Samoa's first woman prime minister loses power
The people of Samoa are heading for an early election, after Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa called for the dissolution of parliament.
Drama in Fiji as the head of the country's anti-corruption commission, Barbara Malimali is suspended and her deputy sacked as police investigate her appointment.
Tonga's King Tupou VI has called for improvements to the country's democratic system.
A new parliamentary committee has been set up in Papua New Guinea to protect children who make up 43 per cent of the nation's population.
Farmers in PNG are cashing in and spending big as prices for two of the country's main agricultural exports, coffee and cocoa, hit record highs.
The minister for women and youth in Kiribati, Ruth Cross Kwansing, says the nation is facing a kava crisis with imports at record levels.
Successful applicants of the Pacific Engagement Visa, have started to settle into their new lives in Australia.
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News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Tasmanian Labor leader Dean Winter out after failed no confidence motion in Premier Jeremy Rockliff
Dean Winter is out as Tasmania's Labor Party leader a day his no confidence motion in Premier Jeremy Rockliff failed spectacularly. Josh Willie will take over as Opposition Leader following a caucus vote. The Mercury reported that under Labor rules, a spill of leadership positions occurs after an election loss. Mr Willie emerged victorious in a ballot against fellow Clark MP Ella Haddad to secure the leadership candidacy. 'It is a great honour to be elected Leader of the Tasmanian Labor Party,' Mr Willie said in a statement. 'Tasmanian Labor has a proud history and I look forward to giving this role everything I've got to return Labor to government.' Mr Willie thanked Mr Winter for his service, saying he had 'strong Labor values'. Janie Finlay was elected unopposed as new deputy leader, replacing Anita Dow. The spill comes after Labor suffered a humiliating defeat in Tasmania's parliament on Tuesday – the first day of sitting since the snap state election resulted in a hung parliament – with the motion failing to secure a single crossbench vote. Mr Winter's motion was met with a rare display of unity from all other sides, leaving Labor exposed and widely criticised. Newly elected member for Franklin and former ABC reporter Peter George delivered one of the most scathing assessments of Labor's performance. 'Labor set about undermining the very notion of collaboration and compromise as it sought to lead a minority government,' Mr George told the House of Assembly. 'In my years of reporting politics, which stretch back to the Whitlam years, never have I come across an opposition party less ready for government.' Premier Rockliff, the only Liberal MP to speak on the motion, emphasised the need for collaboration in a minority government. 'We cannot ignore the fact that in minority government we must come together and agree on policy positions that reflect the wider will of the people,' Mr Rockliff said. 'Minority government may well be here for decades to come, and that's why we need to listen, learn and continue to make progress. We might not always agree, but everyone deserves to be heard.' He blamed Mr Winter for sending parliament 'right back where we were.' Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said her party could not back a motion that put Labor into power – but said the minor party did not have confidence in the Liberals either. 'We tried really hard to work with Labor,' Ms Woodruff said. 'Mr Winter showed no capacity or intention to negotiate with the Greens or to make policy compromises. 'Labor has nothing to offer. They continue to blindly back building a billion-dollar stadium the state doesn't need and clearly can't afford.' Labor won only 10 seats in the 35-seat parliament at the snap July election called after a previous no confidence in Mr Rockliff succeeded.
ABC News
3 hours ago
- ABC News
Josh Willie replaces Dean Winter as Tasmanian Labor leader after election loss
Josh Willie is the new Tasmanian Labor leader, replacing Dean Winter. In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, Opposition whip Meg Brown said "in accordance with Labor Party rules, the leadership was spilled at today's caucus meeting". Mr Winter led the no-confidence motion which failed in parliament yesterday, which officially resulted in Labor losing the July 19 state election. Tasmania's Labor Party had been locked in a day-long leadership discussion since 9am. The party's dominant left faction had earlier held a meeting in the morning, where Mr Willie won a ballot against fellow Clark MP Ella Haddad to become the left's leadership candidate. The party's leader and deputy leader roles automatically spilled after Labor's election defeat. Janie Finlay from the party's right faction was elected unopposed as new deputy leader, replacing Anita Dow. Labor's dual motion of no confidence in Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff and confidence in Dean Winter failed to secure any crossbench support. The motion was defeated 24 votes to 10.
ABC News
5 hours ago
- ABC News
SA Liberals announce candidates as party looks to reclaim state's South East
Two Liberal Party candidates could make history as the first female MPs in South Australia's South East, as the party looks to rebuild following a heavy election loss. The party has nominated lawyer Lamorna Alexander for the seat of Mount Gambier and lawyer and public relations professional Rebekah Rosser for the MacKillop contest at the 2026 state election. It sets up two showdowns with incumbent Liberal-turned independents, both facing their own legal battles, in seats vital to rebuilding following its heavy loss at the 2022 state election. Ms Alexander, a lawyer and mother of three, is the first Liberal woman to run for the seat since 1965. She said the opportunity to be the first female MP for the seat was exciting and that it did not come with any extra pressure. "I'll be honest, I don't look at male or female, I look at the quality of the actual person who is running and I believe I have those skills," she said. "It does offer the electorate something different but it wasn't staged. The Mount Gambier electorate does have an independent streak, only being held by an independent 20 of the past 23 years. Incumbent Troy Bell was elected in 2014 as a Liberal, but quit the party in 2017 when charged with criminal offences. In September, he was found guilty of stealing $430,000 from not-for-profit educational organisations while working for the state's education department. Bell has appealed the verdict, and he is yet to be sentenced. When contacted for comment, he said he had a plan for the region based on conversations with locals and was committed to running at the 2026 election. "I hope both major parties take the time to do the same — to genuinely engage and listen to the people of Mount Gambier and the greater region," he said. "I look forward to seeing strong commitments and major announcements for our region from all candidates and parties during this campaign." The electorate of MacKillop, including its predecessor Victoria, has been in the hands of Liberals with only two exceptions since 1938. Ms Rosser has a law degree and worked as an adviser in the John Howard federal government and the John Olsen state government. Ms Rosser said the party needed to be more effective at communicating its values. "I think sometimes they get lost in the political talk and I'd like to really make sure our thinking about those overlays the policies we develop." The incumbent, Nick McBride, was elected in 2018 as a Liberal but left the party in 2023 amid factional disputes. In April, he was charged with three counts of assaulting his wife and faced court for the first time in May. Mr McBride has denied any wrongdoing and has said he will contest the 2026 election. He said he looked forward to a "respectful campaign". "I have a deep understanding of the issues that affect the people who live and work here," he said. "I look forward to continuing to advocate to government so that city decision-makers ensure that the electorate gets its fair share of funding." Following the 2022 state election, the Liberal Party was reduced to just 14 seats, which became 13 with Mr McBride's defection. In comparison, Labor holds 28 seats in SA parliament's 47-seat House of Assembly. Flinders University politics expert Rob Manwaring said winning the South East would not be enough to lead the Liberals back to government. But he said it would help rebuild the party's credibility. "If they are to have a serious chance of looking like a credible sort of alternative party or government, then they need to make sure they win their base seats," he said. "Where they've had so many independents or people leaving the party, it just undermines the ability for a leader to say, 'Look, we're a coherent, disciplined political party.'"
