Drive hosts Lewis Hobba & Michael Hing have announced on air they will be leaving triple j next month.
Lewis Hobba said:
“Hosting the Drive show has been my dream job since I was 12 and listening to triple j on the bus home. Spending my afternoons with millions of friends for the past 8 years has been a huge privilege. It’s brought me more joy than you can imagine (although sometimes you are super disgusting, you know who you are). Thank you to everyone who got involved in our silly show; I have zero doubt that the wildest stories in the world come from Hobba and Hing listeners. It’s hard to leave the best job in the country, and I’m going to miss it so much. But it’s the right time to hand the keys over to someone else who will be as excited as I was when I got this job.”
Michael Hing could not be contacted for comment, but a representative for him said:
“My client had no idea that ‘embezzling company funds’ was a serious crime and- oh, this is about them leaving? No, sorry, yes, he’s loved working at triple j and loved working with Lucas Hobbes? Hobba? Yes, Lewis Hobba, that’s what I said. No, I’m pretty sure I said Lewis Hobba.”
A note on Hing’s desk said, “If anyone is trying to chase me down for money I owe them, good luck. I’m free like the bird”.
It is unclear if he realises he is contracted until August.
Triple j is giving the guys a live farewell tour send-off with Hobba & Hing’s Last Show Ever* in venues across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Bendigo and Newcastle this August-September. Tickets go on sale on 17 July, with further info at the triple j website
The duo will remain with the ABC. They’ve got a new comedy podcast called Silver Bullet available now on the ABC listen app. The project sees Hobba & Hing try all the gadgets, hobbies, experiences, and wellness trends their celeb guests swear by to find the one silver bullet that solves all their problems.
An announcement on who will take over triple j Drive next month will be made soon.
It seems a coincidence that whenever a JJJ presenter is in their mid to late thirties, they are no longer on air.
https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/radio-favourites-michael-hing-and-lewis-hobba-to-depart-triple-j-20230712-p5dnma.html
The latest presenters from JJJ are no exception.
Exemptions from s44 of the Age Discrimination Act (2004) are possible:
https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/legal/temporary-exemptions-under-age-discrimination-act-2004-cth
But broadcasters do not come under schedule 1 of the legislation:
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2014C00009
Yes I know you are going to say that JJJ is a youth station.
But that does not override the legislation.
Yes, they will continue at the ABC making podcasts but for how long?
Yes other JJJ presenters are tomorrow's RN or ABC metropolitan presenters or DAB+ station presenter such as JJ,
https://www.abc.net.au/doublej/zan-rowe/8164768 .
Others may euphemistically "...seek other opportunities..." code for being unemployed.
Yet if none of the above apply and/or the podcast gig does not last as long as their time on radio, could the ABC be discriminating on age?
Summary, if the ABC is discriminating based on age, and it is doing it by the regular leaving of mid-late 30 something presenters even though JJJ is a youth station, that cannot override the legislation.
Thank you
Anthony, Strathfield South, in the land of the Wangal and Darug Peoples of the Eora Nation