00:00:06
Speaker 1: You're listening to Amma mea podcast.
00:00:13
Speaker 2: Good morning from gadigal Land. I'm Taylor Strano. We're heading towards January twenty six, which brings up a lot of different feelings for a lot of different people. Change the date, keep the date, What does the day really mean? This year? Tony Armstrong is joining that conversation, bringing humor to the table. His new ABC special Always Was Tonight is a sharp First Nations led news satire that promises to decolonize the news, one headline at a time. It'll land right in the middle of it all, filmed live, built by a room full of First Nations writers, and taking on the stories and headlines Australia can't ignore at this time of year or ever. Today we'll speak to Tony about what he wants this show to do that other news programs don't, and why he reckons humor can sometimes get through where straight politics can't. Before we get there, Clare Murphy's got in News headlines for Monday, January nineteenth.
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Speaker 1: Thanks Taylor. Parliament will resume today. Is MPs A calledback early to pay their respects to the victims of the Bondai terror attack and work on laws to ensure it doesn't happen again. Australian politicians will today mark a condolence motion for the victims of the December fourteen massacre, during which fifteen people were killed by gunmen targeting a Jewish celebration. The government initially planned to introduce an omnibus bill that would both criminalize hate speech and strengthen gun laws, but widespread opposition from across the political aisle forced a move to split the legislation into two. The firearms legislation will enable a promised gun buyback, which was agreed in a national cabinet deal with the States and territories to tighten gun laws following the attack, where it was revealed that one of the gunmen's, Serjid Akram, was a licensed holder of six firearms, despite his son and fellow attacker Navid, having previously come to the attention of ASIO for links to Islamic extremists. Fresh figures from the Department of Home Affairs shows that were a record word four point one million firearms in Australia, more than at the time of the Port Arthur massacre three decades ago. With the Green support, the government expects the gun legislation to be enshrined into law, but the fate of the hate speech changes is less clear. Labour maintains hope it can strike a deal with the opposition to usher the contentious legislation through the Senate on Tuesday evening, but senators are preparing for a marathon sitting that could drag on into Wednesday morning. The Greens are opposed to the hate speech measures, concerned they'll risk political freedom such as the ability to protest Israel's war in Gaza, as well as changes increasing the power of the Home Affairs Minister to cancel visas. The Coalition has signaled it is willing to salvage Labour's failed laws, but its MPs are worried about the impact on freedom of speech, even after a contentious racial vilification component was removed. Prime Minister Anthony Albernizi has been asked to join the Board of Peace to help rebuild Gaza by US President Donald Trump. A draft charter for the organization has been sent to a number of world leaders, including al Benizi and the leaders of Canada, Turkey and Argentina, although it's not clear exactly how many have been asked to participate. At this stage, all of those who accept the invitation would represent their country in the rebuilding efforts in the war torn region in a term no longer than three years. If a country wants to stay on any longer, they have to pay US one billion dollars. An executive board will work under the Board of Peace, which includes the U s Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump's son in law Jared Kushner, and the US's Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Whitcoff. The organization has drawn criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said the announcement of those involved included no input from his government. A thirteen year old boy is fighting for his life after being bitten on the leg by a shark at a popular Sydney beach. Emergency services were called to Vaucluse in the city's east to reports of a shark attack at around four to twenty pm yesterday. The boy was pulled from the water off Shark Beach by New South Wales Police and Marine Area Command officers within minutes of the call being made to Triple zero. The incident happened Ninnis Wilson Park in Shark Beach, a popular swimming spot for families that has a netted area in Sydney Harbour. The beach has been closed and swimmers have been advised not to go into the water. US President Donald Trump has threatened to implement a wave of increasing tariffs on EU members Denmark's, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland, along with Britain and Norway until the United States is allowed to buy Greenland. All the country is already subject to tariffs of ten percent and fifteen percent. Have now sent small numbers of military personnel to Greenland, while the European Union is facing calls to implement a never before used range of economic countermeasures known as the Anti Coercion Instrument, as part of the block's response to Trump's tariff threats. The Anti Coercion Instrument which could limit access to public tenders in the Block or restrict trade in services in which the US has a surplus with the EU. However, some EU diplomats say now is not the time to escalate the situation. Game of Throne stars Amelia Clark has revealed that she suffered a broken rib while shooting intimate scenes for her new spy Drum the Ponies. Speaking to The Wrap, the thirty nine year old said, when shooting the Cold War era drama, three men in a number of hours just kept bringing it. I'm going to sit on this thing. You're going to bring them in. We're going to pretend to have sex.
00:05:17
Speaker 2: She said.
00:05:18
Speaker 1: I broke a rib that day. She said it didn't fully break, but rather popped out a little. Her costar Hailey Lie Richardson confirming the story, saying that Clark is such a tiny, little sensitive body.
00:05:28
Speaker 2: Thanks Claire. Next Always Was Tonight with Tony Armstrong, The ABC is kicking off twenty twenty six with a one off special that's part news show, part roast, and completely First Nations led. Always Was Tonight is a thirty minute satirical news program hosted by Tony Armstrong. The brief is simple and yet not simple at all. Decolonize the news, one headline at a time. The showline squarely in the week around January twenty six and uses comedy to talk about the kinds of issues that usually only show up as heavy polarized debates, what the day means, what it's like moving through Australia as a First Nations person, and how the media covers stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people the rest of the year. On top of that, it's all happening in front of a live studio audience, so no pressure. I caught it with Tony ahead of the Wednesday premiere date, and yes, we obviously ended this conversation talking about two things that we are both passionate about, food and footy. Always was Tonight aims to decolonize the news and take on the issues Australia can not ignore. What to you are some of those big issues that we can no longer turn away from, say today, I.
00:06:50
Speaker 3: Think a big focus of this show is.
00:06:52
Speaker 4: Us actually speaking on our own behalf. I think what you see a lot in the week of jan twenty six, or the week leading up, I should say, you see like a lot of rhetoric around you know what is the best way forward? You know, a lot of talk about the day itself, which is just one small part of it all.
00:07:11
Speaker 3: But for us, I.
00:07:12
Speaker 4: Think it's a great opportunity to talk about some of the issues and just what it's like being Blackfellows through the lens of satire, because I think that makes it a little bit easier for people to digest it, and it also gives us the opportunity to speak on our own behalf, which is quite often one of the voices that's missing.
00:07:32
Speaker 3: So yeah, I mean a whole raft of issues will be brought up.
00:07:36
Speaker 4: But yeah, I think the main thing that we're pumped about is we get to speak about.
00:07:40
Speaker 3: It on our own behalf.
00:07:41
Speaker 2: Yeah, I think you're so right. I mean, it's one of those times that we get to hear from a lot of First Nations voices mainly only around this time of year, and only about these types of things. And I'm going to ask you the question, like, as a Gamilleroy and man, how do you feel around this time of the year.
00:07:57
Speaker 3: Yeah, look, it's pretty funny.
00:07:59
Speaker 4: I think what's important for everyone to understand is, you know, this is a time of year that means a lot to a lot of different people in a lot of different ways. I think from our perspective and from my perspective, being able to express how this time of year and I guess the Black experience how it makes me feel, is a great opportunity to maybe give other people an insight into sort of how we might be feeling without necessarily saying that other people are wrong or anything like that.
00:08:35
Speaker 3: It's just an opportunity for people to I guess.
00:08:38
Speaker 4: Connect with what we feel and what we find is sort of funny or just so ridiculous we can't not talk about, and then hopefully that brings everyone closer.
00:08:48
Speaker 3: Because it is.
00:08:49
Speaker 4: It can be quite an emotionally charged time where people get quite political, with good reason, I think, but hopefully through a vessel like this, there can be a little bit more understanding from more people.
00:09:01
Speaker 2: When I think about First Nations people that I've seen on my television screen, I think about people like yourself obviously, Stan Grant, people in the arts as well, like Tempra Mailman, and so many beautiful, big talented names and voices there. But beyond what we see in those kind of lights, there's also all of the headlines and all of these stories and all of this rhetoric around First Nations Australians too, So I'd love to know, like, how do you describe the Australian media and its relationship to First Nations and their allies as well.
00:09:34
Speaker 3: It's interesting, that's a really good question. I think it's still not where it needs to be.
00:09:39
Speaker 4: I don't think these stories that the ones that seem to carry the furthest are the ones that are stories of positivity unfortunately, and I think that goes for everything.
00:09:50
Speaker 3: You know, you work in the same racket, you see what goes on.
00:09:52
Speaker 4: The stories that have a bit sort of more of a negative tinge to them seem to be the ones.
00:09:57
Speaker 3: That get clicks.
00:09:58
Speaker 4: They drive traffic a bit more, and so I think off the back of that, we aren't seeing as harmonious.
00:10:04
Speaker 3: A relationship as we could. I still don't think that.
00:10:06
Speaker 4: There are enough sort of black voices in the media, and that's not through lack of talent either.
00:10:12
Speaker 3: So I don't think we're at a talent shortage.
00:10:14
Speaker 4: I think we're a perceived that's very important, where that a perceived risk aversion. Full kudos to ABC Indigenous and the ABC for putting a show like this on. You know, we've got a room full of riders next door. That's where I've just come from, all blackfellows. You know, we've got James Colly as well, a legend of Australian comedy and comedy writing.
00:10:35
Speaker 3: Sort of just giving us some advice along the way.
00:10:37
Speaker 4: There's so much talent there and I would love to see Australian media take more of the opportunities in front of them to put you know, not just not just blackfellow faces, but diverse faces on their screen and in their print.
00:10:51
Speaker 2: Talk to me more about the lineup for the show, because I'm really excited about the fact that it's not just happening, it's comedy, Tony. I mean, I can't do comedy. I do news, but I'd love to hear more about what's happening on the show when you work out how.
00:11:02
Speaker 3: To do comedy.
00:11:03
Speaker 4: Let me know, I've got a host a show and days and I'm shitting bricks.
00:11:08
Speaker 3: But we've got some amazing people.
00:11:10
Speaker 4: So like I mean the writing team, you know, Dave Woodhead from Triple J Yarram and Thorns in there, Elaine Crombie, Aaron Collins, Meghan Wilding. She's both writing and she's going to be in front of the camera as well as a very funny character. I don't want to burn all of the laughs. Yeah, I mean, brook Bony is going to be in it as well. Sorry not Brook Bony, Brook Blurton. That's a joke we make in the show actually.
00:11:33
Speaker 2: So she does.
00:11:35
Speaker 3: Yeah, I know, but yeah, I mean see there's so much talent there that I can't wait for people to see it.
00:11:41
Speaker 4: And you know, we've shot a few things already, which is very exciting. But also it's going to be a very current and a very sort of yeah modern type show.
00:11:50
Speaker 3: But also we've got all the evergreen stuff we could look at as really really sad, which it is.
00:11:55
Speaker 4: But also if you can't find sort of a way to talk about it, and maybe it is through satire, then.
00:12:02
Speaker 3: It just keeps happening the way it does. So yeah, I'm so excited. I've just got to try to work out how to be funny between now and that.
00:12:09
Speaker 2: Yeah, you're driving the bus. Good luck with that.
00:12:12
Speaker 3: Thanks so much for the phote of confidence. That sounded dumb a great.
00:12:16
Speaker 2: Yeah, I have full confidence in you, Tony. The other part of this is that it's going to be filmed in front of a live studio audience. Now, you're no stranger to live TV. Obviously, ABC News Breakfast is live every morning when you were doing sports there, but it's not your first rodeo with live Telly, but with an audience as well. There's always margins for error. Have you just accepted that at some stage something may potentially go wrong.
00:12:42
Speaker 4: Look, there's something really sick inside of me. I like it when things go wrong. It's so much fun because then you get to really test to see whether or not you're actually any good at your job. I quite like that, and that sometimes when you're shooting a show and you do a joke and it's just the studio or the staff, they're they're so professional they don't laugh on the punchline, So you like, have I actually been funny?
00:13:03
Speaker 3: Like I don't really know what's going on.
00:13:04
Speaker 4: Here, but with a live studio audience it should be great. And I've I just had a look at the set this morning.
00:13:10
Speaker 3: It's been lit up. We're using an LED.
00:13:12
Speaker 4: Set, which is the first time that technology has been used as a set, So we're very excited for that as well.
00:13:19
Speaker 2: Tony, did you ever think, and maybe you've been reflecting upon this as the premier date gets closer and closer, that for a kid who you've played AFL, you've moved into live sports reporting, did you ever think you be at this stage?
00:13:32
Speaker 4: Look, to be honest, it's like you almost said like late stage capitalism or something like that, Like like I don't I don't.
00:13:39
Speaker 2: Know, like you're going to be fine doing comedy live.
00:13:43
Speaker 3: To me, to be fair, all I wanted to do was have like a two hundred.
00:13:47
Speaker 4: And fifty game footy career and then write one of those, right, one of those absolutely boring as batshit autobiographies where it was like, you know, I tried hard and I trained hard, and because of that, I'm now super successful and I've got five beach houses and now I like, I'm like.
00:14:05
Speaker 3: God, a board of some company, Like that's what I wanted from my life. But here I am singing for my supper. But it's fine, Like I'm actually so stoked. It's so much fun. And that's the longest no you've ever heard. I didn't think.
00:14:23
Speaker 4: I didn't think i'd be here doing this, but I'll tell you what, I'm so pumped about it, and I'm very, like, on a serious note, very humbled that they put their.
00:14:30
Speaker 3: Trust in me to sort of you know, captain the ship.
00:14:34
Speaker 2: Hey, before you go, Tony. I told the office we were going to have a chat today, and of course I went into meltdown. I asked if I had any questions, and for your benefit and mine, I filtered them, like I've vetited some of those questions, but I do want to ask you two of them. The first one, which came up time and time again, was people are desperate to know if your partner Rona will be making a guest appearance on the show.
00:14:56
Speaker 3: She won't be on the show. No, no, no, no, we don't. We don't want to mix that. We don't want to mix businesses pleasure.
00:15:01
Speaker 2: That's so fair. This second one is actually not from the office. It's just from me because working at a women's company, you don't often get to talk in depth about the AFL here, right, are you a footy fan? I, unfortunately am a blue bagger? Oh so yeah, I know right, No, that's the reaction either that or what's a blue bagger? I want to know though, a month out from the AFL preseason, like, who have you got tip for the premiership this year?
00:15:30
Speaker 3: Look, the Swans will bounce. Sorry we took Charlie.
00:15:33
Speaker 2: I can't believe he brought it up. But that's fine.
00:15:35
Speaker 4: You did get two amazing plays in Olive Florent and Will Haywood.
00:15:38
Speaker 3: They're great club and I think that's what Carlton needs.
00:15:41
Speaker 4: Carlton is like like Princess Park is about three hundred meters from my house, so I'm sort of around it all the time, and I have a soft swat for the baggers, But I think, who do I think? I mean, it's gonna be hard to beat the lions or the pies.
00:15:55
Speaker 2: I think I'd love to see the dockers. I reckon, we could see the dockers and then they've got a great.
00:15:59
Speaker 3: Ten and you know what, they're young as that's a really good shout. I was thinking. I was thinking, so Eastern Seaboard docors are good.
00:16:07
Speaker 2: I'm from wa originally, so that's where my freak flag flies.
00:16:10
Speaker 4: Did you not going for the blues then someone in the family played for them?
00:16:14
Speaker 2: No, it's an eighties nineties wog thing. Because I'm Italian, that's my dad.
00:16:25
Speaker 3: Matter would go on our blues a pretty much.
00:16:27
Speaker 2: I mean, you live clost A lag On Street than I have have.
00:16:30
Speaker 3: I'm right in between Ligon and Sydney Road. Yeah, and so like I've got my fruiterer, I've got it all.
00:16:38
Speaker 2: I love that. I'm so glad that I asked you this question. Everybody in the office is going to be like, what was he like, I'm like, great. We talked about the footy the show's happening.
00:16:46
Speaker 3: I'm sorry for my really bad accent, but that's so lovely.
00:16:51
Speaker 4: Theananas, like it's like a whole family fruiterer and like I didn't even realize I was working with some guy in like an old job I used to do.
00:16:59
Speaker 3: He's like, don't mate, you live at near Barkley School.
00:17:02
Speaker 4: I'm like, yeah, mate, and he's like, yeah, my my family they see you all the time.
00:17:06
Speaker 3: And I'm like, what do you make this up? Mon lod No actually sees you in the shop and.
00:17:09
Speaker 2: I'm like, what you're in for life? Now? I know they're going to start making you like Canoli's on the Sun or something.
00:17:16
Speaker 3: Well, I mean, I'm not quite there. I just want to get a day where I do the sugo.
00:17:20
Speaker 2: Oh the sauce. Oh yeah, yeah we do.
00:17:23
Speaker 3: I want to make the sauce, and I want to do the salami. I want to do a salami day.
00:17:26
Speaker 2: You can come to w a Tony. You can do it with my family.
00:17:29
Speaker 3: That sounds like a nice easy trip.
00:17:31
Speaker 2: Let's do it, Okay, no problem, I'll line it up. My people will talk to yours when you're not filming. Always was tonight. We'll get it going.
00:17:38
Speaker 3: Thanks Day, Thanks.
00:17:40
Speaker 2: For taking some time to feed your mind with us today, and you can check out Always Wards tonight this Wednesday on ABC TV and ABC I View, And of course we'll be back this afternoon with another news update, so make sure you're following The Quiki in your favorite podcast app. The Quiki is produced by Me, Taylor Strano, Laria Broofi, and Clare Murphy, with audio production by Lou Hill.
00:18:06
Speaker 1: Momma Mere acknowledges the traditional owners of land and waters that this podcast is recorded on
Speaker 1: You're listening to Amma mea podcast.
00:00:13
Speaker 2: Good morning from gadigal Land. I'm Taylor Strano. We're heading towards January twenty six, which brings up a lot of different feelings for a lot of different people. Change the date, keep the date, What does the day really mean? This year? Tony Armstrong is joining that conversation, bringing humor to the table. His new ABC special Always Was Tonight is a sharp First Nations led news satire that promises to decolonize the news, one headline at a time. It'll land right in the middle of it all, filmed live, built by a room full of First Nations writers, and taking on the stories and headlines Australia can't ignore at this time of year or ever. Today we'll speak to Tony about what he wants this show to do that other news programs don't, and why he reckons humor can sometimes get through where straight politics can't. Before we get there, Clare Murphy's got in News headlines for Monday, January nineteenth.
00:01:10
Speaker 1: Thanks Taylor. Parliament will resume today. Is MPs A calledback early to pay their respects to the victims of the Bondai terror attack and work on laws to ensure it doesn't happen again. Australian politicians will today mark a condolence motion for the victims of the December fourteen massacre, during which fifteen people were killed by gunmen targeting a Jewish celebration. The government initially planned to introduce an omnibus bill that would both criminalize hate speech and strengthen gun laws, but widespread opposition from across the political aisle forced a move to split the legislation into two. The firearms legislation will enable a promised gun buyback, which was agreed in a national cabinet deal with the States and territories to tighten gun laws following the attack, where it was revealed that one of the gunmen's, Serjid Akram, was a licensed holder of six firearms, despite his son and fellow attacker Navid, having previously come to the attention of ASIO for links to Islamic extremists. Fresh figures from the Department of Home Affairs shows that were a record word four point one million firearms in Australia, more than at the time of the Port Arthur massacre three decades ago. With the Green support, the government expects the gun legislation to be enshrined into law, but the fate of the hate speech changes is less clear. Labour maintains hope it can strike a deal with the opposition to usher the contentious legislation through the Senate on Tuesday evening, but senators are preparing for a marathon sitting that could drag on into Wednesday morning. The Greens are opposed to the hate speech measures, concerned they'll risk political freedom such as the ability to protest Israel's war in Gaza, as well as changes increasing the power of the Home Affairs Minister to cancel visas. The Coalition has signaled it is willing to salvage Labour's failed laws, but its MPs are worried about the impact on freedom of speech, even after a contentious racial vilification component was removed. Prime Minister Anthony Albernizi has been asked to join the Board of Peace to help rebuild Gaza by US President Donald Trump. A draft charter for the organization has been sent to a number of world leaders, including al Benizi and the leaders of Canada, Turkey and Argentina, although it's not clear exactly how many have been asked to participate. At this stage, all of those who accept the invitation would represent their country in the rebuilding efforts in the war torn region in a term no longer than three years. If a country wants to stay on any longer, they have to pay US one billion dollars. An executive board will work under the Board of Peace, which includes the U s Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump's son in law Jared Kushner, and the US's Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Whitcoff. The organization has drawn criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said the announcement of those involved included no input from his government. A thirteen year old boy is fighting for his life after being bitten on the leg by a shark at a popular Sydney beach. Emergency services were called to Vaucluse in the city's east to reports of a shark attack at around four to twenty pm yesterday. The boy was pulled from the water off Shark Beach by New South Wales Police and Marine Area Command officers within minutes of the call being made to Triple zero. The incident happened Ninnis Wilson Park in Shark Beach, a popular swimming spot for families that has a netted area in Sydney Harbour. The beach has been closed and swimmers have been advised not to go into the water. US President Donald Trump has threatened to implement a wave of increasing tariffs on EU members Denmark's, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland, along with Britain and Norway until the United States is allowed to buy Greenland. All the country is already subject to tariffs of ten percent and fifteen percent. Have now sent small numbers of military personnel to Greenland, while the European Union is facing calls to implement a never before used range of economic countermeasures known as the Anti Coercion Instrument, as part of the block's response to Trump's tariff threats. The Anti Coercion Instrument which could limit access to public tenders in the Block or restrict trade in services in which the US has a surplus with the EU. However, some EU diplomats say now is not the time to escalate the situation. Game of Throne stars Amelia Clark has revealed that she suffered a broken rib while shooting intimate scenes for her new spy Drum the Ponies. Speaking to The Wrap, the thirty nine year old said, when shooting the Cold War era drama, three men in a number of hours just kept bringing it. I'm going to sit on this thing. You're going to bring them in. We're going to pretend to have sex.
00:05:17
Speaker 2: She said.
00:05:18
Speaker 1: I broke a rib that day. She said it didn't fully break, but rather popped out a little. Her costar Hailey Lie Richardson confirming the story, saying that Clark is such a tiny, little sensitive body.
00:05:28
Speaker 2: Thanks Claire. Next Always Was Tonight with Tony Armstrong, The ABC is kicking off twenty twenty six with a one off special that's part news show, part roast, and completely First Nations led. Always Was Tonight is a thirty minute satirical news program hosted by Tony Armstrong. The brief is simple and yet not simple at all. Decolonize the news, one headline at a time. The showline squarely in the week around January twenty six and uses comedy to talk about the kinds of issues that usually only show up as heavy polarized debates, what the day means, what it's like moving through Australia as a First Nations person, and how the media covers stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people the rest of the year. On top of that, it's all happening in front of a live studio audience, so no pressure. I caught it with Tony ahead of the Wednesday premiere date, and yes, we obviously ended this conversation talking about two things that we are both passionate about, food and footy. Always was Tonight aims to decolonize the news and take on the issues Australia can not ignore. What to you are some of those big issues that we can no longer turn away from, say today, I.
00:06:50
Speaker 3: Think a big focus of this show is.
00:06:52
Speaker 4: Us actually speaking on our own behalf. I think what you see a lot in the week of jan twenty six, or the week leading up, I should say, you see like a lot of rhetoric around you know what is the best way forward? You know, a lot of talk about the day itself, which is just one small part of it all.
00:07:11
Speaker 3: But for us, I.
00:07:12
Speaker 4: Think it's a great opportunity to talk about some of the issues and just what it's like being Blackfellows through the lens of satire, because I think that makes it a little bit easier for people to digest it, and it also gives us the opportunity to speak on our own behalf, which is quite often one of the voices that's missing.
00:07:32
Speaker 3: So yeah, I mean a whole raft of issues will be brought up.
00:07:36
Speaker 4: But yeah, I think the main thing that we're pumped about is we get to speak about.
00:07:40
Speaker 3: It on our own behalf.
00:07:41
Speaker 2: Yeah, I think you're so right. I mean, it's one of those times that we get to hear from a lot of First Nations voices mainly only around this time of year, and only about these types of things. And I'm going to ask you the question, like, as a Gamilleroy and man, how do you feel around this time of the year.
00:07:57
Speaker 3: Yeah, look, it's pretty funny.
00:07:59
Speaker 4: I think what's important for everyone to understand is, you know, this is a time of year that means a lot to a lot of different people in a lot of different ways. I think from our perspective and from my perspective, being able to express how this time of year and I guess the Black experience how it makes me feel, is a great opportunity to maybe give other people an insight into sort of how we might be feeling without necessarily saying that other people are wrong or anything like that.
00:08:35
Speaker 3: It's just an opportunity for people to I guess.
00:08:38
Speaker 4: Connect with what we feel and what we find is sort of funny or just so ridiculous we can't not talk about, and then hopefully that brings everyone closer.
00:08:48
Speaker 3: Because it is.
00:08:49
Speaker 4: It can be quite an emotionally charged time where people get quite political, with good reason, I think, but hopefully through a vessel like this, there can be a little bit more understanding from more people.
00:09:01
Speaker 2: When I think about First Nations people that I've seen on my television screen, I think about people like yourself obviously, Stan Grant, people in the arts as well, like Tempra Mailman, and so many beautiful, big talented names and voices there. But beyond what we see in those kind of lights, there's also all of the headlines and all of these stories and all of this rhetoric around First Nations Australians too, So I'd love to know, like, how do you describe the Australian media and its relationship to First Nations and their allies as well.
00:09:34
Speaker 3: It's interesting, that's a really good question. I think it's still not where it needs to be.
00:09:39
Speaker 4: I don't think these stories that the ones that seem to carry the furthest are the ones that are stories of positivity unfortunately, and I think that goes for everything.
00:09:50
Speaker 3: You know, you work in the same racket, you see what goes on.
00:09:52
Speaker 4: The stories that have a bit sort of more of a negative tinge to them seem to be the ones.
00:09:57
Speaker 3: That get clicks.
00:09:58
Speaker 4: They drive traffic a bit more, and so I think off the back of that, we aren't seeing as harmonious.
00:10:04
Speaker 3: A relationship as we could. I still don't think that.
00:10:06
Speaker 4: There are enough sort of black voices in the media, and that's not through lack of talent either.
00:10:12
Speaker 3: So I don't think we're at a talent shortage.
00:10:14
Speaker 4: I think we're a perceived that's very important, where that a perceived risk aversion. Full kudos to ABC Indigenous and the ABC for putting a show like this on. You know, we've got a room full of riders next door. That's where I've just come from, all blackfellows. You know, we've got James Colly as well, a legend of Australian comedy and comedy writing.
00:10:35
Speaker 3: Sort of just giving us some advice along the way.
00:10:37
Speaker 4: There's so much talent there and I would love to see Australian media take more of the opportunities in front of them to put you know, not just not just blackfellow faces, but diverse faces on their screen and in their print.
00:10:51
Speaker 2: Talk to me more about the lineup for the show, because I'm really excited about the fact that it's not just happening, it's comedy, Tony. I mean, I can't do comedy. I do news, but I'd love to hear more about what's happening on the show when you work out how.
00:11:02
Speaker 3: To do comedy.
00:11:03
Speaker 4: Let me know, I've got a host a show and days and I'm shitting bricks.
00:11:08
Speaker 3: But we've got some amazing people.
00:11:10
Speaker 4: So like I mean the writing team, you know, Dave Woodhead from Triple J Yarram and Thorns in there, Elaine Crombie, Aaron Collins, Meghan Wilding. She's both writing and she's going to be in front of the camera as well as a very funny character. I don't want to burn all of the laughs. Yeah, I mean, brook Bony is going to be in it as well. Sorry not Brook Bony, Brook Blurton. That's a joke we make in the show actually.
00:11:33
Speaker 2: So she does.
00:11:35
Speaker 3: Yeah, I know, but yeah, I mean see there's so much talent there that I can't wait for people to see it.
00:11:41
Speaker 4: And you know, we've shot a few things already, which is very exciting. But also it's going to be a very current and a very sort of yeah modern type show.
00:11:50
Speaker 3: But also we've got all the evergreen stuff we could look at as really really sad, which it is.
00:11:55
Speaker 4: But also if you can't find sort of a way to talk about it, and maybe it is through satire, then.
00:12:02
Speaker 3: It just keeps happening the way it does. So yeah, I'm so excited. I've just got to try to work out how to be funny between now and that.
00:12:09
Speaker 2: Yeah, you're driving the bus. Good luck with that.
00:12:12
Speaker 3: Thanks so much for the phote of confidence. That sounded dumb a great.
00:12:16
Speaker 2: Yeah, I have full confidence in you, Tony. The other part of this is that it's going to be filmed in front of a live studio audience. Now, you're no stranger to live TV. Obviously, ABC News Breakfast is live every morning when you were doing sports there, but it's not your first rodeo with live Telly, but with an audience as well. There's always margins for error. Have you just accepted that at some stage something may potentially go wrong.
00:12:42
Speaker 4: Look, there's something really sick inside of me. I like it when things go wrong. It's so much fun because then you get to really test to see whether or not you're actually any good at your job. I quite like that, and that sometimes when you're shooting a show and you do a joke and it's just the studio or the staff, they're they're so professional they don't laugh on the punchline, So you like, have I actually been funny?
00:13:03
Speaker 3: Like I don't really know what's going on.
00:13:04
Speaker 4: Here, but with a live studio audience it should be great. And I've I just had a look at the set this morning.
00:13:10
Speaker 3: It's been lit up. We're using an LED.
00:13:12
Speaker 4: Set, which is the first time that technology has been used as a set, So we're very excited for that as well.
00:13:19
Speaker 2: Tony, did you ever think, and maybe you've been reflecting upon this as the premier date gets closer and closer, that for a kid who you've played AFL, you've moved into live sports reporting, did you ever think you be at this stage?
00:13:32
Speaker 4: Look, to be honest, it's like you almost said like late stage capitalism or something like that, Like like I don't I don't.
00:13:39
Speaker 2: Know, like you're going to be fine doing comedy live.
00:13:43
Speaker 3: To me, to be fair, all I wanted to do was have like a two hundred.
00:13:47
Speaker 4: And fifty game footy career and then write one of those, right, one of those absolutely boring as batshit autobiographies where it was like, you know, I tried hard and I trained hard, and because of that, I'm now super successful and I've got five beach houses and now I like, I'm like.
00:14:05
Speaker 3: God, a board of some company, Like that's what I wanted from my life. But here I am singing for my supper. But it's fine, Like I'm actually so stoked. It's so much fun. And that's the longest no you've ever heard. I didn't think.
00:14:23
Speaker 4: I didn't think i'd be here doing this, but I'll tell you what, I'm so pumped about it, and I'm very, like, on a serious note, very humbled that they put their.
00:14:30
Speaker 3: Trust in me to sort of you know, captain the ship.
00:14:34
Speaker 2: Hey, before you go, Tony. I told the office we were going to have a chat today, and of course I went into meltdown. I asked if I had any questions, and for your benefit and mine, I filtered them, like I've vetited some of those questions, but I do want to ask you two of them. The first one, which came up time and time again, was people are desperate to know if your partner Rona will be making a guest appearance on the show.
00:14:56
Speaker 3: She won't be on the show. No, no, no, no, we don't. We don't want to mix that. We don't want to mix businesses pleasure.
00:15:01
Speaker 2: That's so fair. This second one is actually not from the office. It's just from me because working at a women's company, you don't often get to talk in depth about the AFL here, right, are you a footy fan? I, unfortunately am a blue bagger? Oh so yeah, I know right, No, that's the reaction either that or what's a blue bagger? I want to know though, a month out from the AFL preseason, like, who have you got tip for the premiership this year?
00:15:30
Speaker 3: Look, the Swans will bounce. Sorry we took Charlie.
00:15:33
Speaker 2: I can't believe he brought it up. But that's fine.
00:15:35
Speaker 4: You did get two amazing plays in Olive Florent and Will Haywood.
00:15:38
Speaker 3: They're great club and I think that's what Carlton needs.
00:15:41
Speaker 4: Carlton is like like Princess Park is about three hundred meters from my house, so I'm sort of around it all the time, and I have a soft swat for the baggers, But I think, who do I think? I mean, it's gonna be hard to beat the lions or the pies.
00:15:55
Speaker 2: I think I'd love to see the dockers. I reckon, we could see the dockers and then they've got a great.
00:15:59
Speaker 3: Ten and you know what, they're young as that's a really good shout. I was thinking. I was thinking, so Eastern Seaboard docors are good.
00:16:07
Speaker 2: I'm from wa originally, so that's where my freak flag flies.
00:16:10
Speaker 4: Did you not going for the blues then someone in the family played for them?
00:16:14
Speaker 2: No, it's an eighties nineties wog thing. Because I'm Italian, that's my dad.
00:16:25
Speaker 3: Matter would go on our blues a pretty much.
00:16:27
Speaker 2: I mean, you live clost A lag On Street than I have have.
00:16:30
Speaker 3: I'm right in between Ligon and Sydney Road. Yeah, and so like I've got my fruiterer, I've got it all.
00:16:38
Speaker 2: I love that. I'm so glad that I asked you this question. Everybody in the office is going to be like, what was he like, I'm like, great. We talked about the footy the show's happening.
00:16:46
Speaker 3: I'm sorry for my really bad accent, but that's so lovely.
00:16:51
Speaker 4: Theananas, like it's like a whole family fruiterer and like I didn't even realize I was working with some guy in like an old job I used to do.
00:16:59
Speaker 3: He's like, don't mate, you live at near Barkley School.
00:17:02
Speaker 4: I'm like, yeah, mate, and he's like, yeah, my my family they see you all the time.
00:17:06
Speaker 3: And I'm like, what do you make this up? Mon lod No actually sees you in the shop and.
00:17:09
Speaker 2: I'm like, what you're in for life? Now? I know they're going to start making you like Canoli's on the Sun or something.
00:17:16
Speaker 3: Well, I mean, I'm not quite there. I just want to get a day where I do the sugo.
00:17:20
Speaker 2: Oh the sauce. Oh yeah, yeah we do.
00:17:23
Speaker 3: I want to make the sauce, and I want to do the salami. I want to do a salami day.
00:17:26
Speaker 2: You can come to w a Tony. You can do it with my family.
00:17:29
Speaker 3: That sounds like a nice easy trip.
00:17:31
Speaker 2: Let's do it, Okay, no problem, I'll line it up. My people will talk to yours when you're not filming. Always was tonight. We'll get it going.
00:17:38
Speaker 3: Thanks Day, Thanks.
00:17:40
Speaker 2: For taking some time to feed your mind with us today, and you can check out Always Wards tonight this Wednesday on ABC TV and ABC I View, And of course we'll be back this afternoon with another news update, so make sure you're following The Quiki in your favorite podcast app. The Quiki is produced by Me, Taylor Strano, Laria Broofi, and Clare Murphy, with audio production by Lou Hill.
00:18:06
Speaker 1: Momma Mere acknowledges the traditional owners of land and waters that this podcast is recorded on
