Sat, 19th Sept, 2026; Sophie McNeill MLC, Greens Upper House MP for Western Australia, former ABC Middle East Foreign Correspondent & Human Rights Watch Researcher

Joining us this morning on Saturday Magazine is Sophie McNeill, Greens Member of the Legislative Council in Western Australia. Before entering parliament in 2025, Sophie spent over fifteen years on the frontlines of global conflict as a Walkley Award–winning foreign correspondent for the ABC and SBS, followed by leading investigative research for Human Rights Watch.

McNeill has been a prominent voice in the anti-AUKUS campaign, particularly focused on Submarine Rotational Force-West (SRF-West) at HMAS Stirling in WA.

Sovereignty risks, the massive $368 billion price tag diverted away from public housing and health, nuclear waste disposal concerns, and the militarisation of local communities. She has also campaigned against state anti-protest laws surrounding arms fairs (such as the Land Forces exposition).

As a former ABC Middle East correspondent who produced Walkley-winning coverage in Gaza and author of We Can’t Say We Didn’t Know, McNeill brings personal field experience to parliamentary advocacy.

Calling for an immediate end to Australian arms exports and dual-use component supply to Israel, federal sanctions, human rights accountability, and advocating for Palestinian self-determination and refugee protections.

The rapid expansion of AI infrastructure and hyperscale data centres across Australia is putting severe pressure on state energy grids and net-zero targets.

Data centres consume vast amounts of electricity and water, often delaying the phase-out of fossil fuels or sucking up renewable energy capacity meant to power homes. McNeill argues that unconstrained tech infrastructure undermines state emissions reduction commitments and diverts resources from genuine climate action.

The post Sat, 19th Sept, 2026; Sophie McNeill MLC, Greens Upper House MP for Western Australia, former ABC Middle East Foreign Correspondent & Human Rights Watch Researcher appeared first on Saturday Magazine.