Latest news with #AliFrance
ABC News
7 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Why this speech made the PM tear up
The 48th parliament is now officially underway, and while it's full of fresh faces — particularity on the Albanese Government's side — is it still politics as usual, or has the tone changed? And speaking of fresh faces, the first speech from "giant killer" and Dickson MP Ali France nearly brought the whole parliament to tears, but her story also had Sarah Ferguson welling up on live TV. And Sussan Ley's first Question Time as Opposition leader was her moment in the spotlight, but she was undermined by former Nationals leaders Barnaby Joyce and Michael McCormack who are calling for the Nationals to ditch net zero. Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly are joined by Sarah Ferguson, ABC 730 Host on The Party Room. Got a burning question? Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Watch Ali France's 730 interview here -
The Guardian
22-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Morning Mail: Ozzy Osbourne dies, childcare centre worker accused, starvation horror in Gaza
Morning everyone. A mother in Victoria has claimed her daughter was assaulted at a childcare centre by a worker who subsequently kept their job, our exclusive story reveals. Elsewhere, Larissa Waters has distanced herself from the Australian Greens expulsion stoush, Israel is facing intensifying international condemnation for its killing of starving Palestinian civilians in Gaza and in the US Republicans are fanning the Epstein firestorm by calling his convicted associate Ghislaine Maxwell to testify to Congress. Plus: legendary rocker Ozzy Osbourne has died aged 76. 'Fighting for fair' | It was an emotionally charged first day of parliament yesterday as Ali France, slayer of Peter Dutton and new Labor MP for Dickson, delivered a very personal first speech detailing her 'epic journey' to Canberra. Exclusive | A mother has claimed that her two-year-old daughter was sexually assaulted by a worker at a Victorian childcare centre but there was no witness or CCTV of the alleged incidents, so the educator is still working there and has not been charged. 70 is the new 50 | Australian employers must change their views on workers aged over 50 and stop seeing them as 'old' if the country is going to become more productive for longer, our economics editor argues today. 'I wasn't involved' | Greens leader Larissa Waters says she has not read documentation outlining why the party's co-founder Drew Hutton was expelled because she has been busy preparing for parliament. Battery blow | After a fire on board a Virgin flight from Sydney to Hobart was caused by a lithium battery in a power bank, Catie McLeod finds out whether it's safe to carry the devices on to planes. 'Morally unjustifiable' | Israel has bombed warehousing and staff accommodation in Gaza belonging to the World Health Organization amid intensifying international horror at its continuing attacks on starving civilians. Israel's policy is 'unacceptable and morally unjustifiable', the Catholic Latin patriarch of Jerusalem said after visiting a church in the territory. We have a visual story on how food drops became death traps for Palestinians in Gaza. Maxwell subpoena | US Congress will subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned sex trafficker who was a close associate of Jeffrey Epstein, to testify amid a political firestorm over the Trump administration's decision not to release its remaining Epstein files. It came after justice department officials said they would meet Maxwell to see if she 'has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims'. Here's why the case continues to drive a wedge between some prominent Maga supporters and Trump. Follow developments live in Washington where the Trump administration also announced it will quit the United Nations' culture and education agency Unesco. Black day | Ozzy Osbourne, the frontman of heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath and one of rock's most notorious hellraisers, has died aged 76. Dubbed the 'prince of darkness', he had suffered ill-health for many years and appeared frail at a farewell concert two weeks ago. Energy breakthrough | The world is on the brink of a breakthrough in the climate fight and fossil fuels are running out of road, the UN chief said overnight, saying 90% of renewable power projects are now cheaper than fossil fuel alternatives. Child labour | Russian authorities have involved children in the design and testing of drones for the country's war in Ukraine through competitions that begin with video games and end up with the most talented students headhunted by defence companies, an investigation has found. What's behind the cancelling of Stephen Colbert? CBS has described the cancellation of the Stephen Colbert show as 'purely financial'. But, as the Guardian's Washington DC bureau chief David Smith tells Reged Ahmad, others are not so sure. Meanwhile Colbert has declared the 'gloves are off' in his war of words with Donald Trump. Sorry your browser does not support audio - but you can download here and listen $ An Indigenous mother who gave birth to a stillborn baby in the 39th week of her pregnancy says that her concerns were dismissed by staff at hospital in regional New South Wales. She had been to see doctors eight times in the same week with concerns. 'I just wanted to be heard and I wasn't,' she tells Sarah Collard. For this week's taste test Nicholas Jordan and friends try 22 olives ranging from Sicilian and green to kalamata and black. Of the winner, one reviewer wrote that 'I want to draw a still life painting of these' – while of the worst, Nicholas writes if he hadn't been conducting an olive test he might not have known they were olives. Sign up to Morning Mail Our Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Rugby union | A hybrid First Nations & Pasifika XV players pushed the Lions all the way in last night's historic match in Melbourne with the tourists only making sure of their 24-19 victory in the last quarter. The First Nations performance inspired their players to issue a challenge to play the Wallabies. Tennis | Carlos Alcaraz has become the latest in a series of leading men's players to withdraw from the Canadian Open as the world No 2 joined Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic and Jack Draper on the sidelines. Football | England and Italy are contesting the first semi-final of the Women's Euros in Geneva. Follow the action live. Some high-profile private lenders face crippling losses from the collapse of Jon Adgemis' Sydney pub empire, the Australian claims. There could be trouble at the millionaire factory, the Fin Review reports, as Macquarie Bank faces its first investor 'strike' over disquiet at high executive pay and bonuses. The Newcastle Herald has the big news though – the results of a competition to find the best pies in Australia. Education | David Pocock will hold a press conference in Canberra at 9.30am calling for stronger university reforms. Brisbane | The opening of a hearing for commission of inquiry into the child safety in Queensland will be held. Environment | An ICJ ruling on a Vanuatu climate case is due in at 11pm. If you would like to receive this Morning Mail update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here, or finish your day with our Afternoon Update newsletter. You can follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland. And finally, here are the Guardian's crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow. Quick crossword Cryptic crossword
The Guardian
22-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Australian politics live: Labor to press forward with student debt cuts bill; Waters faces questions over Greens explusion of Hutton
Key events 27m ago Welcome Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature 2m ago 22.53 CEST One dead and one hospitalised after Sydney jet ski crash Breaking out of politics for a moment: A teenage boy has died and another is in hospital in a critical condition after a jet ski crash in Sydney, AAP reports. Emergency crews were called to Tom Uglys Bridge in Sylvania, in Sydney's south, just after 6pm last night after reports of people floating in the water. A 15-year-old boy was found deceased in the water and was unable to be revived, police said. A 14-year-old boy was treated at the scene for a severed arm and taken to Sydney Children's hospital by paramedics. He was in a critical condition last night. A crime scene has been established and investigations into the crash have begun. Share 5m ago 22.49 CEST It was a rather more gentle introduction for Ali France, the new Labor MP who defeated Peter Dutton at the last election, who gave a very moving, personal maiden speech about the obstacles she has overcome on her way to becoming an MP. We have a story right here: Labor MP Ali France thanks late son for his belief in her in first speech to parliament after unseating Peter Dutton Read more And some video of that speech: 2:33 'Fighting for fair is in my blood': Ali France's poignant first speech as Labor MP – video Share 13m ago 22.42 CEST It's been a baptism of fire for the Australian Greens leader, Larissa Waters, who has begun her first parliamentary session in the top job with an internal crisis over the expulsion of co-founder Drew Hutton. When asked last night on ABC's 7.30 about the exact reasons for Hutton's defenestration from the party, Waters said that she had not read the relevant documentation and that it had been dealt with 'by the party'. Full story here: Australian Greens leader says she has not read reasons for party's expelling of co-founder Read more Share
The Australian
22-07-2025
- Politics
- The Australian
Dickson MP Ali France honours late 19yo son Henry
The disabled, single mum who ended Peter Dutton's 24-year run in politics has shared the emotional, private battle behind her uphill campaign to unseat the former opposition leader at her third attempt. Giving her inaugural speech in parliament, Ali France said that while the 2025 federal campaign was 'obviously my best,' she remained heartbroken over the death of her 19-year-old son Henry, who lost his battle to leukaemia in February 2024. 'The 2025 campaign was obviously my best, and that is quite a bizarre thing because behind the curtain I was grieving and desperately wanting to hold my son Henry,' she told parliament. The 52-year-old became a Labor legend after she defeated Mr Dutton in the outer Brisbane seat of Dickson, a seat he had held since 2001. While the electorate was one of the country's most marginal at 1.7 per cent, Ms France achieved a 7.7 per cent swing. Former politician Ali France credited her election win to her 19-year-old son Henry, who died from leukaemia in 2024. Source: X Ali France MP delivered her inaugural speech in the House of Representatives at Parliament House on Tuesday. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman Ms France, a former journalist and staffer to former Queensland premier Steven Miles, credited Henry, who she said was 'in another place, hopefully looking on with a big, wide smile,' as being 'instrumental' to her unexpected election win. She also shared a private moment in the days before his death, when Henry was able to return home from hospital 'for a couple of nights'. 'He asked to sleep in my bed, next to his mum, like he did for years when he was little,' she said, her voice occasionally breaking. 'I watched him breathe all night, in awe of him, his courage and his ability to smile every day despite unbelievable pain and the never-ending hospital stays and treatment. 'I am so grateful for those hours.' She said her son told her she would win the seat of Dickson. 'He told me many times, that this election was my time. He was convinced I would win and said a number of times, 'don't make me the excuse for you not doing important things,' she said. 'His words, his courage, were with me every day of the campaign. Henry was instrumental in getting me to this place.' Ali France, with the Prime Minister, was the first of the new MPs elected at the May 3 election to give their inaugural speech. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman Ali France hugs the Prime Minister after giving her first speech to parliament on Tuesday. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman Ms France also spoke about the 2011 car accident which resulted in the amputation of her leg. The incident occurred in the after a car crashed into her, and pinned her against another vehicle. At the time, Ms France was taking her youngest son Zac to a doctor's appointment, however she managed to push the child out of the car's path. She referred to the incident as the 'day I was supposed to die,' and thanked her trauma surgeon Martin Wullschleger, the bystanders and staff at the Royal Brisbane Hospital for saving her life. 'Martin's split-second decision to amputate my leg with a makeshift tourniquet saved me and ensured my kids had their mum,' she said. 'We kept in touch, Martin is in the gallery.' Ms France said that while she was told she was 'unlikely to ever work again,' she owed her recovery to a 'refugee (orthopaedic) surgeon from Iraq', Professor Munjed Al Muderis, who successfully completed a 'groundbreaking and risky' osseointegration surgery, which at the time had only been completed 25 times. Supporters of Ali France, including her son Zac and father Peter Lawlor (fourth and fifth from the left) were in the gallery for her inaugural speech. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman Fellow Labor MPs applaud Ali France after her speech. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman 'I've now been walking for 11 years – with a little help from my wheelchair,' she said. 'Munjed is in the gallery. And I am so grateful you stepped outside the boundaries of what was thought to be medically possible at the time. 'I literally would not be standing here today without you.' The Brisbane MP also paid a special tribute to Anthony Albanese and her former boss Mr Miles, and referred to them as her 'greatest political believers'. Notably the Prime Minister visited the seat of Dickson twice during the federal campaign, and began his election run in what was originally regarded as an unwinnable seat. 'When you're running for a third time, there will always be those who question if you're the right candidate,' she said. 'The Prime Minister and Steven have always been in my corner. 'Their support has meant I've continued to climb the mountain and succeed, when many others said I should step away.' The woman who beat Greens leader gives speech The woman who defeated another party leader at the election, Sarah Witty, has also given her first speech – highlighting the policy area that was key to the Greens. Sarah Witty, who upset Greens leader Adam Bandt to win back the seat of Melbourne for Labor after 15 years, has highlighted housing affordability as policy of concern. 'Most of Melbourne's high-density suburbs sit right here in the seat of Melbourne, and that places us at the very heart of the housing crisis,' said Ms Witty told parliament. Sarah Witty also made her first speech in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman 'The crisis didn't happen overnight. It is a result of underinvestment from previous governments and blocking of good housing policies that has slowed progress and kept supply dangerously low. 'You must confront this crisis now with honesty and urgency and courage.' 'Safe, secure housing is not a luxury, it's a human right. Today, it's harder than ever to get into the housing market.' Meanwhile, another new Labor MP, Gabriel Ng, who won the seat of Menzies from rising Liberal star Keith Wolahan, citied Pauline Hanson as an inspiration for him to enter public life. Senator Hanson used her first speech in 1996 to warn that Australia was in danger of 'being swamped by Asians'. 'For the first time, I felt there were some in the population, maybe a sizeable number, who considered me less Australian because of my race,' Mr Ng, who is of Chinese-Singaporean descent, said in his first speech. 'I raise Miss Hanson's … speech not to elicit sympathy, but to remind all of us in this house, if we needed any reminding, that what we do in this place matters. 'Not only in the legislation we pass, but in the words we speak. 'We have one of the most powerful platforms in the nation, and I urge all of us in this parliament to turn away from opportunistic division and embrace and tell the story of modern Australia as it is.' Read related topics: Peter Dutton Jessica Wang NewsWire Federal Politics Reporter Jessica Wang is a federal politics reporter for NewsWire based in the Canberra Press Gallery. She previously covered NSW state politics for the Wire and has also worked at and Mamamia covering breaking news, entertainment, and lifestyle. @imjesswang_ Jessica Wang
The Guardian
22-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Labor MP Ali France thanks late son in first speech to parliament after unseating Peter Dutton
Newly minted Labor MP Ali France, who unexpectedly unseated former opposition leader Peter Dutton in the May election, has detailed her 'epic journey' to Canberra in a poignant first speech. France who battled Dutton over seven years for the seat of Dickson, north of Brisbane, was the first of Labor's fresh faces to introduce themselves to the 48th parliament on Tuesday. The former journalist and Paralympian became the first person in Australian history to defeat a sitting opposition leader in a federal election on her third try in May, beating the long-serving Liberal leader 56% to 44% on a two-party preferred basis. On Tuesday evening, France told her lower house peers of the influence her father and grandparents had on instilling Labor values in her from an early age. 'Fighting for fair is in my blood,' France said. 'Whitlam's Medibank, ending conscription, and offering free university, changed everything for my grandparents and their boys and, in turn, for me.' France spoke of the loss of her son, Henry, in 2024 after an 18-month battle with leukaemia. 'Behind the curtain' of the 2025 campaign, the Dickson MP said, 'I was grieving and desperately wanting to hold my son'. 'He told me many times, that this election was my time,' she said. 'He was convinced I would win and said a number of times, 'Don't make me the excuse for you not doing important things'. 'His words, his courage, were with me every day of the campaign. Henry was instrumental in getting me to this place.' In 2011, France was with her youngest son, Zac, then four years old, when a driver lost control of his car and pinned her against another car. Zac was pushed out of the way, France said, but the accident resulted in her leg being amputated. 'The ground shifted, everything was hard to navigate, and I was pitied. But I survived and so did my baby Zac,' she said. 'Everyone in my life remembers the day I was supposed to die.' France warmly thanked the surgeons who saved her life and helped her to walk again, who both watched from the gallery: Prof Martin Wullschleger and orthopaedic surgeon Dr Munjed al Muderis, a refugee surgeon from Iraq. Next up was another of Labor's new MPs, Sarah Witty. In May, she claimed the seat of Melbourne in an election upset that left the federal Greens without their long-serving leader, Adam Bandt. Witty spoke about her and her husband's difficult and painful journey to become parents through the foster care system. 'I stepped into the world of foster care, not out of ease, but out of a deep need to turn my pain into something positive,' Witty said, after fighting back tears. Her experiences would influence her time in parliament, she said, vowing to always ask what any child needs to 'grow up to be the best person they can be'. Housing availability and affordability was also front of mind for the new MP, with Witty saying: 'housing is not a luxury. It's a human right'. 'I bring with me the voices of renters demanding justice, of people demanding climate action, of communities demanding to be heard, not managed,' Witty said. 'We are building something bigger than one person. We are building a future where no one is forgotten and everyone belongs. That is the future I will fight for.' France and Witty were followed by Braddon MP Anne Urquhart, Griffith MP Renee Coffee, and Menzies MP Gabriel Ng, who spoke of the galvanising impact Pauline's Hanson's first, notorious speech to parliament – in 1996 – had on his own political journey. 'We have one of the most powerful platforms in the nation, and I urge all of us in this parliament to turn away from opportunistic division and embrace and tell the story of modern Australia as it is,' Ng said. Other first-term MPs will deliver addresses in coming days.
