Latest news with #Climate200-backed
Sydney Morning Herald
6 days ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
A rapist and bully but beloved by Boomers: The turbulent history of Gareth Ward
In the aftermath of the March 2023 state election, Berry business owner Kate Dezarnaulds posed a powerful question on social media. How could the voters of Kiama, in good conscience, return an MP to parliament with serious sexual assault charges hanging over his head? 'What is wrong with my community,' Dezarnaulds asked, 'when multiple victims of sexual assault are disbelieved by half our residents? What is wrong with my community when having a member who is unable to enter their place of work or cast a vote on our behalf is good enough for half of our residents?' Dezarnaulds was referring to the now convicted rapist and former MP Gareth Ward. Ward re-contested Kiama as an independent after being forced to quit the Liberal Party in 2021 and move to the crossbench while he awaited his trial for historical sexual assault charges. For almost two years, he was barred from parliament after a successful suspension motion, and while his margin in the once-safe seat was slashed in 2023, he was returned as the MP for Kiama. The response to Dezarnaulds' post was swift, but not from Kiama voters. Rather, Ward called in RMB Lawyers, his go-to firm on the South Coast when people dared to criticise him. Ward threatened to sue Dezarnaulds for defamation. Dezarnaulds printed the apology demanded from Ward's lawyers, insisting she did not intend to suggest he was guilty of anything. Dezarnaulds went on to contest the May federal election as a Climate 200-backed independent in the seat of Gilmore. Ward continued his attacks on her during the election campaign, including lodging a complaint with the Australian Electoral Commission about her how-to-vote cards. The commission took no action. RMB Lawyers, by all accounts, has done well thanks to Ward's litigious streak. Dezarnaulds estimates he has sent concerns notices, the first step in signalling defamation proceedings, to dozens of people across the South Coast. In one case, he threatened to sue former Greens candidate and academic Tonia Gray. Gray did not want to comment, preferring to never think about Ward again. But after his conviction for the indecent and sexual assault of two young men, and his subsequent refusal to resign from parliament, Gray posted on Facebook: 'I'm speechless about the audacity of this man. We know he is a bully, we have been on the receiving end of his attacks.' (The Herald also received a concerns notice from Ward via RMB Lawyers after writing that he had made calls supporting the preselection of his friend and ex-Liberal colleague Rory Amon ahead of the 2023 election. Amon's political career ended up being short-lived, and he has since quit parliament after being charged with child sexual assault, which he denies. Ward's legal threat against the Herald went nowhere.)
The Age
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Age
A rapist and bully but beloved by Boomers: The turbulent history of Gareth Ward
In the aftermath of the March 2023 state election, Berry business owner Kate Dezarnaulds posed a powerful question on social media. How could the voters of Kiama, in good conscience, return an MP to parliament with serious sexual assault charges hanging over his head? 'What is wrong with my community,' Dezarnaulds asked, 'when multiple victims of sexual assault are disbelieved by half our residents? What is wrong with my community when having a member who is unable to enter their place of work or cast a vote on our behalf is good enough for half of our residents?' Dezarnaulds was referring to the now convicted rapist and former MP Gareth Ward. Ward re-contested Kiama as an independent after being forced to quit the Liberal Party in 2021 and move to the crossbench while he awaited his trial for historical sexual assault charges. For almost two years, he was barred from parliament after a successful suspension motion, and while his margin in the once-safe seat was slashed in 2023, he was returned as the MP for Kiama. The response to Dezarnaulds' post was swift, but not from Kiama voters. Rather, Ward called in RMB Lawyers, his go-to firm on the South Coast when people dared to criticise him. Ward threatened to sue Dezarnaulds for defamation. Dezarnaulds printed the apology demanded from Ward's lawyers, insisting she did not intend to suggest he was guilty of anything. Dezarnaulds went on to contest the May federal election as a Climate 200-backed independent in the seat of Gilmore. Ward continued his attacks on her during the election campaign, including lodging a complaint with the Australian Electoral Commission about her how-to-vote cards. The commission took no action. RMB Lawyers, by all accounts, has done well thanks to Ward's litigious streak. Dezarnaulds estimates he has sent concerns notices, the first step in signalling defamation proceedings, to dozens of people across the South Coast. In one case, he threatened to sue former Greens candidate and academic Tonia Gray. Gray did not want to comment, preferring to never think about Ward again. But after his conviction for the indecent and sexual assault of two young men, and his subsequent refusal to resign from parliament, Gray posted on Facebook: 'I'm speechless about the audacity of this man. We know he is a bully, we have been on the receiving end of his attacks.' (The Herald also received a concerns notice from Ward via RMB Lawyers after writing that he had made calls supporting the preselection of his friend and ex-Liberal colleague Rory Amon ahead of the 2023 election. Amon's political career ended up being short-lived, and he has since quit parliament after being charged with child sexual assault, which he denies. Ward's legal threat against the Herald went nowhere.)
The Age
28-05-2025
- 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.
