Latest from SBS Australia
SBS Australia
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
SBS Gujarati Australian update: 20 June 2025
SBS Gujarati is a part of SBS South Asian, the destination channel for all South Asians living in Australia. Tune in to SBS Gujarati live on Wednesdays and Fridays at 2pm on SBS South Asian on digital radio, on channel 305 on your television, via the SBS Audio app or stream from our website . You can also enjoy programs in 10 South Asian languages, plus SBS Spice content in English. It is also available on SBS On Demand
SBS Australia
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
7/7: The London Bombings
SBS's award winning companion podcast. Join host Yumi Stynes for Seen, a new SBS podcast about cultural creatives who have risen to excellence despite a role-model vacuum.
SBS Australia
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
"Tenderness and tension": Producer Catherine Pettman on the fragile beauty of 'Moonbird'
Sonny (Lennox Monaghan) holding a baby muttonbird. Credit: Jillian Mundy Filmed entirely on location on tayaritja, lutruwita (Great/Big Dog Island, Tasmania), new 6-part SBS and NITV Digital Originals series Moonbird explores the relationship between a recently sober father (Kyle Morrison; in his first leading role) and his son (Lennox Monaghan; Deadloch , Windcatcher ) who attempt to reconnect through a traditional muttonbirding season on a remote Tasmanian island. Produced by Catherine Pettman (who worked as a production manager on another SBS original, The Tailings ) and written by Adam Thompson (who has written several episodes of Logie Award-winning children's animation Little J & Big Cuz ) and Nathan Maynard (who wrote episodes of Deadloch and Stuff the British Stole ), Moonbird is a beautiful glimpse into the traditions of the Palawa people. "As writers and storytellers we wanted to share some of this special place with the world. To share the unique landscape, culture and way of life," said writer and Palawa man Adam Thompson in a statement. Coloured by gorgeous landscapes, the short drama series observes the importance of tradition to First Nations peoples, while also revealing the dark truths of how the breakdown of culture can have disastrous effects. In an interview with SBS, Catherine Pettman discusses the myriad wonders that came with working on Moonbird , from crafting the short series alongside female filmmakers to shooting on the fragile yet mesmerising land of the Palawa people: tayaritja. Moonbird offers a unique glimpse into the unique world of muttonbirding. What did it mean for you to create something that allows viewers to look into this tradition and were there any challenges that came about during production? I feel deeply honoured to be part of bringing this story to life — inviting audiences into the rarely seen world of muttonbirding, a tradition woven through place, family and survival. Big Dog Island, just south of Flinders Island in Bass Strait, is separated by a shifting tidal passage making access unpredictable and weather dependent. With near zero infrastructure on the island, we were challenged by a constant shuffle between barges and boats to get everything we needed on and off the island daily. Given the remoteness it was a tough shoot, but the team rose to the challenge spectacularly. While the island in Moonbird is fictional, the shooting location, Big Dog Island, is very much real, beautiful and has a deep history entrenched in the soil. What was it like creating Moonbird amongst such important lands? Big Dog Island is extraordinary — wild, remote, and teeming with life, with hundreds of thousands of burrows covering the island, sheltering the next generation of birds. From the beginning, we knew that protecting this fragile habitat was paramount. Every step of filming was approached with care and respect — not just for the environment, but for the Palawa people and their traditions at the heart of the story. We took great care to protect the fragile habitat, ensuring every step was respectful to the land, the birds and the story we were telling. Moonbird explores the need to reconcile the past through truth-telling, through the effort to heal fractured relationships, even as we acknowledge how hard that is within systems that continue to apply pressure. What is your most cherished memory or moment from the creation of Moonbird ? One of my most treasured memories from the film shoot was being awoken before dawn to the wild calls of the yula/muttonbird outside my tent—a haunting, beautiful sound, a clear signal to me I was a guest in a place few people ever get to experience. The island's raw, untouched beauty was unforgettable; its energy made us all feel like we were part of something deeply special. My most cherished moment, though, came on our final night. After a feast of wild island food, we gathered to reflect on the privilege of being welcomed into Adam (Thompson) and Nathan (Maynard)'s world. We'd all learned so much—not just about the land, but about resilience, heritage and care. I was especially grateful to our young actor, Lennox Monaghan, whose powerful, authentic performance as Sonny anchored the story. It was an emotional night—of joy and a little sorrow that it was ending. The island had moved us. It gave us something we'll carry forever. While there is certainly a lot of light in Moonbird , there is also darkness, especially around how the breakdown of culture can affect Indigenous peoples. Could you talk about exploring this duality in Moonbird ? Moonbird holds a deep emotional complexity. I feel in creating the story, Adam and Nathan skillfully navigated the duality of tenderness and tension—those intimate, warm moments between a father and son working to mend their bond, contrasted with the painful reality of disconnection: from family, from culture, from self. While there is a lot of light in the story, there's also a necessary darkness. The breakdown of culture—its theft, suppression and slow erosion—has left lasting wounds. Moonbird explores the need to reconcile the past through truth-telling, through the effort to heal fractured relationships, even as we acknowledge how hard that is within systems that continue to apply pressure. The island becomes a metaphor for this struggle—a place of breathtaking beauty, yet always at risk. I feel a deep sense of gratitude for my life here in lutruwita/Tasmania — it's an extraordinary place, and with that comes a responsibility to support stories that speak truthfully to its history. You've noted a strong female contingent working on Moonbird behind the scenes. Could you speak on how that experience felt for you and the positive impacts this had on the creation of Moonbird ? We had around 40% female crew on Moonbird and the impact of that was incredibly positive. I'm always mindful of creating opportunities for women across all departments and on this project, that balance really enriched the experience. Living and working so closely together on location, there was a strong sense of support, shared knowledge and mentorship. The diversity within the crew encouraged dynamic decision-making and genuine collaboration. It fostered a community of like-minded souls, where stories and skills were exchanged freely. Having such experienced, capable women on set—many of them role models—was a clear reminder that parity not only works, it elevates the entire production. You have worked on multiple short films and full-length films which tackle important topics and sometimes topics that do not get spoken on enough. How did this history inform your approach to telling the important stories of the Palawa people? I feel a deep sense of gratitude for my life here in lutruwita/Tasmania — it's an extraordinary place and with that comes a responsibility to support stories that speak truthfully to its history. Over the years, I've worked on projects that seek to give voice to stories not often heard and that experience has shaped how I approach work like Moonbird . As a non-Aboriginal woman, I've learned a great deal from the Palawa community and I carry a deep respect for the knowledge and generosity so many have shared with me. With Moonbird , my focus was on supporting Adam and Nathan to bring a powerful dramatic story to television — one that's rooted in their lived experiences and cultural strength. My role was to back their vision; it was a privilege to learn from them and help bring their story into the world. SBS and NITV Digital Originals series Moonbird is now streaming on SBS On Demand. Share this with family and friends SBS's award winning companion podcast. Join host Yumi Stynes for Seen, a new SBS podcast about cultural creatives who have risen to excellence despite a role-model vacuum.
SBS Australia
2 hours ago
- Politics
- SBS Australia
SBS News In Easy English 20 June 2025
Welcome to SBS News Easy English. I'm Biwa Kwan. The White House says United States President Donald Trump will decide within the next two weeks whether to strike Iran. Although, it also confirmed Mr Trump still sees a "substantial" chance that negotiations can achieve U-S and Israeli demands on Iran's nuclear program. White House Press secretary Karoline Leavitt says Mr Trump has warned Iran to immediately shut down its nuclear enrichment operations and any other potential for producing nuclear weapons. Reporter:" What makes him think there's still a substantial change, is my question." Karoline Leavitt: "I'm not going to get into the reasoning and the rationale. The president believes that, but that's his position, and he will a decision within next two weeks." Australia has suspended operations at its embassy in Iran's capital and ordered the departure of all Australian officials, due to the deteriorating security environment. Foreign Minister Penny Wong says Australia's ambassador to Iran will remain in the region to support the government's response to the crisis. Evacuation of Australians from Israel and Iran organised by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are underway. Around 1,200 Australians in Israel are seeking to leave, while 2,000 Australians in Iran have registered for assistance. Australian Yigal Kedam in Tel Aviv told SBS News he is grateful to be leaving the country now. "With the borders closing, the airport closing, basically we have had to look for other options to get home, and I have to say the Australian embassy has been really, really helpful in providing the options that we are now here for." Australian universities have dropped in the latest world universities rankings list. The report measures student experience, global partnerships, research opportunities and the quality of teaching. The University of Melbourne retained its position as the top-rated Australian institution, but it dropped six places against overseas educational facilities - from 13th to 19th in the world. The University of New South Wales dropped one place to 20th, while Sydney University fell seven spots to rank 25th. Despite the drop in rankings, Group of Eight chief executive Vicki Thomson says the results remained impressive, with about a quarter of Australia's 40 universities listed in the world's top 200. Thousands of people have gathered at Victoria's Parliament House to greet the state's truth-telling commissioner Travis Lovett, as he completed his 508-kilometre walk across the state. More than 12,000 people joined the Aboriginal leader along the 25-day Walk for Truth from Portland in the state's West to Melbourne. The walk marks the end of Australia's first formal truth-telling process of the impacts of colonisation on First Nations Australians. The Yoorrook Justice Commission's four-year long inquiry will formally conclude at the end of the month, and the thousands of hours of evidence collected from Aboriginal Victorians will contribute to an official public record. Levi Power, a member of the First People's Assembly of Victoria says it's a significant chance for change. "We must have these truths told to guide these decisions and to guide our journey forward, not only for this first treaty but going into the future as well." New Zealand has paused almost $17 million in funding to the Cook Islands. New Zealand has criticised the Cook Islands for a lack of transparency over deals made with China. It says China needs to restore trust before New Zealand signs off any new funding. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who's visiting China and will have a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, is demanding answers. "The Cook Islands Government, as we have been very open from the beginning, the beginning of this year, was not transparent and open about it's international agreement that it did, in this case, with China, through the comprehensive strategic partnership. We want to make sure that any risks are well managed, we have obligations under the agreements, as New Zealand, with a realm country that need to be upheld and as a result that transparency is really important. As a result, we've suspended some of the aid money until we can get clarity on those issues." Australia's unemployment rate remained steady at 4.1 per cent in May. The data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows around 2,500 jobs were lost from the economy, despite forecasts that 20,000 jobs would be gained after 89,000 jobs were created in April. But employment was still up by 2.3 per cent compared with this time last year, which was stronger than pre-pandemic levels. The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Amanda Rishworth, says the full-time employment data reflects a resilient jobs market. "It is encouraging that we have continued to see strong full-time jobs growth, with this month recording more than 38,000 full-time jobs. And full-time employment remains at a record high." Thanks for listening. This is SBS News in Easy English.
SBS Australia
2 hours ago
- Sport
- SBS Australia
Race Centre is the place for all things Tour de France on SBS
SAINT-LARY-SOULAN PLA D'ADET, FRANCE - JULY 13: (L-R) Pavel Sivakov of France, Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and UAE Team Emirates - Yellow Leader Jersey and Mikel Landa of Spain and Team Soudal Quick-Step compete during the 111th Tour de France 2024, Stage 14 a 151.9km stage from Pau to Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d'Adet 1653m / #UCIWT / on July 13, 2024 in Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d'Adet, France. (Photo by) Source: Getty /The place to watch the Tour de France - LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE - plus the fourth edition of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is right here on SBS or via the SBS On Demand Hub. As we continue to count down the days to the start of the 2025 editions of the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes, it's crucial to know where you can find everything to help you follow every pedal-stroke. That's why the Race Centre on the SBS Sport website is a Le Tour fan's new best friend, no matter if you're a life member of the couch peloton or just want to see who's winning while on the train to work in July. Launching prior to Stage 1, Race Centre will feature a detailed startlist with every team and rider participating, route profiles of all the stages and up to date stats and rankings throughout the event. Fans will also be able to tap into every kilometre of the action on the road with a live race tracker, where a real-time map of the route will show the peloton's progress from first to last kilometre and a timeline of the key events as they happen. Post-stage results, highlights, interviews and more will be available after the riders cross the line. Make sure to bookmark the Race Centre once it's available, or this article, so you don't miss a single moment of the biggest cycling race in the world while watching along on SBS and SBS On Demand. Watch now Share this with family and friends The SBS Cycling Podcast is a punchy podcast covering the world of professional cycling, coming to you during the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España.
