Full Breakdown
SBS’s “The Feed” Gives Platform to Anti-Abortion Activists in Fertility Debate
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
SBS’s current affairs program The Feed is set to air an episode on falling fertility rates that will feature a group of anti-abortion activists. The panel includes George Mamalis, head of Turning Point Australia (an offshoot of Charlie Kirk’s organization), Elspeth McKellar of Bird Flip, and Steph Bastiaan from Women’s Forum Australia (WFA). All three are close associates of anti-abortion campaigner Joanna Howe. The discussion will also involve content creator Dita, commentator Andrew Lewis, and model-actor Ellie Gonsalves, who recently listed 117 reasons for not wanting children.
Background & Context
Turning Point Australia promotes a view that feminism is a “death cult” because it expands reproductive choice, and Mamalis has linked declining birth rates to “stupid things like mass immigration” and warned that “western culture” could be “replaced.” Bird Flip, founded by Joanna Howe, produces street-level videos opposing abortion, while WFA describes itself as “pro-woman” but posts predominantly anti-trans material and supports Howe’s advocacy. The trio’s appearance on a mainstream SBS platform follows the broadcaster’s stated commitment to “diversity and inclusion” in its programming.
Official Statements & Responses
The network emphasised that the episode will be subject to fact-checking, though no further comment was offered on the specific viewpoints of the invited activists.
Why It Matters
The episode places a fringe anti-abortion coalition alongside mainstream commentators, raising questions about the balance between open dialogue and platforming extremist rhetoric. Critics of the participants argue that their views on feminism, immigration, and gender identity are rooted in far-right ideology, while supporters claim the discussion highlights under-examined concerns about Australia’s declining birth rate. The SBS approach illustrates the tension in contemporary media between fostering diverse debate and avoiding the amplification of controversial, potentially harmful perspectives.