LGBTIA+ representation on TV, mass bleaching in the Great Barrier reef, and more

Monday, 18 March 2024 - 7:00am to 8:30am

Welcome to another episode of the Monday Breakfast show. On this week's show we have: 

We start off with some good news: representation of LGBTQIA+ people on TV screens across so-called Australia is improving. A study published in Sage Journals has revealed the much-needed data surrounding Queer representation within scripted television across so-called Australia over the past two decades. Rob dissected the study and the trends it uncovered with one of the study’s authors, Damien O’Meara, who is a television production culture researcher completing his PhD at Swinburne University of Technology. His research investigates the influence of production culture processes on gender and sexually diverse representations in Australian scripted television. The interview mentions an article from The Conversation about the study, which you can read here: https://theconversation.com/we-studied-two-decades-of-queer-representation-on-australian-tv-and-found-some-interesting-trends-224645. You can also read the study here: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1329878X241236990 

Following that we heard an excerpt of Annie McLoughlin's interview with Dr Nicole Ryan from La Trobe about her doctorate research into how deficient communication can lead to harsh outcomes for people trying to visit their loved ones in prison. Note: this is an excerpt of a full interview aired on the Solidarity Breakfast show, which airs from 7:30 to 9AM on Saturday mornings. You can listen to the full interview and more from Annie on the Solidarity Breakfast show at: https://www.3cr.org.au/solidaritybreakfast 

On the eighth of March the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority declared that the Great Barrier Reef is suffering its fifth mass bleaching event within the last eight years in what is yet another sign that this planet is in a climate emergency. Rob spoke with Kelly O’Shanassy, CEO of the Australian Conservation Foundation, about the extent of the bleaching, what it means for the future of the reef and how the ACF is fighting to break the toxic ties between the fossil fuel industry and the federal government. 

We then heard Declan Furber Gillick's speech at the MEAA members for Palestine rally outside the ABC to mark the Fair Work Commission hearing into the dismissal of Antoinette Latouffe that was held on Friday March 8th. This content was originally aired on the Solidarity Breakfast show. 

Lastly, we heard a part of Jan Bartlett's interview with PHD Candidate Sasha Gillies-Lekakis about the US blockade and sanctions on Cuba in the aftermath of COVID-19. Hear the full interview via 3cr.org.au/hometime-tuesday. More info on the economic crisis in Cuba via The Conversation. 

Songs played: 
The Opener - Camp Cope 
Guided By Angels - Amyl and the Sniffers 
Picture This - Blondie

Community Announcements: 

Camp Sovereignty continues to run and attendance is important. Events are held throughout the week, you can find more info at the Old Country Calling Instagram page (@old.country.calling)


On Monday the 18th of March there will be a community protest in Dandenong South in protest of weapons manufacturing in the area. The protest starts at 9:30 AM at 145 Abbotts Rd, Dandenong South. 

From 5AM on both Thursday and Friday this week there will be a community picket to shut down HTA, a manufacturer of parts for F35 jet strikers which are used to drop bombs on Palestine among other places. That's happening at 43B Lara Way, Campbellfield. 

Saturday will see a snap action for the restoration of Gazans' visas following the Australia government's decision to cancel Palestinian families' visas -- some of which were cancelled mid-flight. The action begins at 2pm at 187 - 189 High St, Thomastown. 

Of course, the rally for a Free Palestine continues this Sunday at 2pm outside the State Library.