Fans of Australian Survivor would have been unsurprised to see writer Benjamin Law voted off the show earlier this week. Law had been on the outs with other players since the beginning, never able to form true alliances despite his best efforts – a necessity when looking to advance in the game – and repeatedly labelled by a number of players as “shifty”.

But his exit has kickstarted a larger discussion about the way people of colour can be “disadvantaged” on the show, and the issue of diversity on Australian TV more generally. “I think there’s a real opportunity for Survivor, and all Australian shows, to be bringing a better mix [to the cast]," said Law while speaking to culture writer for The Age, Meg Watson this week's episode. 

Fans of <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/how-survivor-outwitted-outplayed-and-outlasted-other-reality-tv-shows-20230123-p5cep5.html" data-ffx-id="p5cep5">Australian Survivor</a> would have been unsurprised to see writer Benjamin Law voted off the show earlier this week. Law had been on the outs with other players since the beginning, never able to form true alliances despite his best efforts – a necessity when looking to advance in the game – and repeatedly labelled by a number of players as “shifty”.
But his exit has kickstarted a larger discussion about the way people of colour can be “disadvantaged” on the show, and the issue of diversity on Australian TV more generally. “I think there’s a real opportunity for Survivor, and all Australian shows, to be bringing a better mix [to the cast]," said Law while speaking to culture writer for The Age, Meg Watson this week's episode.

Good Weekend Talks features in-depth conversations with the people fascinating Australians right now, from sport to politics to the arts, business and beyond, interviewed weekly by the country's top journalists. Consider it a magazine for your ears.

Good Weekend Talks features in-depth conversations with the people fascinating Australians right now, from sport to politics to the arts, business and beyond, interviewed weekly by the country's top journalists. Consider it a magazine for your ears.

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