Latest news with #Climate200
The Age
16-06-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Who would take a risk with this toxic politics?
To submit a letter to The Age, email letters@ Please include your home address and telephone number below your letter. No attachments. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published. SAFETY I was deeply saddened by the article (' Zoe Daniel feared for her safety in toxic election campaign ', 16/5) in which former MP Zoe Daniel (pictured) detailed the fear for her safety and life in the recent federal election campaign. There is a side issue here. Namely that young people will move away from being involved in the local political scene due to its potential for violence. Until now we encouraged their involvement: whether in the selection of the candidate, as a volunteer in the many aspects of a local campaign, or as a scrutineer on election night. That is true democracy in action. We need to learn how to call out bad behaviour safely in all areas of our lives and be models on how to be involved in the democratic process. Maree Williams, Kew Display of dignity At last the truth about the toxic campaign in Goldstein is starting to emerge. As a resident of the electorate I was frequently angered by the offensive rhetoric used by several of the organisations cited in The Age 's report. No wonder Zoe Daniel felt concerned for her and her family's safety. We are all losers when political candidates of any persuasion are subjected to such appalling tactics during an election campaign. Hopefully the next campaign in Goldstein is characterised, on all sides, by the dignity and integrity shown by Daniel and her team this year. Judy Williams, Beaumaris Election distraction What a load of self justification and blaming from Zoe Daniel for her election loss. Typical of the teals, who are effectively a political party with Climate 200 funding and policies. Brian Murphy, Balwyn North Too smart to enter politics After reading her interview, I feel for Zoe Daniel and the trauma she suffered due to the ugly political climate of the last election. We've seen two politicians murdered in the US and it's a deeply disturbing state of affairs. I first encountered a bizarre incident going to see a film in Brighton where a volunteer for Zoe Daniel entered a cafe after her shift and was verbally abused by a passionate supporter of Tim Wilson, which nearly led to an altercation. I intervened and thankfully through humour diffused the situation. I know some outstanding women who would make wonderful contributions to public life but sadly they are much too smart to enter politics now. Sally Walcock, Toorak Nastiness on both sides It's time Zoe Daniel accepted the fact she lost her seat and moved on. That she and her supporters are still seething about the result is obvious, yet she blames everyone but her own side for the conduct of the campaign. Tim Wilson experienced first hand just how nasty anti-Liberal campaigners could be – even a month after the election he was bailed up by an aggressive activist while being interviewed by The Age in a cafe. Greg Hardy, Upper Ferntree Gully Fresh threats Tim Wilson was able to keep his hands clean while the Liberal Party hid behind so-called third parties, and their deluge of disinformation, to do their dirty work. Third parties represent a growing threat to our democracy as local groups supporting community independents are mostly unable to match the large donations these groups receive. They are often funded by a small number of wealthy individuals, many with ties to fossil fuels and mining and invested in maintaining a two-party system. With new donation laws limiting spending by candidates in future elections, one needs to ask whether limits also need to be applied to these groups or limiting campaign advertising to only those candidates and parties seeking political office. Otherwise we will end up going down the political path of the US. Robert Campbell, Brighton East
News.com.au
08-06-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
Liberals still considering challenge on Bradfield election loss, says James Paterson
Coalition senator James Paterson says the NSW Liberal Party is still deciding whether to challenge the outcome of the prized Sydney seat of Bradfield, adding that he hopes Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian will be included in the 42nd parliament. Despite leading the initial count by eight votes, Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian lost to Climate 200 backed independent Nicolette Boele by just 26 votes in the ensuing recount. The state branch will have until 40 days after the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) returns the writs, which the body must do before July 9. Speaking to the ABC on Sunday, Senator Paterson said it would be a matter for the NSW Liberal branch as well as Ms Kapterian, and said no decision has been made as of yet. 'I understand the NSW Liberal Party is reviewing our legal options and I really hope that we can find a way to have Giselle Kapterian in the parliament in this term because she's exactly the kind of person that would make the Liberal Party better, the parliament better and our country better,' he said. 'She's got great insights, great professional experience, she's a person I hope to be playing a big role in the future of our party. 'But it will be up to the NSW division and then ultimately if we do decide to make any application, the Court of Disputed Returns to decide that.' Senator Paterson also said a potential challenge wouldn't necessarily result in a by-election. He pointed to the 2007 election result of McEwen where a Labor challenge at the Court of Disputed Returns focused on the validity of the informal ballots. However the Court ultimately dismissed the case and awarded the seat to then Liberal MP Fran Bailey. The former Salesforce executive has also been given the assistant shadow portfolios for communications, and technology and the digital economy, and her loss would trigger a minor shadow cabinet shuffle. As recently as Thursday, incumbent Bradfield MP Nicolette Boele confirmed she had yet to receive a concession call from Ms Kapterian. Considerations behind a potential challenge will be based on the difference in the total number of votes counted between the first and second count, and the fact about 170 previously informal ballot papers had been reclassified and allowed in the recount. A Liberal source also noted that the two counts produced two different votes, with the difference in both counts making up less than 0.02 per cent of the total number of ballots cast across the electorate. Speaking on Sky, Tim Wilson, who is the only Liberal challenger who won a seat from a teal independent, credited his campaign win to running a consistent 'big, bold and ambitious' three-year campaign. 'We captured their sense of hope and aspiration for themselves and their families, and we did it on the basis that people understood that they weren't just voting on the direction of the community … they were also deciding partly the future direction of the Liberal Party, (and) increasingly also the direction of Australia as well,' he said. Following his ousting from the Melbourne seat of Goldstein in 2022, Mr Wilson won the seat back from Zoe Daniels in a precarious count which saw both sides declare themselves the victor before the AEC finalised its count.
News.com.au
05-06-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
No Liberal concession call after Bradfield turns teal
Gisele Kapterian has still not picked up the phone to concede Bradfield after Nicolette Boele broke the Liberals' iron grip on the key Sydney seat, the independent has revealed. The Australian Electoral Commission on Wednesday declared Ms Boele the winner in Bradfield after one of the longest, messiest races of the federal election. A recount found the Climate 200-backed candidate won the seat, which has been in Liberal hands since its creation, by 26 votes. Ms Boele said on Thursday her win was 'certainly' by a slim margin. 'It's one of those times when you realise that every single vote counts,' she told the ABC. Asked if she had heard from Ms Kapterian, Ms Boele said: 'Um, I haven't, no. 'It's been a very busy, whirlwind sort of last few hours since we got the decision from the electoral commission after 4.5 weeks of counting and recounting. 'So, no, I have really just been talking to people, having a small celebration, and I'm looking forward to, I suppose, getting on with the job.' Ms Boele was initially declared victorious in Bradfield but an administrative error was uncovered and dramatically cut her lead. Ms Kapterian then led by eight votes, triggering a total recount late last month. The tight count did not stop her being welcomed into the Liberal party room and even partaking in the leadership vote that elected Sussan Ley party leader. Reacting to the result on Wednesday, Ms Kapterian thanked the AEC and her scrutineers, saying the recount process was 'testament to the adage 'if you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together''. 'This recount has created a different result – while I was ahead at the conclusion of the original count, Ms Boele is now ahead after this recount,' she said in a statement. 'I will now carefully review the two counts.' Losing the seat has further slimmed the Liberals' numbers and dealt a major blow to the party's standing in North Sydney. In her Thursday morning remarks, Ms Boele said the result showed the 'electorate's definitely changing'. 'Modern Bradfield is much more diverse,' she said. 'We're definitely conservative in terms of loving business and economics, but we're very outward looking. 'We love the environment. We care about people. And those kind of care values were just not being addressed by this brand of the Liberal-National coalition.' She added that voters 'were looking for better representation' and an 'independent like me, born and bred here, someone of the community, working for the community and not for party politics' fit the bill.
The Guardian
04-06-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Teal Nicolette Boele projected to win Bradfield over Liberal candidate after close recount
Independent Nicolette Boele is the projected winner of the Sydney seat of Bradfield, likely defeating Liberal Gisele Kapterian with a wafer-thin margin of just 27 votes. Media outlets including the ABC and Sky News have declared the teal the winner of a recount in the seat but the Australian Electoral Commission is yet to make an announcement. That confirmation could come as soon as Wednesday afternoon. Bradfield was the last outstanding seat from the 3 May election, but the result could still be challenged by the Liberals in the court of disputed returns. Boele was declared the provisional winner on 19 May, after she took a last-minute 40-vote lead over Kapterian. The seat has been held by the Liberal party since its creation in 1949. Kapterian was appointed as a shadow assistant minister in Sussan Ley's Coalition frontbench last month pending the recount result. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email At the end of the recount, Boele had 50.01% of the total vote, ahead of Kapterian's 49.99%. Within 40 days of the election writ being returned, any candidate or elector from the seat can 'petition' its result. That process involves a formal pleading to the court of disputed returns. For national elections, that means the high court. Boele had the backing of Simon Holmes à Court's Climate 200 group, and the Liberals pumped significant resources into holding the seat which was previously held by Paul Fletcher. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion The seat takes in North Shore suburbs including St Leonards, Killara and Wahroonga and borders the electorates of Warringah and Mackellar, held by teal independents Zali Steggall and Sophie Scamps respectively. Kapterian was preselected by the Liberals for the seat in January, beating businessman and voice to parliament opponent Warren Mundine. More to come
News.com.au
04-06-2025
- General
- News.com.au
Bradfield recount: Liberals poised to lose blue ribbon Sydney seat to teal independent Nicolette Boele
The Liberals are poised to lose the blue ribbon seat of Bradfield to teal independent Nicolette Boele following a closely watched recount. Gladys Berejiklian-backed candidate Gisele Kapterian is currently trailing Ms Boele by 27 votes, despite winning the first count by eight votes, triggering an automatic recount. Sky News called the electorate for the Climate-200 backed independent, and the Australian Electoral Commission is set to officially announce the winner later today. An AEC spokesman said about 99.9 per cent of the vote had been counted with Ms Boele ahead by 27 votes. The seat was previously held by former Morrison-era minister Paul Fletcher who retired at the last election. Ms Kapterian, who had been given an assistant shadow cabinet portfolio contingent on her win, now has the option to contest the result at the Court of Disputed Returns, which would most likely result in a by-election.
