Kennett calls for Vic Libs clear-out, questions Battin's leadership
Kennett made the comments at a private event hosted by MinterEllison and MST Financial on Thursday night, just as the Victorian Liberal Party's powerful administrative committee voted to provide Pesutto with a $1.55 million loan to help him repay his legal bills to Deeming.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
7NEWS
4 minutes ago
- 7NEWS
The Auction was like a game of ping pong...paddles were flying as the bids rolled in
In Maroubra, one bidder donning a number seven paddle kept her bids to $7k, prompting the agent to declare, "I should have given you my highest paddle number!" Across the nation, Australia's auction market is warming up again, with volumes on the rise and clearance rates continuing their solid streak above the 70 percent mark. Picture perfect clash ends with $2.2m Malvern sale and a portrait from the heart A cold but sun-drenched winter morning set the scene for a tightly fought auction at 1181-1183 Malvern Road, where a quirky, gallery-fronted Victorian drew a discerning crowd of 15 to 20. The freestanding, solid-brick home sold under the hammer for $2.2 million, after spirited $20,000 bidding bursts between two determined women. "It's such a unique offering," said RT Edgar listing agent Chelsie Cargill. "No heritage overlay, so developers were circling, but in the end it went to someone with a real creative vision." That someone was a Melbourne-based chef, who plans to convert the distinctive gallery shopfront into a florist shop. Previously home to local artist Pauline Courtney, the sunlit frontage has long served as one of the area's most recognisable creative spaces. In a poignant gesture after the gavel fell, Courtney presented the new owner with a portrait she had painted of a Hong Kong chef. Set on 432 square metres with laneway access and a north-facing backyard, the property blends business potential with easy family living. Beyond high fences, the single-level residence flows from three bedrooms and a study to open-plan living, a luxe kitchen and a spa-framed courtyard. A red-brick stable at the rear, replete with mezzanine and split system heating, adds further creative flexibility. Cargill said around 30 groups came through during the campaign, most drawn by the location, light and scope. "It's not just a house, it's a personality. Buyers really responded to that." "I should have given you my highest paddle number!" Maroubra agent jokes as paddle number sparks playful bidding war In a sun-drenched auction that started slow but ended with a smile, a two-bedroom apartment at 8/283 Maroubra Road sold under the hammer for $1.175 million, with one bidder's paddle number adding a cheeky twist to the final moments. Tucked to the rear of the boutique 'Lisieux' complex, the light-filled Sydney apartment attracted around 30 onlookers to the onsite event. NG Farah listing agent Mark Feerick said bidding opened at $980,000 and took time to build momentum. "It was very slow to get to $1 million," he said, noting that three parties competed before one dropped out early due to incomplete arrangements. A pause at $1 million gave bidders a breather before a "ping-pong" of offers between the final two pushed the price upward. One bidder, whose paddle number was seven, continued to place $7,000 bids throughout the auction. As the gavel was about to fall, she added a final $7,000 bid to stretch the result. "I joked with her that I should've given her my highest paddle number," Feerick laughed. The winning bidder was a local investor, while the seller, "absolutely wrapt," had initially been nervous about the potential outcome. "They were laughing together after the auction and even had a photo taken," said Feerick. "It was just one of those auctions where everything felt good." With Maroubra Beach, Pacific Square and local schools nearby, the updated apartment promises a laid-back lifestyle, with sunlight, space and a touch of charm. Bundled in the cold, bidders heat up Garden Street auction A frosty Warrnambool morning didn't stop the action at 46 Garden Street, where fifty determined onlookers crowded close for warmth and a front-row seat to a fiery three-way bidding war. The updated two-bedroom home exceeded expectations, selling at the top of the range for the street, finishing above $600,000. The result capped off what agent Tessa Stephens described as a "brilliant auction", driven by fierce competition and the undeniable appeal of the renovation. "It was absolutely freezing," Stephens said. "But no one moved. They huddled together and stuck it out, and it was worth it." The property, freshly overhauled by its vendors, drew praise for its liveability and layout. Its elevated position and peaceful setting were complemented by light-filled interiors, neutral finishes and a clever floor plan that promotes cross-ventilation and flow. With three active bidders in play, the crowd was treated to a tight contest, which ultimately saw the home fall to a delighted buyer who recognised the care behind the transformation. Stephens said the vendors were equally thrilled. "They were happy and relieved," she said. "It's always nice when someone else sees the value in the work you've done." "Everyone was happy," Stephens said. "That's the best kind of sale." A total of 1,574 homes went under the hammer across the combined capitals this past week, nudging 9.9 percent higher than the week prior, though still sitting 11.4 percent below the same week in 2023. According to Cotality research director Tim Lawless, preliminary clearance rates climbed to 74.4 percent, up from 72.2 percent the previous week. While last week's figure was eventually revised to 68 percent, it still marked the highest finalised result since March. This week's preliminary figure is the second highest so far in 2025, just behind the late-June peak of 74.5 percent. Melbourne led the volume surge, hosting 678 auctions, a rise from 628 the week before. The clearance rate there jumped to 76.7 percent, the city's strongest preliminary result since May last year.
Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Sky News AU
‘Not surprised': New damning accusations against former Obama administration over Russiagate
Former Victorian Liberal Party president Michael Kroger has discussed accusations from US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard against the former Obama administration on the Trump-Russia collusion probe after the 2016 election. 'Am I surprised? No, not in the slightest,' he told Sky News host James Morrow. 'Am I surprised that people in the Obama administration were somehow behind the scenes trying to put some of this together? No, I'm not surprised, and it will be absolutely fascinating to see what these documents reveal.'
ABC News
7 hours ago
- ABC News
Tasmania set for a mostly anti-stadium crossbench — here's how the issue might unfold
The question that's hung over Tasmania's unwanted, early snap election is: "What could it all mean for the Hobart stadium and AFL team?" While the final result of the election is nearly a fortnight away, it seems the parliament is headed for a roughly similar look and shape to the last one. Both the Labor and Liberal parties support the stadium and will hold at least 23 of the lower house's 35 seats between them, so you may think that passage of legislation for the stadium is assured. But if either party wants to hold government, it will need the support of an almost entirely anti-stadium crossbench. It raises the question of whether those crossbenchers are willing to put their differences on the issue aside and give confidence and supply to one of the major parties, or die on a hill over the issue. It also might coax one of the major parties to shift its position on the stadium, or change its approach to legislation for it, in an attempt to win the support needed to govern. What do the crossbench numbers look like? The election has delivered the most seats to the Liberal Party, but it will still be a hung parliament. ( ABC News: Maren Preuss ) The ABC has called 14 seats for the Liberals, nine for Labor, five Greens, and four independents, with three seats remaining in doubt. Shooters, Fishers and Farmers candidate Carlo di Falco in in with a chance in Lyons. Facing a hung parliament, the Liberals will need to secure support from four crossbenchers to form government (or three, if they can win the seventh seat in Bass). The only pro-stadium member of that crossbench is David O'Byrne. Despite being a former Labor Leader, he's shown he will work with either side. To find the next three, it's more difficult. Independents Kristie Johnston and Craig Garland have been re-elected in their seats of Clark and Braddon. Both are staunch opponents of the build, and recently voted no-confidence in Premier Jeremy Rockliff. Franklin newcomer, independent Peter George, also opposes building a new stadium. The Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party is a strong chance of claiming its first seat — but the party has opposed plans for a stadium since they were announced. Who supports the stadium? David O'Byrne ( ABC News: Kate Nickels ) The former Labor leader who was elected to parliament in 2024 as an independent supports the building of the Macquarie Point stadium. Who is against the stadium? Craig Garland. ( ABC News: Greg Szabo ) Returned independent MP Craig Garland does not support a new stadium but supports the formation of a Tasmanian team using existing stadiums. Ind: Kristie Johnston Kristie Johnston. ( ABC News: Kate Nickels ) Returned independent MP Kristie Johnston stands against the building of a new stadium but supports the formation of a Tasmanian team using existing stadiums. Ind: Peter George Peter George. ( ABC News: Meg Whitfield ) The new independent MP stands against the building of a new stadium but supports the formation of a Tasmanian team. SFF: Carlo di Falco Carlo Di Falco. ( ABC News: Maren Preuss ) The Shooters Fishers & Farmers Tas candidate is likely to snag a seat in Lyons, but his election is not yet certain. The party has been against a new Hobart stadium since the project was announced. Grn: Rosalie Woodruff Rosalie Woodruff. ( ABC News: Jake Grant ) Greens leader and MP for Franklin. The Greens Party supports a Tasmanian AFL team but does not support building a new stadium. Grn: Cecily Rosol Cecily Rosol. ( ABC News: Luke Bowden ) Greens MP for Bass. The Greens Party supports a Tasmanian AFL team but does not support building a new stadium. Grn: Vica Bayley Vica Bayley. ( ABC News: Ashleigh Barraclough ) Greens MP for Clark. The Greens Party supports a Tasmanian AFL team but does not support building a new stadium. Grn: Helen Burnet Helen Burnet. ( ABC News: Luke Bowden ) Greens MP for Clark. The Greens Party supports a Tasmanian AFL team but does not support building a new stadium. Grn: Tabatha Badger Tabatha Badger. ( ABC News: Ashleigh Barraclough ) Greens MP for Lyons. The Greens Party supports a Tasmanian AFL team but does not support building a new stadium. Labor's path to government is far more complicated — and still reliant on anti-stadium support. If it can hold onto its second seat in Franklin and then join forces with Greens, it would need to find three more supporters from the same pool of crossbenchers. But in that case, there would be only 11 stadium supporters in an 18-strong governing coalition. It means the path forward is still unclear. What options are available to progress the stadium? Enough crossbench MPs may simply decide to give the Liberals or Labor supply and confidence — that is, allow them to pass budget bills and not support no-confidence motions — despite their stadium stance. They could then deal with the stadium issue separately, by voting against it when the legislation comes up. But they would be powerless to stop the Liberals and Labor teaming up to help the stadium bill sail through the lower house. There are tight timelines for building the Macquarie Point stadium. ( Supplied: MPDC ) Another option might help a Liberal or Labor government keep the crossbench a little more onside. In the last parliament, the Liberals tabled special legislation that would have fast-tracked approvals for the stadium project, much to the dismay of many on the crossbench. Whoever forms government could decide to backtrack on that and keep the stadium in the more arduous Project of State Significance (POSS) pathway laid out by the Tasmanian Planning Commission. That POSS process will be completed by September, which might not be too much longer than the wait for the new parliament to reconvene. If a government does go back to the POSS process, then the final determination by the Tasmanian Planning Commission — and whatever conditions are attached — would still need to be approved by both houses of parliament in order to build the stadium. What have the party leaders said? Liberal leader Jeremy Rockliff told media on Sunday he would not be abandoning his plans for the stadium. He referenced that two thirds of the vote was heading towards the stadium-backing major parties, and said it showed a majority had voted "yes stadium, yes team". Labor leader Dean Winter said the party would not be "horse trading on policy". He said his party would not switch to dumping the stadium. "We haven't changed our position on the stadium, and we won't be offering that as part of any negotiations," he said. Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said there had been a big anti-stadium vote "We've got a desperate situation with the budget, and it's either cutting into essential services or spending money on a stadium. It's pretty clear that people want essential services," Dr Woodruff said. She said the Greens would be working in the next parliament to stop the stadium. However, she did not rule out backing a major party to form government, without them compromising on the stadium. What have the Tasmania Devils said? The state's AFL club was among the loudest voices when the no-confidence motion was being debated in June, warning that the political instability was a "serious risk" for the future of the club. However, it stayed relatively quiet during the election campaign itself. This morning, the club broke its silence, with the club's Kath McCann saying the Devils were staying focused on building, with no time to lose. Tasmania Football Club executive director Kath McCann says the club will work with whichever party forms government. ( ABC Northern Tasmania: Evan Wallace ) "Tasmania Football Club stands ready to work with the incoming Tasmanian government and elected members once the election outcomes are resolved," she said. "We are focused on entering the AFL and AFLW by 2028, in order to do that we have several time frames that must be met. We are very eager to work with the government to realise these."
