‘Striking': Labor dominates the Australian parliament during its first sitting day
Mr Conroy told Sky News Australia that parliament today showed a 'visual reminder' of the success Anthony Albanese had at the last federal election.
'It is striking.'
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Sky News AU
16 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
Liberal backbencher pushes for HECS changes
Liberal backbencher Sarah Henderson intends to publicly canvass support for changes to Labor's university student debt cuts. The Senator revealed she had pushed for a 'HELP loan inflation guarantee' at the last election, in an effort to one-up the government's 20 per cent student debt reduction. She will now advocate for an indexation amendment to the bill, despite Liberal Leader Sussan Ley indicating she would be willing to wave through Labor's plan as part of efforts to appeal to young voters. The HECS indexation rate in the past four years has been above 3 per cent.
The Advertiser
16 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
'The best is still yet to come': unlikely political duo announce pregnancy
Victorian Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell will welcome a baby girl with federal Labor politician Josh Burns, as the pair announced their "exciting" plans for 2026. The couple, who were first seen publicly together at the 2024 Midwinter Ball in Canberra, shared plans to expand their family while continuing to hold office. "Next year, my team and I will keep working hard for the community we love, but I also plan on being a present and involved dad every step of the way," Mr Burns said on social media. Ms Purcell, 33, represents the Northern Victoria Region seat in the state parliament, a region that reaches from Mildura in the state's north west to Bendigo in Central Victoria and Wodonga in the north east. She said she plans to seek reelection for her upper house seat in the state election, which is expected to be held in November next year. "Some people might be wondering if I'll still be contesting the state election in 2026. Absolutely, yes," Ms Purcell said. "I'll be working right up until the end of the parliamentary year, and I'll return to sitting weeks as usual in February, with every intention to campaign and contest the 2026 election," she said. "I am more committed to animals, people and the planet than ever before. This is just one more path I am choosing. "And I am ready to call out any suggestion otherwise. Not just for me, but for everybody else who may face conscious or unconscious bias when choosing to have a career and a family." The baby will be Mr Burns' second child, as he has a daughter, Tia, from a previous relationship. "Our little baby already has the most excited and loving big sister in Tia. And she'll have a home full of animals, love, and fun," Mr Burns said. Ms Purcell, an advocate for bodily autonomy, said that she was "grateful" to have been able to choose when she was ready to welcome a child. "As I prepare for motherhood (beyond cats, dogs, horses and sheep), I carry with me the stories of my abortions," she said. "They are not only part of my advocacy as a politician, but also part of who I am. "I am more grateful than ever before to have had access to choice so that I could do this on my own terms and timeline, and will always fight for everybody to have the same." The Animal Justice Party MP said that she was navigating a complex pregnancy that placed her in a "high-risk" category. "This is obviously a vegan pregnancy (and baby!) and I've been feeling good, which has let me keep pace with sitting weeks, late nights, international travel, community events and the general silliness of this job," Ms Purcell said. "But this new life stage hasn't been without challenges, some of you will have seen me talk in the past about my autoimmune disease," she said. "It means I am navigating pregnancy and a chronic illness, and because of a range of antibodies I am positive for, I am officially in the high-risk category. "It's weekly hospital visits for the time being. and I am so grateful to the incredibly kind, reassuring and supportive medical care I've been receiving." The couple shared their appreciation for their support networks and staff, and asked for privacy as the pregnancy continues. "I know that two members from two different parliaments having a baby is a bit unique, and there is bound to be interest in it," Ms Purcell said. "While we are indeed in public life, pregnancy is an incredibly personal experience, so l ask that we're granted respect and privacy just like anybody else," she said. "But l do look forward to sharing the parts with you that we are willing to share." Victorian Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell will welcome a baby girl with federal Labor politician Josh Burns, as the pair announced their "exciting" plans for 2026. The couple, who were first seen publicly together at the 2024 Midwinter Ball in Canberra, shared plans to expand their family while continuing to hold office. "Next year, my team and I will keep working hard for the community we love, but I also plan on being a present and involved dad every step of the way," Mr Burns said on social media. Ms Purcell, 33, represents the Northern Victoria Region seat in the state parliament, a region that reaches from Mildura in the state's north west to Bendigo in Central Victoria and Wodonga in the north east. She said she plans to seek reelection for her upper house seat in the state election, which is expected to be held in November next year. "Some people might be wondering if I'll still be contesting the state election in 2026. Absolutely, yes," Ms Purcell said. "I'll be working right up until the end of the parliamentary year, and I'll return to sitting weeks as usual in February, with every intention to campaign and contest the 2026 election," she said. "I am more committed to animals, people and the planet than ever before. This is just one more path I am choosing. "And I am ready to call out any suggestion otherwise. Not just for me, but for everybody else who may face conscious or unconscious bias when choosing to have a career and a family." The baby will be Mr Burns' second child, as he has a daughter, Tia, from a previous relationship. "Our little baby already has the most excited and loving big sister in Tia. And she'll have a home full of animals, love, and fun," Mr Burns said. Ms Purcell, an advocate for bodily autonomy, said that she was "grateful" to have been able to choose when she was ready to welcome a child. "As I prepare for motherhood (beyond cats, dogs, horses and sheep), I carry with me the stories of my abortions," she said. "They are not only part of my advocacy as a politician, but also part of who I am. "I am more grateful than ever before to have had access to choice so that I could do this on my own terms and timeline, and will always fight for everybody to have the same." The Animal Justice Party MP said that she was navigating a complex pregnancy that placed her in a "high-risk" category. "This is obviously a vegan pregnancy (and baby!) and I've been feeling good, which has let me keep pace with sitting weeks, late nights, international travel, community events and the general silliness of this job," Ms Purcell said. "But this new life stage hasn't been without challenges, some of you will have seen me talk in the past about my autoimmune disease," she said. "It means I am navigating pregnancy and a chronic illness, and because of a range of antibodies I am positive for, I am officially in the high-risk category. "It's weekly hospital visits for the time being. and I am so grateful to the incredibly kind, reassuring and supportive medical care I've been receiving." The couple shared their appreciation for their support networks and staff, and asked for privacy as the pregnancy continues. "I know that two members from two different parliaments having a baby is a bit unique, and there is bound to be interest in it," Ms Purcell said. "While we are indeed in public life, pregnancy is an incredibly personal experience, so l ask that we're granted respect and privacy just like anybody else," she said. "But l do look forward to sharing the parts with you that we are willing to share." Victorian Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell will welcome a baby girl with federal Labor politician Josh Burns, as the pair announced their "exciting" plans for 2026. The couple, who were first seen publicly together at the 2024 Midwinter Ball in Canberra, shared plans to expand their family while continuing to hold office. "Next year, my team and I will keep working hard for the community we love, but I also plan on being a present and involved dad every step of the way," Mr Burns said on social media. Ms Purcell, 33, represents the Northern Victoria Region seat in the state parliament, a region that reaches from Mildura in the state's north west to Bendigo in Central Victoria and Wodonga in the north east. She said she plans to seek reelection for her upper house seat in the state election, which is expected to be held in November next year. "Some people might be wondering if I'll still be contesting the state election in 2026. Absolutely, yes," Ms Purcell said. "I'll be working right up until the end of the parliamentary year, and I'll return to sitting weeks as usual in February, with every intention to campaign and contest the 2026 election," she said. "I am more committed to animals, people and the planet than ever before. This is just one more path I am choosing. "And I am ready to call out any suggestion otherwise. Not just for me, but for everybody else who may face conscious or unconscious bias when choosing to have a career and a family." The baby will be Mr Burns' second child, as he has a daughter, Tia, from a previous relationship. "Our little baby already has the most excited and loving big sister in Tia. And she'll have a home full of animals, love, and fun," Mr Burns said. Ms Purcell, an advocate for bodily autonomy, said that she was "grateful" to have been able to choose when she was ready to welcome a child. "As I prepare for motherhood (beyond cats, dogs, horses and sheep), I carry with me the stories of my abortions," she said. "They are not only part of my advocacy as a politician, but also part of who I am. "I am more grateful than ever before to have had access to choice so that I could do this on my own terms and timeline, and will always fight for everybody to have the same." The Animal Justice Party MP said that she was navigating a complex pregnancy that placed her in a "high-risk" category. "This is obviously a vegan pregnancy (and baby!) and I've been feeling good, which has let me keep pace with sitting weeks, late nights, international travel, community events and the general silliness of this job," Ms Purcell said. "But this new life stage hasn't been without challenges, some of you will have seen me talk in the past about my autoimmune disease," she said. "It means I am navigating pregnancy and a chronic illness, and because of a range of antibodies I am positive for, I am officially in the high-risk category. "It's weekly hospital visits for the time being. and I am so grateful to the incredibly kind, reassuring and supportive medical care I've been receiving." The couple shared their appreciation for their support networks and staff, and asked for privacy as the pregnancy continues. "I know that two members from two different parliaments having a baby is a bit unique, and there is bound to be interest in it," Ms Purcell said. "While we are indeed in public life, pregnancy is an incredibly personal experience, so l ask that we're granted respect and privacy just like anybody else," she said. "But l do look forward to sharing the parts with you that we are willing to share." Victorian Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell will welcome a baby girl with federal Labor politician Josh Burns, as the pair announced their "exciting" plans for 2026. The couple, who were first seen publicly together at the 2024 Midwinter Ball in Canberra, shared plans to expand their family while continuing to hold office. "Next year, my team and I will keep working hard for the community we love, but I also plan on being a present and involved dad every step of the way," Mr Burns said on social media. Ms Purcell, 33, represents the Northern Victoria Region seat in the state parliament, a region that reaches from Mildura in the state's north west to Bendigo in Central Victoria and Wodonga in the north east. She said she plans to seek reelection for her upper house seat in the state election, which is expected to be held in November next year. "Some people might be wondering if I'll still be contesting the state election in 2026. Absolutely, yes," Ms Purcell said. "I'll be working right up until the end of the parliamentary year, and I'll return to sitting weeks as usual in February, with every intention to campaign and contest the 2026 election," she said. "I am more committed to animals, people and the planet than ever before. This is just one more path I am choosing. "And I am ready to call out any suggestion otherwise. Not just for me, but for everybody else who may face conscious or unconscious bias when choosing to have a career and a family." The baby will be Mr Burns' second child, as he has a daughter, Tia, from a previous relationship. "Our little baby already has the most excited and loving big sister in Tia. And she'll have a home full of animals, love, and fun," Mr Burns said. Ms Purcell, an advocate for bodily autonomy, said that she was "grateful" to have been able to choose when she was ready to welcome a child. "As I prepare for motherhood (beyond cats, dogs, horses and sheep), I carry with me the stories of my abortions," she said. "They are not only part of my advocacy as a politician, but also part of who I am. "I am more grateful than ever before to have had access to choice so that I could do this on my own terms and timeline, and will always fight for everybody to have the same." The Animal Justice Party MP said that she was navigating a complex pregnancy that placed her in a "high-risk" category. "This is obviously a vegan pregnancy (and baby!) and I've been feeling good, which has let me keep pace with sitting weeks, late nights, international travel, community events and the general silliness of this job," Ms Purcell said. "But this new life stage hasn't been without challenges, some of you will have seen me talk in the past about my autoimmune disease," she said. "It means I am navigating pregnancy and a chronic illness, and because of a range of antibodies I am positive for, I am officially in the high-risk category. "It's weekly hospital visits for the time being. and I am so grateful to the incredibly kind, reassuring and supportive medical care I've been receiving." The couple shared their appreciation for their support networks and staff, and asked for privacy as the pregnancy continues. "I know that two members from two different parliaments having a baby is a bit unique, and there is bound to be interest in it," Ms Purcell said. "While we are indeed in public life, pregnancy is an incredibly personal experience, so l ask that we're granted respect and privacy just like anybody else," she said. "But l do look forward to sharing the parts with you that we are willing to share."
ABC News
16 minutes ago
- ABC News
Tasmanian Liberals accused of breaching caretaking conventions over Marinus Link and TT-line borrowing limit
As votes continue to be counted and both major parties continue discussions with crossbenchers to form government following Tasmania's snap election, the government is being accused of breaching caretaker conventions. Tasmania's Labor opposition has claimed the government's handling of two policy decisions — an increase in the borrowing limit for ferry operator TT-Line and the yet-to-be-made decision on whether to proceed with the Marinus Link undersea power cable — have contravened caretaker conventions. The government said it would follow all relevant caretaker conventions and that it had briefed Labor on the TT-Line decision, and would consult with Labor on the Marinus decision "in due course". When the House of Assembly is dissolved for a general election, the government is placed in what is called a caretaker period. Caretaker conventions outline how the government should operate during the period. According to the guidelines, the conventions are "neither legally binding nor hard and fast rules" and they should be applied to individual cases with "sound judgement and common sense". Professor emerita Anne Twomey, a constitutional law expert at the University of Sydney, said the conventions were developed "as a matter of fairness". "The idea is that during that [caretaker] period, after parliament has been dissolved, where governments are no longer actively responsible to parliament because there's no parliament in existence, then they should be a lot more careful about what they do. "You don't want to bind a new government, which may have completely different policies, by entering into a whole lot of commitments immediately beforehand to make life difficult for them," Professor Twomey said. Professor Twomey said it "comes down to the people". "It's really a political matter as to how effective they are. So, it comes down to the people, particularly when they vote, in terms of deciding whether the government has behaved appropriately," she said. Under the guidelines, governments are encouraged to avoid making major policy decisions that are likely to commit an incoming government. However, this is not always possible, Professor Twomey said. "There is an additional principle that says, if you have to make a major decision in that period, then you should consult the other side as well and try to reach an agreed position," she said. The government does not require endorsement from the opposition during consultation. "Ultimately, it's the government that makes decisions. "But it's better to try and get some kind of agreement between both sides in order to progress matters that are significant and would have an impact on an incoming government," Professor Twomey said. Labor is calling on the government to release the business case for the Marinus Link undersea power cable project, saying that withholding it is a breach of caretaker conventions. Marinus would be a second electricity interconnector between Tasmania and Victoria. A decision by the Tasmanian, Victorian and federal governments on whether to proceed with the project is due by the end of July. A whole-of-state business case was provided to the government by Treasury in May. The government promised to release the case 30 days before its final investment decision, however said the release has been delayed due to the early election. Labor MLC Sarah Lovell said the premier needed to release the business case "as soon as possible". "These are major financial decisions that will be made by the government. "These are long-term decisions and under caretaker conventions one of the prerequisites is that decisions that are being made that will impact on future governments need [to have] all that information released to both the opposition and the government, and we're not seeing that from the premier," Ms Lovell said. On Saturday, Liberal MP Felix Ellis said Labor had not been briefed yet "because no final decision has been made" on Marinus Link. "We'll continue to work through the process. This is an important investment for our state, and we'll be updating the public as well as the opposition in due course," Mr Ellis said. State Energy Minister Nick Duigan also said on Saturday that "all relevant information will be publicly released" only once a decision on the project is finalised. Professor Twomey said the government did not have to be "undecided" before it consulted. "It's fair enough for a government to take a view as to what it wants to do before engaging in consultation," she said. "But if you're saying a decision means that's our final decision and we're not going to pay one iota of attention to anything you say, that would be rather pre-empting the consultation and making it pointless." At the weekend, the government agreed to support a temporary $410 million increase to Bass Strait ferry operator TT-Line's borrowing capacity. Treasurer Guy Barnett said the government received advice from Treasury on July 25 "recommending TT-Line's guaranteed borrowing limit be increased". "[Opposition treasury spokesperson] Josh Willie was briefed on July 26, and the decision was announced the same day," Mr Barnett said. Mr Willie said he received a call just over an hour before the decision was announced. "Jeremy Rockliff's idea of 'consultation' is a last-minute phone call. That's not consultation — that's a courtesy call after the decision had already been made. "When a major policy decision is being made during the caretaker period — especially one that would bind a future government — Labor must be consulted before the decision is made," Mr Willie said. Professor Twomey said caretaker conventions did not outline specific requirements for adequate consultation, rather that was "a matter for the relevant parties to decide". "Telling someone something an hour before you publicise it does seem to be perfunctory in terms of genuine consultation," she said. "As a general principle, that would be something that you would think would not be adequate consultation. "But, again, these are not binding rules. They're just conventions and it's a matter for the political parties to decide how they want to interpret them."
