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Liberals set to dump elders over 'assertive women' remarks
Max Maddison and Paul Sakkal
The federal Liberal Party is preparing to dump the two octogenarian Victorians appointed to oversee the troubled NSW division, a fortnight after ex-Victorian treasurer Alan Stockdale questioned whether the prevalence of assertive women required protecting men.
Under a draft plan conveyed by four senior Liberal sources, who all spoke on the condition of anonymity citing party rules barring speaking with the media, the administrative committee's term would expire on June 30. It would probably be replaced by a seven-person committee chaired by a Liberal luminary.
The tenure of Stockdale and former Victorian senator Richard Alston, unpopular among a large section of NSW Liberals, appeared terminal after the former raised concerns about assertive women during a meeting of the party's women's council on June 3.

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Sydney Morning Herald
29 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
The RSL survival guide: A new model emerges for an old institution
Earlier this month, the RSL released a consultant's report, which found that some sub-branches were too small or poor to deliver meaningful services to veterans. The report said the state office was also struggling financially because of the increasingly complex demands of veterans, which encompass mental illness, housing, legal troubles and elder abuse. And it warned RSL Victoria was overly reliant on revenue from its 52 pokies venues, which are at risk from the state government's long-awaited gambling reform package. 'Financially, the current state is fragile and not sustainable. However, without a viable state branch, the sub-branch network will cease to exist,' the report said. It recommended forcing sub-branches to hand over more revenue to the state RSL office. The charity should also increase engagement with younger veterans, solicit bequests from current members, and switch from an incorporated association to a company limited by guarantee, the report said. RSL Victoria's new president, Mark Schroffel, has thrown his weight behind the report, although discussions with sub-branches regarding funding and the future of venues are just beginning. 'We need to have their support because ultimately, it's their organisation,' Schroffel said. Former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett is a member of the amalgamated Camberwell 'Pompey' Elliott RSL sub-branch in Melbourne's east, which has a car wash to boost revenue. He said RSL Victoria faced a 'massive challenge to remain relevant' to younger generations. 'The RSL, does it have a future? Yes. But unless they're careful, the number of branches will continue to decline,' he said. 'We live in very different times, and as much as I hate to say it, I'm not sure the RSL has moved with the times.' At Coburg RSL, young reservist Johannes is not a member because he is busy working two jobs. He said he didn't expect to become heavily involved in the near future. 'I'm 100 per cent supportive,' he said. 'More broadly, things like country fire stations and Men's Sheds and those sorts of community groups – because this is a community group at the end of the day – the people who get involved are retired.' Beyond the report's recommendations, others say RSL Victoria should extend its memberships to police officers, paramedics and SES workers, get out of pokies and sell some sub-branches' land to councils. But Schroffel said the head office could not decide to sell off sub-branches to reinvest the proceeds. 'It's not our property,' he said. 'Those independent sub-branches, they and their members actually own those buildings.' Schroffel said membership fees could increase for the first time in 10 years, and RSL was open to selling its pokies venues, potentially to not-for-profit racing organisations. Martin Thomas, chief executive officer of the Alliance for Gambling Reform, said RSLs were designed to be a safe space for veterans and their families, yet international research showed veterans suffer a higher rate of gambling harm than non-veterans. 'With their new president, we would be calling on the RSL to start that change to remove pokies machines from their venues, or at the very least to be at the vanguard of a carded play system that we know from all the evidence greatly reduces the harm that happens,' he said. Journalist and anti-pokies activist Stephen Mayne said RSL Victoria's sub-branches were worth at least $1 billion, according to council valuations. Loading 'They should close all the pokies venues, sell off a few – Box Hill is worth $70 million on its own – and then live off their investments and all operate like Hawthorn, Camberwell and Templestowe and many other successful, traditional RSLs. Find yourself a benevolent council landlord and operate with the support of your council.' Peter Whitelaw is a member of the Melbourne sub-branch, the original RSL in Australia. The Spencer Street club is trying to attract young veterans with guest speakers, networking events, mentoring and co-working spaces. 'I think the primary thing that we are wrestling with is that the RSL is dominated by seniors, of which I am one, and there's got to be a generational change,' Whitelaw says. 'That's fundamental to the future of the RSL. 'Fundamental change has to occur on a number of fronts. One of those is really focused on getting younger veterans engaged with the RSL and carrying it forward.'

The Age
29 minutes ago
- The Age
The RSL survival guide: A new model emerges for an old institution
Earlier this month, the RSL released a consultant's report, which found that some sub-branches were too small or poor to deliver meaningful services to veterans. The report said the state office was also struggling financially because of the increasingly complex demands of veterans, which encompass mental illness, housing, legal troubles and elder abuse. And it warned RSL Victoria was overly reliant on revenue from its 52 pokies venues, which are at risk from the state government's long-awaited gambling reform package. 'Financially, the current state is fragile and not sustainable. However, without a viable state branch, the sub-branch network will cease to exist,' the report said. It recommended forcing sub-branches to hand over more revenue to the state RSL office. The charity should also increase engagement with younger veterans, solicit bequests from current members, and switch from an incorporated association to a company limited by guarantee, the report said. RSL Victoria's new president, Mark Schroffel, has thrown his weight behind the report, although discussions with sub-branches regarding funding and the future of venues are just beginning. 'We need to have their support because ultimately, it's their organisation,' Schroffel said. Former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett is a member of the amalgamated Camberwell 'Pompey' Elliott RSL sub-branch in Melbourne's east, which has a car wash to boost revenue. He said RSL Victoria faced a 'massive challenge to remain relevant' to younger generations. 'The RSL, does it have a future? Yes. But unless they're careful, the number of branches will continue to decline,' he said. 'We live in very different times, and as much as I hate to say it, I'm not sure the RSL has moved with the times.' At Coburg RSL, young reservist Johannes is not a member because he is busy working two jobs. He said he didn't expect to become heavily involved in the near future. 'I'm 100 per cent supportive,' he said. 'More broadly, things like country fire stations and Men's Sheds and those sorts of community groups – because this is a community group at the end of the day – the people who get involved are retired.' Beyond the report's recommendations, others say RSL Victoria should extend its memberships to police officers, paramedics and SES workers, get out of pokies and sell some sub-branches' land to councils. But Schroffel said the head office could not decide to sell off sub-branches to reinvest the proceeds. 'It's not our property,' he said. 'Those independent sub-branches, they and their members actually own those buildings.' Schroffel said membership fees could increase for the first time in 10 years, and RSL was open to selling its pokies venues, potentially to not-for-profit racing organisations. Martin Thomas, chief executive officer of the Alliance for Gambling Reform, said RSLs were designed to be a safe space for veterans and their families, yet international research showed veterans suffer a higher rate of gambling harm than non-veterans. 'With their new president, we would be calling on the RSL to start that change to remove pokies machines from their venues, or at the very least to be at the vanguard of a carded play system that we know from all the evidence greatly reduces the harm that happens,' he said. Journalist and anti-pokies activist Stephen Mayne said RSL Victoria's sub-branches were worth at least $1 billion, according to council valuations. Loading 'They should close all the pokies venues, sell off a few – Box Hill is worth $70 million on its own – and then live off their investments and all operate like Hawthorn, Camberwell and Templestowe and many other successful, traditional RSLs. Find yourself a benevolent council landlord and operate with the support of your council.' Peter Whitelaw is a member of the Melbourne sub-branch, the original RSL in Australia. The Spencer Street club is trying to attract young veterans with guest speakers, networking events, mentoring and co-working spaces. 'I think the primary thing that we are wrestling with is that the RSL is dominated by seniors, of which I am one, and there's got to be a generational change,' Whitelaw says. 'That's fundamental to the future of the RSL. 'Fundamental change has to occur on a number of fronts. One of those is really focused on getting younger veterans engaged with the RSL and carrying it forward.'


Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
Salmon industry probe ordered amid disease concerns
An independent probe into Tasmania's salmon industry is being launched as the government seeks to appease crossbenchers ahead of a critical week in parliament. The review would ensure the industry maintained its social licence while meeting environmental expectations, Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff said on Sunday. The decision has drawn criticism from industry bodies, which accused the government of breaking commitments to hardworking Tasmanians. The review follows a warning on Friday that another mass fish kill could occur as Piscirickettsia salmonis persisted in salmon stocks throughout winter. More than 6300 tonnes of farmed salmon died during a disease outbreak in the state's south during summer. Mr Rockliff said the mass mortality event had put the industry on notice. "I do not resile from that; we must always seek to strike a balance between sustainable primary industries and our unique natural environments in which they operate," he said in a statement on Sunday. The move comes as crossbenchers, who hold the balance of power in deciding the state's next government, intensify their push for stronger salmon farming regulation. The shape of the next government will be decided when it resumes on Tuesday, following the July 19 election that delivered yet another hung parliament. Both the Liberals (14 seats) and Labor (10) finished short of the 18 seats required for majority government. Mr Rockliff has been recommissioned as premier but will face a no-confidence motion that could turf his government and install Labor leader Dean Winter as premier. Greens Leader Rosalie Woodruff on Sunday welcomed the independent review, saying it was time to turn the tide on the industry, but remained cautious about Mr Rockliff's intentions. "There is a lot to question and scrutinise in this announcement," Dr Woodruff said. "We will be working with all of you who care about our marine waterways to hold the Liberals to account on what they have promised." Not all in the industry are happy about the move, including Salmon Tasmania chief executive John Whittington. "The premier has gone back on his word and commitments and shamefully let down every salmon worker, their families, and communities across the state," Dr Whittington said. "Many salmon workers trusted the Liberals with their valuable vote, only to be completely betrayed just six weeks later." He provided AAP with a letter from Mr Rockliff to Dr Whittington dated July 2, just weeks before the election, stating that "there was no stronger supporter of (the) industry than the Tasmanian Liberals". The review is expected to be carried out by an independent "specialist organisation" outside of the state. There will be a pause on marine expansion of the industry while the study is completed. The government also pledged to develop and deliver a Marine Environment Tasmania Act, in consultation with parliament and the community. Environment Tasmania senior marine campaigner Rebecca Howarth welcomed the announcement. "A holistic and whole-of-picture approach which centres around eco-system health has been very much needed, and this takes us with enormous strides in the right direction," Ms Howarth said.