Katharine Murphy quits as Anthony Albanese's press secretary
As sure as death and taxes is the conga line of ministerial staffers leaving their jobs in politics after an election.
The highest-profile of those departures is Anthony Albanese's press secretary Katharine Murphy, who CBD can report is moving on from the prime minister's office after just 18 months in the role, and was busy saying her farewells to the press gallery on Wednesday morning.
'Murpharoo,' as she's affectionately known, left her role as Guardian Australia's political editor to join the prime minister's office last January, in a move that was mocked by former opposition leader Peter Dutton during one of his numerous broadsides against the press gallery.
'I am genuinely shocked to see Murpharoo take up a spot to now be officially running lines for Labor,' Dutton quipped before taking a swing at this masthead's then chief political correspondent David Crowe.
Murphy was replaced by veteran journalist Karen Middleton, beginning a period of instability in The Guardian's Canberra bureau. Reporters Dan Hurst, Amy Remeikis and Paul Karp, along with photographer Mike Bowers, all left the bureau in quick succession.
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Middleton and Karp would both make claims of workplace misconduct against each other, before the political editor formally left in March, after taking several months of medical leave. Karp, who joined our stablemate, The Australian Financial Review, said he 'left with my head held high and with a clean record' in a farewell speech to colleagues. Middleton hasn't commented and CBD is not taking sides.
That leaves the influential role of political editor very much up for grabs. CBD hears recruitment has been put on hold while The Guardian's forever editor Lenore Taylor is in Europe. Could Murphy return to the fold? We reached out to her and The Guardian but didn't hear back.
There is precedent for Murphy making a comeback. Anne Davies, the outlet's Gold Walkley-winning former investigations editor quit to work as a spinner for teal MP Sophie Scamps in 2023, but returned to The Guardian last year and is filing from NSW Parliament in Macquarie Street.
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Sydney Morning Herald
9 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Katharine Murphy quits as Anthony Albanese's press secretary
As sure as death and taxes is the conga line of ministerial staffers leaving their jobs in politics after an election. The highest-profile of those departures is Anthony Albanese's press secretary Katharine Murphy, who CBD can report is moving on from the prime minister's office after just 18 months in the role, and was busy saying her farewells to the press gallery on Wednesday morning. 'Murpharoo,' as she's affectionately known, left her role as Guardian Australia's political editor to join the prime minister's office last January, in a move that was mocked by former opposition leader Peter Dutton during one of his numerous broadsides against the press gallery. 'I am genuinely shocked to see Murpharoo take up a spot to now be officially running lines for Labor,' Dutton quipped before taking a swing at this masthead's then chief political correspondent David Crowe. Murphy was replaced by veteran journalist Karen Middleton, beginning a period of instability in The Guardian's Canberra bureau. Reporters Dan Hurst, Amy Remeikis and Paul Karp, along with photographer Mike Bowers, all left the bureau in quick succession. Loading Middleton and Karp would both make claims of workplace misconduct against each other, before the political editor formally left in March, after taking several months of medical leave. Karp, who joined our stablemate, The Australian Financial Review, said he 'left with my head held high and with a clean record' in a farewell speech to colleagues. Middleton hasn't commented and CBD is not taking sides. That leaves the influential role of political editor very much up for grabs. CBD hears recruitment has been put on hold while The Guardian's forever editor Lenore Taylor is in Europe. Could Murphy return to the fold? We reached out to her and The Guardian but didn't hear back. There is precedent for Murphy making a comeback. Anne Davies, the outlet's Gold Walkley-winning former investigations editor quit to work as a spinner for teal MP Sophie Scamps in 2023, but returned to The Guardian last year and is filing from NSW Parliament in Macquarie Street.
Herald Sun
11 hours ago
- Herald Sun
Revealed: Australia's 50 supercharged suburbs for price growth
A suburb once written off is now Australia's hottest housing market, and the property rebound is only getting started. Frankston, in Melbourne's outer south, has topped a new list of Australia's 50 most 'supercharged' suburbs for price growth, with insiders warning buyers could soon be priced out if they hesitate. Hotspotting's Winter 2025 Price Predictor Index highlights suburbs showing surging sales activity, a leading indicator of future price growth. And it's not just Frankston making a move. RELATED: Award-winning house scores six-figure bonus $2m estate boasts three homes, wedding aisle Iconic Melb site snapped up in $23m deal Melbourne suburbs dominated the list with 18 entries, followed by strong results from the Gold Coast, Adelaide, Darwin and even Sydney's south. Melbourne Property Advocates director Simon Murphy said Frankston's transformation was 'just going gangbusters.' 'They're putting up big apartments, office buildings, the hospital's been redone … zoning's been upgraded to three, six storeys in some areas,' Mr Murphy said. 'They're really trying to make Frankston the place to be' Mr Murphy warned entry-level buyers were now struggling to get in. 'You really need a purchase price of $800,000 just to get a look into the market,' he said. 'Frankston North's always the first suburb to go up — and the first to go down — but this time, I think its price will soon catch Langwarrin.' Hotspotting founder Terry Ryder said Frankston's rise reflected a wider turnaround in Melbourne's outer zones. 'Frankston has gone from underperformer to frontrunner,' Mr Ryder said. 'Melbourne began recovering in late 2024 and the uplift has only accelerated this year.' Mr Murphy said demand was now flowing into Carrum Downs, Langwarrin and Werribee, which also made the list. 'Langwarrin's very family-focused. Carrum Downs has stigma but great value — four-bed homes on good land, double garages,' he said. 'Werribee's still under $600,000 and just 10 minutes further than Melton. It's still affordable.' In Sydney, Michelle May Buyers Agent director Michelle May said market momentum had shifted south to the St George and Bankstown corridors, areas now backed by Metro upgrades and comparative affordability. 'The migration from the east has gone to the inner west, and now the inner west demographic is moving down to St George and the Sutherland Shire,' Ms May said. 'We've been inundated with inquiry since Q4 2024. There's a lot of money still out there. 'Clearance rates hit 70 per cent here last weekend for the first time in ages — prices are going up.' But Ms May warned that supply remained tight — especially for downsizers — and three-bedroom apartments were in short supply. 'Downsizers are competing with young families for the same limited stock. They've got deeper pockets — and young families just can't compete,' she said. The Sydney buyers agent said Bankstown and Bexley, both on Hotspotting's list, were benefiting from transport links and better perceived value. 'Cross the Cooks River and you get green space, lifestyle and a 15-20 per cent discount on the inner west,' she said. On the Gold Coast, low stock levels and interstate demand are pushing prices north. Cohen Handler Associate Director Luke Serhan said listings were down up to 40 per cent year-on-year in some suburbs. 'Miami's still a bit undercooked compared to Mermaid Beach, but Elanora is taking off,' Mr Serhan said. 'Southport's been huge — it's central and getting a lot of movement. 'We're seeing so much buyer interest that anything that hits the market becomes competitive instantly.' Mr Serhan said confidence surged the weekend after recent rate cuts. 'Buyers are still picky because they've been used to choice, but I think FOMO is coming back. They'll soon have to buy what's available.' The Cohen Handler Associate Director said lifestyle remained the Gold Coast's trump card. 'People are choosing proximity to the beach over the metro lifestyle of Brisbane. We're even seeing Brissie locals relocating here,' South Australia also made a strong showing, with 11 suburbs and towns on the list including Ingle Farm and Christies Beach. Lands Real Estate's Matthew Lipari said Ingle Farm had seen sales rise steadily over 18 months. 'It's in high demand right now because of its price point and development over the past decade,' Mr Lipari said. He said the demographic was changing quickly. 'Older vendors who've lived here 20, 30, 40 years are selling to younger buyers. But even some developers are being priced out — we've seen buyers miss out multiple times at opens and auctions.' Mr Ryder said Adelaide remained one of Australia's most consistent growth cities. 'It's been rising longer than any other and continues to deliver,' he said. The surprise twist in this quarter's index was Darwin, with 92 per cent of suburbs now ranked as rising and none in decline. Hotspotting General Manager Tim Graham said the comeback was real. 'Six months ago we said Darwin was about to boom, and the numbers have proven it,' he said. With national buyer activity rising and listings still tight, experts say the window for bargain buys is closing. 'People are realising the market isn't going to come to them,' Mr Murphy said. 'They're jumping back in, and they're bringing competition.' Additional reporting by Jessica Brown HOTSPOTTING'S TOP 50 SUBURBS FOR CAPITAL GROWTH Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox. MORE: Global second-hand fashion fave eyes Geelong First-timers' surprise win at Geelong West $5m+ Melb pad has games house, soccer pitch
West Australian
12 hours ago
- West Australian
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez: Couple make last-minute wedding venue switch as Venice locals protest
Campaigners in Venice are claiming a small but symbolic win after Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez were reportedly forced to change their main wedding venue amid rising protests and concerns for A-list guests. The lavish celebration was originally set to take place at Scuola Grande della Misericordia, a grand 16th-century Venetian landmark in the heart of the city. But according to activist group No Space for Bezos, those plans were quietly scrapped after protesters threatened to blockade celebrity arrivals by floating inflatable crocodiles through the canals. Instead, the reception has reportedly been relocated to the Arsenale di Venezia, a historic former shipyard with fortified walls, a location that's logistically harder for protesters to access and easier for security to lock down, The Guardian reported. Local media reports have also suggested that the switch was not just about the inflatable reptiles. Rising security concerns, particularly after the US formally entered the Israel-Iran conflict, reportedly prompted further caution, especially with high-profile guests like Ivanka Trump arriving in Venice this week. In anticipation, security has been ramped up across the city, with particular focus on the Jewish quarter. Roughly 200 guests are expected for the multi-day affair, including possible appearances from Elon Musk, Kim Kardashian, and Leonardo DiCaprio. An estimated 95 private jets are expected to land at Venice airport between Tuesday and Wednesday. While the exact details remain under wraps, celebrations are tipped to begin on Thursday. The couple is expected to marry at the basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore on Friday, followed by a Saturday blowout party. But activists are not backing down. Instead of attempting to stop the wedding entirely, organisers say they'll now stage a No Bezos, No War protest march. 'We feel as if we scored a victory,' one unnamed activist told the media. 'The crocodile initiative would have given a bad impression of the city — this is why the venue was changed, even if the authorities might try to claim it was because of the war.' Posters mocking Bezos, with his head pasted onto a rocket, referencing his Blue Origin space venture, have appeared across the city. Greenpeace Italia and British protest group Everyone Hates Elon also joined in, unveiling a massive banner in St Mark's Square on Monday that read: 'If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax'. Greenpeace framed the protest as a message against 'social and climate injustice', arguing Bezos represents an 'economic and social model that is leading us towards collapse'. But not everyone is siding with the demonstrators. Venice's millionaire mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, who confirmed the wedding plans back in March, said he was ashamed of those protesting about people who 'bring riches' to the city. Sensing opportunity in the chaos, the mayor of Soàve, a walled town of 7000 people in the Veneto region, offered his own pitch. He invited the couple to ditch Venice and marry in what he described as 'the most beautiful village in Italy'.
