.
Psaki, a former press secretary for Joe Biden, explained that MSNBC’s audience is conditioned to expect negative commentary about Trump and the Republican Party.
Meet the ladies on this year’s Farmer Wants a Wife
Farmer Wants a Wife is back on for a new season on Seven.
We’ve already met the farmers, now it’s time to meet the women who’ve caught their eye and made it through the first cut.
The race for romance is officially on as these hopefuls head into the heart of the competition on this season of Farmer Wants a Wife.
Radio
How podcast ads are evolving to meet listener expectations
Recent data from Veritonic highlights the growing importance of podcasting as a marketing tool, with listeners increasingly looking for ads that are relevant, concise, and entertaining.
As Sarah Patterson writes on Radio Today, the survey of US podcast consumers reveals key insights into how brands can better connect with their audience.
Shorter, sharper ads are in demand, with 35% of listeners preferring quicker messaging.
Film
Pope’s death sees 283% streaming jump for ‘Conclave’
The passing of Pope Francis on 21 April sparked a significant global rise in viewership for Conclave, Edward Berger’s thriller about the election of a new pope following a pontiff’s death.
As Catherine Shoard reports on The Guardian, The film, which earned a Bafta for Best Picture and several Oscar nominations, saw a 283% jump in streaming minutes within 24 hours.
On 20 April, Conclave was streamed for 1.8 million minutes, increasing to 6.9 million the next day, according to Luminate’s streaming data.