Cruise ship quarantines, Ebola outbreaks, diphtheria deaths in Australia — it can sometimes feel like we’re back in the middle of a global health scare. So how worried should we actually be? Joining us back in the studio is infectious diseases specialist Dr Fernando Gordíllo Altamirano.

Fernando is a medical doctor from Ecuador with a master’s degree in infection and immunity from the University of Sydney. At the Monash University-based Barr Lab, he’s tackling the global health threat of antimicrobial resistance. Specifically, he’s looking at bacteriophage therapy as a treatment strategy against multi-drug-resistant bacterial pathogens such as Acinetobacter baumannii.

The post Sat, 23rd May, 2026: Dr Fernando Gordíllo Altamirano, Hantavirus, Ebola and first recorded deaths in Australia from s in Australia from Diphtheria appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Our next guest knows the criminal underworld from the inside out. Rohan Pike spent years with the AFP investigating serious organised crime and he’s here to talk about the explosive rise of Australia’s illicit tobacco trade, a black market now linked to gang violence, fire-bombings and billions in lost tax revenue.

Is the situation with illicit tobacco out of control and what could be done about it?

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/how-australias-worldleading-tobacco-tax-is-fuelling-a-violent-black-market/news-story/fbc4714f9263d7a7606cfa21a399440b?utm

https://www.news.com.au/national/crime/australias-illicit-tobacco-trade-funding-organised-crime-and-deadly-gang-violence/news-story/58dc10f0660ff3e99f7fb239b5eacdda?utm_

https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/JulianHill/Pages/tougher-penalties-illicit-tobacco-offenders.aspx?

The post Sat, 23rd May, 2026: Rohan Pike, ex Aust Border Force & co-founder of illicit tobacco strike force, Tobacco Wars; is the situation with illicit tobacco out of control and what could be done about it? appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Up next, live in the studio is friend of the station and friend of the programme, Aiv Puglielli, Member, Victorian Legislative Council (Victorian Greens).

Aiv Puglielli is a member of the Victorian Legislative Council representing North-East Metropolitan Region for the Victorian Greens. With a background in the arts as a composer and producer, Aiv brings a creative lens to politics and is an advocate for climate action, housing justice and community-led solutions. Aiv has worked across grassroots campaigns and in
parliament since 2022, focusing on progressive policies that protect the environment while supporting workers and local communities.

The post Sat, 23rd May, 2026: Aiv Puglielli, MP Greens, NE Metro, Latest from State Parliament appeared first on Saturday Magazine.