New MP Mary Aldred urges business to help women into the Liberals
Despite her win, the Coalition, which was trounced in the election, is confronting its failure to win young and female voters and a former president, Alan Stockdale, who thinks the female members are too assertive and joked it may need reverse quotas for men. While Australia will have more female representatives in this federal parliament than ever before, the Liberals' female ranks have reached a new low.
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SBS Australia
7 hours ago
- SBS Australia
Tasmania's post-election uncertainty drags on, Jeremy Rockliff seeks re-commission
Tasmania's post-election uncertainty drags on, Jeremy Rockliff seeks re-commission Published 5 August 2025, 8:13 am More than a fortnight on from the Tasmanian election, it remains unclear which party will govern the state for the next four years. Liberal incumbent Jeremy Rockliff says he'll visit the governor this week to ask for his team to be re-commissioned. Labor leader Dean Winter says it's unclear if his opponent will have the confidence of the house with no agreements yet in place with crossbench MPs
The Advertiser
9 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Labor vows to fight on as premier makes power move
Tasmania's political limbo will come to a head as the premier seeks to have his government recommissioned within days, but the opposition leader isn't going down without a fight. Premier Jeremy Rockliff revealed on Tuesday he would approach the state's governor within 48 hours to be reappointed following a snap election in July that did not deliver any party a clear majority. Negotiations with the cross bench to form another minority government have intensified as Mr Rockliff and Tasmanian Labor Leader Dean Winter attempt to secure the 18 parliamentary votes needed to govern. The premier revealed he would attempt to stay in power even if he could not secure confidence and supply agreements from crossbenchers. "I would welcome more formal agreements with confidence and supply should individual members wish to do so," Mr Rockliff told reporters on Tuesday. "My understanding is that it is not necessary in terms of being recommissioned in a minority government." Mr Winter said while Mr Rockliff had the first opportunity to form government, it was not the only opportunity. He vowed to step up meetings with crossbenchers because a government without supply and confidence agreements would lead to instability, highlighting intentions for formal talks with independents in coming days. Mr Winter continued to rule out doing a deal with the Greens and said he wasn't seeking to meet with them. "We want to work with independents in particular who have said they want change," he said. "They want a new government, they want a government that can deliver stability and confidence to Tasmanians." The final makeup of Tasmania's parliament is 14 Liberals, 10 Labor, five Greens, one Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP and five independents. Many crossbenchers are remaining tight-lipped on who they would support including Shooters, Fishers, Farmers MP Carlo Di Falco, who has placed gun law changes on the political agenda. He nominated "gun laws fit for purpose" among his priorities in parliament but insisted the issue hadn't come up in negotiations with Mr Rockliff or Mr Winter, suggesting his party's name made it obvious that was a core policy. Mr Di Falco believes the federal Howard government acted too quickly on gun control after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. "There are anti-firearm zealots out there and I think it's morally reprehensible that 30 years after a tragedy that you know, that traumatised everybody, that they're still trying to milk that tragedy for all it's worth," he told AAP. "My view is just let ... the victims of Port Arthur rest in peace and it's not serving anybody's purposes to just keep regurgitating the same fearmongering that was happening in 1996." His comments drew criticism from Stephen Bendle from the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, an anti-violence charity set up by Walter Mikac after his two daughters were killed in the shooting. Mr Bendle, the charity's advocacy advisor, accused Mr Di Falco of being disrespectful and said the majority of Australians felt the nation's gun laws were "about right" or could be tighter. "It is hard to speak to anyone in Tasmania, let alone the rest of Australia that hasn't felt the impact of that tragedy," he said. "The fact that our strong gun laws have been largely responsible for the fact that it hasn't been repeated might be uncomfortable for Mr Di Falco and his supporters." Elected members have been confirmed after Labor's Jess Greene and independent George Razay claimed the final seats in the division of Bass on Saturday. The July 19 election was triggered after Mr Rockliff lost a no-confidence motion, prompting the state's second election in 16 months. A key sticking point in negotiations to form government is the major parties backing a new $1 billion stadium in Hobart, which the Greens and some independents oppose. Tasmania's political limbo will come to a head as the premier seeks to have his government recommissioned within days, but the opposition leader isn't going down without a fight. Premier Jeremy Rockliff revealed on Tuesday he would approach the state's governor within 48 hours to be reappointed following a snap election in July that did not deliver any party a clear majority. Negotiations with the cross bench to form another minority government have intensified as Mr Rockliff and Tasmanian Labor Leader Dean Winter attempt to secure the 18 parliamentary votes needed to govern. The premier revealed he would attempt to stay in power even if he could not secure confidence and supply agreements from crossbenchers. "I would welcome more formal agreements with confidence and supply should individual members wish to do so," Mr Rockliff told reporters on Tuesday. "My understanding is that it is not necessary in terms of being recommissioned in a minority government." Mr Winter said while Mr Rockliff had the first opportunity to form government, it was not the only opportunity. He vowed to step up meetings with crossbenchers because a government without supply and confidence agreements would lead to instability, highlighting intentions for formal talks with independents in coming days. Mr Winter continued to rule out doing a deal with the Greens and said he wasn't seeking to meet with them. "We want to work with independents in particular who have said they want change," he said. "They want a new government, they want a government that can deliver stability and confidence to Tasmanians." The final makeup of Tasmania's parliament is 14 Liberals, 10 Labor, five Greens, one Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP and five independents. Many crossbenchers are remaining tight-lipped on who they would support including Shooters, Fishers, Farmers MP Carlo Di Falco, who has placed gun law changes on the political agenda. He nominated "gun laws fit for purpose" among his priorities in parliament but insisted the issue hadn't come up in negotiations with Mr Rockliff or Mr Winter, suggesting his party's name made it obvious that was a core policy. Mr Di Falco believes the federal Howard government acted too quickly on gun control after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. "There are anti-firearm zealots out there and I think it's morally reprehensible that 30 years after a tragedy that you know, that traumatised everybody, that they're still trying to milk that tragedy for all it's worth," he told AAP. "My view is just let ... the victims of Port Arthur rest in peace and it's not serving anybody's purposes to just keep regurgitating the same fearmongering that was happening in 1996." His comments drew criticism from Stephen Bendle from the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, an anti-violence charity set up by Walter Mikac after his two daughters were killed in the shooting. Mr Bendle, the charity's advocacy advisor, accused Mr Di Falco of being disrespectful and said the majority of Australians felt the nation's gun laws were "about right" or could be tighter. "It is hard to speak to anyone in Tasmania, let alone the rest of Australia that hasn't felt the impact of that tragedy," he said. "The fact that our strong gun laws have been largely responsible for the fact that it hasn't been repeated might be uncomfortable for Mr Di Falco and his supporters." Elected members have been confirmed after Labor's Jess Greene and independent George Razay claimed the final seats in the division of Bass on Saturday. The July 19 election was triggered after Mr Rockliff lost a no-confidence motion, prompting the state's second election in 16 months. A key sticking point in negotiations to form government is the major parties backing a new $1 billion stadium in Hobart, which the Greens and some independents oppose. Tasmania's political limbo will come to a head as the premier seeks to have his government recommissioned within days, but the opposition leader isn't going down without a fight. Premier Jeremy Rockliff revealed on Tuesday he would approach the state's governor within 48 hours to be reappointed following a snap election in July that did not deliver any party a clear majority. Negotiations with the cross bench to form another minority government have intensified as Mr Rockliff and Tasmanian Labor Leader Dean Winter attempt to secure the 18 parliamentary votes needed to govern. The premier revealed he would attempt to stay in power even if he could not secure confidence and supply agreements from crossbenchers. "I would welcome more formal agreements with confidence and supply should individual members wish to do so," Mr Rockliff told reporters on Tuesday. "My understanding is that it is not necessary in terms of being recommissioned in a minority government." Mr Winter said while Mr Rockliff had the first opportunity to form government, it was not the only opportunity. He vowed to step up meetings with crossbenchers because a government without supply and confidence agreements would lead to instability, highlighting intentions for formal talks with independents in coming days. Mr Winter continued to rule out doing a deal with the Greens and said he wasn't seeking to meet with them. "We want to work with independents in particular who have said they want change," he said. "They want a new government, they want a government that can deliver stability and confidence to Tasmanians." The final makeup of Tasmania's parliament is 14 Liberals, 10 Labor, five Greens, one Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP and five independents. Many crossbenchers are remaining tight-lipped on who they would support including Shooters, Fishers, Farmers MP Carlo Di Falco, who has placed gun law changes on the political agenda. He nominated "gun laws fit for purpose" among his priorities in parliament but insisted the issue hadn't come up in negotiations with Mr Rockliff or Mr Winter, suggesting his party's name made it obvious that was a core policy. Mr Di Falco believes the federal Howard government acted too quickly on gun control after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. "There are anti-firearm zealots out there and I think it's morally reprehensible that 30 years after a tragedy that you know, that traumatised everybody, that they're still trying to milk that tragedy for all it's worth," he told AAP. "My view is just let ... the victims of Port Arthur rest in peace and it's not serving anybody's purposes to just keep regurgitating the same fearmongering that was happening in 1996." His comments drew criticism from Stephen Bendle from the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, an anti-violence charity set up by Walter Mikac after his two daughters were killed in the shooting. Mr Bendle, the charity's advocacy advisor, accused Mr Di Falco of being disrespectful and said the majority of Australians felt the nation's gun laws were "about right" or could be tighter. "It is hard to speak to anyone in Tasmania, let alone the rest of Australia that hasn't felt the impact of that tragedy," he said. "The fact that our strong gun laws have been largely responsible for the fact that it hasn't been repeated might be uncomfortable for Mr Di Falco and his supporters." Elected members have been confirmed after Labor's Jess Greene and independent George Razay claimed the final seats in the division of Bass on Saturday. The July 19 election was triggered after Mr Rockliff lost a no-confidence motion, prompting the state's second election in 16 months. A key sticking point in negotiations to form government is the major parties backing a new $1 billion stadium in Hobart, which the Greens and some independents oppose. Tasmania's political limbo will come to a head as the premier seeks to have his government recommissioned within days, but the opposition leader isn't going down without a fight. Premier Jeremy Rockliff revealed on Tuesday he would approach the state's governor within 48 hours to be reappointed following a snap election in July that did not deliver any party a clear majority. Negotiations with the cross bench to form another minority government have intensified as Mr Rockliff and Tasmanian Labor Leader Dean Winter attempt to secure the 18 parliamentary votes needed to govern. The premier revealed he would attempt to stay in power even if he could not secure confidence and supply agreements from crossbenchers. "I would welcome more formal agreements with confidence and supply should individual members wish to do so," Mr Rockliff told reporters on Tuesday. "My understanding is that it is not necessary in terms of being recommissioned in a minority government." Mr Winter said while Mr Rockliff had the first opportunity to form government, it was not the only opportunity. He vowed to step up meetings with crossbenchers because a government without supply and confidence agreements would lead to instability, highlighting intentions for formal talks with independents in coming days. Mr Winter continued to rule out doing a deal with the Greens and said he wasn't seeking to meet with them. "We want to work with independents in particular who have said they want change," he said. "They want a new government, they want a government that can deliver stability and confidence to Tasmanians." The final makeup of Tasmania's parliament is 14 Liberals, 10 Labor, five Greens, one Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP and five independents. Many crossbenchers are remaining tight-lipped on who they would support including Shooters, Fishers, Farmers MP Carlo Di Falco, who has placed gun law changes on the political agenda. He nominated "gun laws fit for purpose" among his priorities in parliament but insisted the issue hadn't come up in negotiations with Mr Rockliff or Mr Winter, suggesting his party's name made it obvious that was a core policy. Mr Di Falco believes the federal Howard government acted too quickly on gun control after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. "There are anti-firearm zealots out there and I think it's morally reprehensible that 30 years after a tragedy that you know, that traumatised everybody, that they're still trying to milk that tragedy for all it's worth," he told AAP. "My view is just let ... the victims of Port Arthur rest in peace and it's not serving anybody's purposes to just keep regurgitating the same fearmongering that was happening in 1996." His comments drew criticism from Stephen Bendle from the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, an anti-violence charity set up by Walter Mikac after his two daughters were killed in the shooting. Mr Bendle, the charity's advocacy advisor, accused Mr Di Falco of being disrespectful and said the majority of Australians felt the nation's gun laws were "about right" or could be tighter. "It is hard to speak to anyone in Tasmania, let alone the rest of Australia that hasn't felt the impact of that tragedy," he said. "The fact that our strong gun laws have been largely responsible for the fact that it hasn't been repeated might be uncomfortable for Mr Di Falco and his supporters." Elected members have been confirmed after Labor's Jess Greene and independent George Razay claimed the final seats in the division of Bass on Saturday. The July 19 election was triggered after Mr Rockliff lost a no-confidence motion, prompting the state's second election in 16 months. A key sticking point in negotiations to form government is the major parties backing a new $1 billion stadium in Hobart, which the Greens and some independents oppose.
Sydney Morning Herald
11 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
NSW politics must be rid of pestilent rapist MP
Politician and convicted rapist Gareth Ward is sitting in Silverwater jail while brazenly refusing to quit his leather seat in the NSW Upper House, an unashamed, unrepentant and immovable object who continues to soil public life even from behind bars. The MP for Kiama since 2011 and a former Liberal minister-turned independent, Ward was found guilty last month of indecently assaulting an 18-year-old man at his Shoalhaven home on the South Coast in 2013 three times and having sexual intercourse without consent with a 24-year-old political staffer in Potts Point in 2015. The 44-year-old's bail was revoked last Wednesday, but he refuses to leave his upper house seat and in a bizarre twist, his lawyers have sought an injunction against the leader of the lower house, Ron Hoenig, and Speaker Greg Piper to stop his expulsion from parliament. Premier Chris Minns confirmed the government would seek an urgent Supreme Court hearing 'to address the matter' to overturn the court's injunctive order ruling. Ward will not be sentenced until September 19. Prosecutor Monika Knowles told the court the day he was convicted that the seriousness of his crimes virtually guaranteed a custodial sentence. But, that may not be the end of the matter: bizarrely, the length of his sentence could impact on his ability to retain his parliamentary seat. Under the NSW Constitution Act, an MP's seat is declared vacant if they are convicted of crime that is punishable by five years or more in prison, although under changes to the law in 2000, conviction is considered to mean 'once you have reached the end of the appeals process, if you choose to appeal, and not had the conviction overturned'. Ward's persistence in keeping his seat has upended the concept of workplace safety and, under the current rules, turned the NSW Parliament into the only workplace in Australia where a convicted rapist is free to keep their job. After his convictions, we called for Ward's resignation and wondered if, should he not be expelled by parliament, suspension would surely follow. The outcome will be decided by the court now, but the upshot is that he cannot adequately represent his electorate while he exhausts all legal options. Ward's grim and thoughtless determination to hold on to his parliament seat and pay packet displays an arrogant contempt for the people of Kiama who voted for him, and a brutal indifference to the harm caused to victims of sexual assaults by a perpetrator allowed to keep the spoils of his public office while stubbornly prolonging the inevitable. Clearly, politicians on all sides need to address the anomaly exposed by Ward's refusal to leave public life: that is, in NSW, as things stand, only five years' jail is a sackable offence. If the Kiama MP is not flouting the rules, it is clear the rules need to be changed.
