Albanese government roasted for ‘socialist left' taking over Israel-Gaza rhetoric since elected
'It's been pretty clear that they've been anti-Israel since they were elected,' Mr Cenatiempo told Sky News host Chris Kenny.
'It's been a dramatic shift in the Labor Party since the socialist left took over.
'When the Labor Party was run by the sensible right, you would never have had this kind of rhetoric.'
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ABC News
8 minutes ago
- ABC News
Senator Charlotte Walker says misogyny 'part of the job', but politics is 'worth it'
Despite being told to "get back in the kitchen" and facing comments from Pauline Hanson about barely being out of "nappies", Australia's youngest senator Charlotte Walker insists it's worth it to represent young people. The 21-year-old celebrated her birthday on election night and snared the unlikely sixth spot as senator for South Australia after scoring the third spot on the ballot. The Labor senator recently posted a 'day in the life' video on social media, which was later taken down after facing criticism. "Some of the comments have been really hard, definitely a lot of misogyny," she told ABC Radio Adelaide's Breakfast program. Ms Walker said she did not condone that behaviour, but insisted the job was worth it. "That's hard to be said to me as a young woman, but it's the job," she said. "All you can do is continue forward and know that you're doing it for the right reasons. "Quite frankly, it's worth all the criticism. It can be hard, but I love it, truly." Ms Walker also recently had an exchange with One Nation senator Pauline Hanson, after making what she said was "a pretty strong statement towards Pauline" about Ms Hanson's views against net zero. "She's no sooner out of bloody university and out of her nappies than she's telling me I don't know what the hell I'm talking about, when I've been on the floor of parliament for the last nine years," Ms Hanson told Sky News. Ms Walker said the senate was made up of a diverse mix of views and criticism was to be expected. "That's her view, my view is that we're seeing the effects of climate change and we need to be having conversations about why net zero is so important and why we need to be working towards a full transition to renewables," she said. "She's entitled to her view, but I happen to disagree." Ms Walker said she was grateful to have seen a willingness from her party to listen to her. Ms Walker said having support systems was important, and that she had met with Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young and former senator Natasha Stott Despoja, who have both previously held the title of youngest woman to ever be voted in by the Australian public. "They've actually both reached out to me," she said. "It was really useful, [Natasha's] perspective of some of the stuff she went through when she was newly elected, it just felt like a lot of what she went through, I was going through the exact same thing."
9 News
38 minutes ago
- 9 News
NSW MP Gareth Ward's convictions aren't enough to expel him from parliament, lawyer argues
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Four sex offence convictions against a sitting MP aren't enough to expel him from parliament under "unworthy behaviour" provisions, his lawyer has argued. Gareth Ward, 44, remains the member for the NSW seat of Kiama, as he awaits sentencing for sexually assaulting an intoxicated political staffer after a midweek event in the state's parliament in 2015. The former families minister was also found to have sexually abused a drunken 18-year-old man at his South Coast home in 2013. Gareth Ward, 44, remains the member for the NSW seat of Kiama, as he awaits sentencing. (Dylan Coker) A Labor-led vote to expel Ward from parliament, slated for Wednesday, was delayed after the Supreme Court ordered a halt at the MP's request. His barrister told an urgent NSW Court of Appeal hearing today that a letter Ward received from the Labor government about the planned expulsion vote only referred to the convictions, and did not lay out a case for Ward's expulsion. The letter did not detail any "unworthy conduct" - the expulsion power Labor is relying on to turf Ward - Peter King told a panel of three judges. "Are you seriously submitting that the convictions of the counts ... are not conduct unworthy?" Chief Justice Andrew Bell asked. "The four counts are evidence of the fact of conviction but they're not evidence of the facts which underlie that conviction," King said. When the barrister tried again to make the same argument, Justice Jeremy Kirk chimed in. "There can't be any mystery about it, he was tried publicly on an indictment," the judge said. "He, of all people, must know what behaviour led to his conviction." Gareth Ward's lawyer argued four sex offence convictions against a sitting MP aren't enough to expel him from parliament. (AAP) Justice Kirk also questioned whether the court could do anything or interfere in the government's processes, as there had been no orders made to appeal. The most serious charge against Ward, who is in custody, carries a maximum 14-year jail term. King also argued that the move to expel Ward was punitive, denying the MP his chance to remain in parliament or go for re-election, if he successfully appealed the convictions. If Ward's appeal fails, he will be automatically expelled under a separate power. The move also denied Ward procedural fairness by denying him the chance to get up and oppose the motion in parliament, King said. "In short, he is to be expelled by a kangaroo court," he said. Four MPs have been expelled from NSW parliament, the last in 1969 under the "unworthy conduct" power. Any expulsion of Ward will trigger a by-election in the NSW south coast electorate he has held since 2011. Initially running under the Liberal banner, he secured a 2023 poll win as an independent, despite having been charged with sexual assault and suspended from parliament. NSW Premier Chris Minns said having an MP sitting in jail awaiting sentencing, while demanding to remain in parliament, was "an unconscionable situation". (Nine) A vote to expel him is almost certain to pass with support from leaders of Labor and the coalition. NSW Premier Chris Minns said having an MP sitting in jail awaiting sentencing, while demanding to remain in parliament, was "an unconscionable situation". Opposition Leader Mark Speakman repeated calls for Ward to resign after the legal action prevented a parliamentary vote to expel him. Academic Tonia Gray, who contested Kiama for the Greens at the 2023 state election, told AAP Ward should vacate the seat after being found guilty. The ongoing distraction of his refusal to resign has been a disservice to the community, she said. "It's clearly not about the people of Kiama - it's all about Gareth," Gray said. "Kiama deserves an opportunity to hold a by-election and elect a new member to the NSW parliament that can give their absolute attention to the critical work of representing our community." Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) . New South Wales national Australia courts crime Politics parliament Chris Minns CONTACT US
ABC News
38 minutes ago
- ABC News
Report reveals $441 million backlog of repairs for Queensland state schools
Teachers and students at schools across Queensland have been subject to rotting ceilings, dilapidated sport courts and unsafe infrastructure, a new report has found. The Department of Education's Comprehensive Review of Infrastructure Renewal report, commissioned by the former Labor government in 2022, highlights a multi-million-dollar maintenance shortfall. Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said it shows "significant underinvestment by Labor". "Our maintenance backlog is now $441-million in our state school system," he said. The report, handed to the government in February, lists a backlog figure double the annual maintenance allocation of $226-million for state schools. It states there are consequences of not funding the backlog gap. "[The] backlog will further increase, for example by the end of 2028-29 the renewal backlog will be over $900-million," the report said. Mr Langbroek said the same issues were significant when he last served as education minister between 2012 and 2015. "Labor have neglected this for 10 years, [they] chose to kick the can down the road," he said. "The report shows [the backlog] cannot be fixed in one year. The report lists the Metro North region as having the highest percentage of assets in poor or very poor condition, at 58 per cent, followed by Metro South at 53 per cent. The Far North Queensland region recorded 40 per cent of assets at state schools to be in poor or very poor condition. On a recent visit to Winton, the education minister said he had seen an unsafe staircase fenced off. "It's to the detriment of teachers and students." Mr Langbroek believes the current state of school infrastructure contributed to more than 50,000 teachers striking for 24-hours across the state this week. 13 per cent of students and around 9 per cent of teachers still attended state schools during Wednesday's industrial action. The minister said the move was an example of teachers "airing their frustration" at issues, including the state of infrastructure, and he looked forward to continuing conciliation in the coming days. "We made an offer that's above inflation ... and attempting to deal with many of the issues expressed by teachers," he said. "We look forward to sitting with an independent umpire — the Industrial Relations Commission — to continue our offer ... to enhance the offer we have made." The Queensland Teachers' Union (QTU) said they were striking for not only better pay, but also reducing occupational violence and improving respect for the profession. Mr Langbroek said the government intended to announce a workforce strategy in the coming weeks, aiming to address some of the QTU's concerns. "We'll be turning our minds to that very soon," he said. The opposition has been contacted for comment.
