The Scoop: LNP drains talent from Qld’s TV newsrooms

The LNP’s aggressive push to bolster its media team continues to drain talent from Queensland’s top newsrooms. THIS IS THE SCOOP

9News Gold Coast reporter Yasmin Bonnell. Photo: Instagram.

The focus of the LNP’s media recruitment drive has shifted south of Brisbane, after a significant exodus from Brisbane’s 9News newsroom.

Reporter Yasmin Bonell is the latest reporter to join the LNP’s growing media department.

This follows the recent resignations of Brisbane 9News reporters Cam Inglis and Meg Sydes.

Inglis has taken up a media adviser role with Premier David Crisafulli, while Sydes now works with MP Tim Mander.

The poaching isn’t confined to Nine.

From the rival 7News team, reporter Rachel Baxter has also transitioned into a new role with the LNP’s media unit.

JASON SELLING SUNSET

Renowned real estate broker and “Selling Sunset” star Jason Oppenheim was spotted on the Gold Coast’s glitter strip this week, touring some of the city’s most coveted listings.

Michael Kollosche, director of Kollosche Real Estate in Broadbeach, posted a photo of himself and Oppenheim inspecting a multimillion-dollar property on Cronin Island.

Jason Oppenheim (middle) with Michael Kollosche and Jamie Harrison. Photo: Facebook.

“We had the pleasure of taking Jason Oppenheim from Selling Sunset through the triple block modern home at 8 Southern Cross Drive on Cronin Island on the Gold Coast today ahead of our impending launch to the market,” Kollosche wrote, revealing that Oppenheim was impressed by the Gold Coast’s market.

Oppenheim noted that, given the local lifestyle, quality of homes, and climate, the Gold Coast remains undervalued compared to the U.S. market. “Jason thought we were selling GC real estate at a 60% discount to the US,” Kollosche said, adding that Oppenheim regarded the area as a “hidden gem.”

CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY FOR NRL STARS

It’s baby boom season in the NRL, with Felise Kaufusi and Jai Arrow both sharing exciting family news.

Dolphins star Felise Kaufusi announced the arrival of his fifth child on Instagram Friday, posting a heartwarming selfie featuring his wife Rebecca in a hospital bed, surrounded by their four children and their newborn daughter.

“Christmas come early. Our little girl ~ Havana 14/12/24,” Kaufusi captioned the photo.

The couple are already parents to Indiana, Orlando, Atarah, and Zendaya Clare — who was born just last May.

Felise Kaufusi welcomes fifth child. Photo: Instagram.

Meanwhile, Queensland Maroons and Rabbitohs star Jai Arrow revealed he and his fiancee, Berina Colakovic, are expecting their first child together.

Colakovic shared the news on Instagram with a series of black-and-white photos showing the couple holding an ultrasound image.

“Our newest little roomie joining us in 2025,” she wrote in the caption.

Arrow proposed to Colakovic during a romantic post-season getaway in Italy this October, making their year even more memorable.

Arrow, one of the NRL’s most notorious figures, debuted with the Broncos in 2016 before stints with the Titans and Rabbitohs, where he played in the 2021 Grand Final against the Panthers.

Known as much for his off-field antics as his on-field toughness, Arrow made headlines that same year when he was dumped from the Maroons’ squad and fined $35,000 for sneaking a woman into the Queensland Origin camp, breaching strict COVID-19 protocols.

The scandal also cost him his relationship with then-girlfriend and Miss World Australia, Taylah Cannon.

AACTA TO BE BIGGER THAN BEN HUR

February’s AACTA (Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts) festival on the Gold Coast is shaping up to be a big one, with beloved Aussie actor David Wenham the latest big name added to the bill.

Wenham will launch his new movie Spit – the latest crime caper by Glitter Strip criminal lawyer, film maker and novelist Chris Nyst – with a red carpet premiere at the Coast’s HOTA (Home of the Arts) theatre as part of the festival.

It will mark the start of a national Q & A tour by the actor to promote Spit, which reprises Wenham’s bumbling junkie character Johnny Spitieri made famous in Nyst’s 2003 cult classic, Gettin’ Square.

It was announced this week that national music icon Paul Kelly would perform live at the AACTA festival at a concert celebrating the new How to Make Gravy film, a BINGE original which brought arguably his most famous song to life on the screen.

Boy Swallows Universe author Trent Dalton will also be among the guest speakers.

THE RAREST OF WINE COLLECTIONS

A Brisbane businessman, described as having “more money than God” is putting together a full collection of Penfolds Grange worth almost half a million dollars.

The Tennyson man, who wishes to remain anonymous, is collecting a bottle of the iconic Australian wine from every year since its inception in 1951 to the current 2024 vintage.

The exceptionally rare 1951 bottle, of which only about 18000 bottles were ever made, is estimated to be worth $150,000 alone; while the rest of the collection is set to total $300,000, bringing the entire cellar value to approximately $450,000.

The collection is part passion project, part investment.