'Tasmanians have spoken ... now it's time to work out what they've said'
The former Labor leader also said he was 'unaware of any intimate videos Natalie Matthews filmed involving me' in NSW Parliament House, and said he had breached no laws or legislative standing orders.
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ABC News
14 minutes ago
- ABC News
Comedian Mark Humphries tackles housing crisis in documentary Sold! Who Broke the Australian Dream?
"If a D-grade celebrity like me can't afford to buy a home, who can?" It's a cracking first line from satirical wit and sometime ABC star Mark Humphries in his surprisingly jolly rage against the housing crisis, SOLD! Who Broke the Australian Dream? Fast Facts about Sold! Who Broke the Australian Dream What: A tragicomic documentary about the housing crisis Directed by: Mark Humphries Starring: Humphries, Alan Kohler, Purple Pingers and more When: Streaming on Binge now Likely to make you feel: Mad as hell, unless you already own ten houses Not that the Binge documentary, directed by Bill Code, is all about him. A huge swath of Australians, young and old, believe they'll be forever renters. Many who have managed to claw their way onto the lowest rungs of the property ladder are struggling to pay their mortgage. But it wasn't always this way. As bubble-bath-bound financial journalist Alan Kohler (they couldn't afford Margot Robbie) explains in the doco, everything changed in 1999. That's when former prime minister John Howard heavily discounted capital gains tax and ramped up negative gearing, with house prices spiralling ever upwards since. "Howard once said, 'No-one ever complained to me about the value of their house going up,' and that's the issue," Humphries says. "Owners outnumber renters two-to-one. And if you're a politician, you're obviously going to appeal to the majority." Especially when that majority includes roughly 65 per cent of our elected politicians who own at least two properties, with both Labor's Michelle Ananda-Rajah and the LNP's Karen Andrews having seven each. "You want to believe that those people are still capable of recognising the problem and seeing what they have to do," Humphries says. "But it's very hard to imagine change occurring when it's in so many people's best interests to keep things as they are. "But what sort of a system is that? It's grotesque." From The Feed on SBS to The Chaser's War on the ABC and The Project on Network 10, Humphries and regular co-writer Evan Williams have carved sterling careers out of channelling their indignance at injustice into snort-inducing comedy. "The reality is, people don't want to hear you ranting for over 52 minutes," Humphries says. "It's not appealing, so you try to help the medicine go down. But it's coming from a true place of anger." So, what does he believe is the cure for the housing crisis? It's complicated, but Humphries says course-correcting on capital gains and negative gearing is key. Former Labor leader Bill Shorten pops up in Sold! to defend his election-losing policies on that front (plus his democracy sausage-eating skills). "He was a good sport," Humphries says. As is Humphries' dad, former weatherman Allan. "My love of TV was probably a result of going and seeing him at the ABC studios when I was seven," Humphries says. "He did a great job considering he's used to adlibbing, rather than sticking to a script. Sold! also features Jordan van den Lamb — AKA Purple Pingers — the prominent (especially on social media) housing rights activist who also ran on a senate ticket for the Socialist Party in Victoria. "One of the things I really admire about him is that, although there is clearly seething rage underneath what he does, he has this ironic delivery that's so dry." Van den Lamb gleefully takes pot shots at greedy landlords and homes left purposefully vacant. "That really opened my eyes," Humphries says. "It's easy to be critical of someone because they're living in someone else's space. But isn't it more grotesque to have a house that's designed to house people and choose not to and just let it increase in value?" In Melbourne alone, 97,000 properties are vacant, with around 37,000 people homeless. Vast stocks of public housing were sold off in a fire sale lit by former PM Robert Menzies in 1956. And then there's the bogeyman finger-wagging at foreign buyers, who only account for 1 per cent of property purchases, according to the AFR. "The political answer is always, 'Supply, supply, supply,' but we might actually have a good chunk of that supply already there. We're just not using it," says Humphries. "The other thing is, if you're going to increase supply but still have these tax incentives in place, a big chunk will just be eaten up by investors. So how much do you really achieve?" There seems to be little political will to do what must be done to restore faith in the Australian dream. "It's been 25 years since those tax changes came in and this attitude of housing as something that increases in value, of investments and property portfolios," Humphries says. "People have forgotten that it's weird. That this wasn't how it used to be." Maybe things will change again. "I'm choosing to be hopeful because it's unsustainable," Humphries says. "Maybe it has to get worse before it gets better, but when we start seeing issues with social cohesion, and have situations where companies are under-staffed because no-one can live close enough to work, then the shit really hits the fan." Essential workers like nurses deserve to be able to afford a home of their own that's close to their work, Humphries says. Then, just as we're wrapping up, he confesses, full disclosure, that he has, in fact, managed to buy a home since filming Sold! "Don't hate me," he whelps. "I've just crossed the threshold, anxiously observing interest rate levels, but at what cost? I've completely wiped myself out, signing up for a 30-year mortgage at 39." He insists he's keeping it real (estate). "I want people like me not to forget that it's still f***ing shit and it shouldn't be this f***ing hard," he insists. "You should easily be able to afford a home and have money spare to buy an almond latte a day and dumb stuff like a Labubu."
ABC News
44 minutes ago
- ABC News
Tasmania set for a mostly anti-stadium crossbench — here's how the issue might unfold
The question that's hung over Tasmania's unwanted, early snap election is: "What could it all mean for the Hobart stadium and AFL team?" While the final result of the election is nearly a fortnight away, it seems the parliament is headed for a roughly similar look and shape to the last one. Both the Labor and Liberal parties support the stadium and will hold at least 23 of the lower house's 35 seats between them, so you may think that passage of legislation for the stadium is assured. But if either party wants to hold government, it will need the support of an almost entirely anti-stadium crossbench. It raises the question of whether those crossbenchers are willing to put their differences on the issue aside and give confidence and supply to one of the major parties, or die on a hill over the issue. It also might coax one of the major parties to shift its position on the stadium, or change its approach to legislation for it, in an attempt to win the support needed to govern. What do the crossbench numbers look like? The election has delivered the most seats to the Liberal Party, but it will still be a hung parliament. ( ABC News: Maren Preuss ) The ABC has called 14 seats for the Liberals, nine for Labor, five Greens, and four independents, with three seats remaining in doubt. Shooters, Fishers and Farmers candidate Carlo di Falco in in with a chance in Lyons. Facing a hung parliament, the Liberals will need to secure support from four crossbenchers to form government (or three, if they can win the seventh seat in Bass). The only pro-stadium member of that crossbench is David O'Byrne. Despite being a former Labor Leader, he's shown he will work with either side. To find the next three, it's more difficult. Independents Kristie Johnston and Craig Garland have been re-elected in their seats of Clark and Braddon. Both are staunch opponents of the build, and recently voted no-confidence in Premier Jeremy Rockliff. Franklin newcomer, independent Peter George, also opposes building a new stadium. The Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party is a strong chance of claiming its first seat — but the party has opposed plans for a stadium since they were announced. Who supports the stadium? David O'Byrne ( ABC News: Kate Nickels ) The former Labor leader who was elected to parliament in 2024 as an independent supports the building of the Macquarie Point stadium. Who is against the stadium? Craig Garland. ( ABC News: Greg Szabo ) Returned independent MP Craig Garland does not support a new stadium but supports the formation of a Tasmanian team using existing stadiums. Ind: Kristie Johnston Kristie Johnston. ( ABC News: Kate Nickels ) Returned independent MP Kristie Johnston stands against the building of a new stadium but supports the formation of a Tasmanian team using existing stadiums. Ind: Peter George Peter George. ( ABC News: Meg Whitfield ) The new independent MP stands against the building of a new stadium but supports the formation of a Tasmanian team. SFF: Carlo di Falco Carlo Di Falco. ( ABC News: Maren Preuss ) The Shooters Fishers & Farmers Tas candidate is likely to snag a seat in Lyons, but his election is not yet certain. The party has been against a new Hobart stadium since the project was announced. Grn: Rosalie Woodruff Rosalie Woodruff. ( ABC News: Jake Grant ) Greens leader and MP for Franklin. The Greens Party supports a Tasmanian AFL team but does not support building a new stadium. Grn: Cecily Rosol Cecily Rosol. ( ABC News: Luke Bowden ) Greens MP for Bass. The Greens Party supports a Tasmanian AFL team but does not support building a new stadium. Grn: Vica Bayley Vica Bayley. ( ABC News: Ashleigh Barraclough ) Greens MP for Clark. The Greens Party supports a Tasmanian AFL team but does not support building a new stadium. Grn: Helen Burnet Helen Burnet. ( ABC News: Luke Bowden ) Greens MP for Clark. The Greens Party supports a Tasmanian AFL team but does not support building a new stadium. Grn: Tabatha Badger Tabatha Badger. ( ABC News: Ashleigh Barraclough ) Greens MP for Lyons. The Greens Party supports a Tasmanian AFL team but does not support building a new stadium. Labor's path to government is far more complicated — and still reliant on anti-stadium support. If it can hold onto its second seat in Franklin and then join forces with Greens, it would need to find three more supporters from the same pool of crossbenchers. But in that case, there would be only 11 stadium supporters in an 18-strong governing coalition. It means the path forward is still unclear. What options are available to progress the stadium? Enough crossbench MPs may simply decide to give the Liberals or Labor supply and confidence — that is, allow them to pass budget bills and not support no-confidence motions — despite their stadium stance. They could then deal with the stadium issue separately, by voting against it when the legislation comes up. But they would be powerless to stop the Liberals and Labor teaming up to help the stadium bill sail through the lower house. There are tight timelines for building the Macquarie Point stadium. ( Supplied: MPDC ) Another option might help a Liberal or Labor government keep the crossbench a little more onside. In the last parliament, the Liberals tabled special legislation that would have fast-tracked approvals for the stadium project, much to the dismay of many on the crossbench. Whoever forms government could decide to backtrack on that and keep the stadium in the more arduous Project of State Significance (POSS) pathway laid out by the Tasmanian Planning Commission. That POSS process will be completed by September, which might not be too much longer than the wait for the new parliament to reconvene. If a government does go back to the POSS process, then the final determination by the Tasmanian Planning Commission — and whatever conditions are attached — would still need to be approved by both houses of parliament in order to build the stadium. What have the party leaders said? Liberal leader Jeremy Rockliff told media on Sunday he would not be abandoning his plans for the stadium. He referenced that two thirds of the vote was heading towards the stadium-backing major parties, and said it showed a majority had voted "yes stadium, yes team". Labor leader Dean Winter said the party would not be "horse trading on policy". He said his party would not switch to dumping the stadium. "We haven't changed our position on the stadium, and we won't be offering that as part of any negotiations," he said. Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said there had been a big anti-stadium vote "We've got a desperate situation with the budget, and it's either cutting into essential services or spending money on a stadium. It's pretty clear that people want essential services," Dr Woodruff said. She said the Greens would be working in the next parliament to stop the stadium. However, she did not rule out backing a major party to form government, without them compromising on the stadium. What have the Tasmania Devils said? The state's AFL club was among the loudest voices when the no-confidence motion was being debated in June, warning that the political instability was a "serious risk" for the future of the club. However, it stayed relatively quiet during the election campaign itself. This morning, the club broke its silence, with the club's Kath McCann saying the Devils were staying focused on building, with no time to lose. Tasmania Football Club executive director Kath McCann says the club will work with whichever party forms government. ( ABC Northern Tasmania: Evan Wallace ) "Tasmania Football Club stands ready to work with the incoming Tasmanian government and elected members once the election outcomes are resolved," she said. "We are focused on entering the AFL and AFLW by 2028, in order to do that we have several time frames that must be met. We are very eager to work with the government to realise these."
ABC News
44 minutes ago
- ABC News
Unauthorised Frankston seawall work continues on beachfront despite stop work order
The owner of a beachfront mansion who was ordered to stop building a concrete retaining wall on a Frankston South beach has continued to oversee building works, telling the ABC he would welcome a legal challenge from the council or state government. In March, Frankston Council issued businessman Gene Neill a stop work order for construction of the seawall on a rocky section of beach near Olivers Hill. Mr Neill conceded he did not have a permit. At the time, he described the construction as "emergency works" to protect his $9 million property from coastal erosion and landslides, after being refused insurance. But after a public outcry, Mr Neill told the ABC he had met with the council and offered to "pull down what's there on the foreshore". "We've already offered to reinstate it, back to the way it was," he said in March. But when the ABC visited three months on, the finished concrete wall stood about 1.5m above the shore. "I'm not taking it down," Mr Neill said, pointing out he had just had a delivery of large rocks as part of landscaping works, and inviting the ABC to return when the project was finished. "It's just common sense." Mr Neill admitted the construction could lead to legal action. "I want them to bring it on," he said. "I've got the money." He had previously denied the wall was on public land. Mr Neill also said had sold the property with settlement due in 11 months, which the ABC has not been able to verify. Frankston Council was scheduled to discuss the issue of how to enforce the stop-work order at its coming meeting, but that part of the meeting will be closed to the public. State Labor MP Paul Edbrooke said Frankston was better off without the wall. "It's giving the middle finger to the people of Frankston," Mr Edbrooke said. "This is a wall that has been built around four metres onto Frankston's public beach and people can't even walk past this wall at high tide." He said it was up to Mr Neill to remove it. "I'm not a lawyer, but I think that wall will not be there soon," he said. "That wall will have to come down and I think the owner that built it will be the one responsible." A spokesperson for the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action said it had not approved any privately funded seawalls on coastal Crown land at Olivers Hill. "Frankston South beach is public land and should be accessible to all Victorians," they said. Noel Payz walks her dogs on the beach where the seawall is most days, stopping regularly to pick up rubbish. She said erosion was a big concern. "It's got really bad along this beach the past 10 years — bit by bit it's all slipping away," Ms Payz said. She had written to the council asking what would happen with the seawall, but said she had not heard back. She said the council should either assume responsibility for protecting assets like homes from erosion, or negotiate with owners who were prepared to do the works. "I shudder to think how many houses that are built along the coast will be in danger at some point in time." Erosion and landslips are a growing concern along Victoria's coast, especially in built-up areas. In January, a landslip in nearby McCrae caused a $2 million home to crash down the hill, leaving residents of 19 homes unable to return to their properties. Frankston council is developing a plan to identify and manage coastal risks. "Coastal hazards such as erosion and storm surge have always been present, however, these coastal hazards may worsen as a result of a changing climate," the council said on its website.
