Latest news with #BradBattin
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
After a week of spectacular self-sabotage, the Victorian Liberal party's pain is only just beginning
It was meant to be the Victorian Liberals' week. Instead, the party – now almost synonymous with political self-sabotage – has imploded once again. And it's likely only going to get worse from here as the countdown officially begins for former leader John Pesutto to pay the $2.3m in legal fees he owes Moira Deeming or face bankruptcy after he was found in December to have defamed her. 'The pain for John may be about to end, but the pain for others may be just about to begin,' one of Pesutto's supporters warned. The week had started with a sense of optimism from Pesutto's successor as opposition leader, Brad Battin, and his team. After machete-wielding rival gangs sent a shopping centre into lockdown at the weekend, the Labor government on Monday rushed to ban the sale of the knives within 48 hours. It was a move the Liberals had advocated for since 2023, giving them a rare 'we told you so' moment. They also had their budget reply on Tuesday, headlined by a policy designed to win back young voters: abolishing stamp duty for properties under $1m. But whatever momentum the Liberals were hoping to build vanished before the shadow treasurer stood up to deliver his speech. Earlier on Tuesday, a party room meeting was called to discuss what – if anything – was being done by Battin to avert a byelection in the seat of Hawthorn – which will occur if Pesutto is bankrupted and therefore disqualified from parliament. The issue of the byelection – which many Liberals believe the party would lose – was raised by the Sandringham MP, Brad Rowswell, who had attempted to discuss it during a shadow cabinet meeting on Monday but was told it was a matter for the broader party room. After facing criticism that such a discussion would distract from the party's messaging, Rowswell deferred the discussion altogether. But the matter still made headlines and overshadowed the budget response. A Liberal MP loyal to Battin said it was an intentional move to 'destabilise' the leader, while a detractor said it was a 'valid question everyone has been asking'. It only got worse for Battin, when a letter from Deeming's lawyers to Pesutto was leaked to the media on Wednesday. It suggested that in the event of Pesutto's bankruptcy, Deeming would seek to recover her legal costs from those who contributed to his defence fund. The list includes three former Liberal premiers, Ted Baillieu, Denis Napthine and Jeff Kennett, two sitting MPs, Georgie Crozier and David Southwick, and other party figures who have supported the Hawthorn MP. According to one Pesutto supporter, the letter had the effect of 'galvanising support' for the beleaguered former leader, as it 'showed it won't end with him if he is bankrupted'. 'It will engulf the entire party with months of hearings and political bloodletting ahead.' Deeming's lawyers are set to initiate bankruptcy proceedings on Monday, after Pesutto failed to meet Friday's deadline. Pesutto will then have a further three weeks to pay the $2.3m owed, of which sources say he has raised around a third. Deeming's lawyers have also applied to the federal court for leave to issue subpoenas to obtain communications between Pesutto and those who donated to his unsuccessful legal defence. 'It will be a shit show for all involved and a nightmare for the party,' another Pesutto supporter said. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email It's no wonder Battin faced relentless questioning on the matter. On Wednesday, he repeated the same line that he would keep his conversations confidential and urged his colleagues to stay 'on message'. But Southwick broke ranks, urging people to 'step up' to prevent a Hawthorn byelection. 'The fact that [Pesutto's] fighting for his job, fighting for his livelihood – it is horrific, regardless of what people think about the situation,' he told reporters. As one Liberal MP privately quipped: 'They were the type of comments Brad should have made a fortnight ago'. They weren't alone in their criticism. Several Liberal MPs have expressed frustration that Battin failed to show leadership during a week when the party desperately needed him to. Even some who backed him in the December leadership spill are now questioning their decision. The Herald Sun has already reported murmurs of a leadership challenge – less than six months into Battin's tenure. In a sign of how desperate the situation has become, one rumour doing the rounds is that former MP Matt Bach could be asked to return from the UK to lead. Other names being bandied about are Matthew Guy, in what would be his third go as leader, or Jess Wilson, who lost her bid for deputy in December. If all this wasn't enough, the cherry on top of a shocker week were several stories scrutinising expense claims by Battin's deputy, Sam Groth, including allegations that he used a taxpayer funded, chauffeur-driven car – assigned to Crozier – to take himself and his wife from a fundraising event at the Australian Open to their home in Rye and spending $3,269 on hotel stays after sporting events. Groth, who is also the opposition spokesperson for tourism, sport and events, on Friday said his conduct 'was and is above board'. 'It has all been officially disclosed. There is nothing to hide,' he said. For her part, Crozier told the ABC she was 'incredibly disappointed' over the issue, and that 'Victorians deserve a lot better'. 'I think that Sam needs to explain his actions – I can't,' she said. Again, Battin was forced to front the press on Friday on the defensive. 'It's pretty obvious we've had some tensions in the party at the moment. And I'm continuing to work through that,' he said. If anything this week is proof, yet again, that the Victorian Liberal party is too often its own worst enemy. With additional reporting by Henry Belot
9 News
7 days ago
- Business
- 9 News
Victorian opposition pledges to ditch stamp duty for first-home buyers
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Stamp duty will be scrapped for first-home buyers who purchase any property valued up to $1 million if the Victorian Liberals and Nationals are elected at next year's state election. Opposition Leader Brad Battin and Shadow Treasurer James Newbury announced the "bold and visionary plan" as part of its budget reply. The tax-exemption would be applied to more than 17,000 first-home purchases in its first full year, according to estimations by the Parliamentary Budget Office. Victorian Opposition Leader Brad Battin and Shadow Treasurer James Newbury. (Getty images) Battin said described the policy, which forms the centrepiece of the opposition's budget reply, a "common-sense reform" that would deliver "the circuit-breaker Victoria desperately needs". "Labor's war on property and addiction to tax has destroyed confidence in the economy," he said. "We need a plan to grow, not just tax and spend." Newbury added the proposal focused on "giving aspirational first home buyers the final leg up they need" "This policy is about rewarding aspiration. It's about giving young Victorians a fair go," he said. "For too many young Victorians, the first home dream has become a nightmare. "This policy is about backing in renters that have been stuck in the rental market not by their own choice, but by a tax system that is stacked against them."' On a $750,000 home, Victorians pay an average of $40,000 in up-front stamp duty. In October 2024, the Allan Government announced a 12-month stamp duty concession for off-the-plan apartments, units and townhouses. That tax cut is available for homes of any value and is not limited to first-home buyers. The concession is tipped to save home-buyers an average of $25,000 in its first full year, according to Allan. Victoria national Victoria Politics Tax Victorian Politics Victorian Election CONTACT US Property News: He was evicted. Then he saw his home on Airbnb.
Sky News AU
7 days ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
‘Common sense reform': Victorian opposition vows to axe stamp duty for first home buyers in major housing policy announcement
Stamp duty on properties worth up to $1 million will be scrapped for first home buyers in Victoria if the Coalition wins next year's state election. The state opposition announced the plan ahead of Tuesday's budget reply speech, setting the stage for housing to be a major election battleground. The stamp duty exemption will exist for all first home buyers purchasing properties up to $1 million. According to the Parliamentary Budget Office, the plan will benefit up to 17,000 Victorians, with savings of up to $55,000. Victorian Opposition Leader Brad Battin said the Coalition's housing policy was the 'circuit-breaker Victoria desperately needs.' 'This is a bold, common-sense reform that backs aspiration, rewards hard work, and helps young Victorians break into the housing market,' Mr Battin said. Shadow treasurer James Newbury said the policy would remove one of the biggest barriers to young people getting on the housing ladder. 'For too many young Victorians, the first home dream has become a nightmare,' Mr Newbury said. 'This policy is about giving aspirational first home buyers the final leg up they need. 'It's about giving young Victorians a fair go.' A first home buyer stamp duty exemption exists for properties worth up to $600,000, with concessional rates for properties up to $750,000. Owner occupiers whose properties are valued at less than $550,000 are also eligible for reduced stamp duty fees. Earlier this month, the Allan government announced a 12-month extension to its temporary stamp duty savings scheme for apartments, units and townhouses that are bought off the plan. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Premier Jacinta Allan said the opposition's policy was a "cut and paste" of the government's existing policy. "What we've seen is a bit of a cut and paste from the Liberal Party of arrangements that we already have in place here in Victoria," Premier Allan said. "There are more first home buyers in Victoria than any other state in the nation, because we have existing arrangements in place that support them, and because we are building and completing more homes than any other state." The Premier also asked how the Coalition would pay for its commitment. "There's a big, giant question mark over this announcement today... because they have not come clean with Victorians on how they intend to pay for this announcement today," Ms Allan said. "What frontline services will they cut? What schools? What hospital services will they cut to pay for this commitment? "You just can't announce part of the policy... they have to explain the full arrangements. "It just demonstrates again that young Victorians know you can't trust the Liberal Party when it comes to helping them buy their first home, and Victorians more broadly know you can't trust the Liberal Party, because when it comes to these sorts of decisions they will cut into those frontline services that families rely on." The Victorian Property Council backed the Coalition's housing announcement on Tuesday, with Executive Director Cath Evans describing stamp duty as the 'worst property tax of the lot'. 'Stamp duty acts as a tax on people's aspirations, and current stamp duty exemption thresholds have not kept pace with the increase in average housing property prices,' Ms Evans said. 'This would remove a key obstacle to people's ability to enter the housing market and sends a shot of confidence to the industry when it's much needed.' The Property Council boss said taxes and charges account for up to 43 per cent of the cost of a new home, a situation she described as 'unsustainable'.
News.com.au
21-05-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan slams ‘disgraceful' cow manure protest stunt
A farmer has delivered a package of cow manure to the office of Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan as fury explodes over a new tax on property owners. The shock protest stunt took place on Tuesday as thousands of farmers and firefighters gathered on the steps of parliament to vent their anger. The package, which held the manure in a vacuum-sealed wrap, featured the message: 'Dearest Jacinta, I have considered your levy and here is my feedback. It's bulls**t.' The Victorian government is introducing a new levy on all Victorian property owners to fund emergency services, with the structure of the tax expected to hit farmers hard. Ms Allan slammed the manure stunt as 'disgraceful'. 'I say disgraceful because can you imagine, coming into any workplace, coming into a hospital, dumping cow manure on a colleague's desk?' she said. 'Going into a factory and dumping that in the tea room. Can you imagine how that would be treated in any other workplace?' Liberal MPs Bev McArthur and Nicole Werner allegedly helped the farmer with the stunt. Manager of government business Mary-Anne Thomas has referred the matter to the parliament's privileges committee, alleging the two MPs had brought the parliament into disrepute. Liberal opposition leader Brad Battin, meanwhile, has declined to condemn the stunt. 'It's not something I would have done but what I do know is yesterday people are very angry when it comes to the new taxes that are impacting on farms across Victoria,' he said. 'There is a reason that 1000s of farmers came from all over Victoria, with their firetrucks, with their uniforms, to explain to the Victorian government that they are fed up with being the feeding cow for this government's budget.' In a statement, Mc McArthur also defended the stunt. 'Labor MPs are acting like they've never seen cow s**t before,' she said. 'Maybe they don't get out of Melbourne much. 'If they are genuinely more upset about a pile of manure than the total mess they've made of their budget and this state, it's no wonder Victoria's going broke.' The levy, collected via council rates, will be calculated based on a property's capital improved value. For farmers, the rate increases from 28.7 cents per $1000 of CIV to 71.8 cents.
Sky News AU
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
‘We will scrap this tax': Victorian Opposition Leader's promise to axe emergency services levy
Victorian Opposition Leader Brad Battin has spoken on his promise to repeal the state's controversial new tax. Firefighters and farmers gathered in droves to protest the Victorian government's emergency services levy. 'We will scrap this tax,' Mr Battin told Sky News Australia. 'There is so much waste within this government.'
