Latest news with #SorrentoWritersFestival
Sydney Morning Herald
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
It's time for the ABC to ditch the forgettable fluff
At a sold-out session at the Sorrento Writers Festival in late April, ABC chair Kim Williams concisely and convincingly outlined his priorities for the 'network of networks' he heads. 'How can there be a future in timidity?' he said. 'There's no future in bland.' Questioned further at the festival by ABC icon Kerry O'Brien, Williams observed that 'an agency under never-ending ferocious attack' can become defensive and inclined to 'self-censorship'. He also noted, in relation to ABC TV, that there's 'massive work to be done in documentary and also in drama and comedy'. This conversation between Williams and O'Brien was part of a broader discussion about the future of the ABC between the pair that began at last year's Byron Writers Festival. It was there that Williams, who is not one to mince words, noted that funding cuts had made the organisation 'more timid'. The ABC is reliant on government funding for most of its money and political displeasure can have a significant impact. But these remarks will come as some small comfort to viewers who, for years, have watched those key departments of drama and comedy shrink to depressing lows. Locally produced documentaries have virtually vanished; drama is sporadic and too often uninspiring; and, while the comedies can be a shining asset, there's not nearly enough of the good stuff. Loading Referring to the ABC's audio output, Williams declared at Sorrento, 'We need to constantly be thinking, 'How do we make this service distinctive?'' In that light, it's instructive to consider a couple of recent TV premieres, both adapted from UK formats and sitting squarely in the light-entertainment realm. The more successful of the pair, The Piano (Sundays, 7.30pm and iview), hosted by a well-cast, warm and slightly too effusive Amanda Keller, invites amateur musicians to perform on publicly placed pianos. Unbeknownst to them, their performances are assessed by judges Harry Connick Jr and Andrea Lam. Each episode, a winner is selected, and a recital is planned to conclude the six-part series. Amid the broad range of performers, touching backstories are revealed. One of those uplifting, hard-to-resist productions that tug knowingly and hard at the heartstrings, it celebrates the unifying and transformative power of music. Less satisfying is Claire Hooper's House of Games (weeknights, 6.30 and iview), an uncomfortably static, studio-based game show in which the host and the players try hard to look like they're having fun. The strain shows and the series would fit comfortably into what O'Brien observed had been 'the creep of mediocrity' at the ABC.
The Age
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
It's time for the ABC to ditch the forgettable fluff
At a sold-out session at the Sorrento Writers Festival in late April, ABC chair Kim Williams concisely and convincingly outlined his priorities for the 'network of networks' he heads. 'How can there be a future in timidity?' he said. 'There's no future in bland.' Questioned further at the festival by ABC icon Kerry O'Brien, Williams observed that 'an agency under never-ending ferocious attack' can become defensive and inclined to 'self-censorship'. He also noted, in relation to ABC TV, that there's 'massive work to be done in documentary and also in drama and comedy'. This conversation between Williams and O'Brien was part of a broader discussion about the future of the ABC between the pair that began at last year's Byron Writers Festival. It was there that Williams, who is not one to mince words, noted that funding cuts had made the organisation 'more timid'. The ABC is reliant on government funding for most of its money and political displeasure can have a significant impact. But these remarks will come as some small comfort to viewers who, for years, have watched those key departments of drama and comedy shrink to depressing lows. Locally produced documentaries have virtually vanished; drama is sporadic and too often uninspiring; and, while the comedies can be a shining asset, there's not nearly enough of the good stuff. Loading Referring to the ABC's audio output, Williams declared at Sorrento, 'We need to constantly be thinking, 'How do we make this service distinctive?'' In that light, it's instructive to consider a couple of recent TV premieres, both adapted from UK formats and sitting squarely in the light-entertainment realm. The more successful of the pair, The Piano (Sundays, 7.30pm and iview), hosted by a well-cast, warm and slightly too effusive Amanda Keller, invites amateur musicians to perform on publicly placed pianos. Unbeknownst to them, their performances are assessed by judges Harry Connick Jr and Andrea Lam. Each episode, a winner is selected, and a recital is planned to conclude the six-part series. Amid the broad range of performers, touching backstories are revealed. One of those uplifting, hard-to-resist productions that tug knowingly and hard at the heartstrings, it celebrates the unifying and transformative power of music. Less satisfying is Claire Hooper's House of Games (weeknights, 6.30 and iview), an uncomfortably static, studio-based game show in which the host and the players try hard to look like they're having fun. The strain shows and the series would fit comfortably into what O'Brien observed had been 'the creep of mediocrity' at the ABC.
Sydney Morning Herald
30-04-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Dutton campaign not going as party wanted, but miracles can happen: Frydenberg
Josh Frydenberg has admitted the Coalition's campaign has not gone as the party had wanted, leaving the door open to his own political comeback as MPs ponder who the next opposition leader could be if Peter Dutton fails badly at Saturday's election. The former treasurer, touted as the next party leader before being voted out of his own seat of Kooyong in 2022, suggested Dutton needed a Scott Morrison-style 'miracle' to avoid making Anthony Albanese only the second leader since John Howard to win successive elections. 'Ask any senior Liberal official and none would say that the campaign has unfolded as we would have wanted,' Frydenberg said at the Sorrento Writers Festival on Saturday. 'But after 2019, we still believe in miracles.' Frydenberg answered a question about the Coalition's campaign performance to an audience of about 300 people who were barred from recording the event. Frydenberg confirmed the accuracy of his comments to this masthead. The comments reflect the private views of Coalition MPs and party officials who have seen their primary vote collapse from 39 per cent in late February to 35 per cent this week, according to the Resolve Political Monitor, amid policy backflips and the negative impact of Donald Trump. Frydenberg – who has previously flirted with running again in Kooyong – on Tuesday said he would not rule out a return to politics. 'I don't think ambition's a crime. I'm not rushing back. Life is good on the other side ... Never say never,' the Goldman Sachs executive said at a West Australian newspaper conference on Tuesday.
The Age
30-04-2025
- Business
- The Age
Dutton campaign not going as party wanted, but miracles can happen: Frydenberg
Josh Frydenberg has admitted the Coalition's campaign has not gone as the party had wanted, leaving the door open to his own political comeback as MPs ponder who the next opposition leader could be if Peter Dutton fails badly at Saturday's election. The former treasurer, touted as the next party leader before being voted out of his own seat of Kooyong in 2022, suggested Dutton needed a Scott Morrison-style 'miracle' to avoid making Anthony Albanese only the second leader since John Howard to win successive elections. 'Ask any senior Liberal official and none would say that the campaign has unfolded as we would have wanted,' Frydenberg said at the Sorrento Writers Festival on Saturday. 'But after 2019, we still believe in miracles.' Frydenberg answered a question about the Coalition's campaign performance to an audience of about 300 people who were barred from recording the event. Frydenberg confirmed the accuracy of his comments to this masthead. The comments reflect the private views of Coalition MPs and party officials who have seen their primary vote collapse from 39 per cent in late February to 35 per cent this week, according to the Resolve Political Monitor, amid policy backflips and the negative impact of Donald Trump. Frydenberg – who has previously flirted with running again in Kooyong – on Tuesday said he would not rule out a return to politics. 'I don't think ambition's a crime. I'm not rushing back. Life is good on the other side ... Never say never,' the Goldman Sachs executive said at a West Australian newspaper conference on Tuesday.
Sydney Morning Herald
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Former NSW Liberal MP facing child sex charges pours beers at Leichhardt Oval
Beckett attended the Pope's funeral along with Mostyn, who represented Australia at an event thrumming with world leaders and swiftly overshadowed, in geopolitical terms, by a brief meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, their first since their heated exchange in the White House this year. Party poopers Three years ago, former Liberal state executive member Matt Camenzuli was working hard toward the party's re-election effort by taking then-prime minister Scott Morrison to the High Court over preselection delays. Camenzuli lost, was subsequently expelled from the party, and is now running as an independent in the south-west Sydney seat of McMahon where, if you believe some dodgy push-polling, he has a shot at taking down Energy Minister Chris Bowen in the deep red electorate. Despite his exile, Camenzuli has maintained a degree of (steadily waning) influence over the Liberal Party's grumpy hard-right flank, with his ally Ben Britton preselected in the seat of Whitlam before being dumped once his icky views on women in the military resurfaced. On the weekend, our spies spotted former NSW upper house MP Lou Amato campaigning in a Camenzuli T-shirt. Amato is still a Liberal member, for now, and the party has its own candidate, former Labor councillor Carmen Lazar contesting the seat. Loading Emphasis is on the 'for now'. Amato told us he strongly supports Camenzuli. 'He has always stood up for what he believes in – democracy and Australian values. There is a reason why people are disillusioned and sick of politicians,' the former politician said. 'We need strong advocates in parliament who will stand up in the best interests of our nation and its people'. Amato isn't the only Liberal defector backing Camenzuli. Last week, CBD reported that NSW Liberal Vice-President Geoff Pearson had torn up his party membership and started campaigning for Britton. Now we can reveal he's also out campaigning for Camenzuli. Infinite jest Following the Anzac Day Welcome to Country neo-Nazi booing controversy, there was consensus the issue was not the place for glib remarks. But Zoe McKenzie, the federal Liberal MP for Flinders, has gone her own way. As detailed in CBD, McKenzie, the first-term MP for Flinders in the Mornington Peninsula south of Melbourne, attended the private invite-only sunset garden talk hosted by Josephine and James Baillieu, of the prominent Melbourne family, in their clifftop garden on Saturday night. An unofficial breakaway event from the Sorrento Writers Festival run, speakers at the gabfest included former federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Qantas tormentor Joe Aston, fresh from their official sessions. In a marked difference to many writers' festivals, there was no Welcome to Country. Instead, soprano Rebecca Gulinello sang Advance Australia Fair as attendees munched on chicken and cucumber sandwiches and scones with cream and jam. McKenzie gave an impromptu vote of thanks to all speakers and praised Gulinello's singing of the national anthem. 'Rebecca, thank you for the best Welcome to Country that I am sure has been delivered,' McKenzie said, to laughter. But while the aside landed successfully on the night, such gags won't travel well beyond Portsea. Loading McKenzie, a former industrial lawyer and Australia Council for the Arts board member, is facing a stiff challenge from local teal independent Ben Smith, who is swamping the area with volunteers and corflutes. One McKenzie supporter at the garden event told CBD: 'I think Zoe has a fight on her hands.'
