Samoa's first woman prime minister loses power
The people of Samoa are heading for an early election, after Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa called for the dissolution of parliament.
Drama in Fiji as the head of the country's anti-corruption commission, Barbara Malimali is suspended and her deputy sacked as police investigate her appointment.
Tonga's King Tupou VI has called for improvements to the country's democratic system.
A new parliamentary committee has been set up in Papua New Guinea to protect children who make up 43 per cent of the nation's population.
Farmers in PNG are cashing in and spending big as prices for two of the country's main agricultural exports, coffee and cocoa, hit record highs.
The minister for women and youth in Kiribati, Ruth Cross Kwansing, says the nation is facing a kava crisis with imports at record levels.
Successful applicants of the Pacific Engagement Visa, have started to settle into their new lives in Australia.
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News.com.au
44 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Tasmania faces hung parliament as election result declared
Tasmania has officially announced the results of its snap election, with declaration of the poll ceremonies held across the state on Tuesday morning. The events confirmed the 35 elected members of the House of Assembly with the final election writs expected to be returned to Governor Barbara Baker this week. Under the Constitution Act, Premier Jeremy Rockliff's Liberal ministry can remain in place for another week from that date, though an interim cabinet could be sworn in if no governing arrangement is reached. Two weeks of counting have wrapped up with no clear majority. The Liberals secured 14 seats, Labor 10, the Greens 5, and six went to independents and minor parties. The final seat, in Bass, was won by independent George Razay by just 674 votes over Labor's Geoff Lyons. The result leaves both major parties short of the 18 seats needed for a majority. To form government, the Liberals require support from four crossbenchers, Labor needs the Greens plus three others. Mr Rockliff has indicated he's prepared to govern in minority without formal confidence-and-supply agreements. 'Tasmanians have spoken. We have 14 seats, by far the most seats and while I would welcome individual members of parliament signing confidence and supply, we don't need that to form a minority government,' he said on Sunday. 'The political games need to stop and we have to get on with the job.' Mr Rockliff said on Sunday he would seek recommissioning of his government from the Governor. The snap election followed a dramatic no-confidence motion in June that ended Mr Rockliff's previous term, returning Tasmanians to the polls for the second time in 16 months. Labor leader Dean Winter claimed the botched rollout of new Spirit of Tasmania vessels, the state of the budget and the controversial Macquarie Point Stadium project were examples of Mr Rockliff's failed leadership.
ABC News
5 hours ago
- ABC News
Premier Chris Minns condemns Gareth Ward's court bid to block expulsion
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has labelled a late-night legal move by Gareth Ward's lawyers to halt his expulsion from parliament as "unconscionable", after the convicted MP secured injunctive orders in the Supreme Court. "Late last night, orders were granted in the New South Wales Supreme Court, injunctive orders obtained by representatives of Mr Ward, lawyers for Mr Ward, against the Leader of the House Ron Hoenig [and] the Speaker Greg Piper — which will stop or attempt to stop the expulsion motion in the Legislative Assembly," Mr Minns told Nine Radio this morning. The motion was due to be introduced today ahead of a vote in the lower house on Wednesday. If Ward is expelled, his seat in Kiama would be declared vacant, triggering a by-election. The Kiama MP was convicted last month on one count of sexual intercourse without consent and three counts of assault with an act of indecency, involving two male victims. He is in custody awaiting sentencing in September and has flagged his intention to appeal. Mr Minns said the government would seek to overturn the court's injunctive order ruling. "The government will seek an urgent hearing in the Supreme Court to have those orders dealt with," he said. "My understanding is the hearing is set down for Friday of this week. "But, we've got a week of parliament to sit, and I think that most people would appreciate it's an unconscionable situation to have someone who's currently sitting in jail in Silverwater, convicted of serious sexual offences, who is demanding to remain a member of parliament and continue to be paid. "Our lawyers are assessing [it] and worked through the night to try and navigate this genuinely unprecedented situation." He repeated previous comments that the motion was not designed to punish Ward, but protect the integrity of the Legislative Assembly. Mr Minns, who has repeatedly called for Ward to resign, when asked about the issue again, told the station: "That would be the first and most obvious course." In a statement, Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said the opposition would support Ward's expulsion and work with the government. "However, Mr Ward's legal team should do whatever it takes to get a clear message to him — immediately resign. Every day he clings to his seat from a jail cell, taxpayers are footing the bill and the people of Kiama are left voiceless. It's not just wrong, it's offensive. This is about decency, accountability, and basic respect for the community. Mr Ward should spare the Parliament, spare the courts, and above all, spare the people of New South Wales any further disgrace. Step aside."
ABC News
6 hours ago
- ABC News
Could Solomon Islands China and US from PIF to defuse stoush over Taiwan?
On the program today Solomon Islands could try to defuse a potentially explosive stoush over Taiwan's participation at the Pacific Islands Forum, by excluding China, the US and a host of other countries as well. The death toll across the Pacific continues grows amid the regions dengue fever outbreak. Cook Islands marks the 60th anniversary of the nation's self-governance in free association with New Zealand. Australia and the US wrap up the largest military operation in the southern hemisphere. Local communities work together to uncover what happened to a species of golden jellyfish that dissapeared in Palau. And is Tonga's men and women's seven's sides on the verge of extinction?
