Do we like Tina Arena?
Our score: 8 out of 10. Years of backing the LGBTQ+ community and women in music, no harmful words found, and a decent response to a nasty chapter involving her ex-husband.
Tina Arena has been on stage since she was eight, starting on the TV talent show Young Talent Time. This year she is marking fifty years in music with a project called TINA 5.0, which includes tours, a new EP on her own label and a documentary about her life. A commissioned portrait of her now hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.
The big story this year is not hers, but it touches her. Her ex-husband and former manager Ralph Carr was found guilty by a Victorian County Court jury of two counts of rape and one of sexual assault, and his name became public once a suppression order lifted. He pleaded not guilty, says he is innocent and intends to appeal. He was sentenced to six years, with parole possible after four.
Arena's reaction has been blunt. At the premiere of her documentary she said she believed justice had been done, and on Sunrise she admitted it had been tough to see his name back in the headlines. She also praised the woman at the centre of the case for coming forward and urged bystanders to speak up when they see concerning behaviour. Before the verdict, she had left a comment on a social media post about an unnamed high-profile Victorian accused of rape, writing that time catches up with everyone.
On the harm check, nothing nasty turned up in her own words or acts. She has spoken warmly of the LGBTQ+ community, telling the Star Observer it has been part of her life since she was a little girl and has always protected her. In 2017, at a Melbourne tennis event, she addressed the push to rename Margaret Court Arena, though she did not directly call for a change. Tennis Australia said Court's personal views did not align with its values. The record on trans issues is thin, so that is a gap rather than a pass on that point alone.
The good stuff is steady rather than flashy. In 2016 she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for her service to music and her support of charitable groups. Her recent work is her own: a new imprint, covers of Max Q and New Order, and a documentary about her life. Nothing in this search suggests she keeps harmful company.
There are gaps. We found no statements from her on trans rights, climate or health issues, and a May 2025 report of a scuffle at a Melbourne show was not something we could verify. What we did find is a performer who has been loved by gay fans for decades and has backed it up with words. On this record we would happily put her on the playlist.