Police arrest gym-goer Simon Prendergast over the assault on Edie, but the case is far from closed in this week's episode of the ABC crime thriller Dustfall. Simon admits he approached Edie at a pub on the night she was assaulted. Tig and Remi work to build a case, while Ronnie holds information that could keep Simon behind bars but fears speaking to police. Dustfall, based on Vicki Petraitis's 2022 novel The Unbelieved, airs Sundays at 8.20pm on the ABC and on ABC iview.
This ABC 50/50 quiz offers a two-option challenge on Sense and Sensibility, Martian moons and whale anatomy. Each question presents one correct answer and one incorrect one, so a random guess has an even chance of success. The quiz warns readers that the obvious choice is not always right. Readers who want more can visit the ABC News quiz topic page, which lists earlier quizzes.
The ABC has sacked a reporter after its ombudsman found two of his stories gave audiences a misleading impression. Mahmood Fazal, a former Four Corners reporter, was dismissed in May 2026 after an investigation into his external work. The ABC initially stood by Fazal in 2024 when allegations emerged that he passed on threats from an organised crime gang to YouTuber Jordan Shanks' producer. Shanks' Bondi home was firebombed in November 2022, with police saying retaliation for his videos was a strong possibility. Fazal denies passing on any threats.
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Australian shares closed marginally higher, even as American technology stocks slid, with Meta leading the decline after investors questioned whether its planned expansion of artificial intelligence spending would generate returns. Oil prices moved sharply upward, with Brent crude climbing above $113 per barrel following fresh Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia and renewed worries about a possible flare-up between Washington and Tehran. Separately, ABC News director Simon Robinson informed employees that The Business program will not be broadcast next year.
The ABC has announced its 2027 content line-up, with a strong focus on workplace dramas and crime series. Kitty Flanagan returns to the lead role in the fourth season of the office comedy Fisk, which she wrote with her sister Penny Flanagan. Hugo Weaving stars in The Great White as a disgraced barrister who takes on a dangerous dog case. Rebecca Gibney fronts the rural crime drama Rural Crime Unit, alongside Morgana O'Reilly and Philip Lynch. Other returning shows include You Can't Ask That, Race Around the World and Hard Quiz, which begins its 12th season.
The ABC has confirmed a fourth season of the comedy Fisk, which stars Kitty Flanagan and is due to screen in 2027. The network made the announcement at its 2027 upfronts. Flanagan said a fourth season was always planned, although it was difficult to organise because the cast is spread out, with co-star Aaron Chen now living in the United States. Julia Zemiro said she and Flanagan had long hoped to work together on a show. The release date has not yet been announced. Seasons one to three can be watched on ABC iView.
The ABC has announced its full slate of shows for 2027 at an event in Sydney. The lineup includes new scripted series such as Fortitude Valley, Rural Crime Unit and Pilli Sisters P.I. Several returning favourites are also confirmed, among them Gruen, The Weekly and That Blackfella Show. Documentaries include Silenced, Mark of a Murderer and Pray Harder. ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks said the broadcaster aims to expand its offering in coming years.
Readers are invited to vote for their favourite Australian Story episode marking the programme's 30th anniversary. Since 1996, the ABC documentary series has given 1,133 people, both public figures and ordinary Australians, the chance to tell their own stories. A shortlist of episodes is available to vote on through a form on the page, with voting closing on 2 November. The top 30 winners will be revealed on 19 November on the Australian Story Facebook page.
Finance presenter Alan Kohler will end his 31-year career at the ABC tonight after presenting his final finance report from the Melbourne studios. Kohler, 74, said it was time to stop going to the studio. He began as a cadet and later reached the editorship of the Australian Financial Review by the age of 32. Kohler says he will keep working in journalism, now mainly from home. He remains optimistic about the field, arguing that human work will become more valuable as artificial intelligence takes over routine tasks.
Adam Liaw says his new ABC show Recipe Of The Year aims to celebrate the stories behind each dish, not just the food. Co-host Pia Miranda joins him, with Country Women's Association judge Ellice Schrader, to find the best recipe from 20 home cooks. Each dish is judged the way a family meal would be, with everyone sharing and voting. Liaw says the series favours comfort meals, budget dishes and family recipes. The show airs Sundays at 7:30pm on ABC and ABC iView, and has inspired him to bake weekly with his daughter Anna, 10.
ABC management has refused to rule out disciplinary action against journalist Michael Slezak for writing an opinion piece in the Australian Financial Review. The piece concerned a proposal by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission to restrict journalists' access to company directors' home addresses and dates of birth. The union says Slezak was targeted for defending press freedom and that he did not need approval under his ABC agreement. The union has called on ABC managing director Hugh Marks to confirm no action will be taken, and union members will meet to discuss a response.
The ASX 200 rose 0.8% to 8,783 points on Monday, supported by miners and financial stocks. Telstra shed 2.5% as global telecom shares fell over fears of competition from SpaceX. Iron ore prices lifted miners, with BHP up 2.5%. Oil prices rose in the morning before easing, after a US-brokered energy ceasefire was announced over the weekend. Wage growth slowed in September, according to a Commonwealth Bank survey, which said annual wage growth held at 3.3%.
ABC News Queensland weather presenter Jenny Woodward has been given the state's Most Outstanding Contribution to Journalism award after 40 years on air. She received the prize at the Queensland Clarion Awards in Brisbane. Woodward began presenting in the 1970s at a Toowoomba station before joining the ABC in 1986. She said she aims to help audiences understand the weather without overwhelming them with detail. Other ABC journalists were also recognised at the awards for reporting, camerawork and podcasts.
Sarah Macdonald will return to ABC Sydney radio in March, replacing the late James Valentine in the afternoons slot. The ABC's director of audio, Ben Latimer, announced her reinstatement on Wednesday, citing listener demand. Macdonald was sacked from the Mornings program in 2024, sparking an outcry from colleagues and listeners. Valentine, who hosted the Afternoons program for 25 years, died in April. Macdonald's return will add a woman to the ABC's all-male lineup between Breakfast and 6pm in 2026.
