For Channel Seven reporter Inga Neilsen, accepting a redundancy package marks another setback in what has been a bruising year.
Inside Mail understands she was in the middle of extended stress leave when she got the tap on the shoulder.
Her absence followed an on-location blow-up with cameraman Finn Hawkins that soon became the talk of television newsrooms around the country.
Neilsen had been caught on camera unloading on her colleague while covering the manhunt for alleged triple killer Julian Ingram in regional New South Wales.
The reporter was heard calling Hawkins a 'c***' before throwing down a water bottle and storming away from a media conference in front of a stunned press pack.
While Neilsen and Hawkins had long been regarded as a capable reporting team, sources say tensions escalated during the assignment after accommodation shortages in the small country town forced them to share a room.
Inside Mail understands the arrangement became the subject of gossip back in Sydney, with newsroom group chats allegedly filled with crude jokes, swimwear shots from her Instagram, and speculation about the pair.
Former Channel Seven reporter Inga Neilsen (pictured) was in the middle of extended stress leave when she got the tap on the shoulder during the recent network redundancies
To be clear, nothing happened between Neilsen and Hawkins and neither behaved improperly. Still, the chatter among colleagues is understood to have upset Neilsen.
The following day, as the crew prepared to wrap up coverage, Hawkins allegedly passed on a tip that a rival network was removing one of its reporters from the story and replacing them with a more experienced journalist.
When Neilsen allegedly approached a member of the opposing team seeking confirmation - naming Hawkins as her source - and then contacted her own newsroom seeking assurances that she would remain on the story, Hawkins was said to be furious.
By the time the pair returned to Sydney, relations had deteriorated further. Their blow-up at the press conference would later be leaked to The Australian.
Inside Mail understands the fallout became so bad that HR was forced to intervene, with the pair allegedly instructed to remain at least 50 metres apart while at work.
That arrangement reportedly presented challenges in a busy newsroom where staff are routinely dispatched to breaking stories at short notice. Inevitably, Neilsen and Hawkins were both put on the same job.
According to a well-placed source, Neilsen felt she was 'frozen out' by colleagues after her falling out with Hawkins and was routinely given the silent treatment, causing significant distress.
We are also told that management told her not to worry about all this because other staff were simply 'jealous and wanted her job'.
Neilsen had stormed out of a media conference after clashing with cameraman Finn Hawkins (left). HR later became involved, with Neilsen ending up on stress leave before being laid off
An insider said: 'She went to three days a week under WorkCover in the hope of returning full-time because she loved her job.
'It was so toxic and HR did not action a back-to-work plan as advised by WorkCover - so, under her doctor's advice, she went on full-time stress leave around six weeks ago - and then she was made redundant.'
Neilsen announced her departure on Instagram last week.
'After more than six years of telling other people's stories, it's time to share some news of my own. Last week, I accepted a redundancy from 7News,' she wrote.
'A country kid from Braidwood, I achieved my childhood dream of becoming a TV reporter in Sydney. I've covered some of the country's biggest stories. I've met people on the worst days of their lives. Those who lost homes, livelihoods and loved ones to floods and fires.
'What I'll remember most isn't the tragedy, but the resilience people showed in the face of it.'
Sources claim Neilsen, who holds a law degree, is now pursuing opportunities outside the media industry.
Seven was contacted for comment.
Speaking of young female staff losing their jobs at Seven, a rumour doing the rounds this week is that a handful of former network women are considering banding together to sue their former employer.
Details are thin on the ground and, of course, there aren't enough of them to warrant any kind of class action lawsuit. But the idea is apparently floating around.
So long as they were all genuine redundancies then Seven is in the clear. Let's hope that's the case, eh?
The restraining order matter involving newly minted Nova 96.9 host Tim Blackwell was quietly resolved this week.
As we previously reported, an application for an apprehended domestic violence order was made by police to protect Blackwell's ex-wife Monique, with an interim ADVO granted on March 11.
Initially, the matter was next listed for hearing at Newtown Local Court on December 18.
He won't have to wait six months for a resolution: the ADVO was before the inner-west courthouse on Wednesday morning, where it was withdrawn by police.
The restraining order matter involving newly minted Nova 96.9 host Tim Blackwell was quietly resolved this week. (Blackwell is pictured with ex-wife, Monique, in March 2016)
Since his divorce, Blackwell has moved on with Lizzie Baxter (pictured together)
When the matter was mentioned, Blackwell's lawyer, former police prosecutor Paul McGirr, told Acting Judge Margaret Quinn: ‘That's to be withdrawn and I have nothing more to say. Common sense has prevailed. I’ll put that on the record.'
Outside court, McGirr told Inside Mail: 'Fortunately, the commander of the police station has looked at the matter for what it was.
'This matter shouldn't have ever been brought against my client, [who is] a person of good character.
‘It was an amicable break-up involving children, and he never had any problems with her, never tried to have any undue contact with her.
‘Unfortunately, the police jumped the gun - some junior officers - but fortunately the superintendent read our correspondence and withdrew the matter accordingly.'
Mr McGirr said Blackwell, who co-hosts Sydney breakfast with Ricki-Lee Coulter, had further shown his good character by not making an application for a costs order against police.
'He wants to get on with his life,' he said, adding: 'The other thing I would say is that he is very grateful for the support that he got from Nova FM.
'A lot of companies in this particular climate sometimes jump the gun and stand people down or terminate them.
'But Nova actually stood back, looked at the objective case, and were of the same belief of the superintendent that the matter shouldn't have been run.
‘And of course, [Blackwell] wants to continue doing what he does best and move on with his life.'
It's been a shocker of a week for Are Media.
As concerns grow over whether the publisher's stable of magazines will ever find a buyer, Inside Mail understands there was staff bloodletting this week.
On Monday, insiders reported several key staff going in and out of meetings with human resources. Some editorial directors were even said to be in tears.
The next day, news of departures began to circulate: three redundancies from the picture desk, cuts at The Australian Women's Weekly, the publisher's most prestigious title, and confirmation that head of marketing Carly Bowra had been let go.
Other exits we've heard of include Clare Catt and Sarah Cooper from the creative team. The layoffs were apparently a mix of 'top-end salaries' and junior staff.
There was one promotion amid the layoffs: Jocelin Abbey was appointed Director of Content and Commercial Growth, having previously served as GM of Homes and Lifestyle.
Before joining Are, Abbey held senior audience and marketing leadership roles at Mamamia (briefly), The Guardian and the ABC.
In total, we're told there are 30 redundancies - but this figure is not confirmed. Inside Mail has contacted Are Media's external comms team for comment and clarification.
Worried staff had been told 'restructuring' was coming - meaning fewer people, more work, more pressure to resist unstoppable market trends.
Former Are Media CEO Jane Huxley (right) handed over the reins to Sally Eagle (left) in March
Sources say that staff who aren't being let go are instead being offered 'reduced roles' - which, some are viewing as 'same job, less pay'.
A company-wide announcement was made on Wednesday afternoon via a seven-minute call on Microsoft Teams.
Eagle began the meeting by telling all staff to turn off their microphones then read from a script.
'Decisions that affect our people are never easy. I take them very personally,' Eagle said, according to a staff member on the call.
She asked employees to approach 'changes' with 'respect, care, empathy and maturity'.
Eagle then 'smoke-bombed' out of there, a source said. Apparently her closing words were, 'That's all from me.'
'She could not have got off the call any faster,' added our insider.
The layoffs come after the company's new CEO Sally Eagle - described by insiders as ambitious and a believer in AI - succeeded Jane Huxley in the top job.
In total, we're told there were 30 redundancies this week - but this figure is not confirmed. Inside Mail has contacted Are Media's external comms team for comment and clarification
Worried staff had been told 'restructuring' was coming - meaning fewer people, more work, more pressure to resist unstoppable market trends. (Pictured: Marie Claire magazine)
Eagle's appointment was overshadowed internally when staff learned that her 'ambitious renovation' of her Northern Beaches house was splashed across the pages of Belle, a property magazine within the Are Media portfolio.
At the time, we heard that union members battling management for a pay rise weren't exactly thrilled to see glossy spreads of Eagle's sprawling coastal home, complete with terraced gardens and a sparkling pool.
Meanwhile, Are Media continues its search for a buyer.
Last month, Eagle told The Australian the company would not be selling off titles as individual brands and that the sale remained an all-or-nothing package deal.
Are Media is owned by private equity group Mercury Capital, which bought the titles for under $50million in 2020.
In a statement to the Mail on Wednesday, Are Media confirmed that a 'limited restructure' had taken place, with marketing functions moving closer to individual content verticals and brands.
'As a result of these changes, Director of Marketing Carly Bowra will depart the business,' the company added.
Eagle said of Bowra's exit: 'As we look to drive growth across the business we have made the decision to move marketing to more closely align with our content verticals.
'This will enable individual brands to respond faster, operate with clear ownership and deliver greater impact for both audiences and advertisers.
'I would like to thank Carly for her contribution over the past two and a half years and wish her well for the future.'
There's a big story taking place in Queensland involving a high-profile married man.
The case, currently going through the Cairns courts, revolves around an alleged extortion attempt between a man and his ex-partner.
The ex's historic affair with the high-profile man was discovered years later and, allegedly, used against her by the accused. The famous man isn't a party to the case - though he is aware of it - and is now fighting to keep his identity suppressed.
It's a juicy story and you can imagine every news outlet would want the cheating man unmasked - especially given he is a figure almost every Queenslander would know.
Some media have banded together in an effort to have the suppression order lifted. Taking part is Channel Seven, News Corp, the ABC and Nine Newspapers.
What's interesting, though, is Nine has specifically stated to the other outlets that its TV division is not involved and not contributing to the fund.
Inside Mail understands this is because the high-profile man is a friend of Nine. He isn't an employee of the network, but he is valuable to producers looking for scoops.
In short, it's not the sort of relationship they want to compromise.
The mystery high-profile Queenslander fighting to stay anonymous as an extortion matter makes its way through the Cairns courts (pictured) has an ally in the media: Channel Nine
Considering how big this story is, and who it involves, journalists are scoffing that Nine Newspapers (referred to in court, antiquatedly, as 'Fairfax') are pushing for transparency while Nine's TV division is happy for him to stay anonymous.
But that's not the only part of this story raising eyebrows in media circles.
We've heard whispers that Seven is considering dropping out of the action as well.
Seven contributed to the effort initially but has told the other outlets it does not intend to do so going forward.
Insiders at the network say 'they had a crack' but it would be a waste of money pressing ahead because the order is unlikely to be lifted.
Some at Nine are wondering whether Seven has had a change of heart because of its own chummy relationship with the high-profile man.
Truth has a price, it seems.
As soon as a protest banner was unfurled behind Pauline Hanson during her historic Press Club address on Wednesday, rumours began conveniently circulating that David Sharaz was behind it.
But how was he let into the building? The defamation-magnet husband of Brittany Higgins is not exactly the most popular man in Canberra.
Despite no longer being a member of the press, Inside Mail understands the GetUp! spin doctor received a 'sponsored pass' from a mysterious political benefactor.
All signs point to someone from the Greens helping him out...
Inside Mail wishes to congratulate the former Mrs Sharaz, Alexandra Craig, on turning in her university thesis last week.
The subject of her academic inquiry... 'Reputation in the age of the "pile-on": Social media and Australian defamation law.'
We're sure the essay was purely academic, and that any resemblance to her ex-husband's Twitter exploits involving Linda Reynolds is entirely coincidental!
Inside Mail wishes to congratulate the former Mrs David Sharaz, Alexandra Craig , on turning in her university thesis last week. 'Reputation in the age of the "pile-on": Social media and Australian defamation law'... We're sure it's a coincidence!
What do you do when you've been made redundant from one of Australia's biggest TV networks?
Try to turn yourself into an Instagram influencer, of course!
Many younger (mostly female) reporters suddenly found themselves out of a job this week because of massive job cuts at Seven. Refreshingly, a number of them have taken to social media to share their experience of being laid off.
Others, however, look to be taking their social media game to the next level.
Laid-off Seven reporter Phoebe Worthey's TikTok video announcing her redundancy is said to be the start of her bold bid for a post-media influencer career, sources say
The 22-second video, which has clocked up 72,000 views on TikTok, shows Worthey on the edge of tears before finally breaking down as Viva La Vida by Coldplay plays in the background
Phoebe Worthey's accounts used to be a highlight reel of her relatively short time at 7NEWS in Melbourne, having only relocated from Albury last year.
That all changed when she posted a video of herself crying in her car.
The 22-second video, which has clocked up 72,000 views on TikTok, shows Worthey on the edge of tears before finally breaking down as Viva La Vida by Coldplay plays in the background.
Her caption was a 'reminder to love every moment in your dream job because you could be made redundant at 4.48 on a random Thursday'.
The video perfectly sums up the brutality of the TV industry, and, according to industry rumour, is the start of her bold bid for a post-media influencer career.
Whether it works out for her remains to be seen, but old-school newsroom types say that filming yourself crying in your car isn't exactly a good look for a journo.
Still, those industry veterans are the ones responsible for a crumbling industry where layoffs are the new normal. So maybe Worthey is on to something.
During season 13 of My Kitchen Rules, Anthony Mu and wife Claudean Uamaki-Mu featured very heavily, even making it to the Grand Finale.
But their screen time was cut short due to serious accusations being made behind the scenes.
The pair were facing serious charges, including rape, torture and sexual assault. Anthony was found not guilty, and Claudean's case is still going through the courts, though some of the charges against her have been dropped.
Anthony spoke to McKnight Tonight about his experience in the legal system and how he faced additional media scrutiny due to starring on a hit reality TV show.
'[We] had to sell my house to be able to pay for the barristers and the lawyers,' Anthony explained.
He also revealed his anger that when he was eventually found not guilty, not all of the outlets that covered his case extensively followed up with a story about the verdict.
Anthony noted that Nine - which, sensing a scandal about Seven, had gone big on the lifting of the suppression order and listing of the various charges - did not prominently report his acquittal.
These allegations cost Anthony dearly, even though a court cleared him.
He makes a valid point about news outlets' obligation to give ample coverage to an acquittal after spending months marinating in the scandalous, and untested, charges.
You can watch the full interview in the player below:
White House officials are reportedly trembling - and fuming - about an Aussie journo's latest Washington tell-all, set to lob straight into the MAGAsphere next week.
Australian-born New York Times reporter Jonathan Swan, son of ABC medical man Norman Swan, has teamed up with Maggie Haberman for a new release that promises to strip away the façade of Donald Trump's second White House term - not to mention the former President's long-whispered friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
Regime Change wades straight into the hush-hush Oval Office meetings behind the Iran war, and will address the 'alarm bells' over an alleged Epstein accuser and a so-called 'nipple' encounter involving the leader of the free world.
The reporting is said to be based on a mountain of interviews, plus the endless leaks emanating from within Trump's notoriously gossipy circle.
Jonathan Swan, known for his Emmy-winning pandemic-era interview with Donald Trump, has penned a Washington tell-all all about the President's eventful second term in the White House
Ahead of its June 23 launch, there are nervous grumblings among senior Trump officials that Swan and Haberman may have got their hands on Situation Room audio - a scenario that, if true, would send the White House's security team into meltdown.
Swan, who cut his teeth at the Sydney Morning Herald before stints at The Hill and Axios, made global headlines after his Emmy-winning pandemic-era interview with Trump - famous for its withering fact-checks and Swan's bemused eyebrow raises.
Among the more eye-popping claims in Regime Change is a secret Situation Room meeting last July where Vice-President JD Vance, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, press secretary Karoline Leavitt, aspiring attorney general Todd Blanche and a select few tried to navigate the runaway freight train that was the Epstein files.
The meeting even allegedly featured FBI chief Kash Patel and then Attorney-General Pam Bondi - with whispers of Ghislaine Maxwell chiming in from jail.
Perhaps the biggest bombshell, though, is the salacious (and unproven) rumour involving Trump and an Epstein accuser - her testimony apparently fixating on a particular detail...
Vance, surprisingly, is said to have argued for making the document public. Wiles, reportedly, was not having a bar of it.
No word yet on whether anyone's lawyering up in anticipation of release day, but Washington's nerves are certainly fraying.
For a party facing what polls suggest could be an electoral wipeout, you wouldn't have known it from the mood at the NSW Nationals' annual conference last weekend.
Held in Albury - the place where the Coalition lost its grip on Farrer for the first time in history a month ago - the gathering struck a surprisingly upbeat tone.
The program featured a gala dinner complete with fundraising novelties, including a jerry-can signed by Nationals leader Matt Canavan.
Opening-night festivities leaned more pub than politics, with karaoke drawing MPs to the mic - among them former Deputy PM Michael McCormack, state MLCs Sarah Mitchell, Nichole Overall and Scott Barrett, as well as state MPs Paul Toole, Michael Kemp and Tanya Thompson.
A jerry-can and fuel voucher signed by Nationals Leader Matt Canavan was up for grabs
The group belted out the Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers classic Islands in the Stream, a song about a tightly bound duo shutting out the noise and standing firm together.
A neat metaphor, perhaps, for a party keen to project unity, though Inside Mail suspects former Opposition Leader Sussan Ley might take a different view - particularly given how that 'solidarity' played out during her brief stint at the helm, with two break-ups in just seven months.
The party also has faced its own drama, with a break-up from none other than Barnaby Joyce, who abandoned the Nationals for One Nation last year.
X went into overdrive after social media wildcard Drew Pavlou was unveiled as Karl Stefanovic's 'Chief Chaos Correspondent', set to contribute 'weekly investigations' to the outgoing Today host's conservative podcast.
Speaking to Inside Mail, Pavlou said he was 'absolutely honoured' to be brought on by Karlos.
'This has been a dream of mine since I watched the Today show as a child … the mainstream wouldn't take a chance on me, but Karl did … he's a hero and he's changing Australian journalism forever,' he said.
Social media wildcard Drew Pavlou (left) told Inside Mail he was 'absolutely honoured' to be unveiled as Karl Stefanovic's (right) 'Chief Chaos Correspondent'
Pavlou was back in the spotlight this year after his viral video with YouTuber Pete Zogoulas examining alleged fraud within the NDIS racked up 1.5 million views.
The video was so popular it was mentioned in Parliament by a number of MPs, including Pauline Hanson and Mayo MP Rebekha Sharkie.
Inside Mail can't help but hope Stefanovic has a good lawyer on speed dial, if our own stories about Pavlou are anything to go by. (We note he was at Bek Giles' wedding...)
Then again, we understand that Pavlou remains close with his former employer Tony Morris KC, who has worked many a pro bono case for Pavlou in the past.
Howard-era Coalition frontbencher Amanda Vanstone has caught Inside Mail's attention thanks to a string of puzzling posts on her X account.
Vanstone, a former Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Minister and political mentor to former Coalition frontbencher Christopher Pyne, is known for saying exactly what she thinks - on and off the internet.
In response to a post that asked, 'If someone gave you front row tickets to a Taylor Swift concert, would you go?' Vanstone responded: 'No.'
When another user questioned whether she was a Swiftie, Vanstone instead listed her own musical tastes: 'Tracy Chapman, Edith Piaf, Bette Midler.'
We note one notable omission from that list: ABBA, long known to be a Pyne favourite.
Still, at least poking Swifties is a step up from some of her previous provocations.
Back in 2015, she infamously said of Bindi Irwin after her triumph on Dancing with the Stars US: 'Give me a break. She's not the only kid whose father has died. My father died when I was young. It happens to lots of kids.
'It doesn't make her special. How many years ago did her father die?'
Howard-era Coalition frontbencher Amanda Vanstone has caught Inside Mail's attention thanks to a string of puzzling posts on her X account
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has spent years trying to make inflation look like something that simply happens to him, rather than something his government keeps helping along with overspending.
This week, the Reserve Bank gave him the economic equivalent of a tap on the shoulder. It held rates steady at 4.35 per cent, but Governor Michele Bullock made it clear that the next move could still be up if inflation doesn't come back under control.
In other words: Jim, we are looking at you!
Yes, global events matter. Yes, oil prices matter. But at some point even Labor has to stop pretending inflation is all about what happens overseas - because government spending is also fuelling this fire.
You can't keep pumping money into the economy and extending relief measures - such as the fuel excise Anthony Albanese is considering - and then stand around feeling wounded when the independent central bank says demand is still too hot.
Bloated government isn't helping either, by the way.
Chalmers wants credit for compassion when he spends and absolution when the spending has consequences like this.
If rates do go up again, Chalmers will try to blame everyone other than himself: the RBA, the war, the weather and his dog. But the fingerprints on this inflationary mess are all over his Budget papers.
The RBA might have held rates steady this time, but it explicitly left further hikes on the table if inflation stays stubbornly high. Jim, you're not helping things…
Pauline Hanson is now more prime ministerial than the PM. That's what Resolve polling says, putting the One Nation leader ahead of Albo as the preferred leader, according to voters.
There are polls, there are bad polls, and then there are polls that should make any sitting prime minister blush. Not that the Opposition can enjoy the moment. While Hanson might have overtaken Albo, Angus Taylor is nowhere to be seen.
Pauline Hanson is now more prime ministerial than the PM - according to a Resolve poll. (She is pictured speaking at the Press Club)
Resolve had Hanson ahead of Albo by 33 per cent to 29 per cent, with Taylor on just 16 per cent. Let that sink in.
The woman Labor has spent decades portraying as beyond the pale is now seen by more voters as the better prime ministerial option to the Labor incumbent.
It sounds like One Nation's 'fire the liar' campaign is resonating.
None of this means Hanson is about to be sworn in at Yarralumla. For starters, she sits in the Senate, not the House. And the two-party vote still has Labor out in front (it can thank preferential voting for that).
But it's still a good time to grab the popcorn and enjoy watching whatever comes next.
Labor can dismiss what's happening as populism, 'grievance politics' or whatever phrase tests best in focus groups, which a conga line of MPs can then mindlessly regurgitate on breakfast television.
But when a sitting Labor PM trails Hanson as preferred PM, the problem is no longer just Hanson. Perhaps lying to voters and acting like it's no biggie wasn't the best strategy after all?
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