On October 1, 2025, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) issued a formal warning to the Kyle and Jackie O Show, citing seven breaches of program content standards and two breaches of audience complaint handling regulations for 2024 broadcasts in Sydney and Melbourne.

The investigation found the program included audio of male and female employees urinating, descriptions of genitalia, explicit references to menstruation and sexual positions, and discussion of pornography websites. ACMA also noted the program failed to respond to audience complaints within the required 30 days.

ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin stated that despite prior requests to increase oversight, the program continued broadcasting inappropriate content, indicating systemic issues. ACMA is considering further enforcement action against the Australian Radio Network (ARN) to ensure accountability for broadcast content.

On October 1, 2025, the Supreme Court of New South Wales ruled that police cannot legally conduct strip searches based solely on the suspicion of drug possession and highlighted systemic abuse in the execution of such searches.

The case was brought by Slater and Gordon Lawyers and the Redfern Legal Centre, challenging police strip searches at music festivals between 2016 and 2022, many of which were deemed unlawful, including searches of minors. A notable case involved teenage girl Raya Meredith, who was strip-searched at a 2019 music festival, describing the experience as humiliating and frightening, sparking national debate on police misconduct.

The court ruled that suspicion of drug possession alone does not provide legal grounds for strip searches. It also found that police failed to comply with the law regarding necessity and proportionality, particularly in urgent situations.

While the case is ongoing, critics argue that procedural changes alone are insufficient and call for comprehensive legal reform to protect citizens’ basic rights.

Since the start of Donald Trump’s second term in January 2025, at least 29 U.S. citizens have applied for asylum in Australia, a significant increase compared to fewer than five applications per month in the latter half of 2024. This indicates that some Americans feel uneasy about the domestic political and social environment.

Most applicants have submitted an onshore protection visa (Subclass 866), which allows individuals who arrive in Australia on a valid visa to apply for asylum. According to the Department of Home Affairs, no applications have been approved yet. Asylum applications typically take months or even years to process, including identity verification, personal statements, and security checks.

The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) noted a recent surge in requests from U.S. citizens seeking asylum advice. While official data does not disclose the reasons, experts suggest that political polarization, social division, and threats to certain groups’ rights—particularly LGBTQ+ individuals—may be driving the increase.

At the same time, countries such as Canada and Ireland have observed similar trends. Experts remind that asylum is granted based on “current risk of persecution,” so even if some applicants filed before Trump’s second term, their cases are assessed according to present circumstances.