Latest news with #Climate200-backed
The Age
7 days ago
- Business
- The Age
Ley breaks with Dutton on immigration, DOGE, but ignites feuding after cull
Ley also pushed out three-right wing women from the shadow cabinet, including Chandler (who rejected a more junior role), Price (moved into a more junior role in charge of defence industry), and former education spokeswoman Sarah Henderson. In a statement which failed to reference Ley or her ongoing loyalty to the opposition, Henderson lamented her removal and that of other women: 'I regret that a number of high-performing Liberal women have been overlooked or demoted in the new ministry.' They were replaced in the shadow cabinet by Angie Bell (youth and environment) and Kerrynne Liddell (social services and Indigenous Australians). Overall, Ley picked two fewer women than Dutton's last shadow cabinet. Right-wing MPs knew Ley would back her allies, but they did not anticipate the extent of the right-wing cull, which included demoting Price, Henderson, Chandler, and Tony Pasin. In their places, former minister Alex Hawke – the head of the small centre-right NSW sub-faction that supports Ley – took over as industry spokesman and manager of opposition business, meaning he is in the leadership grouping within the shadow cabinet. Promotions were given to MPs this masthead had previously reported were promised roles by Ley when she was jostling with Angus Taylor for the Liberal leadership. They included Andrew Wallace, Jason Wood and Scott Buchholz. 'Three right-wing women out at the same time as giving non-merit-based roles to blokes won't be forgotten,' one annoyed MP said. In other notable appointments, Taylor became the defence spokesman, taking over from Andrew Hastie, who moved into home affairs. Hastie's friend and former home affairs lead, James Paterson, shifted to the key economic portfolio of finance. He will lead the economic team alongside deputy leader Ted O'Brien as shadow treasurer and Bragg as housing and deregulation chief, creating a free-market-minded trio after the party adopted an interventionist, anti-big-business style under Dutton. Tim Wilson will go straight into the shadow cabinet, as long as he holds on to the seat of Goldstein after a partial recount, handling industrial relations, small business and employment. Dan Tehan, the former immigration spokesman who fended off a Climate 200-backed independent challenge in the Victorian seat of Wannon, was handed the difficult task of landing the Coalition's position on energy and climate change. Ley seemed open to a review of the Morrison-era pledge to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Tehan's portfolio of 'energy and emissions reduction' drops the term 'climate change', taking it back to its pre-2022 terminology. Asked about her commitment to the net zero pledge, which has the potential to split the party over diverging attitudes to climate change, Ley said: 'We'll have those discussions inside the policy development process.' Loading Rebel senator Matt Canavan rejected an offer from Littleproud to include him in his shadow cabinet, as reported by this masthead earlier on Wednesday. Canavan was in line for the assistant treasurer spot eventually given to Nationals MP Pat Conaghan, but decided to move to the backbench to continue to argue against net zero. Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce was dumped from the frontbench by Littleproud along with Michael McCormack. Joyce and Canavan, who gave Littleproud a scare when he challenged for the Nationals leadership a few weeks ago, both said they would not let up in their advocacy against the plan they believe is driving up power prices. Canavan told this masthead that a 'flashpoint' was looming on net zero, and added that he did not know whether Littleproud had asked Ley to allow shadow ministers to freewheel on policy as a way to get net zero sceptics on to the frontbench.
Epoch Times
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Electoral Commission Orders Partial Recount in Goldstein, Rejects Full Review
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has announced it will conduct a partial recount in the Victorian seat of Goldstein, after Liberal candidate Tim Wilson emerged 260 votes ahead of incumbent independent MP Zoe Daniel. Daniel had formally requested a full recount, but the AEC declined, citing the rigour and scrutiny already applied during the distribution of preferences. 'The AEC is not undertaking a full recount, which would include repeating the just completed distribution of preferences. We are satisfied that there was a very high degree of rigour throughout the distribution of preferences process,' the commission said in a statement. However, it acknowledged that some corrections were made in the final stages of preference distribution. As a result, the AEC deemed it 'reasonable and appropriate' to re-examine first-preference ballots for Daniel and Wilson, as well as all informal votes. The recount will begin on May 28 and is expected to take up to four days. Daniel Responds to AEC Decision Daniel acknowledged the AEC's decision in a brief statement. Related Stories 5/24/2025 5/7/2025 'I'd like to thank my scrutineers and AEC staff for their diligence and dedication to the democratic process. I will be making no further comment until the process is complete,' she said. The result is a blow to Daniel, who had celebrated an apparent victory on election night to the sound of Sia's 'Titanium,' only for the tide to turn days later. Daniel's early lead evaporated as thousands of postal votes heavily favoured Wilson, pushing him into a winning position. Goldstein Marks a High-Profile Setback for Climate 200 The contest for Goldstein has been one of the most watched races of the 2025 election, given its significance in the rise of the Climate 200-backed 'Teal' independents. Daniel's 2022 victory over Wilson was a landmark moment for the movement, as she flipped the once-safe Liberal seat. Climate 200 invested over $500,000 in Daniel's re-election bid, underscoring the importance of Goldstein to the group's campaign. Wilson's apparent return to parliament now marks the first time a Liberal candidate has reclaimed a seat from a Climate 200-backed independent. While the final result in Goldstein remains pending, AEC is carrying out a full recount in Sydney's closely contested Bradfield seat. The race is extremely tight, with Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian leading independent Nicolette Boele by just eight votes after the final distribution of preferences. Under AEC rules, any margin under 100 votes triggers a full recount. Boele was provisionally declared the winner by 40 votes.
Sky News AU
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Monique Ryan clings on as Sky News calls Kooyong for Teal MP despite spirited challenge from Liberal Amelia Hamer
Teal independent Monique Ryan will hold on to the seat of Kooyong after an agonising count that has ebbed and flowed for a week after election night. As it stands the Climate 200-backed independent has 50.3 per cent of the vote, leading Liberal Amelia Hamer by just 693 votes. However, with only 5,000 votes to count, and with those votes splitting roughly 50/50, it is all but certain Ms Hamer cannot bridge the gap. While the margin could tighten, there is enough of a trend to say that Ms Ryan will hold on in a cliffhanger. The so-called Teal MPs will now hold on to five out of six of their existing seats having lost Goldstein, but will likely fall short of winning an extra seat in Bradfield, Sydney. Although that race is currently too close to call, the Liberal candidate, Gisele Kapterian, will likely to hang on. She currently leads by just 237 votes. Climate-200 backed candidates have also fallen just short in several seats at this election, including Bean, Fremantle, Forrest, Flinders, and Monash. However, one candidate, Keryn Jones, remains an outside chance of winning Fisher if she can finish in the final two once preferences are distributed.
Epoch Times
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Climate 200 Teals, Independents Surge Across Multiple Electorates
It's not just Labor that's staging a return in the 2025 federal election. The Climate 200-backed 'Teals' and other independents, who first shook the system in 2022, continue to be an influential force eroding the traditional dominance of the two major parties. While several seats remain undecided, current counts highlight the staying presence of independents who are not only absorbing a major fraction of the primary vote, but are also playing a significant role directing preferences. Teal Independents Surging in Once-Safe Seats The safe Labor seat of Bean in the Australian Capital Territory is facing a strong challenge from Teal independent Jessie Price, who is pushing sitting Labor MP David Smith to the brink. As of May 7, the vote count has see-sawed between both candidates in the seat Labor won in 2022, with a two-party preferred 25.9 percent margin. This time, Price has won 26.7 percent of the primary vote in her first outing, taking support from the Greens, Liberal Party, and other minor parties. In the once-safe Liberal seat of Bradfield in northern Sydney, the high-profile clash between Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian and Teal independent Nicolette Boele continues. Related Stories 5/1/2025 4/23/2025 Kapterian holds a razor-thin lead with 50.1 percent while Boele trails closely at 49.9 percent—a mere 195-vote difference. While Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's seat of Dickson saw local Teal, Ellie Smith, absorb 12.5 percent of the primary vote, which was likely redirected to victorious Labor candidate Ali France. Backed by over $10 million from Simon Holmes à Court's Climate 200, Teal candidates—mostly professional women with local community roots—have proven their staying power. Climate 200 backs independents have largely campaigned on their support for stronger climate change issues, and have appealed to working professional voters and women looking for alternative candidates. A early morning moped rider passes political signage outside Bondi Surf Bathers' Life Saving Club polling booth in Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia on May 3, 2025. LisaNot Just the Teals Muslim Votes Matter candidates in western Sydney also managed to capture large swathes of the electorate, but fell short of winning. In Watson, independent Ziad Basyouny secured 15 percent of the primary vote on his first outing against Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, who won 49 percent. While pharmacist, Ahmed Ouf, managed to secure 20 percent of the primary vote against Education Minister Jason Clare's 46.45 percent in the sat of Blaxland. Former party members were also able to drag a portion of voters with them. In New South Wales (NSW), Independent Andrew Gee, who left the Nationals in 2022, retained his seat as an independent after winning 23.9 percent of the primary vote. Overall, Gee secured a two-party preferred vote of 56.3 percent over the Nationals new candidate Sam Farraway on 43.7 percent, a swing of over 15 percent in a seat previously considered safe for the Nationals. Farraway's primary vote dropped by 17.4 percent. While in the eastern Victorian seat of Monash, two independent candidates including Teal Deb Leonard, and former Liberal Party MP Russell Broadbent secured 17.3 percent and 10.3 percent of the vote, respectively. The Liberal Party's candidate Mary Aldred is currently leading with 32.4 percent of the vote. A Reckoning for the Two-Party System Graham Young, executive director and pollster at the Australian Institute for Progress, says the trend is driven by eroding confidence in the two-party system. 'In fact, you could probably use the independent vote to measure the implied competence of the 'uniparty,'' Young told The Epoch Times. He noted that about one-third of voters opted for a candidate outside the Coalition or Labor this election. 'In the early 70s, fewer than 10 percent voted for minor parties and independents,' he said. Though preferences often bring votes back to major parties, Young sees the initial support for independents as a clear protest against policy and representation failures. Traditionally, independents were hyper-localised, like Ted Mack in North Sydney or Cathy McGowan in Indi. But the new wave, specifically the Teals, were backed by strategic funding and professional campaigning. 'They target mostly upper-middle-class seats held by the Liberal Party that have a low Labor vote, but where a significant minority of Liberal voters are not aligned with the party on mostly three issues—climate change, women in politics, and corruption,' Young said. He likens the model to a political franchise rather than true independents. 'If they can peel off enough Liberals, and marry them to tactically voting Labor and Greens voters, they have the potential to win these seats on preferences.' Teals Featured Heavily Across Many Seats In Wentworth, high-profile teal MP Allegra Spender has comfortably retained her seat against Liberal candidate Ro Knox. Spender achieved 56.7 percent, ahead of Knox's 43.3 percent, securing a second term in this once-blue-ribbon seat. In Flinders, Victoria, the Teal independent Ben Smith is now the main challenger to Liberal MP Zoe McKenzie. While in Kooyong, independent Monique Ryan, is locked in a see sawing battle with Liberal candidate Amelia Hamer. In the neighbouring Goldstein, former Liberal MP Tim Wilson looks likely to secure his former seat against incumbent Teal Zoe Daniel. While in Wannon, regional western Victoria, Shadow Minister Dan Tehan narrowly retained his seat against Teal independent Alex Dyson, and Labor's Agriculture Minister Julie Collins has just managed to fend of anti-salmon farming campaigner and Teal Peter George in Franklin, Tasmania. Collins retained the seat with 57.3 percent against George's 42.7 percent.
Sky News AU
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Adam Bandt, Monique Ryan on the edge as Gisele Kapterian takes slender lead in Bradfield: Inside the election races going down to the wire
Adam Bandt and Monique Ryan are both at risk of losing their seats, while Gisele Kapterian has taken a slender lead over Nicolette Boele in Bradfield as races in a handful of key seats appear set to go down to the wire. While Labor secured a comprehensive victory in the federal election on Saturday, winning 88 seats as of Tuesday night, 12 electorates remain up for grabs. Among those still in the balance are the seat of Melbourne, currently held by Mr Bandt, as well as the Teal-held Kooyong, with both electorates representing major prizes for Labor and the Coalition. Read on for the state of play in every key undecided seat. Bradfield The battle in one of the nation's most well heeled electorates could come down to as few as 200 votes, as Teal candidate Nicolette Boele pushes to capitalise on the retirement of Liberal MP Paul Fletcher. Ms Boele had led the race throughout most of polling day and into the start of the week, only for Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian to take the narrowest of leads on Tuesday. Ms Kapterian was ahead by 178 votes as of Tuesday evening, with early voters and mail-in ballots appearing to favour her over her Teal rival. A victory for the Liberal candidate would represent a rare positive from an otherwise dismal election result for the Coalition, as well as inflict a blow on the Climate 200-backed Teals, who have failed to build substantially on wins in the 2022 campaign. Kooyong Another seat featuring a shootout between the Liberal Party and Teals is Kooyong in Victoria. Incumbent Monique Ryan won a shock victory over former Liberal heavyweight Josh Frydenberg in 2022, with the major party desperate to reclaim what had previously been a safe seat. Liberal candidate Amelia Hamer admitted on Tuesday she had almost called her rival to concede on election night, but was dissuaded by campaign advisors before a surge of support saw her chances of victory grow considerably. "I actually did speak to the team and I said: 'Look, should I call and concede?'," she told 3AW. "The team said to me: 'No, it does look like what's coming out of pre-poll is much more positive'. "I trust my team and so we hung on." Ms Ryan led Ms Hamer by 1,002 votes as of Tuesday night, with 21.6 per cent of the vote still to count. A large enough swing away from the Teal candidate in pre-poll votes would see Ms Hamer reclaim the blue-ribbon seat. Melbourne The Greens are facing a near total wipeout in the Lower House, with leader Adam Bandt in serious danger of losing his seat. Mr Bandt has held Melbourne since 2010, but Labor's Sarah Witty held a more than 4,000 vote lead as of Tuesday evening. Preference flows will likely decide a contest most analysts are describing as incredibly close. Postal votes have been breaking in favour of Ms Witty and the Greens leader had been receiving only around 23 per cent of preferences. Mr Bandt likely needs to win more than a third of preferences to hold the seat. If the Greens leader is defeated it would mark a serious repudiation of the party's recent direction, with controversial anti-Israel rhetoric and support for the militant CFMEU potentially souring voters on the minor party.
