Chief elections analyst Casey Briggs explains the state of play in Tasmania
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ABC News
an hour 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."
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Federal Coalition dumps Dutton-era stance on migration
The Coalition has vowed to adopt a radically different approach to migration, spearheaded by a Queensland senator who wants to focus on the 'positive role' it plays to the country. New shadow immigration minister Paul Scarr will draw on his long history of engaging with multicultural and diaspora communities as he looks to hold Labor to account, and build policies based on empathy, empowerment and admiration in the lead up to the next federal election. While the Coalition conducts a wide-ranging review on all policies, the Queenslander said 'we can do a better job in terms of discussing these issues', and wants a greater focus on the shared values of migrant communities with that of the Coalition. 'We are a party that believes passionately in the fundamental freedoms of the individual, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of association. So many of our migrants come from places where they didn't have those freedoms,' he said. As shadow multicultural affairs minister, he added he was 'passionate about empowering our multicultural communities'. 'The more I've worked with our different communities across Queensland, the deeper my respect and admiration for the people who've come from very difficult circumstances and found their way here and are making an outstanding contribution,' he said. Immigration was a hot button Coalition policy under former leader Peter Dutton, who linked the post-pandemic migration spike with the housing crisis, and in the lead-up to the election pledged dramatic cuts to permanent and net overseas migration. An ANU pre-election report found migration numbers were 'being weaponised during (the) campaign to elicit panic and sway voters', when the reality told a different story. Senator Scarr says when it comes to the nexus between migration and housing, blame must be attributed to the government, not the people. 'It's important to make it clear that we're talking about the failure of the government to plan appropriately, to have the right policy settings, and the failure of the government to manage the settings appropriately,' he said. 'It is not the fault of anyone who comes to the country seeking a better life for them and their family.' After losing ground with communities in the 2022 election, some within the Coalition believe Mr Dutton's at-times inflammatory language further alienated multicultural voters who punished them at the polls in May. But Senator Scarr, whose commitment to multiculturalism traces back to his pre-politics career as a lawyer in Papua New Guinea and later with a mining company with a presence in Laos, is adamant the Coalition can 'absolutely' get those voters back. 'We can have success if we put the work in and spend the time with those communities,' he said, adding he had met with multiple community leaders since the election. Liberal strategist Tony Barry said the party too often saw the country 'as we want it to be and not as it is'. 'We need to demonstrate to these communities that our values are also their values – choice, personal responsibility and reward for effort,' he said.
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
‘Just do it': Abbie Chatfield sparks outrage with shocking call to American ‘incels'
Abbie Chatfield is under fire for a video heavily insinuating 'incels' should harm US President Donald Trump. The Sydney-based social media personality, 30, a prominent left-wing podcaster and influencer, shared the clip to TikTok where she referenced 'incels' and asked 'when are you going to do it?', without directly naming the President. Incel, short for 'involuntarily celibate', refers to an online subculture of young men who blame women for denying them sexual attention. A number of so-called incels have been involved in violent attacks, most notoriously Alek Minassian, 32, who killed 10 people and injured 16 when he drove a van into a crowd of pedestrians in Toronto, Canada, in 2018. Chatfield, who regularly posts videos railing against Mr Trump, did not directly name the President in her video, but hinted he should be harmed while making a gun symbol with her fingers. 'Americans, when are you going to do it?' she said. 'Why is it not already done? Every day, there's another [gun symbol] happening, right? Awful for your country, right? Awful, right? Why don't we redirect this energy to something else, you know? 'There's all these incels, 'no one wants to f**k me', so they go and do [gun symbol]. You know what would actually make people respect you a little bit, and maybe want to f**k you? Is if you did it. 'You'd get heaps of fan mail. Oh my God. Oh my God. Just do it. Like, you're all doing it every day anyway. Like, I don't f**king get it.' Chatfield's management has been contacted for comment. Chatfield, a former Bachelor star who now hosts the popular podcast It's A Lot, has more than 1.2 million followers on Instagram and TikTok. Social media users condemned the video, which comes as the US experiences a disturbing rise in politically motivated violence. 'This isn't free speech,' wrote X user Chris Mate. 'It's not activism. It's incitement — and at the very least, she should be detained and questioned by federal police.' Another user wrote, 'This is the person who Albanese promotes.' Chatfield interviewed Mr Albanese on her podcast in February in the lead-up to the election. The pair discussed a range of issues including political strategy and voter engagement, climate change, women's rights, Mr Albanese's upcoming wedding, the war in the Middle East and Mr Trump. Chatfield, a vocal Greens supporter, later came under fire from feminist activist Clementine Ford, who branded her a 'f**king fake' over her political views, particularly on Palestine. Mr Trump has already narrowly survived two assassination attempts. Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, shot then-candidate Trump in the ear at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13 last year, killing crowd member Corey Comperatore, 50, and severely injuring two others. Crooks was immediately shot and killed by Secret Service snipers. Just nine weeks later, on September 15, Ryan Wesley Routh, 59, allegedly attempted to assassinate Mr Trump at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida. The North Carolina construction worker was allegedly lying in wait with an AK-style rifle in the bushes by the golf course when he was spotted by a Secret Service agent, who opened fire and caused Mr Routh to flee the scene before being captured nearby. He has pleaded not guilty to five federal charges, including attempted assassination. His trial has been set for September 8. In addition to the attacks on Mr Trump, a number of other high-profile killings have recently shocked the US. Luigi Mangione, 27, accused of gunning down health insurance CEO Brian Thompson, 50, in New York in December, has attracted a large fanbase of largely left-wing, female supporters. Mr Mangione has pleaded not guilty to state and federal charges including murder and will return to court in December. Last month, a Minnesota Democratic state representative and her husband were killed in their home in a 'politically motivated assassination', with another politician and his wife surviving being shot multiple times. Vance Boelter, 57, was captured after a massive manhunt. Mr Boelter plans to plead not guilty to murder charges, which could carry the death penalty.
