‘No confidence' cloud hangs over Devils
AFL: A 'no confidence motion' towards the Tasmanian premier has left plenty of doubt around the future of the Tassie Devils as Macquarie Point stadium development could be in danger.
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News.com.au
23 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘Biggest certainty ever for the Melbourne Cup': Aidan O'Brien takes another swipe at Jan Brueghel scratching after Coronation Cup success
'We thought he was the biggest certainty ever for the Melbourne Cup last year.'' This was Irish training genius Aidan O'Brien 's comment at Epsom Downs overnight when asked about the controversial scratching of his top stayer Jan Brueghel just days out from the Melbourne Cup last spring. Jan Brueghel, who gave O'Brien a 10th win in the Group 1 Coronation Cup at Epsom's Oaks Day meeting, was Melbourne Cup favourite only to be withdrawn by Racing Victoria veterinarians just days prior to the famous Flemington two miler. O'Brien was asked about the Melbourne Cup controversy after Jan Brueghel, who was the unbeaten winner of the English St Leger last year, held off favourite Calandangan in a Coronation Cup thriller. St Leger hero Jan Brueghel bounces back and holds off Calandagan in a thrilling @Betfred Coronation Cup for Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien! — Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 6, 2025 The champion Irish trainer has never won the Melbourne Cup but thought Jan Brueghel was weighted to win last year with 54kg. 'He was in with such a low weight. We thought he couldn't get beat, really,'' O'Brien said. O'Brien was at the US Breeders Cup meeting when Jan Brueghel was scratched from the Melbourne Cup and was critical of Racing Victoria's strict veterinary protocols. 'They made the decision and our vets didn't agree with that,'' O'Brien said at the time. 'They said there was a shadow in front and a shadow behind, but every three-year-old at this time will have shadows and fissures and have this and have that. 'There comes a point when it becomes ridiculous, the horsemen and women have been taken out of the picture.' Aidan O'Brien on Jan Brueghel: "We thought he was probably the biggest certainty ever for the Melbourne Cup last year." The trainer explains the options now for his Coronation Cup winner but categorically rules out heading Down Under @LydiaHislop — Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 6, 2025 O'Brien was asked at Epsom if Jan Brueghel would return for the Melbourne Cup this year and the Irish trainer replied emphatically: 'No, absolutely not!' O'Brien suggested Jan Brueghel is likely to be set for the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July and has not ruled out running the stayer in Europe's most prestigious weight-for-age race, the Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October. Jan Brueghel was the first of two Group 1 winners for O'Brien at Epsom as he also trained the quinella in the English Oaks with Minnie Hauk defeated stablemate Whirl. Minnie Hauk was O'Brien's 11th winner of the English Oaks.
ABC News
31 minutes ago
- ABC News
A feeling of calm before the storm descends on Tasmanian politics following motion of no-confidence in Jeremy Rockliff
After a wild few days in the crazy world that is Tasmanian politics, Friday felt eerily quiet. For some, it was a reprieve, a day to breathe and reflect on what had just happened and what might happen next. For others, it was more like the kind of silence before a jump scare. If the past few days were a horror movie with the final act being the toppling of the state's leader, then the weekend is a thriller. An uncomfortable wait in suspense with the knowledge that something unknown is just around the corner. But there are so many scenarios that can play out. What Tasmanians know is that by the end of next week something will have changed in the state's political landscape. The Liberals will still be in charge but with a different leader at the helm — someone like Eric Abetz or Michael Ferguson. Or the world will have turned upside down and Labor Leader Dean Winter would have figured out a way to govern with just 10 MPs, leaning on the support of the crossbench and the Greens. The last option is we're in election mode for the second time within 18 months. Tuesday is D-Day. If things are still at status quo and the supply bills — necessary for public servants to continue to be paid — pass, then Jeremy Rockliff will take a trip to see the Governor. The Governor will consider all of the above options. At this stage, it appears most politicians are resigned to an election being called. But three days is a long time in Tasmanian politics, and a lot can happen. For example, the Liberals — whose war chests are no doubt unprepared for an election or who are worried about losing their seats — could roll Mr Rockliff. Labor, and some members of the crossbench, say that should happen, or Mr Rockliff should fall on his sword and resign. Even fellow Liberal Senator Jonathon Duniam suggested as much on Friday morning. But how likely is that to happen? It is understood some, like Mr Abetz, have already done the numbers and come up short. There's also an understanding in the party that while Mr Abetz certainly has his supporters, he's not everyone's cup of tea. Some worry he'll struggle to get support from the crossbench needed to continue governing, and fear he's too polarising to lead the party to a state election. The other two real contenders are Treasurer Guy Barnett, the architect of last week's budget paper which inspired the motion of no-confidence, and Michael Ferguson who was already banished to the backbench over the Spirit of Tasmania fiasco. There doesn't seem to be a stand-out candidate amongst them. And there's something Jeremy Rockliff's opponents may have underestimated: people really like him. Because if there was one thing everyone could agree on during the motion of no-confidence, Mr Rockliff is a nice guy. Of course. the motion wasn't about his personality — after all nice is great, but it's not enough to lead a state. Nice doesn't pay off the almost $11 billion in debt that Tasmania is expected to rack up in four years' time and it hasn't helped build the berth for the new Spirit of Tasmania ships on time. Then there's the stadium cap. It is unlikely that the average Tasmanian heard "$375 million" — on capital when it was mentioned — "and not a red cent more" and realised it included hundreds of millions of dollars in borrowings. It might not technically be able to be called a broken promise yet, but, for the general public it's the vibe of the thing and the vibe is off. Not to mention Mr Rockliff's plans to cut the public service and sell off public assets were decidedly controversial. There are many valid reasons that Labor and the crossbench had when they spoke about why they were supporting the motion of no-confidence in Mr Rockliff. And that should not be forgotten. But that niceness, and loyalty, means fellow Liberals have decided that they'll back Mr Rockliff's leadership to the hilt. Even if it means an early election. The other aspect is that the party seems to believe that Mr Rockliff leaving won't be the fix. There is a view that Labor and the crossbench will eventually come after whoever is next. If Tasmanians do head to the polls, some of it is because Labor won't explore the third option: forming a minority government. Greens Leader Rosalie Woodruff was out on Friday, once again offering Mr Winter a quick path to the premiership, or at the very least a conversation. But Mr Winter can't say it enough (apparently) that there is no world in which he leans on the Greens for any kind of support. While Dr Woodruff may argue that the parties' values are more aligned, Mr Winter sees the Greens as toxic for Labor. So if Labor doesn't want to govern, why did it raise the no-confidence motion? Some have suggested (tablespoon of salt because it's mostly Liberals) that Mr Winter simply wanted to knock off a more popular opponent. Whatever the motivation, it's done now and there is a very real chance Mr Winter will be heading to his first election as leader. It's unlikely to be an easy one. While Labor is blaming the Liberals for the election and the Liberals are blaming Labor, the public is blaming all politicians, in particular the major parties. Labor's copping blame for starting the whole mess in the first place. It was playing with fire when it challenged the crossbench MPs, who swiftly rose to the occasion. Mr Winter may have been hoping the premier would backdown and resign, but he would've known that an election was a serious possibility. They went through something similar back in November, when the Greens raised a no-confidence motion and Mr Rockliff declared that he'd ask for an election to be called if it passed. Turns out he wasn't bluffing. Labor's also going to have to face up to the stadium issue. The anti-stadium crowd knows Labor is pro-stadium and team, and won't trust it. While the pro-stadium crowd is enraged that Labor is putting it all in jeopardy — the Liberals are somehow escaping this criticism. Meanwhile, the Liberals are getting the blame because yes — as Labor has pointed out — they are choosing to seek an election instead of a new leader, backed into a corner or not. The fact is, the blood was in the water. People were getting frustrated with the Liberal government. But as angry as people were with a government that's been in power for 11 years, the general sentiment seems to be that it is just too soon for another election Mr Winter's got five weeks to convince Tasmanians he made the right move in toppling the premier, rather than letting the government bleed out a little longer.
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Australia's Liam Adcock wins men's long jump at Rome Diamond League meet
Australia's Liam Adcock has claimed victory in the men's long jump at the prestigious Rome Diamond League meet. Sitting in third place after five rounds, Adcock leapt a personal best of 8.34 metres with his final attempt. He finished ahead of Italy's Mattia Furlani (8.13m) and Greece's two-time Olympic champion Miltiádis Tentóglou (8.1m). Adcock won bronze behind Furlani at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Nanjing three months ago. "I reckon I have a bit of clutch factor so it was great to be able to express that and jump a PB," said Adcock, who finished second at April's Diamond League leg in Xiamen. "I wasn't feeling that great leading into it, but Furlani got the crowd fired up, obviously a home crowd for him, and it got me going too." Fellow Australians Sarah Billings and Abbey Caldwell also impressed in Rome. The middle-distance duo both registered career-best times in the women's 1,500m, with Billings taking second in 3:59.24 followed by Caldwell in third (3:59.32). Ireland's Sarah Healy won in 3:49.17. "I wanted to be in striking distance in the last lap tonight. I felt really good with 200 metres to go and just told myself to go for it," Billings said. National record holder Oliver Hoare qualified for Tokyo's World Championships in September, clocking 3:31.15 in the men's 1,500m to finish ninth. France's Azeddine Habz was victorious via a time of 3:29.72. AAP/ABC
