Treasure & Dirt

Streaming now on ABC iView

Imagine being from overseas and learning about Australia purely from the television programs we produce. Over the years, we’ve painted a pretty interesting picture. We’ve introduced audiences to “keepy uppy”, the sausage sizzle and the bin chicken via Bluey. We’ve dropped “rack off” and “flamin’ heck” into the vernacular via Home And Away, and Kath and Kim have brought footy franks, “baby cheeses” and the concept of “the hornbag” to an international audience — I mean, what a legacy!

But if you were watching new Aussie TV in 2026, you’d be getting a very different education and a very different impression of the country we call home.

This year there have been three crime dramas set deep in the Australian outback — all are deeply weird.

There has been Deadloch on Prime, a tropical fever dream of a show, and Stan’s The Killings At Parrish Station, a show that still has us scratching our heads (and praying we’ll never be called on to investigate a murder at a disused radio tower).

Now there’s ABC’s six-part series Treasure & Dirt. Set in the dusty outback opal mining town of Nulla (which looks a lot like dusty South Australian outback opal mining town Coober Pedy), it’s all about hot mess detective Ivan Lucic (Michael Dornan), who is dispatched to solve a murder after a decapitated man is found in a mineshaft.

He’s paired with ex-local detective constable Nell Buchanan (Liv Hewson), and together they must navigate a murder investigation in a town where rules don’t apply, and law and order is entirely optional.

This feels very similar in tone to that part of The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert where they land in Woop Woop and stay with Bob (Bill Hunter) and his crazy ping-pong wife, Cynthia (Julia Cortez). It’s weird and wonky, and hard to wrap your head around — I can’t stop watching.

All three of these shows paint a pretty bleak (and in Deadloch’s case, hilarious) picture of what it means to live in remote, rural Australia — and yet, I am totally here for this particular cultural representation.

What international audiences think of it is another matter entirely.

Colin From Accounts

Monday, streaming on Binge

It’s really difficult to talk about this third and final season of the Aussie comedy favourite without giving away a massive spoiler. So I’ll just say this: the new season is absolutely terrific, and you’ll want to absolutely INHALE all eight episodes.

I’m gutted this series is finishing up. But I get it: creators Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall, who write and star in it, have seen their profiles skyrocket since taking on the roles of unlikely lovers Gordon and Ashley, and they’re off to bigger things.

Enjoy this last hoorah — and thanks to them both for bringing us this gem of a show.

Kitchen Cabinet

Tuesday, 8.30pm, ABC

Did you catch last Tuesday’s episode with Anthony Albanese? Who knew our PM was so good in the kitchen? Looking forward to seeing how Opposition Leader Angus Taylor stacks up. Loving this season.

The Devil’s Mouth

Wednesday, streaming on Prime

Sometimes you just need to watch a bunch of hot young twenty-somethings get stalked by a shark in a Thai cave — I don’t make the rules. Very here for this made-for-TV movie. Don’t judge me.

The Hawk

Screening now on Netflix

I’m not entirely sure I like this comedy series, starring Will Ferrell. And yet I’m seven eps in — what is going on? Am I officially hate watching this? Sigh. I fear I have to see it through.