Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has made good on a promise made ten years ago, recording a special episode of the satirical interview segment Hard Chat with comedian Tom Gleeson. The Prime Minister first appeared on the segment in 2015 when he was a shadow minister, telling Gleeson at the time: "You'll still be here, no doubt, in a decade."
Buttrose's Controversial Immigration Comments
Meanwhile, former ABC chair Ita Buttrose has revealed her strong views on immigration during promotional events for her memoir Unapologetically Ita. The 83-year-old media veteran stated that Australia's multicultural society isn't working as well as it could be, blaming "divisive groups" being allowed into the country.
"This is Australia, so I think we have to be emphatic that you try and live our way, not the way you did when you were in the country that you left to become an Australian," Buttrose said during an online interview with Professor Henry Brodaty from the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing. She stepped down as ABC chair in March 2024.
ABC's Ambitious 2026 Content Slate
The national broadcaster has unveiled an extensive lineup of new programming for 2026, featuring 60 prime-time premium television series - a significant increase from 43 in 2025. The announcement comes eight months into Hugh Marks's tenure as ABC managing director.
Highlights from the upcoming slate include:
- A drama exploring the robodebt scandal titled Shakedown
- A miniseries about Indigenous tennis legend Evonne Goolagong Cawley
- Dustfall, a mystery series starring Anna Torv as a detective investigating gender-based violence
- Documentaries including Tampa: The Boat That Turned the Tide reported by Sarah Ferguson
- A high court series examining landmark judgments on Mabo, marriage equality and immigration
Jennifer Collins, director of the ABC's screen division, expressed particular excitement about the robodebt drama, noting it would focus on the human stories behind one of Australia's biggest miscarriages of justice.
Embracing Digital Transformation
The ABC is also pushing forward with plans to expand its short-form video content for social media platforms. The new initiative, ABC News Loop, aims to provide fact-based news explainers to counter misinformation on social media.
Justin Stevens, director of ABC News, explained: "A huge number of Australians of all ages access news and information on social media platforms. But these platforms are rife with opinion, misinformation and disinformation."
The move comes as Hugh Marks continues to defend the ABC against what he describes as opportunistic attacks, recently asserting at the National Press Club that the broadcaster remains a "precious national asset."
Meanwhile, the ABC is conducting an internal investigation into former Four Corners reporter Mahmood Fazal's participation in an externally produced podcast sponsored by an online casino. Marks emphasised the importance of following proper procedures in the wake of the costly Antoinette Lattouf saga, which cost the broadcaster over $2.5 million.
