Latest news with #ex-NSW
Sydney Morning Herald
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
How Mark Latham could be kicked out of NSW Parliament
It may not be lurid allegations of emotional and physical abuse levelled against him by his long-term girlfriend that ends Mark Latham's political career. The maverick MP has another looming disaster that could see him removed from NSW Parliament. Latham denies the accusations made by Nathalie Matthews. Separately, he has a significant legal bill hanging over his head that, if he cannot pay, it will probably force him into bankruptcy and out of parliament. It is a live risk for Latham that could materialise this year. Under the NSW Constitution Act 1902, any member of either house of parliament who 'becomes bankrupt or takes the benefit of any law for the relief of bankrupt or insolvent debtors' must have their seat declared vacant. If Latham does not have the means to pay $140,000 plus legal costs, which already exceed half a million dollars in total, the one-time federal Labor leader will be disqualified from office. His possible bankruptcy stems from the ex-NSW One Nation leader defaming Sydney MP Alex Greenwich in a highly graphic and offensive tweet (which the Herald chooses not to repeat). In a decision last year, the Federal Court awarded Greenwich $140,000 in damages over the post on Twitter, now X, in March 2023. Greenwich's barrister, Dr Matt Collins, KC, told the court that the tweet, which described sexual activity in graphic and offensive terms, was a 'vile, homophobic attack' on the openly gay Greenwich. Loading Federal Court Justice David O'Callaghan this year ordered Latham to pay Greenwich's legal costs of the defamation case on the ordinary basis, which results in the successful party recouping about 70 per cent of their bills. The independent Sydney MP's costs have been estimated at more than $600,000. And it does not end there for Latham.
The Age
16-07-2025
- Politics
- The Age
How Mark Latham could be kicked out of NSW Parliament
It may not be lurid allegations of emotional and physical abuse levelled against him by his long-term girlfriend that ends Mark Latham's political career. The maverick MP has another looming disaster that could see him removed from NSW Parliament. Latham denies the accusations made by Nathalie Matthews. Separately, he has a significant legal bill hanging over his head that, if he cannot pay, it will probably force him into bankruptcy and out of parliament. It is a live risk for Latham that could materialise this year. Under the NSW Constitution Act 1902, any member of either house of parliament who 'becomes bankrupt or takes the benefit of any law for the relief of bankrupt or insolvent debtors' must have their seat declared vacant. If Latham does not have the means to pay $140,000 plus legal costs, which already exceed half a million dollars in total, the one-time federal Labor leader will be disqualified from office. His possible bankruptcy stems from the ex-NSW One Nation leader defaming Sydney MP Alex Greenwich in a highly graphic and offensive tweet (which the Herald chooses not to repeat). In a decision last year, the Federal Court awarded Greenwich $140,000 in damages over the post on Twitter, now X, in March 2023. Greenwich's barrister, Dr Matt Collins, KC, told the court that the tweet, which described sexual activity in graphic and offensive terms, was a 'vile, homophobic attack' on the openly gay Greenwich. Loading Federal Court Justice David O'Callaghan this year ordered Latham to pay Greenwich's legal costs of the defamation case on the ordinary basis, which results in the successful party recouping about 70 per cent of their bills. The independent Sydney MP's costs have been estimated at more than $600,000. And it does not end there for Latham.
The Advertiser
24-06-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Premier's ex-partner spun 'deviated' yarn on $48m deal
Former state MP Daryl Maguire created an inaccurate story about an expected cut from a multi-million property deal days before facing a corruption inquiry, a court has revealed. The former member for Wagga Wagga, whose clandestine relationship with ex-NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian led to her political downfall, gave his altered evidence during a NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption hearing in July 2018. After Maguire was found guilty on Friday of misleading ICAC, details about Magistrate Clare Farnan's verdict were released on Tuesday. The Local Court judgment reveals that the ex-MP knew he would be asked about expected financial benefits but knowingly misled the corruption probe. At ICAC, Maguire was questioned about what he expected to get out of the sale of an estimated $48 million property development in Campsie in Sydney's southwest. ICAC grilled Maguire and others in 2018 under Operation Dasha, which probed allegations of corruption at the local Canterbury council. At a criminal hearing earlier in 2025, crown prosecutors estimated that the former MP would have gained $720,000 from the deal had it gone through. At ICAC, he initially denied expecting a cut but then changed his evidence after covertly recorded telephone conversations showed he wanted a financial benefit at the time. Three days before being grilled at the corruption probe, he spoke to former Wagga Wagga City Council general manager Alan Eldridge about what he would say. "I never asked for a dollar, they never offered a dollar nor would I take a dollar," he said. Ms Farnan noted evidence he had never asked for money then "deviated" when faced with phone calls where he had. This change in evidence was not done out of inadvertence, carelessness or a misunderstanding, the magistrate said. Three days earlier, his mind had been focused on what he would say about the proposed property deal, she found. "He clearly had a recollection of it. He had thought about it. He had developed a story about it that was not accurate," Ms Farnan said. "I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Maguire gave the evidence I have found to be misleading knowing that it was misleading and not believing it to be true." The Wagga Wagga MP resigned from the Berejiklian government after giving evidence, before succumbing to pressure and quitting parliament altogether. ICAC opened a further probe into Maguire, exposing his secret romantic relationship with Ms Berejiklian in 2020. She also stood down from her role and was later found by ICAC to have breached public trust in failing to disclose the relationship, spanning at least five years while she was transport minister, treasurer and then premier. Former state MP Daryl Maguire created an inaccurate story about an expected cut from a multi-million property deal days before facing a corruption inquiry, a court has revealed. The former member for Wagga Wagga, whose clandestine relationship with ex-NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian led to her political downfall, gave his altered evidence during a NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption hearing in July 2018. After Maguire was found guilty on Friday of misleading ICAC, details about Magistrate Clare Farnan's verdict were released on Tuesday. The Local Court judgment reveals that the ex-MP knew he would be asked about expected financial benefits but knowingly misled the corruption probe. At ICAC, Maguire was questioned about what he expected to get out of the sale of an estimated $48 million property development in Campsie in Sydney's southwest. ICAC grilled Maguire and others in 2018 under Operation Dasha, which probed allegations of corruption at the local Canterbury council. At a criminal hearing earlier in 2025, crown prosecutors estimated that the former MP would have gained $720,000 from the deal had it gone through. At ICAC, he initially denied expecting a cut but then changed his evidence after covertly recorded telephone conversations showed he wanted a financial benefit at the time. Three days before being grilled at the corruption probe, he spoke to former Wagga Wagga City Council general manager Alan Eldridge about what he would say. "I never asked for a dollar, they never offered a dollar nor would I take a dollar," he said. Ms Farnan noted evidence he had never asked for money then "deviated" when faced with phone calls where he had. This change in evidence was not done out of inadvertence, carelessness or a misunderstanding, the magistrate said. Three days earlier, his mind had been focused on what he would say about the proposed property deal, she found. "He clearly had a recollection of it. He had thought about it. He had developed a story about it that was not accurate," Ms Farnan said. "I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Maguire gave the evidence I have found to be misleading knowing that it was misleading and not believing it to be true." The Wagga Wagga MP resigned from the Berejiklian government after giving evidence, before succumbing to pressure and quitting parliament altogether. ICAC opened a further probe into Maguire, exposing his secret romantic relationship with Ms Berejiklian in 2020. She also stood down from her role and was later found by ICAC to have breached public trust in failing to disclose the relationship, spanning at least five years while she was transport minister, treasurer and then premier. Former state MP Daryl Maguire created an inaccurate story about an expected cut from a multi-million property deal days before facing a corruption inquiry, a court has revealed. The former member for Wagga Wagga, whose clandestine relationship with ex-NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian led to her political downfall, gave his altered evidence during a NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption hearing in July 2018. After Maguire was found guilty on Friday of misleading ICAC, details about Magistrate Clare Farnan's verdict were released on Tuesday. The Local Court judgment reveals that the ex-MP knew he would be asked about expected financial benefits but knowingly misled the corruption probe. At ICAC, Maguire was questioned about what he expected to get out of the sale of an estimated $48 million property development in Campsie in Sydney's southwest. ICAC grilled Maguire and others in 2018 under Operation Dasha, which probed allegations of corruption at the local Canterbury council. At a criminal hearing earlier in 2025, crown prosecutors estimated that the former MP would have gained $720,000 from the deal had it gone through. At ICAC, he initially denied expecting a cut but then changed his evidence after covertly recorded telephone conversations showed he wanted a financial benefit at the time. Three days before being grilled at the corruption probe, he spoke to former Wagga Wagga City Council general manager Alan Eldridge about what he would say. "I never asked for a dollar, they never offered a dollar nor would I take a dollar," he said. Ms Farnan noted evidence he had never asked for money then "deviated" when faced with phone calls where he had. This change in evidence was not done out of inadvertence, carelessness or a misunderstanding, the magistrate said. Three days earlier, his mind had been focused on what he would say about the proposed property deal, she found. "He clearly had a recollection of it. He had thought about it. He had developed a story about it that was not accurate," Ms Farnan said. "I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Maguire gave the evidence I have found to be misleading knowing that it was misleading and not believing it to be true." The Wagga Wagga MP resigned from the Berejiklian government after giving evidence, before succumbing to pressure and quitting parliament altogether. ICAC opened a further probe into Maguire, exposing his secret romantic relationship with Ms Berejiklian in 2020. She also stood down from her role and was later found by ICAC to have breached public trust in failing to disclose the relationship, spanning at least five years while she was transport minister, treasurer and then premier. Former state MP Daryl Maguire created an inaccurate story about an expected cut from a multi-million property deal days before facing a corruption inquiry, a court has revealed. The former member for Wagga Wagga, whose clandestine relationship with ex-NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian led to her political downfall, gave his altered evidence during a NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption hearing in July 2018. After Maguire was found guilty on Friday of misleading ICAC, details about Magistrate Clare Farnan's verdict were released on Tuesday. The Local Court judgment reveals that the ex-MP knew he would be asked about expected financial benefits but knowingly misled the corruption probe. At ICAC, Maguire was questioned about what he expected to get out of the sale of an estimated $48 million property development in Campsie in Sydney's southwest. ICAC grilled Maguire and others in 2018 under Operation Dasha, which probed allegations of corruption at the local Canterbury council. At a criminal hearing earlier in 2025, crown prosecutors estimated that the former MP would have gained $720,000 from the deal had it gone through. At ICAC, he initially denied expecting a cut but then changed his evidence after covertly recorded telephone conversations showed he wanted a financial benefit at the time. Three days before being grilled at the corruption probe, he spoke to former Wagga Wagga City Council general manager Alan Eldridge about what he would say. "I never asked for a dollar, they never offered a dollar nor would I take a dollar," he said. Ms Farnan noted evidence he had never asked for money then "deviated" when faced with phone calls where he had. This change in evidence was not done out of inadvertence, carelessness or a misunderstanding, the magistrate said. Three days earlier, his mind had been focused on what he would say about the proposed property deal, she found. "He clearly had a recollection of it. He had thought about it. He had developed a story about it that was not accurate," Ms Farnan said. "I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Maguire gave the evidence I have found to be misleading knowing that it was misleading and not believing it to be true." The Wagga Wagga MP resigned from the Berejiklian government after giving evidence, before succumbing to pressure and quitting parliament altogether. ICAC opened a further probe into Maguire, exposing his secret romantic relationship with Ms Berejiklian in 2020. She also stood down from her role and was later found by ICAC to have breached public trust in failing to disclose the relationship, spanning at least five years while she was transport minister, treasurer and then premier.
Perth Now
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Premier's ex-partner spun 'deviated' yarn on $48m deal
Former state MP Daryl Maguire created an inaccurate story about an expected cut from a multi-million property deal days before facing a corruption inquiry, a court has revealed. The former member for Wagga Wagga, whose clandestine relationship with ex-NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian led to her political downfall, gave his altered evidence during a NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption hearing in July 2018. After Maguire was found guilty on Friday of misleading ICAC, details about Magistrate Clare Farnan's verdict were released on Tuesday. The Local Court judgment reveals that the ex-MP knew he would be asked about expected financial benefits but knowingly misled the corruption probe. At ICAC, Maguire was questioned about what he expected to get out of the sale of an estimated $48 million property development in Campsie in Sydney's southwest. ICAC grilled Maguire and others in 2018 under Operation Dasha, which probed allegations of corruption at the local Canterbury council. At a criminal hearing earlier in 2025, crown prosecutors estimated that the former MP would have gained $720,000 from the deal had it gone through. At ICAC, he initially denied expecting a cut but then changed his evidence after covertly recorded telephone conversations showed he wanted a financial benefit at the time. Three days before being grilled at the corruption probe, he spoke to former Wagga Wagga City Council general manager Alan Eldridge about what he would say. "I never asked for a dollar, they never offered a dollar nor would I take a dollar," he said. Ms Farnan noted evidence he had never asked for money then "deviated" when faced with phone calls where he had. This change in evidence was not done out of inadvertence, carelessness or a misunderstanding, the magistrate said. Three days earlier, his mind had been focused on what he would say about the proposed property deal, she found. "He clearly had a recollection of it. He had thought about it. He had developed a story about it that was not accurate," Ms Farnan said. "I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Maguire gave the evidence I have found to be misleading knowing that it was misleading and not believing it to be true." The Wagga Wagga MP resigned from the Berejiklian government after giving evidence, before succumbing to pressure and quitting parliament altogether. ICAC opened a further probe into Maguire, exposing his secret romantic relationship with Ms Berejiklian in 2020. She also stood down from her role and was later found by ICAC to have breached public trust in failing to disclose the relationship, spanning at least five years while she was transport minister, treasurer and then premier.
The Age
22-06-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Liberal leader Sussan Ley's top aide joined all-male Australian Club
New Opposition Leader Sussan Ley made history when she became the Liberal Party's first female leader. And Ley's chief of staff, Dean Shachar, is making history of his own as one of the youngest people to hold the top position in the party leader's office. Ley's decision to retain Shachar in one of the party's most powerful staffing roles raised a few eyebrows, with doubters wondering whether the 30-year-old former University of Sydney student politician was experienced enough for the job. For the record, CBD has no problems with youth. There's no question that Shachar is a man in a hurry. Last year, he sought membership of the all-male Australian Club in Sydney and was accepted. Ley wasn't yet leader, but she was the most senior Liberal woman at the time, and the optics of Shachar seeking a membership of the old boys' club haven't been lost among party critics. Both Shachar and Ley's office declined to comment. The club might be the only institution in Australia with a worse record on gender than the Liberal Party. The club's members overwhelmingly voted to keep women out in 2021. But it still remains a pretty good ticket for any ambitious Liberal hack hoping to network with the big end of town and party elders. Former prime ministers John Howard and Malcolm Turnbull are members. And in recent years, there's been a flurry of men from the blue team joining up. That includes newly unemployed Peter Dutton, former minister and ambassador to the United States Arthur Sinodinos, ex-NSW frontbenchers David Elliott and Stuart Ayres, and current MPs James Griffin and Anthony Roberts. Not on that list is former prime minister Scott Morrison, brutally snubbed by the Australian Club when he sought membership last year. Rather hilariously, Morrison used to be Shachar's boss – he worked in the then prime minister's media team before the 2022 election.
