Brands
Laura Tingle taps out of NPC role
Laura Tingle is stepping down after a standout four-year stint as president of Canberra’s National Press Club, citing mounting time pressures and readying a handover to a promising young journalist.
As James Madden and James Manning report in The Australian, she isn’t leaving the ABC – Tingle is merely exiting an NPC role renowned for lively debates and a quirky blend of weddings, wine tastings, and spirited discussions.
A Friday statement confirmed her resignation was accepted with a hint of reluctance, marking the close of a memorable era at this iconic Canberra institution.
Nine facing dilemma over Domain
Nine chairwoman Catherine West faces a mounting challenge as she steers the sale of Domain to US titan CoStar.
With Nine’s half-year results imminent and billionaire Bruce Gordon boosting his stake, whispers about her future are intensifying.
As James Madden and James Manning report in The Australian, Gordon’s bold move has ignited boardroom chatter – expectations are rising for a second seat that could leave West more exposed than ever.
Radio
Ray Hadley reveals devastating family news
Radio veteran Ray Hadley has opened up about his family’s latest challenge: his three‐year-old granddaughter, Lola, has been diagnosed with leukaemia. His daughter, Laura, has given him the nod to share this tough news.
As Angira Bharadwaj reports in The Daily Telegraph, the former 2GB heavyweight says the diagnosis has hit his family like a bolt from the blue.
Drawing on his days as a charity auctioneer for children in crisis, Hadley admits nothing prepares you for the raw emotional, financial, and physical toll when tragedy strikes home.
Fordham takes the crown in Sydney radio
With Ray Hadley bowing out at the end of 2024, 2GB’s Ben Fordham has stepped into the spotlight as Sydney’s new radio titan.
As James Manning reports in The Australian, it wasn’t long ago that Fordham was still weighing up a TV versus radio career. Once a familiar face on Nine’s Today and the host of Australian Ninja Warrior, he made a decisive shift in 2014 to go all in on radio.
After dominating the drive slot and taking over Alan Jones’s coveted breakfast show in 2020, Fordham’s gamble has paid off – he’s consistently topping the ratings, aside from a few stints behind KIIS FM’s notorious duo.
Retail
JPMorgan whips up a sweet deal with Krispy Kreme ANZ reboot
JPMorgan’s retail and consumer team is serving up a treat in the ANZ market, backing a fresh strategic move by doughnut icon Krispy Kreme.
As Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport report in The Australian Financial Review, under the code name “Macaroon,” the North Carolina favourite is exploring a refranchising of its Australia and New Zealand operations, hunting for a new partner to spearhead growth.
The initiative marks a bold pivot, aiming to spark a new phase of expansion and innovation in a competitive market.
Mecca may make a move
Australia’s runaway beauty titan, Mecca, might be on the brink of a strategic shake-up. Founders Jo Horgan and Peter Wetenhall – now celebrated as true wealth creators – are reportedly warming to the idea of striking a deal.
As Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport report in The Australian Financial Review, after years of dodging bankers’ overtures, the duo is now eyeing a potential handover of their near-$1 billion turnover empire to the highest bidder.
The buzz is that vendor due diligence advisers, accountants, and commercial experts have been circling since early this year.
Tech
Musk’s ultimatum to government workers
The Trump administration has blasted an email to US federal workers, ordering them to list last week’s achievements by Monday night or face termination. The directive hit on Sunday AEDT, leaving no room for delay.
As Valerie Volcovici reports in The Australian Financial Review, barely moments later, Elon Musk – now at the helm of the Department of Government Efficiency – took to X, declaring that silence would be treated as a resignation.
This no-nonsense move is all about ramping up accountability, forcing federal employees to prove their worth on a weekly basis or risk being shown the door.
Westpac bets on bots
Westpac has teamed up with Accenture to roll out AI agents – tech once confined to software coding – that might soon help process loan applications.
As James Eyers reports in The Australian Financial Review, these smart bots, part of a new breed called agentic AI, go beyond simple chat functions by mimicking human decision-making and taking action.
Pieter Vorster, Westpac’s GM for data platforms, reveals the bank is eyeing a host of applications from customer service to fraud detection, signalling a bank-wide AI revolution.
Telegram’s silence costs nearly $1m
Telegram has been hit with a nearly $1m fine by Australia’s online safety watchdog for leaving regulators hanging on key questions about its efforts to curb terrorism and child abuse content.
As Josh Taylor reports in The Guardian, the infringement notice follows a May directive requiring companies to report back by October on measures tackling extremist and child exploitation material – a deadline Telegram missed by roughly 160 days.
The fine of A$957,780 underscores eSafety’s no-nonsense stance on compliance, sending a clear message to tech firms about timely transparency.
Health websites enjoy massive boost
Over 18 million Australians accessed health-related websites or apps, according to the latest Ipsos iris data.
The figure represents a 4.3% increase from December 2024, reaching 18.4 million users. The data also shows that the average monthly time spent on health-related content rose by 20.9% to 68 minutes per user, underscoring growing audience engagement.
Television
TV legend to farewell Home and Away
After more than 30 years on Australian television, Home and Away’s Lynne McGranger will conclude her role as Irene later this year.
McGranger’s enduring portrayal has established Irene as a familiar presence in Summer Bay, making her departure a notable moment for the series.
McGranger’s, who is the longest-serving female actor in an Australian drama series, said: “After almost 33 years in my dream role and working everyday with people who I love, respect and whom I now consider family, it’s bittersweet to be closing the chapter on what has been the best and longest gig of my life.
Almost equal, yet top jobs remain a boys’ club
Despite women comprising 49% of Australia’s media workforce, they occupy only 30% of the top executive roles. The disparity in leadership highlights a persistent gender divide at the very top.
As David Knox reports in TV Tonight, Free-to-air television stands out with a balanced 50/50 split, but cable and subscription-based broadcasters still lean heavily male – a sector lagging behind other media platforms like radio and traditional TV.