Macca and Kenny are joined live on air by Peter Khalil, – MP for Wills & Asst Min. for Defence; Reaction to Lib spill; news from Coburg and sale of Defence sites across Melbourne

The post Sat, 14th, Feb, 2026: Peter Khalil, – MP for Wills & Asst Min. for Defence; Reaction to Lib spill; news from Coburg and sale of Defence sites across Melbourne appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Kenny talk to Dr Monique Ryan, Indi MP for Kooyong, Update from Canberra + Australia’s Addiction Gambling Commercials

As of late 2025 and early 2026, Dr. Monique Ryan, independent MP for Kooyong, has continued to heavily advocate for a total ban on gambling advertising in Australia, positioning the issue as a critical public health crisis.

• Continued Pressure: Dr. Ryan has been consistent in challenging the Albanese Government over its delay in acting on the “Murphy Report” (June 2023), which recommended a comprehensive ban on online gambling ads.
• “Hard to Understand” Delay: She has highlighted the irony of the government moving to ban social media for children while failing to implement a similar ban on online gambling advertising that targets young people.
• Resignation from Parliamentary Sports Club: In October 2025, Dr. Ryan resigned from the Parliamentary Sports Club to protest its association with the gambling industry, stating the industry is “predatory and insidious”.
• Focus on Public Health: She argues that gambling addiction is a public health issue similar to drug addiction, driving domestic violence, family breakdown, and financial ruin.
• 2026 Legislative Focus: Her recent activities in 2026 have also centered on criticizing the government’s handling of HECS debt (Job-Ready Graduates scheme) and advocating for safer digital spaces.
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  Australia’s Gambling Commercials Crisis
• • The Problem: Australia is noted to have the highest per-capita gambling losses in the world, with roughly $32 billion lost annually.
  • Targeting Children: Dr. Ryan has stated that children are being targeted by betting ads on social media, creating a “generation primed for addiction”.
  • Call for Total Ban: She supports a total ban on gambling advertising across TV, radio, social media, and on sports uniforms.
  • Government Response: Despite overwhelming public support (reported at 85%) for a ban, the government has been accused of acting too slowly due to pressure from media companies and sporting codes that profit from gambling partnerships.
  Dr. Ryan continues to urge the government to adopt all 31 recommendations of the Murphy Report to reduce the impact of gambling on Australian families.

The post Sat, 14th, Feb, 2026: Dr Monique Ryan, Indi MP for Kooyong, Update from Canberra + Australia’s Addiction Gambling Commercials appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Kenny and Macca talk to Konrad Benjamin from Punter’s Politics.

Punter’s Politics is an Australian political commentary podcast and associated political movement with the goal of making Australian politics simpler for everyday people. The podcast was launched in June 2024 by former economics teacher Konrad Benjamin, and has since gained traction for exposing corporate influence in Australian politics.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLg9ANGIggv/

https://www.punterspolitics.com/pages/media

The post Sat, 14th, Feb, 2026: Konrad Benjamin, Punter’s Politics, Fighting the good fight for Aussie Punters appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Kenny talk to Tim Burrowes. Publisher, Mumbrella, How ingrained is gambling advertising in the Australian Media landscape and why has Reform have stalled?

Tim Burrowes is the publisher of Mumbrella and Unmade. He co-founded Mumbrella in 2008 and sister title Unmade in 2021. He’s worked in the UK, Middle East, Asia & Australia and has specialised in writing about the communications world for the last 25 years. He wrote the book Media Unmade, published in 2021, and became the presenter of MediaLand on ABC Radio National in 2025.

The post Sat, 14th, Feb, 2026: Tim Burrowes. Publisher, Mumbrella, How ingrained is gambling advertising in the Australian Media landscape and why has Reform have stalled? appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Kenny and Macca are joined live on air by Dr Hector Georgiou, Melbourne IVF, New laws on Surrogacy

Hector holds a PhD from Imperial College London in Reproductive Endocrinology. He undertook postgraduate training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at some of the most prestigious hospitals in Oxford and London, including highly competitive subspecialist training in Fertility and Reproductive Medicine. In addition, he completed a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and IVF at the Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne.

Part of his enthusiasm for practicing medicine comes from seeing research translated into clinical practice. His research has been highly cited in respected medical journals and has been incorporated in professional society guidelines that influence global IVF practice.

Hector holds a Clinical Senior Lectureship at the University of Melbourne, where his research focuses on luteal phase support and endometriosis. He is also leading a multidisciplinary team at the University of Oxford in the design and commercialization of a new egg collection needle, which has the capability to significantly boost egg numbers at IVF.

His special interests include fertility treatment for LGBTQIA+ couples, egg freezing, onco-fertility, PCOS, recurrent implantation failure, ovulation induction, age-related infertility and unexplained fertility.

Hector’s patients appreciate his accessibility, compassion and evidence-based approach to care.

Outside of work, Hector and his husband have recently adopted their beautiful Labrador Olive, and together they enjoy discovering new (doggie-friendly) brunch spots!

http://@dr.hector.georgiou

The post Sat, 14th, Feb, 2026: Dr Hector Georgiou, Melbourne IVF, New laws on Surrogacy appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Kenny and Macca are joined live in the studio by Nina Taylor, Labor MP, Albert Park.

Bill protecting intersex children from unnecessary medical, interventions that has just been passed by the Vic lower house

The Victorian Government’s Bill protecting intersex children from unnecessary and irreversible medical procedures without their consent has passed in the lower house.

Intersex people are born with innate variations of sex characteristics that don’t fit medical norms for female or male bodies.

As the intersex community has grown more visible, we have learned how common unnecessary and irreversible surgeries are to individuals, particularly those who are too young to consent.

It is believed that about 1.7 per cent of the population is born with an intersex trait. There are at least 40 known intersex variations.

In October 2021, the Australian Human Rights Commission urged all Australian governments to implement measures that prevent harmful medical interventions on intersex people without personal consent.

In August 2025, the Australian Medical Association passed a motion calling for a deferral of surgical interventions for intersex people until they can give consent.

The Health Safeguards for People Born with Variations in Sex Characteristics Bill 2025 passed the lower house without opposition on Thursday.

The Bill prohibits deferrable medical interventions until a child can decide for themselves that they want that, introducing independent oversight of proposed treatment plans.

The passing of the bill reflects decades of tireless advocacy by intersex people and community organisations, building on similar protections introduced in the ACT in 2023.

https://qnews.com.au/intersex-reform-for-childrens-medical-interventions-passes-vic-lower-house/

The post Sat, 14th, Feb, 2026: Nina Taylor, Labor MP, Albert Park, Intersex Medical Intervention Reform for Children Passes Vic Lower House appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Kenny talk to Dr Tim Read; – Greens MP, Brunswick, Chair of the Integrity Oversight Committee; from IBAC and public integrity to the voting system, is Victoria lagging behind?

Before entering Parliament, Tim was a doctor treating and researching sexually transmitted infections like HIV. Before that, he was a GP.

Concerned by recent fires and heatwaves, Tim wanted to push the government to take climate change seriously by urgently replacing coal and gas as Victoria’s main energy sources. This is what prompted him to run for Parliament.

The priorities Tim has for his community are safer roads for walking and cycling, more green space, and trees to keep us cool in summer. He says that we also need to repair some of our crumbling public schools and build or buy more housing for our homeless.

Tim’s vision for Victoria’s future is that it runs by clean energy by the end of the decade, and cuts carbon emissions from farming, transport and other sectors.

The areas of public policy that he is most passionate about are reducing the size of the public housing waiting list and our prison population. He also wants to change the way we let advertisers promote unhealthy products such as junk food, alcohol and gambling.

The post Sat, 14th, Feb, 2026: Dr Tim Read; Greens MP, Brunswick, Chair of the Integrity Oversight Committee: Stepping down at the Next Election and Fighting for the Survival of VicHealth appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Nevena and Maccaa are joined live on air by Fred Gesha, Festival Lead, First People’s First Day, St Kilda Festival

St Kilda Festival is known as Australia’s largest community festival – a celebration of community spirit, Australian talent, and the beautiful St Kilda foreshore.

Since the first St Kilda Festival in 1980, this well-loved annual summer celebration has established itself as an iconic event that brings the community together.

Saturday – 14 February 2026

First Peoples First

DAY 1 is dedicated to First Peoples programming and activities, with a cracking line up of established and emerging First Peoples artists across the Main Stage to the Optus Stage at O’Donnell Gardens. Don’t miss any of the action from morning until evening, including a glorious sunset ceremony to wrap up a beautiful day of music and good times.

https://www.stkildafestival.com.au/day-1-first-peoples-first/

The post Sat, 7th, Feb, 2026: Fred Gesha, Festival Lead, First People’s First Day, St Kilda Festival, First Peoples First appeared first on Saturday Magazine.