SBS brings together prominent voices to discuss rising social division and seek solutions for a more inclusive country
26 February, 2026
Media releases
Hannah Ferguson, Allegra Spender, Adam Creighton, Lynda Ben-Menashe, Sami Shah, Giridharan Sivaraman, Hana Assafiri, Kirstie Parker and Om Dhungel reflect on how we reached this point, and how we can move forward together
Premiering Wednesday 4 March at 7:30pm on SBS and SBS On Demand
As Australia grapples with increasing polarisation across many issues, how do we forge a path toward a more united and inclusive country? How can we combat increasing division, value difference and diversity, protect free speech and build understanding and respect?
The Social Schism, premiering on SBS and SBS On Demand on Wednesday 4 March at 7:30pm, sees SBS World News presenter Janice Petersen bring together high-profile thought leaders and community voices from across the spectrum, including Hannah Ferguson, Allegra Spender, Adam Creighton, Lynda Ben-Menashe, Sami Shah, Giridharan Sivaraman, Hana Assafiri, Kirstie Parker and Om Dhungel, to examine how we got to this point, and how we can find our way through to strengthen inclusion and connection.
SBS Director of News and Current Affairs Mandi Wicks said: SBS is committed to sharing the stories that define our nation and facilitating conversations that shape our society. As Australia navigates an era of increasing social and political division, The Social Schism brings together leading thinkers and community voices to explore our differences with empathy and honesty, offering a space for reflection and dialogue in the pursuit of a more connected nation.
Hannah Ferguson is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cheek Media Co. She is also the co-host of news and pop culture podcast, Big Small Talk, and has written two books, Bite Back and Taboo. She says the class divide, especially around housing, is a major reason young people are less trusting and engaged. She supports laws around hate speech but says they shouldn't be rushed.
Allegra Spender is a business leader, renewable energy advocate, and independent Federal Member of Parliament for the Wentworth Electorate. Having won the seat at the 2022 federal election, she is one of a number of centrist community independents elected on a platform of action on climate change, economic reform, political integrity, and gender equality. She describes herself as passionate about using her business skills and experience to help others.
Adam Creighton is Chief Economist and Senior Fellow at the Institute of Public Affairs. Having started his career at the Reserve Bank of Australia, he has written for The Economist and The Wall Street Journal, as well as The Australian, where he wasEconomics Editor and Washington correspondent. Adam believes that we should halve our current immigration intake, and that immigration is a major factor in wealth inequality and housing issues.
Sami Shah is a writer, comedian, host of the News Weakly podcast, and curator of OzAsia Festival's Weekend of Words. He is an atheist and identifies as a cultural Muslim. Sami says that he is against the government deciding on safe and unsafe voices and is a free speech absolutist. He believes people should have the right to protest and is worried about how hate speech laws will be used.
Giri Sivaraman is Australia's Race Discrimination Commissioner, He advocates for racial equality and inclusion and leads anti-racism efforts worldwide. Prior to joining the Commission, he was a Principal Lawyer with Maurice Blackburn and Chair of Multicultural Australia. He believes that the Bondi Beach terrorist attack was racially motivated, and says he thinks education to stop racism should start in schools and workplaces.
Lynda Ben-Menashe is president of the National Council of Jewish Women Australia. She has worked in Australia and Israel in education, publishing, and public diplomacy. For 14 years she served the NSW Jewish community through the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, finishing as its Head of Engagement in 2022. She describes herself as a feminist, a Zionist, an optimist, and a realist.
Hana Assafiri is a Melbourne-based social activist, feminist, author, and owner of the popular Moroccan Soup Bar restaurant. She was born in Australia to a Lebanese family and spent her childhood living in Lebanon. She believes Australia's hate laws will not protect any faith community, including the Jewish community. She says we need to understand each other more and find community.
Kirstie Parker is a Yuwaalaraay woman from northwestern NSW. She has been a director of Reconciliation Australia since 2010, and co-Chair since 2024. Her leadership in community, not-for-profit and government settings spans First Nations rights, representation and advocacy, policy development, journalism and communications, and the arts. She is an independent First Nations consultant and Head of First Nations at South Australian Film Corporation.
Om Dhungel is a Sydney-based community leader who describes himself as passionate about bringing people from different backgrounds together. Born in The Kingdom of Bhutan, he arrived in Australia as a student in 1998 and went on to work as a business analyst at Telstra for ten years. Today he sits on the NSW Police Multicultural Advisory Council, the Blacktown Multicultural Advisory Committee and the board of the Asylum Seeker Centre.
Watch The Social Schism on SBS and SBS On Demand, premiering Wednesday 4 March at 7:30 pm.
The Social Schism is a collaboration between SBS Insightand SBS Examines. It will beavailable to stream on SBS On Demandwith subtitles in Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese. The Social Schism will also be available to stream on YouTube.
For a pdf of this media release, click here.
Asia, Australia & Oceanic Stories
20/05/2026
First Nations Factual Co-production Development Fund launched to elevate Indigen...
18/05/2026
Delta Goodrem shines for SBS as more than 3.27 million Australians tune in for E...
17/05/2026
Delta Goodrem's Eurovision Eclipse marks end of a stellar run
17 May, 2026
Media releases
Bulgaria wins Eurovision 2026
Relive every spellbinding mome...
15/05/2026
Joint Statement: News Bargaining Incentive
28 April, 2026
Media releases
The vibrancy of Australian democracy relies on the robust and open exchange of new...
15/05/2026
Call it Deltavision, Australia's through to the Grand Final of this year'...
14/05/2026
SBS Board appoints Jane Palfreyman Managing Director
13 May, 2026
Media releases
The Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Board of Directors is pleased to an...
14/05/2026
Transforming bold ideas into market-ready productions: Digital Originals returns
14 May, 2026
Media releases
SBS, NITV and Screen Australia have announced ...
14/05/2026
Australia Uncovered Returns to SBS with Bold New Season Featuring John Safran on...
14/05/2026
Transforming bold ideas into market-ready productions: Digital Originals returns 14 May 2026
Top (L-R): Bronte Gosper (Musket), Mema Munro (Rogue One), Nathan ...
12/05/2026
One month to go! SBS reveals expansive FIFA World Cup 2026 lineup beyond the pi...
11/05/2026
You're not meant to look at an Eclipse, but you won't be able to take yo...
04/05/2026
It's Andrew! stomps onto screens this June 4 May 2026
The ABC and Screen Australia are delighted to announce that brand new preschool series, It's Andr...
30/04/2026
SBS & NITV LEAD NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK 2026 WITH LANDMARK GULPILIL DOCUMEN...
29/04/2026
Surgeon Dr Jasmina Kevric wins 2026 Les Murray Award
29 April, 2026
Media releases
Australia for UNHCR and SBS are proud to announce that Dr Jasmina Kevric...
23/04/2026
Apply now to join the 2026 Producer Delegation to TIFF: The Market 23 April 2026
Screen Australia, in partnership with Ontario Creates, has opened application...
22/04/2026
SBS names shortlisted brands for 2026 SBS Media Sustainability Challenge
22 April, 2026
Media releases
National broadcaster also releases its second annual...
21/04/2026
Applications open for 2026 AISF and Screen Australia Writer/Director Virtual Ses...
20/04/2026
Register now - Market & Audience Department Ask Me Anything (AMA) Session 11 February 2026
Screen Australia Head of Market & Audience Rakel Tansley
Talking to...
20/04/2026
Screen Australia announces funding for 44 documentary projects that reflect a s...
20/04/2026
Screen Australia appoints Tanya Phegan as Narrative Content Head of Development 17 March 2026
Tanya Phegan
Screen Australia has today announced the appointmen...
20/04/2026
Applications Open for Skip Ahead 11 19 March 2026
Past Skip Ahead recipients (L-R): Macfarlane Bros, Rainbow Bop, Lyanna Kea.
Screen Australia and YouTube Aus...
20/04/2026
Screen Australia empowers the next games generation, including new creatives fro...
20/04/2026
Official Co-production Ask Me Anything (AMA) Session 26 March 2026
Image (L-R): Mix Tape, Michele McDonald, Flower & Flour.
Interested in international Co-pro...
20/04/2026
Screen Australia announces Narrative Content funding for 91 projects, including ...
20/04/2026
Production Infrastructure and Capacity Analysis (PICA) pinpoints four key workfo...
20/04/2026
Australians in Film and Screen Australia Announce the 2026 Participants in the T...
20/04/2026
Screen Australia relaunches website with new tools and improved user experience 16 April 2026
Screen Australia relaunches website
Screen Australia has relaun...
16/04/2026
SBS reveals all-star alumni team to celebrate 70 years of the Eurovision Song Co...
02/04/2026
SBS Welcomes Back Cup Fever! For The Biggest FIFA World Cup Ever
2 April, 2026
Media releases
Santo Cilauro, Ed Kavalee and a host of special guests retur...
02/04/2026
Truth. Power. Perspective: NITV's Flagship Current Affairs Programs Return t...
27/03/2026
NITV to broadcast farewell to Rhoda Roberts AO with special coverage and week-lo...
21/03/2026
New campaign from NAATI and SBS CulturalConnect highlights how we all deserve t...
21/03/2026
Statement regarding Rhoda Roberts AO
21 March, 2026
Media releases
SBS is deeply saddened by the passing of Widjabul Wieybal woman from the Bundjalung Na...
20/03/2026
Feast for cycling fans as SBS extends road cycling broadcasts to include all Gra...
19/03/2026
Silicon Valley satire The Audacity premieres 15 April on SBS and SBS On Demand
19 March, 2026
Media releases
From one of the writer/producers of Succession...
19/03/2026
SBS brings communities together at Bondi Pavilion for Harmony Week multilingual ...
19/03/2026
Clarification from SBS regarding Western Sydney expansion
19 March, 2026
Media releases
From an SBS spokesperson:
SBS wishes to clarify some media coverag...
19/03/2026
Techtel announces inctrl : web-based production control for content creators, co...
18/03/2026
Jess Ho explores the politics of food in new SBS Audio podcast For The Culture
18 March, 2026
Media releases
New SBS Audio podcast For The Culture, hosted ...
17/03/2026
New campaign from NAATI and SBS CulturalConnnect highlights how we all deserve ...
12/03/2026
AFL and NITV partner to launch new First Nations led program Inside the Huddle&...
06/03/2026
Statement on the appointment of Dr Nicholas Pappas AM as SBS Chair
6 March, 2026
Media releases
The SBS Board and Executive have welcomed the appointment o...
05/03/2026
SBS and Mint Pictures to chronicle the Bondi terror attack in major feature docu...
05/03/2026
Winter Olympic stars return to the ice for ISU World Figure Skating Championship...
04/03/2026
100 Days to Go: SBS Unveils World Class Team for The Greatest Show on Earth -The...
02/03/2026
Global powerhouse Delta Goodrem to represent Australia at this year's Eurovi...
02/03/2026
SBS brings together prominent voices to discuss rising social division and seek ...
02/03/2026
NITV Unveils Wednesday Night Sport Night
2 March, 2026
Media releases
A Midweek Hub for Blak Sport
Flagship NRL program Over The Black Dot moves to Wednes...
02/03/2026
Ausfilm and Screen Australia launch joint UK market initiative 2 March 2026
Ausfilm and Screen Australia have announced Partner with Australia (UK), a new init...
SBS brings together prominent voices to discuss rising social division and seek solutions for a more inclusive country 
