Fourth Estate

After surviving Jeffrey Epstein and helping expose one of the biggest sexual abuse scandals in modern history, Virginia Giuffre became a global symbol of courage. But her story didn't end there. Award-winning Good Weekend senior writer Melissa Fyfe joins Fourth Estate to discuss her extraordinary investigation into the final months of Giuffre's life — examining allegations of domestic violence, coercive control and institutional failures, and what her story reveals about trauma, violence against women and the media's reporting of survivors. We also pay tribute to one of Australian journalism's most influential and polarising figures, Derryn Hinch. Journalist and media historian Andrew Dodd reflects on Hinch's remarkable career, his battles with the courts, his move into politics, and the complicated legacy of a broadcaster who forever blurred the lines between reporting, advocacy and activism. Further reading and listening: Good Weekend: "Isolated, scared, forlorn: The heartbreaking final months of Virginia Giuffre's life" by Melissa Fyfe and Carla Hildebrandt. Virginia: Melissa Fyfe and Carla Hildebrandt's four-part investigative podcast from The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and Good Weekend. The Conversation: "Derryn Hinch was a bombastic journalist fuelled by imperfect principles and righteous outrage" by Andrew Dodd. This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, domestic and family violence, and suicide. If you or someone you know needs support, contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or Lifeline on 13 11 14. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ or tweet us at ⁠⁠⁠@fourthestateau⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Fourth Estate, we unpack the biggest stories shaping Australian media, politics and journalism. As the Royal Commission into Antisemitism turns its attention to the media, we examine the recommendations aimed at the ABC and SBS, including calls for greater oversight and more "positive" coverage of Israel. What could this mean for editorial independence, public trust and press freedom? We also discuss the federal government's tougher social media laws, whether multi-million dollar fines can really force Big Tech companies to protect young Australians, and why tech platforms continue to escape the level of scrutiny often directed at public broadcasters. Plus, Australia's long-running battle over gambling advertising returns. As new reforms take shape, we ask whether broadcasters have become too dependent on gambling revenue, and whether streaming platforms are poised to become the industry's next frontier. And finally, Anthony Albanese's appearance on Nikki Osborne's Bush Deep podcast sparked days of headlines over some very awkward exchanges. We ask whether the controversy was overblown, whether politicians are increasingly choosing entertainment podcasts over rigorous journalism, and if the media's fixation on viral moments is distracting from the questions that really matter. Is "relatability" replacing scrutiny in Australian political coverage? Joining host ⁠Tina Quinn⁠ are ⁠Mark Kenny⁠, political analyst for The Canberra Times and Professor at the Australian National University's Australian Studies Institute, and columnist for The Monthly, ⁠Karen Middleton⁠. We'd love to hear from you! Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or tweet us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@fourthestateau. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Karl Stefanovic's dramatic exit from Nine has become one of the biggest Australian media stories of the year. But is this simply the downfall of a television star, or a sign that the media landscape itself is changing? After his podcast interview with far-right activist Tommy Robinson sparked widespread backlash, Nine ended its three-decade relationship with one of its biggest names. Now, as Stefanovic embraces podcasting and the language of "free speech", bigger questions are emerging. Can Australia support a Joe Rogan-style media model? Is controversy a viable business strategy? And where is the line between journalism, platforming and personality-driven media? Joining Tina Quinn to unpack the saga are The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age columnist Jacqueline Maley, whose sharp analysis of the affair has sparked national debate, and Crikey Readers' Editor and Cut Through host Crystal Andrews. We'd love to hear from you! Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or tweet us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@fourthestateau. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After serving as Prime Minister Bob Hawke's press secretary, Barrie Cassidy returned to journalism with a new perspective on politics and power. Following several years as a correspondent based in the United States with The Australian, an unexpected approach from Network Ten persuaded him to return to Australia to host Meet the Press. In Part Two of our special profile series, Barrie reflects on that decision, his eventual return to the ABC, and the creation of Insiders — the Sunday morning political program that would become one of the country's most influential current affairs shows. Joining Tina Quinn, Cassidy also reflects on the changing relationship between politicians and the press, the evolution of political journalism, and the lessons learned over more than four decades covering Australian politics. We'd love to hear from you! Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or tweet us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@fourthestateau. Episode artwork photographed by Matthew Smeal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thirty years ago, Pauline Hanson exposed a fault line in Australian politics that never really went away. This week, following Hanson's first National Press Club address and amid signs One Nation is enjoying its strongest political moment in years, Fourth Estate asks what the media got right, what it got wrong, and whether we've ever truly understood the Australia that keeps bringing Hanson back. Joining Tina Quinn are broadcaster Raf Epstein, award-winning journalist David Leser, whose landmark Good Weekend profile Pauline Hanson's Bitter Harvest remains one of the defining accounts of Hanson's rise, and veteran political reporter Margo Kingston, author of Off The Rails: The Pauline Hanson Trip, one of the most influential books written about the One Nation phenomenon. Together they revisit the journalism that shaped Australia's understanding of Hanson — from Tracey Curro's famous "Please Explain" interview to Maxine McKew's forensic Lateline interrogation — and ask what those moments can tell us about her resurgence today. We also hear from Crikey's Charlie Lewis and Nine Political Editor Charles Croucher, who were both in the room for Hanson's National Press Club appearance. Why has Hanson endured? What does her resurgence tell us about Australian politics, the media, and the voters journalists still struggle to understand? And three decades on, how the hell do we cover her going forward? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or tweet us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@fourthestateau Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Barrie Cassidy arrived in Canberra in 1979, Malcolm Fraser was Prime Minister, the political shockwaves of the 1975 dismissal were still reverberating through Australian politics, and Fraser was already fending off the leadership ambitions of a rising Andrew Peacock. The press gallery was smaller, the media landscape less fragmented, and for a young reporter who had discovered a passion for politics while covering Victoria's state parliament, Canberra offered a front-row seat to power. What followed was a career that would take Cassidy from the corridors of Parliament House to the Prime Minister's office itself, before carrying him overseas to report on some of the defining political stories of the late twentieth century. As part of our ongoing profile series, Barrie Cassidy joins Tina Quinn to reflect on those formative years, his time working for Bob Hawke, and the experiences that shaped one of Australia's most respected political journalists. This is part one of a special two-part conversation. We'd love to hear from you! Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or tweet us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@fourthestateau Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For decades, China was seen in Australia as an opportunity. Today, it's more often described as a threat. But how much of Australia's understanding of China reflects reality — and how much is shaped by the stories we tell ourselves? As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks of an "ideological disagreement" with the United States, and as global tensions expose vulnerabilities in supply chains and energy security, a broader question is emerging: is Australia prepared to think more independently about its place in the world? This week, Fourth Estate examines the media narratives, strategic assumptions and political debates that have come to define Australia's relationship with its largest trading partner. Host Tina Quinn speaks with former Labor leader and University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor Bill Shorten about Australia's fuel security, sovereign capabilities and what self-reliance might look like in an increasingly uncertain world. Then, a panel featuring Professor Wanning Sun (University of Technology Sydney and a frequent contributor to Crikey), Peter Hartcher (Political and International Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age) and Ben Doherty (Senior Reporter, Guardian Australia) explores how China is framed in Australian media, the influence of the United States on Australian foreign policy, and whether Australia's assumptions about alliances, security and sovereignty need rethinking. Are we seeing China clearly — or through the lens of geopolitics, fear and strategic rivalry? And as the balance of global power shifts, what does Australian self-reliance actually look like? Get in touch, we'd love to hear from you! Tell us your thoughts and email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also tweet us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@fourthestateau⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Wilson has lived through almost every era of modern media — from becoming a newspaper columnist in her early 20s, to editing Cosmopolitan magazine and hosting MasterChef Australia, writing bestselling books, podcasting and independent publishing. But in recent years, her focus has shifted toward much bigger questions: how do we live meaningfully in an age of ecological crisis, political instability, information overload and growing civilisational anxiety? In this conversation with Tina Quinn, Sarah discusses her new book, I Eat the Stars, why she believes our resistance to societal collapse needs to evolve, and why making art, finding beauty and embracing uncertainty may be more important than ever. They also discuss why Australian media often struggles to grapple with complexity, the pressures of the modern attention economy, and how Sarah’s own long and unconventional career has shaped the way she now thinks about journalism, culture and the path forward. Get in touch, we'd love to hear from you and 2SER needs you! Head to ⁠⁠love2SER.com⁠⁠ and tell us your thoughts, or email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also tweet us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@fourthestateau⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the war in Gaza continues — and journalists covering the conflict are being killed at unprecedented rates — we return to the Fourth Estate archives for a conversation that now feels more urgent than ever. In this 2020 interview, former ABC Middle East correspondent Sophie McNeill joins then-Fourth Estate host Sharon Davis to discuss McNeill’s book We Can’t Say We Didn’t Know: Dispatches From An Age Of Impunity and the years she spent reporting from Gaza, Yemen, Syria and Iraq. Together, Sophie and Sharon unpack the realities of frontline journalism: documenting war crimes, navigating questions of objectivity and advocacy, and bearing witness to immense human suffering in an era increasingly defined by impunity. The conversation also revisits the extraordinary case of Rahaf Mohammed, the young Saudi woman whose plea for asylum led Sophie to fly to Bangkok — sparking an international story that blurred the lines between reporting and intervention. Listening back now, the interview is striking not only for how sharply it anticipated many of today’s debates around war reporting and press freedom, but also for the insight it offers into the convictions that would later draw Sophie away from journalism and toward international human rights advocacy and a career in politics. This episode was originally broadcast in March, 2020. Get in touch, we'd love to hear from you and 2SER needs you! Head to ⁠love2SER.com⁠ and tell us your thoughts, or email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also tweet us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@fourthestateau⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From accusations of “broken promises” to cries of socialism, class warfare and even communism, the media reaction to the Albanese Government’s federal budget has been fierce. But how radical are the reforms actually being proposed? This week, Tina Quinn examines the political and media framing surrounding the budget — from the rhetoric around debt, aspiration and intergenerational burden, to the backlash over modest changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions. First, Tina speaks with Ben English, editor of The Daily Telegraph, whose paper branded Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ budget a “big-taxing communist manifesto.” Then, a panel featuring Phil Coorey (Political Editor, Australian Financial Review), Shalailah Medhora from (Political Reporter for Hack, Triple J), Jason Koutsoukis (Special Correspondent, The Saturday Paper), and Kalila Welch (Cheek Media), unpack the politics, economics, lobbyists, scare campaigns and media narratives shaping the national debate. Is this meaningful reform — or moral panic? And if even soft changes provoke this level of outrage, what does that say about the future of economic reform in Australia? Get in touch, we'd love to hear from you and 2SER needs you! Head to ⁠⁠love2SER.com⁠⁠ and tell us your thoughts, or email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also tweet us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@fourthestateau⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are we asking enough questions about the way Australia manages inflation, and the way the media reports on it? Every Reserve Bank decision is treated like a national event. Interest rates rise, borrowers brace, and economists debate whether inflation expectations remain “anchored”. But has economic journalism become too narrowly framed around the logic of the Reserve Bank? And are governments escaping scrutiny as economic management is increasingly outsourced to unelected technocrats? Host Tina Quinn is joined by Stephen Long, Emilia Terzon and Hugh Riminton to discuss fiscal policy, media narratives around inflation, and who really bears the cost of fighting it. The panel also examines the proposed Seven West Media–Southern Cross Austereo merger, tensions surrounding Kerry Stokes’ influence over the company, looming restructures and job cuts at Nine News, and the fallout from the Kyle and Jackie O controversy at ARN. Plus, a reflection on the death of Ted Turner — the CNN founder who transformed television news through the advent of the 24-hour news cycle. We'd love to hear from you and 2SER needs you! Head to ⁠love2SER.com⁠ and tell us your thoughts, or email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also tweet us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@fourthestateau⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In December 2023, Australia’s national broadcaster made the decision to dismiss one of its radio presenters, claiming she had brought the Australian Broadcasting Corporation into disrepute after sharing a social media post from Human Rights Watch highlighting atrocities in Gaza. Within hours, The Australian had reported on her removal. But it was her decision to challenge the dismissal in court that turned the story into a national flashpoint. In June 2025, Antoinette Lattouf won that battle — with the Federal Court finding she had been unlawfully dismissed and ordering the ABC to pay compensation. On this episode of Fourth Estate, Lattouf sits down with Tina Quinn to discuss her new book Women Who Win. She reflects on the women who inspired it, her own experience taking on one of the country’s most powerful media institutions, and what her case reveals about journalism, power, and the limits of speaking out. We'd love to hear from you and 2SER needs you! Head to ⁠love2SER.com⁠ and tell us your thoughts, or email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also tweet us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@fourthestateau⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Community radio station 2SER could be off the air within months, after the withdrawal of long-standing university funding. In this episode of Fourth Estate, we examine how the station reached this point — from the timeline of key decisions to growing concerns from staff, volunteers and alumni about transparency and leadership. Former 2SER Program Director and Fourth Estate host Anthony Dockrill joins us to unpack what’s gone wrong — and whether the station can still be saved. We also pay tribute to beloved broadcaster James Valentine, who has died aged 64. We reflect on his remarkable career across radio, television and music, and the legacy he leaves behind, with former colleagues Sarah Macdonald and Mark Humphries. We'd love to hear from you and 2SER needs you! Head to love2SER.com and tell us your thoughts, or email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also tweet us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@fourthestateau⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, one of Australia’s most decorated soldiers, Ben Roberts-Smith, was arrested and charged with multiple counts of war crime murder. The charges follow years of investigative reporting by journalists at The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald — and a landmark defamation case that tested that reporting in court. In this episode of Fourth Estate, Tina Quinn speaks with two of the journalists behind the story, Nick McKenzie and Michael Bachelard about how the investigation was built — from sourcing and verification, to editorial decisions and legal risk. What does it take to report allegations of war crimes? And what does this case reveal about the power — and limits — of journalism in holding institutions to account? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or tweet us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@fourthestateau⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More than 2,000 ABC staff walked off the job in the broadcaster’s first strike in 20 years. While the dispute centred on pay, progression and job security, it also exposed deeper concerns about culture, leadership and editorial independence. In this episode of Fourth Estate, Tina Quinn speaks with current and former ABC journalists, including Michael Slezak, Fran Kelly, Quentin Dempster, Emma Field and Scott Mitchell, to unpack what led to the strike — and what it reveals about the future of the organisation. We'd love to hear from you! Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or tweet us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@fourthestateau⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"She seems unaware of just how inexperienced she is," was how one media commentator described Virginia Trioli when she first took her place behind the microphone of the Drive program on 774 ABC Radio Melbourne. She had by that point more than a decade of experience as a journalist — but was still relatively new to the art of broadcasting. But Trioli was a quick study, and in the 25 years that followed, would establish herself as one of Australia’s most incisive and instinctive broadcasters, from the interview with Peter Reith that would earn her a Walkley Award, to her expansion into television, presenting Lateline, and her role as the foundation host of the now long-running ABC News Breakfast. As part of our ongoing profile series, the two-time Walkley Award winner joins Tina Quinn to reflect on those years in broadcasting — the interviews that defined her career, the evolution from radio to television, and the pressures that would ultimately lead her to step away from daily broadcasting. Virginia's 2024 memoir, A Bit on the Side: Reflections On What Makes Life Delicious, is published by Pan Macmillan. We'd love to hear from you! Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or tweet us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@fourthestateau⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Virginia Trioli stepped onto the floor of "this horrible soviet-style building" that was The Age newsroom as a young cadet journalist in 1990, she knew she’d found her place — despite the building doing its best to suggest otherwise. What followed was a career that quickly established her as a formidable voice in print, including the publication of her seminal feminist manifesto, Generation F — before a pivot into broadcasting that would shape the decades to come. As part of our ongoing profile series, the two-time Walkley Award winner joins Tina Quinn to reflect on those early years in journalism, and the transition that would take her beyond the newsroom. We'd love to hear from you! Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or tweet us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@fourthestateau⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For eleven years, John Howard dominated Australian politics, winning four elections and reshaping the country’s political and economic direction. To many supporters, he remains the careful economic manager with a plain-spoken style and an instinctive connection to suburban voters. But in her new book Where It All Went Wrong: The Case Against John Howard, journalist and political commentator Amy Remeikis sets out to challenge the mythology surrounding the Howard years, a narrative she argues is still perpetuated in sections of the media and political class today. In this episode of Fourth Estate, Remeikis joins Tina Quinn to revisit the Australia that elected Howard in 1996 after thirteen years of Labor governments under Bob Hawke and Paul Keating, and to unpack why she believes many of the political and social dynamics shaping Australia today can be traced back to decisions made during his prime ministership. We'd love to hear from you! Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or tweet us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@fourthestateau⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fourth Estate goes live for this special International Women’s Day edition, as host Tina Quinn revisits some of the remarkable women who helped reshape Australian journalism. Featuring archival interviews with Margaret Throsby, Liz Hayes, Maxine McKew, Bridget Brennan, Laura Tingle and more, the program reflects on the barriers women faced in the newsroom, and the legacy they’ve left for the generations that followed. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or tweet us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠@fourthestateau⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The United States and Israel have launched a joint military operation against Iran, killing the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and dramatically escalating tensions across the Middle East. But as the conflict unfolds, it is also exposing deep divisions within the Iranian community and its wider diaspora, and whether the media is capturing the complexity of those voices. Host Tina Quinn is joined by ABC News journalist Nassim Khadem and Iranian-American writer and researcher Ciara Moezidiz to examine the context behind the conflict and the absence of nuance in some Western coverage. For more of Ciara's writing and analysis, head to her Substack. Later in the program, Nine newspapers media writer Calum Jaspan joins us to discuss the spectacular collapse of Australia’s most powerful breakfast radio partnership. After 27 years on air, The Kyle and Jackie O Show has imploded following an extraordinary on-air clash between the hosts. What does the future hold for both presenters, and for ARN after its $200 million bet on the polarising duo? Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ or tweet us at ⁠⁠⁠@fourthestateau⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the wake of US and Israeli strikes on Iran, and Tehran’s retaliatory missile attacks across the region, we return to the Fourth Estate archives. In this 2020 conversation, Iranian-American journalist, writer and academic Azadeh Moaveni joins then-host, Sharon Davies talking to the dangers of reporting from Iran and her book, Guest House for Young Widows, examining the young women from Europe and North Africa who left home to join ISIS. This episode was originally broadcast in April, 2020. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ or tweet us at ⁠⁠⁠@fourthestateau⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once a beacon of groundbreaking American journalism, the masthead that helped expose Watergate and held presidents to account is now undergoing sweeping cuts that have shaken its newsroom. More than 300 journalists have been laid off at The Washington Post, foreign correspondents, climate reporters, local staff, entire desks dismantled. For many inside the newsroom, it wasn’t just the scale of the cuts that shocked, it was the way they were handled. Journalists reportedly learned they had lost their jobs via email and social media. Owner Jeff Bezos was absent. Publisher Will Lewis was absent. And questions are now swirling about leadership, strategy, and the future of one of the world’s most influential newspapers. This week on Fourth Estate, Marty Baron, Executive Editor of The Washington Post from 2013 to 2021, and the author of Collision of Power: Trump, Bezos, and THE WASHINGTON POST, joins Tina Quinn to discuss the gutting of the paper, what’s gone wrong, and whether a future for it still exists. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ or tweet us at ⁠⁠⁠@fourthestateau⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia was framed as routine diplomacy by political leaders and much of the press. But outside the official engagements, thousands protested — and in Sydney, violent clashes between demonstrators and police were captured on camera. Footage showed officers punching and capsicum-spraying protesters, including an 18-year-old pinned to the ground and struck repeatedly. Other videos showed men kneeling in prayer before being forcibly removed. Premier Chris Minns has urged the public not to rush to judgement based on short clips, promising an internal investigation and a review of body-worn footage. So how did Australian media cover the visit — and the crackdown? When powerful images circulate instantly, what responsibility do journalists have to interrogate official narratives? And has the story shifted from diplomacy to police conduct? Plus: Angus Taylor rolls Sussan Ley to become Liberal leader, Lenore Taylor steps down as Editor of Guardian Australia, and we reflect on the life and legacy of cartoonist Jon Kudelka. Joining Tina Quinn to discuss is Mike Bowers (Host of Talking Pictures), David Leser (Regular contributor to Good Weekend) and Daanyal Saeed (Media Writer at Crikey). Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ or tweet us at ⁠⁠⁠@fourthestateau Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Fourth Estate, we examine how the media covered the biggest stories of the week, from the attempted bombing at an Invasion Day rally in Perth, now declared a terrorist act, to the latest document dump linked to Jeffrey Epstein. We also look at the shifts happening within the media itself, as Nine Entertainment sells off its powerful talkback radio stations and the ABC launches a new Q+A-style panel show. Joining Tina Quinn to discuss is Charlie Lewis from Crikey and Daniel James from 7am. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ or tweet us at ⁠⁠⁠@fourthestateau Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A chaotic week in federal politics has left the opposition fractured and raised serious questions about how power is being exercised in Parliament. As the Albanese government rushed landmark hate-speech and extremism legislation through in under 24 hours, warnings about civil liberties, due process and executive overreach were brushed aside. The speed of the laws’ passage split the Coalition, with the Nationals walking away and Liberal leader Sussan Ley fighting to hold her leadership together. On this episode of Fourth Estate, we unpack how the legislation passed so quickly, why it proved so destabilising for the opposition, and what it reveals about the current political moment — from the use of fear and urgency in law-making to the media’s role in amplifying campaigns for a royal commission. Joining Tina Quinn to discuss are Rachel Withers, Contributing Editor at The Point, and Claudia Long, Federal Politics Reporter at ABC News. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ or tweet us at ⁠⁠@fourthestateau Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the aftermath of the Bondi massacre, a sustained media and political campaign intensified pressure on the government to establish a royal commission into antisemitism. Within a day of the Albanese government announcing that one would take place, an invitation to Palestinian Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah to appear at Adelaide Writers’ Week was rescinded, citing concerns around cultural sensitivity. The fallout was swift, more than 180 writers withdrew, the festival collapsed, its director resigned, and the board stepped down. This episode of Fourth Estate examines how sustained media pressure can move beyond scrutiny into something more coercive — shaping decisions, narrowing debate, and contributing to institutional implosion. Joining Tina Quinn to discuss is Amy Remeikis (The Australia Institute), Paul Karp (The Australian Financial Review) and Osman Faruqi (Lamestream Media). Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at ⁠[email protected]⁠ or tweet us at ⁠@fourthestateau Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a special summer edition of Fourth Estate, we turn the clock back to December 2018, when broadcaster and journalist Mike Carlton joined then host Peter Fray for a wide-ranging conversation about his newly published memoir, ⁠On Air⁠. The book traces Carlton’s long career across Australian journalism — from print to radio — offering a candid account of life behind the microphone, the shifting culture of newsrooms, and the pressures shaping public debate. Recorded during a period of profound upheaval in Australia’s media landscape, this conversation reflects on power, personality, and the responsibilities of broadcasters, themes that feel as resonant now as they did then. Plus ça change. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at ⁠[email protected]⁠ or tweet us at ⁠@fourthestateau Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special Fourth Estate summer re-release, we revisit Tina Quinn's conversation with Australian journalist, Lisa Millar, from September, 2021. From her years as a foreign correspondent with the ABC, first in Washington, then later on in London, to co-hosting News Breakfast, Millar reflects on an incredible three decades in journalism. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at ⁠[email protected]⁠ or tweet us at ⁠@fourthestateau Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How is press freedom being tested in the Trump era? In this episode of Fourth Estate, Tina Quinn is joined by Media Correspondent with NPR, David Folkenflik and Chief Political Correspondent for The Washington Post, Karen Tumulty, examining the growing pressure on journalists in the United States. They discuss Trump’s personal attacks on reporters, lawsuits against major networks, access restrictions, media ownership battles, and upheaval inside legacy mastheads. If the First Amendment supposedly still stands, how is press freedom quietly eroding? Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] or tweet us at @fourthestateau Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After the mass shooting at Bondi, Australia became a global headline, and a case study in how tragedy is rapidly politicised. Before facts were established, misinformation surged, racial vilification followed, and political narratives hardened. Jewish, Middle Eastern, Arabic and Muslim communities were unfairly targeted, while debates over gun laws, antisemitism and national security were pulled into the news cycle at speed. In this episode of Fourth Estate, we interrogate how the Bondi shooting was covered, and how journalism struggled under pressure. Joining Tina Quinn to unpack the coverage and issues at play is Antony Loewenstein, an independent journalist and author of My Israel Question and The Palestine Laboratory, as well as Crikey's Daanyal Saeed and The Australian Financial Review's Jennifer Hewett. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] or tweet us at @fourthestateau Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Journalist, author and feminist thinker Virginia Haussegger joins Tina Quinn to examine why the feminist revolution — inside Australia’s media and beyond — remains unfinished. Drawing on her latest book, Unfinished Revolution: The Feminist Fightback, Haussegger traces the long arc of sexism, backlash and resistance — from the media mockery of feminism during International Women’s Year in 1975, through to the misogyny directed at Australia’s first female prime minister, and the explosive reckoning of the March4Justice movement in 2021. Despite women now slightly outnumbering men as reporters in Australian newsrooms, Haussegger argues that real power has barely shifted. Media ownership and executive leadership remain overwhelmingly male, reinforcing cultures of machismo, misogyny and resistance to accountability. She reflects candidly on her own career — thriving at times inside these systems — and on confronting the ways sexism shaped even her own assumptions. The conversation ranges from the treatment of women in political and media life, to the persistence of gendered violence, the silencing of feminist history, and Australia’s slide on global gender equality rankings. At a moment of global backlash against women’s rights, this is a searching discussion about power, media, history and whether feminism still dares to imagine revolution. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] or tweet us at @fourthestateau Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After ten years co-hosting The Today Show, Liz Hayes made a decision that would reshape her life — she walked away from the top breakfast-television gig in the country. In this second part of this conversation with Tina Quinn, Liz shares the personal turmoil that led her to professional triumphs at 60 Minutes, and the extraordinary assignments that took her from the war in Afghanistan, to the emerald mines of Colombia, and detention centers at Guantanamo Bay. She reflects on the emotional toll of high-stakes reporting, the interviews that have stayed with her, and her eventual decision to leave Channel Nine after an incredible 44 years. For more on Liz, pick up a copy of her 2023 memoir, I'm Liz Hayes. Her new book, Outback Astronomer, is out now. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] or tweet us at @fourthestateau Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Liz Hayes is one of Australia’s most trusted and enduring journalists — but her story begins far from the studio lights. In this first part of our profile, Liz joins Tina Quinn in-studio to reflect on her upbringing on the Mid North Coast, where she started out as a cadet reporter, and her rapid rise through the newsrooms of Network Ten and Channel Nine. She talks about her decade at the helm of The Today Show — a role that made her one of the most recognisable faces in the country, as well as the pressures that came with that visibility, and the expectations placed on women in television in the 1980s and 90s. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] or tweet us at @fourthestateau Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For more than a century, Condé Nast defined taste, power, and aspiration. From Vogue and Vanity Fair to The New Yorker and GQ, its magazines didn’t just chronicle culture — they shaped it. In this episode, Tina Quinn speaks with media correspondent for The New York Times, Michael M. Grynbaum, author of Empire Of The Elite, about how the company built an empire of influence — and how that power has been transformed in the age of social media, shifting values, and audiences who no longer wait to be told what’s beautiful or important. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just weeks ago, Palestinian media worker Samer Tarazi was struggling for survival amid the devastation of Gaza. Now safe in Sydney, he reflects on what he witnessed — the destruction of his city, the loss of his journalist colleagues, and the ongoing toll of a conflict that continues to test the world’s conscience. As news breaks of a “ceasefire” — hailed by some as a breakthrough and dismissed by others as fragile and uncertain — Samer joined host, Tina Quinn in studio to speak about survival, truth-telling, and what peace really means when you’ve lived through war. With translation and assistance from ABC journalist Nabil Al-Nashar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the main stage at Sydney’s ICC, Women In Media's national conference brought together some of the sharpest voices in journalism and storytelling — Claudia Karvan, Hanna Rosin, Libbi Gorr, Hannah Ferguson, and Monica Attard among them. Join Tina Quinn as she dives into the standout moments and voices from the day, unpacking the ideas, debates and powerful moments that emerged. To find out more about WIM, head to womeninmedia.com.au - you'll be able to find more information about the Caroline Jones Women in Media Young Journalist’s Award at the website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Stasiland was first published in 2003, it became an international sensation — winning the UK’s top non-fiction prize and propelling Anna Funder onto the world stage. In part two of this conversation with Tina Quinn, Anna reflects on the book’s extraordinary acclaim, and how her distinctive approach to truth-telling shaped her later works, All That I Am, The Girl with the Dogs, and Wifedom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

She may not call herself a journalist, but Anna Funder’s work is a fearless meditation on truth, and a masterclass in pushing the boundaries of genre to capture it. Her writing tackles the great arcs of 20th-century history, from the totalitarian state of East Germany, to the rise of Nazism, to the shackles of patriarchy, always through the lives of real people whose courage, resilience, and quiet heroism shine through. As part of our ongoing in-profile series, Anna joined Tina Quinn in studio to talk about her journey from Melbourne to East Berlin — the city where the stories that became her award-winning debut book, Stasiland, first began to take shape. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we mark 24 years since the September 11 terror attacks, we revisit the Fourth Estate archives with a special episode first broadcast in September 2021 on the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Hosted at the time by Prue Clarke — who herself was in New York when the attacks happened — this conversation digs into the media’s role in shaping America’s response, from uncritical reporting that smoothed the path to war, to coverage that overlooked the backlash against Muslim Americans and the erosion of civil liberties within the United States. Prue was joined by Andrew Rosenthal, former editorial page editor of The New York Times, and Doha Madani, senior breaking news reporter at NBC News. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, Australia expelled Iran’s ambassador in a move that dominated headlines. But while the media focused on the diplomatic drama, the government quietly introduced legislation that would strip certain migrants of their right to procedural fairness — a story almost entirely buried by the Iran announcement. Both developments raise serious questions about secrecy, accountability, and double standards — questions the media largely failed to ask. On this episode of Fourth Estate, we look at how the media missed the bigger story, why the public was quicker to connect the dots, and what it tells us about Australia’s treatment of migrants and its relationships abroad. Joining host, Tina Quinn, is two stalwarts of the Canberra Press Gallery - Amy Remeikis (Chief Political Analyst for The Australia Institute) and Mark Kenny (Director of the Australian Studies Institute at ANU). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Laura Tingle is widely regarded as one of Australia’s finest political journalists, with nearly four decades spent in the Canberra Press Gallery covering every government Malcolm Fraser’s to Anthony Albanese’s. But this year she stunned even the most seasoned observers by announcing her departure as 7.30’s Chief Political Correspondent — leaving Parliament House behind to take on a new role as the ABC’s Global Affairs Editor. In this episode of Fourth Estate’s ongoing 'In Profile' series, Laura joined Tina Quinn in studio to reflect on her remarkable career, the shifting culture of political reporting, and what comes next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A historic moment of civil disobedience took place across the Sydney Harbour Bridge last week, as hundreds of thousands of people came out to demonstrate against Israel’s actions in Gaza. Although some media outlets chose to report on the protest with highly dramatised descriptions, authorities confirmed no arrests were made and the demonstration was largely peaceful. The following day, Australia’s government announced a further $20 million for aid to assist with both food and medical supplies in Gaza. Joining Tina Quinn to discuss the coverage of the protest and its political impact was Kenneth Roth (former Executive Director of Human Rights Watch), Nabil Al-Nashar (Reporter for ABC News Sydney) and Amber Schultz (Crime and Justice Reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald). Kenneth Roth has just published a new book entitled, Righting Wrongs: Three Decades on the Front Lines Battling Abusive Governments. And stay tuned for a special message about the upcoming national conference for the not-for-profit charity, Women In Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All eyes are again firmly on Gaza this week as the enclave faces mass starvation that human rights groups and aid organisations have been loudly warning of for months. Media outlets that seemed to previously play down the plight of Palestinians, and the actions of the Israeli government have flooded their front pages with graphic images of emaciated, disease ridden children, accompanied by headlines like “Stop This Now.” The UK and France have flagged their intention to recognise Palestine as a state, and the Australian government has accused Israel of breaching international law. So how seismic really is this apparent change in tone from our media and our politicians? Former Middle East Correspondent David Leser, himself a Jewish man has penned a powerful column for The Sydney Morning Herald on the moral catastrophe facing his community and political leaders the world over. He spoke with Tina Quinn about whether we actually might be at a tipping point, the plight of journalists reporting in the region and the only thing he thinks could bring an end to the bloodshed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For generations, First Nations people have called for a truth-telling process — a way to formally acknowledge the harm caused by colonisation and ongoing injustice. In Victoria, that process has taken historic form through the Yoorrook Justice Commission — the first truth-telling inquiry of its kind in Australia. Over a number of years, the commission heard thousands of testimonies, exposing the deep and painful truths of the state’s past and present. Now, its final report has been handed to the Victorian government. Daniel James — writer, broadcaster, and co-host of the 7am podcast was one of the author's of the commission's report, Truth Be Told. He joined Tina Quinn to discuss what Yoorrook uncovered. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Journalist, author and television presenter, Jan Fran joins Tina Quinn in studio to talk the launch of Ette Media, a new independent venture she's co-founded with fellow journalist, Antoinette Lattouf. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What began as just five casual shifts behind the microphone has escalated into one of the most high-profile legal battles in Australian media. In 2023, Antoinette Lattouf was dropped as a fill-in presenter on ABC Radio Sydney after she shared a Human Rights Watch post about the Israel-Gaza conflict, which claimed Israel had used starvation as a "weapon of war." Lattouf took the national broadcaster to court, alleging wrongful dismissal. Now, after a lengthy and expensive legal fight, Justice Darryl Rangiah has ruled in favour of Antoinette Lattouf. Co-founder of Lamestream Media, Scott Mitchell and Media Reporter for Crikey, Daanyal Saeed, joined Tina Quinn to discuss both the judgment and the implications for not only the ABC, but the media more broadly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We turn the clock back this week and revisit former Fourth Estate host, Monica Attard's conversation with Sophie McNeil, previously the ABC's Middle East Correspondent, and Hugh Riminton, National Affairs Editor for 10 News First. This episode originally aired in May 2021, during what became known as the Israel-Palestine crisis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the latest uprising of violence in Gaza surpasses 600 days, the government of Israel is facing unprecedented condemnation from its Western allies. France, the United Kingdom, and Canada have provided the most surprising about-face, with many other countries echoing sentiments of "disgrace" over the Netanyahu government's actions. But many critics say it's a case of too little, too late. So what has triggered this shift in language, and could it signal a more meaningful shift in policy? Joining Tina Quinn from Tel Aviv to discuss the implications, the coverage, and the way forward is Lindsey Hilsum, International Editor for Channel 4 News and one of the most esteemed foreign correspondents of her generation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we dive back into the archives, and turn the clock back to Tina Quinn's one-on-one with journalist and broadcaster, Lisa Millar. At the time, Lisa had just released her memoir, Daring to Fly — a powerful and honest reflection on fear, resilience, and what it means to live a courageous life.  In the book, she opens up about her journey from a small Queensland town to some of the world’s biggest newsrooms, the emotional toll of covering conflict and tragedy, and the abuse she faced as a public figure in the d...

In what turned out to be a much more definitive result than most pundits were expecting, the Labor government of Anthony Albanese has been returned to office for a second term with an increased majority. Meanwhile, the Coalition suffered devastating losses across the board, and lost the head of their party in Peter Dutton. Why did the Coalition lose so spectacularly? How did the Albanese Government manage a largely unprecedented comeback? Is the once undeniable influence of Rupert Murdoch's media now irrelevant? And does this result signal a seismic shift in Australian politics? Joining Tina Quinn for a post-mortem is Amy Remeikis, Chief Political Analyst at The Australia Institute, Louise Milligan, Investigative Reporter for the ABC's Four Corners, and Mark Kenny, Director of the Australian Studies Institute at the Australian National University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices