Jackie O faces discovery D-Day as ARN subpoenas her financial adviser

All eyes in radio circles were focused on KIIS-owner ARN Media on Monday after the company announced Dr Chris “Bondi Vet” Brown was among the new hosts of its Sydney breakfast show.

But for ARN, which remains locked in a high-profile legal battle with one of its former stars, Jackie “O” Henderson, Monday marked a far more significant milestone: discovery D-Day.

The Monday deadline followed months of legal negotiations between Henderson’s legal team and lawyers for ARN, set to result in the handover of a tranche of text messages, emails and phone records that ARN hopes to leverage in its legal defence.

The subpoenas have also been flying thick and fast. Among the latest to hear from the Federal Court was Henderson’s financial adviser David O’Callaghan, who has been subpoenaed along with Henderson’s former co-host Kyle Sandilands and the shock jock’s manager Bruno Bouchet. ARN is already preparing to get the latter two in the witness box, according to a source familiar with the company’s plans.

ARN and Henderson’s manager Gemma O’Neill declined to comment on the case.

Then there’s the intrigue surrounding who else may yet get caught up in the matter. One name to surface in media chatter as a possible target of ARN is none other than Pip Edwards, the Australian fashion designer who has previously called Henderson a “best friend”. (The pair were pictured together on a ski trip in Thredbo just last month.)

As things stand, Henderson is on course to go to trial in October after suing ARN for wrongful termination earlier this year. Both she and her former co-host Sandilands launched legal action against the KIIS-owner after the company spiked the pair’s $100 million, 10-year deals. Sandilands struck a $12 million cash settlement with his former employer in June.

ARN, meanwhile, is expected to build part of its defence around the argument that Henderson had already decided to leave the company before she and Sandilands had the on-air bust-up that sparked their dual legal matters and the ensuing fallout.

Now attention turns to a potential trial timeline for the case. Let’s just hope Henderson is a little more liquid than Sandilands turned out to be, in the event the trial faces delays.

News24’s merch drop

Those feeling a little stuck for costume ideas heading into Halloween now have some fresh options to consider, thanks to the fine folk at News24, formerly Sky News Australia, which now has its own merch store.

There are some incredible trinkets up for sale. Fans of Sharri Markson can shell out $75 for hoodies (available in black and baby pink), while the mouth-breathing Paul Murray brigade can pick up a neoprene stubby holder emblazoned with the man’s name. Just $8 apiece.

But if you really want to commit to the bit and turn up to Halloween as a smooth-brained antipodean MAGA head, we’d suggest taking a look at some of the Rita Panahi-branded knick-knacks.

As you’d expect, there’s no shortage of merch carrying the words “lefties losing it”, plus a T-shirt with Panahi’s photo printed across the front, a phone case with some animated faces, a mug, some more T-shirts with some more animated characters.

There are also some practical, sun-safe caps. One of them has the late-night personality’s name spelt out in block letters, coloured in with the American flag. For the rabid Trump fans out there, there’s even a bootleg riff on the US president’s infamous MAGA merch.

Spotted: Zali Steggall, lounging

For all the scrutiny lumped on public servants who choose to indulge in the Qantas Chairman’s Lounge, several members of parliament continue to take advantage of the perk.

One such MP is Zali Steggall, the teal member for Warringah, who in an appearance on Sunrise in late 2024 said she didn’t feel like the perk gets in the way of her criticising Qantas or aviation legislation. This was at the height of scrutiny over the airline’s efforts to curry favour with elected officials.

So in a sense it was little surprise to hear Steggall’s still making the most of it. Steggall was seen heading into the Qantas Chairman’s Lounge in Canberra after sitting week wrapped up last Thursday.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.