Australia Day Comedy on Telstra TV

No matter how or where you’re enjoying this great country of ours on Australia Day, Telstra TV gives you the perfect excuse to kick off your thongs, cool off from the arvo sun and let your sausage sanga settle with the Aussiest of comedies streaming right now, direct to your TV. Take a squizz at a few of our faves this Australia Day.

“This is going straight to the pool room!” One of Australia’s most-loved (and most quoted) comedy movies, THE CASTLE, is possibly the most satisfyingly heartwarming story of a little Aussie battler you’re ever likely to see. Darryl Kerrigan is proud as punch of his wife and kids and their family home beside the airport. When a plan to extend the runway threatens his very own slice of the Australian dream, he takes on the Government and fights it all the way to the Supreme Court. Stars Michael Caton, Eric Bana, Sophie Lee, Stephen Curry and Anne Tenney. Buy or rent it now on BigPond Movies. 

The film that launched the career of Toni Collette and introduced ABBA’s catalogue to a new generation of Aussies, MURIEL’S WEDDING, is available to stream on Stan, BigPond Movies and Foxtel Now. Sick of her life in the backwater town of Porpoise Spit, Muriel Heslop teams up with her new bestie Rhonda (played by Rachel Griffiths) and heads to the big smoke of Sydney. Convinced that the perfect wedding is her key to happiness, she’s willing to steal from her family, lie to her friends and marry a complete stranger to make her dreams come true. 

Every year on the eve of Australia Day, the Australia Day Council honours the contributions and achievements of Australians whose lives inspire us all. The stiff competition for this prestigious award is the inspiration behind Chris Lilley’s breakout hit mockumentary series, WE CAN BE HEROES: FINDING THE AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR - streaming now on Netflix and Stan. Over six hysterically awkward episodes, we’re introduced to a group of nominees including Ja'mie King (who you may also know from Lilley’s subsequent series, Summer Heights High) who raises money for children in Africa by doing the 40 Hour Famine every week, Pat Mullins who holds the record for rolling on her side at high speed from Perth to Fremantle and Ricky Wong, an overachieving physics student with dreams of becoming an actor.

And if sketch comedy is more your style, another hilariously homegrown series is BLACK COMEDY, with four episodes available to stream for free on ABC iview and both full seasons available on Netflix and Stan. Written and performed by Indigenous Australians, the show features a cast of cheeky characters including the sharp-tongued Housewives of Narromine, Townsville’s favourite competitive gays, the Tiddas, and culturally confused white woman, Tiffany. Series stars include Deborah Mailman, Nakkiah Lui, Jon Bell, Aaron Fa'aoso and Brooke Satchwell.