Meet Australia’s Out Gay Members Of Parliament

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterNat Geo’s “SharkFest” is turning 10 and marking the occasion by enlisting sister Disney brands ABC, ESPN and Hulu to help air its largest programming slate ever across the most platforms it has ever been on, Variety has learned exclusively.While “SharkFest” aired during a six-week period last year, making the 2021 edition the longest “SharkFest” ever, that lineup was limited to Nat Geo, Nat Geo Wild, Nat Geo Mundo, Disney XD and Disney+.This time around, Nat Geo is putting out nearly 30 hours of new content and 60 hours of “enhanced” programming over four weeks beginning July 10, its most-packed “SharkFest” schedule on record. And that increased content load is spread out not just across Nat Geo, Nat Geo Wild, Nat Geo Mundo, Disney XD and Disney+, but also broadcast network ABC, cabler ESPN and streamer Hulu, making it an historic occasion for the decade-old fin-tastic event.

The Queen’s Birthday Honours list this year recognised the contributions of several LGBTQI community members including  historian and marriage equality activist Dr Shirleene Robinson, Men on Men Gay Art Prize founder David Allen and gay country music singer Beccy Cole. The 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours list recognised nearly a thousand Australians with 37 recipients of awards in the Military Division of the Order of Australia, 201 Meritorious awards, and 85 Distinguished and Conspicuous awards. Governor-General David Hurley congratulated all Australians recognised in the Honours List.“Recipients share some common traits- including selflessness, excellence, and a commitment to service.

WATCH: Joshua Bingle appears on 'Being Lara Bingle'Joshua Bingle is something of a local celebrity in his own right after appearing on his sister’s short-lived reality TV show Being Lara Bingle.Airing for just one season in 2012, the show was met with mixed reviews but Josh managed to squeeze a bit of fame, or should we say infamy, out of the appearance.There was also an awkward run-in with the law when he was charged with drug possession in 2018.Keep reading for everything you need to know about Lara Worthington’s brother Joshua Bingle.Joshua Bingle and Lara Worthington pose together on a family holiday in Italy.Joshua, 38, is the son of Sharon and Graham Bingle and elder brother of Australian model and media personality Lara Worthington (née Bingle).The tradesman generally keeps his personal life private and is only rarely in the spotlight, usually while spending time with his famous sister, brother-in-law Sam Worthington and their kids.READ NEXT: Lara Worthington talks motherhood and family"Everyone loves to hate Lara but I don't really know how she can fix it," he said of Lara in a 2012 interview, when she was still a tabloid target."She's really not that bad.

EXCLUSIVE: Screen Media has acquired North American rights to the road-trip comedy The Nan Movie, written by Catherine Tate (The Office) and Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso), with plans for a day-and-date theatrical and on-demand release this July.

Viacom18, a TV and streaming group backed by billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani, has paid $3 billion to win an online auction for two packages of digital rights to Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket. It now has the leverage to change the Indian broadcasting landscape and to the tip the balance even further in favor of streaming.Variety understands that Viacom18 has agreed to pay $2.63 billion for a five year package of regional digital rights.

Peter Debruge Chief Film CriticNo 12-year-old should have to confront the violent act Blaze (Julia Savage) witnesses seven minutes into the imaginative empowerment story that bears her name. But Blaze is no ordinary girl, and fine artist-turned-filmmaker Del Kathryn Barton’s “Blaze” reflects that, using a dazzling combination of digital and practical effects to represent the interior world of a survivor who has long relied on make-believe to cope with an overwhelming world.Produced by Australian elevated-horror shingle Causeway Films (“The Babadook”), “Blaze” marks the feature directing debut of a distinctive new voice, and though there’s a certain woodenness to the narrative, the visuals — glitter dreams of a 10-foot fuchsia dragon — radiate with originality.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefCanada’s Amcomri Entertainment has belatedly announced that it has acquired the assets of Australia- and U.K.-based Flame Media, a distributor and library owner of factual and documentary TV content.Flame Media has approximately 2,200 hours and more than 500 titles of high-end factual programming in its library.  Its key library titles include: “Outback Truckers” and “Outback Opal Hunters” from Prospero Productions; “The Moors Murders” from MAP TV; and “Life in Colour with David Attenborough,” from Humble Bee Films and SeaLight Pictures.The transaction closed approximately 15 months after the death of Flame Media founder and CEO John Caldon.The addition of Flame increases Amcomri’s TV library offering to 4,750 hours of programming.

Abacus Media Rights Parent Amcomri Entertaiment Buys Flame Media Program Assets For $2.4M

Rebekah Vardy has been called a "bully" by radio presenter Iain Lee as he recalled his experience of taking part on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! with the 40 year old WAG, despite her always refuting the claims. Iain, 48, claimed Rebekah left him feeling "f**king miserable and isolated" during their time on the show in Australia, which was back in 2017.

A public launch is being held this Saturday, June 4, 2022, for the Bondi memorial dedicated to victims and survivors of the spate of homophobic and transphobic violence that occurred from the 1970s to 1990s in Sydney and New South Wales.Located in Marks Park in Tamarama, the memorial titled ‘Rise’ was installed through a collaboration with LGBTQ health organisation ACON, Urban Art Projects (UAP) Design Studio and Waverley Council.The memorial is being launched to the community in a commemorative event at Marks Park. In attendance at the event will be representatives from organisations involved, as well as political figures and special guests. Waverley Mayor Paula Masselos said in a statement to Star Observerthat the memorial is “dedicated to the recognition of the recent history of gay and transphobic hate crimes that occurred in Bondi and along the east coast of Australia.”Designed by John Nicholson and UAP, the memorial’s composition is embedded with meaning, as the layers mirror the nearby cliffs but appear instead to be moving towards the horizon. “Each of its six sculpted stone layers represents one of the six bands in the pride flag” Masselos said. “The Bondi Memorial in the public domain provides an opportunity for healing by making space for recognition and confrontation of the past, giving light to changing attitudes, and inviting ongoing reflection.”Some of the victims of gay hate crimes in Sydney.The location of the monument is recognised as a place where a significant number of hate crimes occurred throughout the 1970s to 1990s.

Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood has revealed that before he met his fiancé Jonathan Myring, he was regularly getting messages from people on the dating app Tinder because they wanted to meet the hunky younger professional dancers.The Australian ballroom dancer, 57, who recently got emotional when his family travelled over to the UK, has been a judge and staple on the BBC competition ever since it launched nearly two decades ago. He has seen pros come and go, and other original judge Bruno Tonioli recently announced his permanent departure, but Craig has remained on the panel throughout the hugely-popular show's run. Appearing on The Chris and Rosie Ramsey show on BBC2 with his partner Jonathan, Craig opened up on how they met.

Former Virginia Tech football player Isimemen Etute was acquitted on Friday on charges of beating an openly gay man Jerry Paul Smith to death, who he claimed had posed as a woman on Tinder.A jury found Etute not guilty of the charges of second-degree murder, reported The Roanoke Times.Trigger Warning: This story discusses a murder, which might be distressing to some readers. For 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For Australia-wide LGBTQI peer support call QLife on 1800 184 527 or webchat.Etute, then 18, had received oral sex from Smith (40), when he visited his apartment on April 10, 2021, after matching on Tinder.

Robbie McEwen, former Australian cyclist-turned commentator and a three-time winner of the Tour de France points classification, has apologised after using a homophobic slur on live television. The incident occurred last week during the broadcast of stage 10 of the Giro d’Italia on Eurosport and GCN+. Trigger Warning: This story discusses the use of a homophobic slur, which might be distressing to some readers. For 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For Australia-wide LGBTQI peer support call QLife on 1800 184 527 or webchat.Cycling is a sport for all & everyone should feel welcome.

three Bachies for the 2022 season of The Bachelor!WATCH BELOW: Chris Brown on The Bachelor Australia 2022The news was announced on The Project on Monday night, with the official Bachie Instagram sharing a corresponding post soon after.Felix Von Hofe, Thomas Philbin-Malucelli and Jedidiah “Jed” McIntosh will all be appearing on the show this year with a whole host of gorgeous ladies vying for their hearts.Felix is a pro basketballer, Thomas is a former restaurant manager turned fitness icon and wildcard Jed is a muso - a drummer, to be specific.  Meet the new cast of The Bachelors 2022."We are doing a world first! No one in the world has ever had three Bachelors. The way it works, the way everyone gets to know everyone will be very different," Osher Gunsberg revealed.Felix said of his decision to sign up to the show: "I wanted to jump in here because I felt I may have been born 10 years too late.

The Voice Australia.WATCH BELOW: Meet Thando | The Voice 2022After the last of the battles last week, we were left with eight finalists taking on the semis, which lead to tough choices for the coaches and tight competition.Rita Ora, Guy Sebastian, Jess Mauboy, and Keith Urban have now whittled their teams down to a finalist each, who are ready to take on the grand finale next Sunday evening.Keep scrolling to find out who made it through.Guy was left with talented vocalist and pianist Cassidy Mackie and soulful singer Jordan Tavita representing his team.Jordan gave an emotional performance of Foreigner’s classic I Want To Know What Love Is, which he dedicate to his Nanna.“She took her last breath two nights ago,” he revealed. “I just know my Nanna is looking down at me right now saying you better come through, so I’m going to do this for her."“My head is still spinning,” he admitted once he became the chosen finalist.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefDirector Alex Proyas (“The Crow,” “I, Robot”) has teamed up with U.K.-based 108 Media to launch a slate of collaborations, kicking off with $35 million feature film project “Sister Darkness.”The 1930s, U.K.-set story follows the newly wed, but unhappy, Alice who stumbles across her doppelganger Isla. Her existence is a mystery seeped in a tale of bloody retribution against her oppressors, a hellish supernatural nightscape and an uprising against the deceitful aristocracy.From a script by Proyas, the film will be shot in Australia from late-2022 into mid-2023, using a fully virtual production process specially developed and refined by Proyas’ VFX studio Heretic Foundation.