Young Indigenous voices speak up on the importance of being the next generation
Isaiah McKenna Denzel James is a climate activist and was nominated as a South Australian 2025 young Australian of the year.
Denzel James Sophia Hunt is a musician with a passion for pursuing the connection between First Nations and contemporary music.
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News.com.au
41 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Former Wiggles chief executive Luke O'Neill sues children's group under Fair Work Act
The former chief executive of The Wiggles – who left after just over a year into his role – has lodged Federal Court proceedings against the popular children's entertainment group. Luke O'Neill was named the children's music sensation's first chief executive last year, according to aNb Media, with his role focusing on 'expanding The Wiggles' digital footprint, developing new products and expanding the commercial operations of the business'. Mr O'Neill had worked as a consultant with The Wiggles since mid-2023 prior to stepping into the new role. His LinkedIn profile states he finished the role in August 2024. In a Federal Court application filed earlier this week, Mr O'Neil has lodged proceedings under the Fair Work Act against The Wiggles, the group's leader Anthony Field and its general counsel Matthew Salgo. The application has been made under the Fair Work Act alleging 'dismissal in contravention of a general protection'. The Fair Work Commission's website outlines general protections laws prevent employers from dismissing employees for specific reasons – such as taking long periods of sick leave or if they are fired for making a complaint under workplace rights. Details of Mr O'Neill's application and complaint against The Wiggles and the other respondents is not known. Mr O'Neill's legal team Wotton Kearney declined to comment when contacted by NewsWire. A hearing date has not been set and defences have not been filed by the respondents. In a statement, a Wiggles spokeswoman said: 'This relates to a current legal proceeding and as such we will not be commenting on it.' Mr O'Neill's role as chief executive involved 'ensuring that The Wiggles can continue to self-fund innovative, educational and entertaining content and extend distribution to reach larger audiences than ever before', aNb Media stated when he took on the role. 'The Wiggles have always been pioneers in delivering high-quality, educational, and entertaining content for children,' Mr O'Neill told the outlet in 2023. 'I am thrilled to lead the team as we explore new opportunities in the digital and commercial spaces and expand our global presence. Together, we will continue to create memorable experiences for children and families around the world.' Kate Chiodo, who has worked in various roles with The Wiggles, was appointed the new chief executive in May.
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
David Stratton's iconic reviews throughout his film career, from favourites to 'scathing' critiques
For a film critic juggernaut like David Stratton, movies were not just his career — it was at his very core. For decades he was staple for Australian audiences, reviewing silver screen features alongside Margaret Pomeranz on various movie review shows. NOTE: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains the name and image of a person who has died. The late actor's family has granted permission to use his name and image. His family announced his death on Thursday afternoon, saying he died peacefully in hospital near his Blue Mountains home. He was 85. Prior to his death, Stratton said his obsession with film came from his grandmother. "Monday to Friday, four times a week [we went to the cinemas]," he said in an interview with Margaret Throsby on ABC's Special Features. "It was everything … There's something about the smell of a cinema. I love the still photographs, the posters outside." The renowned film critic reviewed tens of thousands of movies during his illustrious career, but even he had his favourites. Asked many times over the decades to rank his all-time winners, the beloved film critic often admitted his cherished top pics would be in the hundreds. In 2010 Stratton published his book My Favourite Movies, where he reviewed and dissected his personal favourites from the last century. Above all was the 1952 classic romantic comedy and musical — Singin' in the Rain, directed and choreographed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen. "I've seen Singin' In the Rain — I don't know — 50 or 60 times," Stratton told Desert Island Flicks at ACMI in March 2010. He recounted meeting Gene Kelly at a screening of the film in Sydney, and then being invited to visit him at home while on a visit to Los Angeles. A champion of Australian film and theatre, Stratton's all-time favourites included many homegrown movies. Newsfront, released in 1978, centred around a newsreel cameraman threatened by the onset of television in post-war Australia. "Newsfront is my number 1," Stratton told Screen Australia. "And it always has been — ever since I first saw it and I saw it in a rough cut." He described the 1975 film Picnic at Hanging at Rock as "an extraordinary revelation" and a huge critical and commercial success. Set on Valentine's Day in 1900 at an exclusive girl's school, the haunting tale has been retold across stage and screen in the decades since its release. The 2005 drama Good Night and Good Luck is set during the early days of broadcast journalism in the USA in the 1950s, and stars George Clooney. "The film beautifully evokes the early days of television, but though it's in black-and-white, there's nothing monochromatic about Clooney's passion for his subject or the importance of his message," Stratton said in a review. Both he co-host and Pomeranz gave the movie five stars. The 2013 Australian drama Charlie's Country, which stars the late legendary actor David Gulpilil, was another of Stratton's favourites. "I think Charlie's Country makes me cry every time I see it," Stratton told Screen Australia. "The scene where Gulpilil's hair is cut, is the most moving scene in any Australian film. I think it's so sad. And it's so important that film." Stratton was not afraid to be scathing in his reviews where necessary. He described Paul Hogan's Western comedy film Lightning Jack, released in 1994, as "feeble, slapstick", giving the film just one-and-half stars. In reference to another of Hogan's films — the latter instalments of Crocodile Dundee — Stratton said "one of Hogan's best friends should have advised him not to make [it]". Perhaps his biggest shift from the culture, was his review of the 1997 Australian classic, The Castle. "I'm afraid it wasn't for me, Margaret," he told his co-star on At The Movies. "I thought it was patronising towards its characters, I didn't find it funny." He added: "It's very rough [technically]. I'd give it one and half [stars]." Twenty seven years later, he told The Daily Telegraph he had seen The Castle in years since and said, "I appreciate it much more". There were some films that were not worth a single star in Stratton's expert view. Of the 2012 American teen comedy Project X, Stratton said "it is not a film made for mature audiences", and he took aim at the plot line's "sexist" tone. As for 2005 horror film Hostel, Stratton described it as a "squalid" production of "gloating ugliness". Reflecting on his film critiques to ABC Radio Melbourne in 2024, he said: "I don't enjoy being scathing. I want to be honest." "I love them [movies], and I have always loved them, all my life. There seems to be a certain lack of inspiration, ideas in films." In the wake of news of Stratton's death, ABC managing director Hugh Marks reflected on Stratton's "extraordinary career". "Incredible insight, a love of the craft of movie making and a respect for his audience, David was a credit to our industry. "He made an enormous contribution to the ABC that we will remember fondly." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: "All of us who tuned in to 'At the Movies' respected him for his deep knowledge and for the gentle and generous way he passed it on. May he rest in peace."
The Australian
an hour ago
- The Australian
Iconic Australian film critic David Stratton dead at 85
Tributes are being paid to Australian film critic and writer David Stratton, whodied in hospital at the age of 85. The English-born film critic was best known for his role as co-host of film review shows alongside Margaret Pomeranz. His family confirmed the news on Thursday afternoon, saying he died peacefully in hospital near his home in the Blue Mountains. David Stratton, film critic and television presenter, has died at the age of 85. 'David's passion for film, commitment to Australian cinema, and generous spirit touched countless lives,' the family's statement read, per the ABC. 'He was adored as a husband, father, grand and great grand father and admired friend. 'David's family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming support from friends, colleagues, and the public recently and across his lifetime.' He was best known for his movie review TV shows alongside co-host Margaret Pomeranz. Photo byHis family has requested privacy following the announcement of his death, however made one request. '(We) invite everyone to celebrate David's remarkable life and legacy by watching their favourite movie, or David's favourite movie of all time — Singin' In the Rain,' they said. On social media, Anthony Albanese penned a tribute to Stratton, saying, 'with dry humour and sharp insight, David Stratton shared his love of film with our country'. 'All of us who tuned in to 'At the Movies' respected him for his deep knowledge and for the gentle and generous way he passed it on,' the Prime Minister wrote. 'May he rest in peace.' Stratton moved to Australia from the UK in 1963. The Sydney Film Festival also paid tribute to the film critic and educator, saying Australian film culture 'would not exist as it does today' without Stratton's 'remarkable passion and devotion'. 'His achievements are too innumerable to list in totality, and would include his successful fight against censorship of films in Australia, the establishment of the Travelling Film Festival, support for emerging filmmakers from Australia and around the world, and fostering of a brave and adventurous cinema culture in Australian audiences,' the statement read. David Stratton was a major figure in the Australian film industry. A 'ten-pound Pom', Stratton was born in Wiltshire in the UK in 1939, and moved to Australia in 1963 under the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme introduced by the Chifley government in 1945. An avid film lover from a young age, he became director of the Sydney Film Festival in 1966, a position which he held until 1983. He landed the position following his fight against film censorship, which landed him under the surveillance of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) after the festival featured Soviet films, and his visit to Russia in the late 1960s. David Stratton was an avid film lover from a young age. Stratton soon became one of the most respected names in the industry, working as a film critic for the Weekend Australian for 33 years. He also lectured film history at the University of Sydney's Centre for Continuing Education from 1988 to 2023. He was best-known for the movie review program The Movie Show, which he co-hosted alongside Margaret Pomeranz on SBS from 1984 until 2004. The duo moved then to the ABC, where they co-hosted the television program At the Movies from 2004 until 2014, discussing and reviewing films that released in theatres that week.
