Vic troubles hamper Liberal rebuild
As the Liberal party tries to rebuild and reunify after a disastrous federal election, the party's internal tensions are flaring up in a key state.
Former Victorian Liberal state leader John Pesutto is staring down bankruptcy and removal from parliament as he tries to come up with the money owed to fellow Liberal MP Moira Deeming.
FEATURED: Richard Willingham, ABC's State Political Reporter in Victoria.
PRODUCER: Max Chalmers.
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The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
'Deeply disrespectful': Kerridge supporters hit back at Clausen 'conspiratorial' claims
ROSS Kerridge's supporters have hit back at Declan Clausen after the Labor councillor publicly questioned the "appropriateness" of a submission-writing help session the lord mayor's Our Newcastle team held during an independent council inquiry. Our Newcastle, a grassroots group formally formed during the 2024 Newcastle council government elections, supported Cr Kerridge in his successful campaign for lord mayor. At last week's council meeting, Cr Clausen described those involved in the help session as having "conspiratorial views", believing "some malfeasance" in the Newcastle council. Our Newcastle has refuted the claims, saying it held the January 23 session to support community members, particularly those who were older and needed technical assistance to prepare and lodge submissions to the Davidson Business Advisory review. "We are disappointed by recent comments made by Cr Declan Clausen, who questioned the 'appropriateness' of our sessions and described those involved as holding 'conspiratorial views'," Our Newcastle president Leisha Parkinson said in a statement. "Those remarks are not only unfounded but deeply disrespectful to the many older residents who simply sought help navigating an online process in order to express their views, something they have every right to do. "Increasingly, we are seeing a pattern in Newcastle politics where those who hold views different to the Labor councillors are dismissed as 'conspiratorial' or accused of spreading 'misinformation'." The statement went on to say that Labor councillors are "not the sole arbitrators of truth in our city". Ms Parkinson stood for a position on Newcastle council in Ward 2 on the Our Newcastle independent ticket. More than 840 submissions were made to the Davidson review into the council's policies, processes and procedures. Almost 30 submissions were made about a perceived lack of respect among councillors, including towards the lord mayor. Cr Clausen said on Tuesday that Our Newcastle had misrepresented his position and the nature of his remarks. "I did raise concerns during the council meeting about the secret Our Newcastle letter-writing sessions," he said. "It is entirely appropriate to question whether a secretive political group holding private letter-writing sessions tried to unduly influence the outcome of the Davidson review." Cr Clausen said that if Labor, the Liberal Party or the Greens organised similar sessions, he suspected there would be "loud public outcries" condemning the action and said Our Newcastle should be held to the same standard. He went on to say the level of "unsolicited coaching" in the submission-writing session remains unanswered. The Newcastle Herald is aware of only one help session being held on January 23. Ms Parkinson maintains the session was open to all and "strictly non-partisan". "At no point did we influence or advise participants on what to write, nor did we question the content of their submissions," she said. "Our sole aim was to ensure that everyone in Newcastle had the opportunity to contribute freely and independently, without barriers due to technology or access." Cr Clausen said he fully supported community engagement, including providing help to those who needed it to ensure their views were considered. "The issue in this case was not whether the public should be supported, it was whether a single party-political group with strong pre-existing views should be positioning themselves as a neutral provider of that support," he said. Cr Kerridge has denied attending the help session and has said he was not involved in its organisation. An email written under the Our Newcastle letterhead invited recipients to drop in if they would like help with their submission or to chat through their ideas. The letter requested recipients to tell Our Newcastle when they had made a submission. Ms Parkinson said Our Newcastle believed support should have been provided by the council to make submissions, particularly for those with limited technological literacy. "Ensuring members of our community can participate in local democracy is a basic responsibility of good governance," she said. Ms Parkinson went on to accuse Labor councillors of a "broader pattern of ageism" including "repeated derogatory references to the lord mayor's age". "These are not only inappropriate but appear intended to dismiss and silence the voices of older residents," she said. "We believe that every person-young or old, deserves a place in our political conversation." The Newcastle Herald asked for clarification about comments Our Newcastle claims Labor councillors have made about the lord mayor's age. In response, Ms Parkinson referred to a comment made by Cr Clausen on one of his Facebook posts 39 weeks ago that said, "For too long, local government in NSW has been 'male, pale and stale'". Cr Clausen said he did not believe he had ever made a comment about the lord mayor's age, derogatory or otherwise. "The lord mayor has never raised any such concern with me," he said. "I also raise the irony of this line of criticism from Our Newcastle." Cr Clausen said both the lord mayor and the Herald's Facebook pages continue to include comments by members of the public describing him as a "boy" and "kid". "I am the longest-serving councillor in our chamber, having served on council for over a decade, and for seven consecutive years as the deputy lord mayor," he said. "Newly-elected councillors, regardless of their age, could benefit from listening to others with more experience." ROSS Kerridge's supporters have hit back at Declan Clausen after the Labor councillor publicly questioned the "appropriateness" of a submission-writing help session the lord mayor's Our Newcastle team held during an independent council inquiry. Our Newcastle, a grassroots group formally formed during the 2024 Newcastle council government elections, supported Cr Kerridge in his successful campaign for lord mayor. At last week's council meeting, Cr Clausen described those involved in the help session as having "conspiratorial views", believing "some malfeasance" in the Newcastle council. Our Newcastle has refuted the claims, saying it held the January 23 session to support community members, particularly those who were older and needed technical assistance to prepare and lodge submissions to the Davidson Business Advisory review. "We are disappointed by recent comments made by Cr Declan Clausen, who questioned the 'appropriateness' of our sessions and described those involved as holding 'conspiratorial views'," Our Newcastle president Leisha Parkinson said in a statement. "Those remarks are not only unfounded but deeply disrespectful to the many older residents who simply sought help navigating an online process in order to express their views, something they have every right to do. "Increasingly, we are seeing a pattern in Newcastle politics where those who hold views different to the Labor councillors are dismissed as 'conspiratorial' or accused of spreading 'misinformation'." The statement went on to say that Labor councillors are "not the sole arbitrators of truth in our city". Ms Parkinson stood for a position on Newcastle council in Ward 2 on the Our Newcastle independent ticket. More than 840 submissions were made to the Davidson review into the council's policies, processes and procedures. Almost 30 submissions were made about a perceived lack of respect among councillors, including towards the lord mayor. Cr Clausen said on Tuesday that Our Newcastle had misrepresented his position and the nature of his remarks. "I did raise concerns during the council meeting about the secret Our Newcastle letter-writing sessions," he said. "It is entirely appropriate to question whether a secretive political group holding private letter-writing sessions tried to unduly influence the outcome of the Davidson review." Cr Clausen said that if Labor, the Liberal Party or the Greens organised similar sessions, he suspected there would be "loud public outcries" condemning the action and said Our Newcastle should be held to the same standard. He went on to say the level of "unsolicited coaching" in the submission-writing session remains unanswered. The Newcastle Herald is aware of only one help session being held on January 23. Ms Parkinson maintains the session was open to all and "strictly non-partisan". "At no point did we influence or advise participants on what to write, nor did we question the content of their submissions," she said. "Our sole aim was to ensure that everyone in Newcastle had the opportunity to contribute freely and independently, without barriers due to technology or access." Cr Clausen said he fully supported community engagement, including providing help to those who needed it to ensure their views were considered. "The issue in this case was not whether the public should be supported, it was whether a single party-political group with strong pre-existing views should be positioning themselves as a neutral provider of that support," he said. Cr Kerridge has denied attending the help session and has said he was not involved in its organisation. An email written under the Our Newcastle letterhead invited recipients to drop in if they would like help with their submission or to chat through their ideas. The letter requested recipients to tell Our Newcastle when they had made a submission. Ms Parkinson said Our Newcastle believed support should have been provided by the council to make submissions, particularly for those with limited technological literacy. "Ensuring members of our community can participate in local democracy is a basic responsibility of good governance," she said. Ms Parkinson went on to accuse Labor councillors of a "broader pattern of ageism" including "repeated derogatory references to the lord mayor's age". "These are not only inappropriate but appear intended to dismiss and silence the voices of older residents," she said. "We believe that every person-young or old, deserves a place in our political conversation." The Newcastle Herald asked for clarification about comments Our Newcastle claims Labor councillors have made about the lord mayor's age. In response, Ms Parkinson referred to a comment made by Cr Clausen on one of his Facebook posts 39 weeks ago that said, "For too long, local government in NSW has been 'male, pale and stale'". Cr Clausen said he did not believe he had ever made a comment about the lord mayor's age, derogatory or otherwise. "The lord mayor has never raised any such concern with me," he said. "I also raise the irony of this line of criticism from Our Newcastle." Cr Clausen said both the lord mayor and the Herald's Facebook pages continue to include comments by members of the public describing him as a "boy" and "kid". "I am the longest-serving councillor in our chamber, having served on council for over a decade, and for seven consecutive years as the deputy lord mayor," he said. "Newly-elected councillors, regardless of their age, could benefit from listening to others with more experience." ROSS Kerridge's supporters have hit back at Declan Clausen after the Labor councillor publicly questioned the "appropriateness" of a submission-writing help session the lord mayor's Our Newcastle team held during an independent council inquiry. Our Newcastle, a grassroots group formally formed during the 2024 Newcastle council government elections, supported Cr Kerridge in his successful campaign for lord mayor. At last week's council meeting, Cr Clausen described those involved in the help session as having "conspiratorial views", believing "some malfeasance" in the Newcastle council. Our Newcastle has refuted the claims, saying it held the January 23 session to support community members, particularly those who were older and needed technical assistance to prepare and lodge submissions to the Davidson Business Advisory review. "We are disappointed by recent comments made by Cr Declan Clausen, who questioned the 'appropriateness' of our sessions and described those involved as holding 'conspiratorial views'," Our Newcastle president Leisha Parkinson said in a statement. "Those remarks are not only unfounded but deeply disrespectful to the many older residents who simply sought help navigating an online process in order to express their views, something they have every right to do. "Increasingly, we are seeing a pattern in Newcastle politics where those who hold views different to the Labor councillors are dismissed as 'conspiratorial' or accused of spreading 'misinformation'." The statement went on to say that Labor councillors are "not the sole arbitrators of truth in our city". Ms Parkinson stood for a position on Newcastle council in Ward 2 on the Our Newcastle independent ticket. More than 840 submissions were made to the Davidson review into the council's policies, processes and procedures. Almost 30 submissions were made about a perceived lack of respect among councillors, including towards the lord mayor. Cr Clausen said on Tuesday that Our Newcastle had misrepresented his position and the nature of his remarks. "I did raise concerns during the council meeting about the secret Our Newcastle letter-writing sessions," he said. "It is entirely appropriate to question whether a secretive political group holding private letter-writing sessions tried to unduly influence the outcome of the Davidson review." Cr Clausen said that if Labor, the Liberal Party or the Greens organised similar sessions, he suspected there would be "loud public outcries" condemning the action and said Our Newcastle should be held to the same standard. He went on to say the level of "unsolicited coaching" in the submission-writing session remains unanswered. The Newcastle Herald is aware of only one help session being held on January 23. Ms Parkinson maintains the session was open to all and "strictly non-partisan". "At no point did we influence or advise participants on what to write, nor did we question the content of their submissions," she said. "Our sole aim was to ensure that everyone in Newcastle had the opportunity to contribute freely and independently, without barriers due to technology or access." Cr Clausen said he fully supported community engagement, including providing help to those who needed it to ensure their views were considered. "The issue in this case was not whether the public should be supported, it was whether a single party-political group with strong pre-existing views should be positioning themselves as a neutral provider of that support," he said. Cr Kerridge has denied attending the help session and has said he was not involved in its organisation. An email written under the Our Newcastle letterhead invited recipients to drop in if they would like help with their submission or to chat through their ideas. The letter requested recipients to tell Our Newcastle when they had made a submission. Ms Parkinson said Our Newcastle believed support should have been provided by the council to make submissions, particularly for those with limited technological literacy. "Ensuring members of our community can participate in local democracy is a basic responsibility of good governance," she said. Ms Parkinson went on to accuse Labor councillors of a "broader pattern of ageism" including "repeated derogatory references to the lord mayor's age". "These are not only inappropriate but appear intended to dismiss and silence the voices of older residents," she said. "We believe that every person-young or old, deserves a place in our political conversation." The Newcastle Herald asked for clarification about comments Our Newcastle claims Labor councillors have made about the lord mayor's age. In response, Ms Parkinson referred to a comment made by Cr Clausen on one of his Facebook posts 39 weeks ago that said, "For too long, local government in NSW has been 'male, pale and stale'". Cr Clausen said he did not believe he had ever made a comment about the lord mayor's age, derogatory or otherwise. "The lord mayor has never raised any such concern with me," he said. "I also raise the irony of this line of criticism from Our Newcastle." Cr Clausen said both the lord mayor and the Herald's Facebook pages continue to include comments by members of the public describing him as a "boy" and "kid". "I am the longest-serving councillor in our chamber, having served on council for over a decade, and for seven consecutive years as the deputy lord mayor," he said. "Newly-elected councillors, regardless of their age, could benefit from listening to others with more experience." ROSS Kerridge's supporters have hit back at Declan Clausen after the Labor councillor publicly questioned the "appropriateness" of a submission-writing help session the lord mayor's Our Newcastle team held during an independent council inquiry. Our Newcastle, a grassroots group formally formed during the 2024 Newcastle council government elections, supported Cr Kerridge in his successful campaign for lord mayor. At last week's council meeting, Cr Clausen described those involved in the help session as having "conspiratorial views", believing "some malfeasance" in the Newcastle council. Our Newcastle has refuted the claims, saying it held the January 23 session to support community members, particularly those who were older and needed technical assistance to prepare and lodge submissions to the Davidson Business Advisory review. "We are disappointed by recent comments made by Cr Declan Clausen, who questioned the 'appropriateness' of our sessions and described those involved as holding 'conspiratorial views'," Our Newcastle president Leisha Parkinson said in a statement. "Those remarks are not only unfounded but deeply disrespectful to the many older residents who simply sought help navigating an online process in order to express their views, something they have every right to do. "Increasingly, we are seeing a pattern in Newcastle politics where those who hold views different to the Labor councillors are dismissed as 'conspiratorial' or accused of spreading 'misinformation'." The statement went on to say that Labor councillors are "not the sole arbitrators of truth in our city". Ms Parkinson stood for a position on Newcastle council in Ward 2 on the Our Newcastle independent ticket. More than 840 submissions were made to the Davidson review into the council's policies, processes and procedures. Almost 30 submissions were made about a perceived lack of respect among councillors, including towards the lord mayor. Cr Clausen said on Tuesday that Our Newcastle had misrepresented his position and the nature of his remarks. "I did raise concerns during the council meeting about the secret Our Newcastle letter-writing sessions," he said. "It is entirely appropriate to question whether a secretive political group holding private letter-writing sessions tried to unduly influence the outcome of the Davidson review." Cr Clausen said that if Labor, the Liberal Party or the Greens organised similar sessions, he suspected there would be "loud public outcries" condemning the action and said Our Newcastle should be held to the same standard. He went on to say the level of "unsolicited coaching" in the submission-writing session remains unanswered. The Newcastle Herald is aware of only one help session being held on January 23. Ms Parkinson maintains the session was open to all and "strictly non-partisan". "At no point did we influence or advise participants on what to write, nor did we question the content of their submissions," she said. "Our sole aim was to ensure that everyone in Newcastle had the opportunity to contribute freely and independently, without barriers due to technology or access." Cr Clausen said he fully supported community engagement, including providing help to those who needed it to ensure their views were considered. "The issue in this case was not whether the public should be supported, it was whether a single party-political group with strong pre-existing views should be positioning themselves as a neutral provider of that support," he said. Cr Kerridge has denied attending the help session and has said he was not involved in its organisation. An email written under the Our Newcastle letterhead invited recipients to drop in if they would like help with their submission or to chat through their ideas. The letter requested recipients to tell Our Newcastle when they had made a submission. Ms Parkinson said Our Newcastle believed support should have been provided by the council to make submissions, particularly for those with limited technological literacy. "Ensuring members of our community can participate in local democracy is a basic responsibility of good governance," she said. Ms Parkinson went on to accuse Labor councillors of a "broader pattern of ageism" including "repeated derogatory references to the lord mayor's age". "These are not only inappropriate but appear intended to dismiss and silence the voices of older residents," she said. "We believe that every person-young or old, deserves a place in our political conversation." The Newcastle Herald asked for clarification about comments Our Newcastle claims Labor councillors have made about the lord mayor's age. In response, Ms Parkinson referred to a comment made by Cr Clausen on one of his Facebook posts 39 weeks ago that said, "For too long, local government in NSW has been 'male, pale and stale'". Cr Clausen said he did not believe he had ever made a comment about the lord mayor's age, derogatory or otherwise. "The lord mayor has never raised any such concern with me," he said. "I also raise the irony of this line of criticism from Our Newcastle." Cr Clausen said both the lord mayor and the Herald's Facebook pages continue to include comments by members of the public describing him as a "boy" and "kid". "I am the longest-serving councillor in our chamber, having served on council for over a decade, and for seven consecutive years as the deputy lord mayor," he said. "Newly-elected councillors, regardless of their age, could benefit from listening to others with more experience."
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
The six big agenda items for Greg Swann
Greg Swann is joining AFL headquarters and the Midweek Tackle team have identified six big agenda items for the league's new football performance executive.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Toorak mid-century home listed with plans to transform into $8m luxury residence
A 1960s Toorak home with council-approved plans is drawing buyers keen to turn it into one of the suburb's next multimillion-dollar masterpieces — all without the price tag of a finished home. Tucked away in a quiet cul-de-sac, 4 Theodore Crt is a striking mid-century residence set on a 387sq m block, with a price guide of $3.2m-$3.52m. The existing home still wears the hallmarks of its era — stonework, sculptural lines, original cabinetry and bold geometry. The property also comes with a full set of endorsed architectural plans to bring it back to life in spectacular modern form. RT Edgar director Jeremy Fox said interest was strong among design-minded buyers looking to create something unique in a tightly held Toorak pocket. 'It's a uniquely designed 1960s house, those kinds of homes are really coming back into fashion,' Mr Fox said. 'The lady who started the renovation had a clear vision, but now it's ready for someone else to step in and put it all back together. 'It's a unique opportunity for someone to bring those original 1960s features back to life and reimagine them in a modern context.' The council-approved plans include four bedrooms with ensuites, a vast open-plan kitchen and living zone, rooftop terrace with sweeping Yarra views, an in-ground pool, and off-street parking for two cars, all brought together by natural stone and luxury finishes. Mr Fox said the property appealed to a specific type of buyer — savvy, creative and keen to capitalise on the value difference between what exists and what's possible. 'We're seeing strong interest from all the usual suspects, renovators, husband-and-wife teams who can't find a finished house in Toorak for $6m or $7m,' he said. 'They see the potential here to finish it off for $1.5m and have something worth closer to $8m when it's done.' The RT Edgar director said the home was priced below market value compared to many finished homes in the area and noted that the lack of a heritage overlay gave buyers welcome flexibility. 'All the architectural plans are ready to go, which is a huge bonus,' Mr Fox said. 'And because there's no heritage overlay, buyers have the freedom to restore or rebuild. That kind of flexibility is rare in Toorak.' Just a short walk from top private schools, Como Park and Toorak Village, the property is surrounded by some of Melbourne's most prestigious homes and sits on elevated, north-facing land.
