Media Roundup: Higgins faces $1.5m bill, Murdoch breaks silence, EU plans teen ban, Meta ignores VR safety, and OpenAI eyes Australia
See the top industry stories trending today.
Legal
Higgins left facing $1.5m Reynolds bill
The Australian's Stephen Rice report that Brittany Higgins has been ordered to pay around $1.5 million of Linda Reynolds’ legal costs.
Her lawyer, however, has warned she can't afford that amount.
Court documents reveal Higgins had offered $200,000 and a mutual statement of regret before trial, but the offer was rejected and deemed unreasonable.
Business
Lachlan breaks silence after Murdoch succession solved
Lachlan Murdoch says the family cash-out deal cements Fox Corporation’s path, assuring investors the sports-and-news focus remains unchanged.
As Jessica Gardner and Sam Buckingham-Jones write in The Australian Financial Review, the Fox chief said the settlement gives “clarity” and “sustainability” to strategy set after the 2019 Disney sale.
He also confirmed Fox plans to take up its 18.6 per cent FanDuel stake before 2030, with family disputes no longer clouding the push into wagering.
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Social Media
EU moves on teen social media ban
Europe is now following Australia’s lead on curbing teen access to social media.
As Sky News Australia's Max Melzer details EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced a new taskforce to explore restrictions for under-16s, citing the same logic once applied to smoking, drinking and adult content.
A report is due by year’s end.
Online
Meta accused of ignoring VR child safety
The Daily Telegraph's Vanessa Marsh reports that two former Meta staff have told a US Senate panel the company’s VR platforms expose children to explicit content, labelling it a “pedophiles’ kingdom”.
Whistleblowers Jason Sattizahn and Cayce Savage say Meta avoided tracking underage use and pressured them to soften research findings.
Savage argued the company “cannot be trusted” to tell the truth on safety.
AI
OpenAI weighs bigger Australian footprint
OpenAI execs are in Australia meeting Treasurer Jim Chalmers to discuss potential strategic investment beyond a satellite office.
According to Daniel Van Boom and Kate Burgess in Capital Brief, a formal meeting is set for next week.
The $750 billion startup is on a multi-city tour as Canberra pitches Australia as a long-term AI hub, with tech investment now matching mining for the first time.
Advertising
Tourism Australia prepares next global pitch
From Paul Hogan’s “shrimp on the barbie” to Baz Luhrmann’s cinematic ads, Tourism Australia has a history of global blockbusters.
Now, as Danielle Long details in The Australian, it’s gearing up for the next big push.
CMO Susan Coghill says the challenge is balancing eight states and 350,000 operators, but the goal remains simple: tell one powerful story about Australia.
Television
The rise of intimacy coordinators on set
TV Tonight's David Knox has lifted the veil (literally) behind the mysterious world of intimacy coordinators.
Once a behind-the-scenes rarity, they're are now a fixture on Australian film and TV sets, ensuring actors feel safe when scripts call for intimacy, nudity or simulated sex.
The result is safer sets and better storytelling.
