Latest news with #FederalLabor
The Guardian
8 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Labor to add text to Mark Latham's portrait as former party leader faces ongoing controversy
Federal Labor will keep Mark Latham's official portrait hanging in its caucus room at Parliament House, but add text condemning the former leader's actions since leaving federal politics. The new caption follows a defamation loss for homophobic comments about another MP and allegations of domestic violence and inappropriate behaviour being levelled at the now New South Wales upper house member. Labor's caucus chair, Sharon Claydon, told a meeting of party MPs on Monday that members concerned about Latham's portrait, which is included in a gallery of former leaders, had agreed on new text to be added to the photo. 'In 2017, Mark Latham was expelled from the Australian Labor Party and banned for life,' it will read. 'His actions do not accord with Labor values, and fail to meet the standards we expect and demand.' Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Latham was the federal Labor leader from 2003 until 2005. He was expelled from the Labor party after joining the Liberal Democrats to run for NSW politics and has since been a member of Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party. He currently sits as an independent. The finance minister and minister for women, Katy Gallagher, said Latham was expelled from the party and banned for life in 2017. 'Action was taken back then in light of some of his behaviour, and also leaving to join another political party,' she said. 'I think there is a recognition on balance that you can't erase history. 'He was a leader, and a leader for two years and sitting there on the wall is an indication of where we have been, and perhaps for all of us, somewhere we don't want to return to. 'But I think acknowledging the fact that he was expelled and that his actions don't align with modern Australian Labor Party values, or standards of behaviour is important.' Latham has faced calls to resign after he lost a defamation case regarding homophobic comments about NSW independent MP Alex Greenwich, and criticism of his decision to air confidential medical information about Greenwich in parliament. Last week Latham also faced allegations of emotional, physical and financial abuse by a former partner in court documents. Latham's former girlfriend, Nathalie Matthews, is pursuing a private apprehended violence order against him. Leaked text messages prompted more criticism of the Legislative Council member. Latham has strongly denied the allegations against him. Latham posted on social media after the move was announced, likening the decision to Stalin's purges in Soviet Russia in the 1930s. He suggested the Labor caucus 'go the full Stalin'.
West Australian
2 days ago
- Politics
- West Australian
Embattled politician Mark Latham claims relationship with Nathalie Matthews was ‘sexed-up' but consensual
Embattled politician Mark Latham has renewed claims his relationship with former partner Nathalie Matthews was 'sexed-up' but consensual, as he denied allegations made by his former partner. This week, widespread reports detailed Ms Matthews' allegations that Mr Latham pressured her into 'degrading' sex acts and threw dinner plates at her. Speaking to the media at length on Saturday in south-west Sydney, an at times belligerent Mr Latham also refused to confirm or deny allegations that he had sex in his NSW parliamentary office. He instead responded by asking reporters if they had engaged in similar behaviour at their workplaces. 'These are matters that are private . . . I'm not making any comment on things that are private,' he said During the lengthy press conference, he said his relationship with Ms Matthews was an 'entirely consensual arrangement between two adults'. 'One thing's abundantly clear, what we had for over two years was a sexed-up, consensual, open arrangement between adults with a fair bit of other contacts, such as fun days of the races thrown in,' he said. 'I didn't make any moral judgment about her. 'I just enjoyed our time together, and it was enjoyable for 90 per cent of the time, the other per cent could be dark and disturbing, but I rationalised it by thinking at my age — an age at which my father had already dropped dead — 90 per cent beat 10 per cent but ultimately, there was an incident that ended it all I mentioned earlier; the races.' On the night of a contentious vote on the sale of Rosehill Racecourse in Sydney, an incident between the pair allegedly unfolded. Mr Latham, a one-time Federal Labor leader, later leader of One Nation NSW and now an independent NSW MP, claims the incident was the 'first time in my life I'd ever been physically scared of a woman'. He claimed Ms Matthews was 'covered in mud' and confronted him. 'This was like something from World War Z,' he said. Responding to additional reports that he had previously photographed female MPs during parliamentary sessions and sent derogatory private messages about them, Mr Latham acknowledged he had made a 'mistake'. 'I have apologised to both Susan Carter and Abigail Boyd, and they've accepted my apology, for which I thank them both sincerely,' he said. Mr Latham maintained that he did not breach any parliamentary standing orders and has never been formally notified of any complaints regarding his behaviour. Ms Matthews reportedly said part of the reason she applied for a domestic violence order against him was fear that intimate videos she claims to have filmed — including one recorded in NSW Parliament House — would be made public. Mr Latham insisted he had no knowledge of such video recordings involving him. 'I have checked my devices and I can't find any material (Ms Matthews) has filmed involving me, and that includes NSW Parliament House,' Mr Latham said. 'If she has recorded these videos, it is without my knowledge and consent, and there's a question about the legality of such a practice.' On Saturday, Ms Matthews issued a statement saying she was 'aware' of the remarks made by Mr Latham and would make no additional comments. 'I request the privacy that I deserve whilst I go through this stressful period,' she said. 'The full story will come out in due course in the proper manner.'
Sky News AU
19-06-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
‘Mind-bending': Labor is ‘powering on' renewables and it is failing regional communities
Shadow Minister for Regional Development Anne Webster states the Victorian and Federal Labor governments are making strides toward their net-zero goals, asserting this is detrimental to regional communities. 'It is honestly mind-bending that the Victorian government and Chris Bowen at a federal level are now powering on in his second term to get this job done,' Ms Webster told Sky News host Chris Kenny. 'Let's face it, all their targets are in place, and they can't fail – the problem is they're failing regional communities.'
The Advertiser
30-05-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Opposition calls on PM to take up Israel trip invite
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is being pressured to visit Israel as Australia strengthens its language against the Middle Eastern nation for blocking aid into Gaza. Mr Albanese has been publicly invited by President Isaac Herzog after he strengthened his language to criticise Israel for a blockade of food and medical supplies into Gaza as it reinvigorates a military offensive. The new opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Michaelia Cash said Mr Albanese should take up the invitation and travel as soon as possible when there were no domestic issues like the NSW flood recovery. "Australia and Israel have always had a very strong relationship, which has deteriorated significantly under the Albanese government since Hamas's terrorist attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023," Senator Cash told AAP. "This is a good opportunity for the prime minister to reset the relationship." The October 7 attack killed 1200 people and resulted in 250 hostages being taken, according to Israel's tallies. Senator Cash is set to meet Israeli ambassador Amir Maimon in the next week. Australia has joined a growing chorus of nations strengthening its rhetoric against the Jewish state as the death toll in Gaza eclipses 54,000, according to the local health authority. More than two million people face starvation with a lack of basic supplies and the strip largely reduced to rubble following the nearly 20-month-long war. Aid was stopped to pressure Hamas into releasing more hostages after a ceasefire broke down earlier this year. The prime minister branded Israel's blockade as unacceptable and said its explanation for blocking aid was "completely untenable and without credibility". Federal Labor president and former treasurer Wayne Swan said he was sure Mr Albanese would consider the invite. "But you know, the behaviour of Israel at the moment is pretty outrageous when it comes to the blockage of aid into Gaza," he told Nine's Today Show on Friday. "Now, of course, we've got additional settlements going into the West Bank, so the behaviour of the Israeli government is pretty provocative at the moment. "But I'm sure the prime minister will do everything he can constructively to work with all those involved for a swift end to this conflict." Canada, France and the UK last week warned of "further concrete action" if Israel doesn't halt its military campaign and lift aid restrictions. A ceasefire deal brokered by the White House and signed off by Israel has renewed hope. The proposal hasn't been fully detailed publicly and has been submitted to Hamas. It comes ahead of a major international summit which will debate Palestinian statehood in New York in June. Australia hasn't confirmed who will attend the summit as a representative. Australia's representative to the United Nations James Larsen welcomed "the conference's ambition of a time-bound, irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution". Israel has criticised any push for Palestinian statehood as rewarding Hamas' terrorism, a point that has been reiterated by some Jewish groups in Australia as well as the opposition. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is being pressured to visit Israel as Australia strengthens its language against the Middle Eastern nation for blocking aid into Gaza. Mr Albanese has been publicly invited by President Isaac Herzog after he strengthened his language to criticise Israel for a blockade of food and medical supplies into Gaza as it reinvigorates a military offensive. The new opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Michaelia Cash said Mr Albanese should take up the invitation and travel as soon as possible when there were no domestic issues like the NSW flood recovery. "Australia and Israel have always had a very strong relationship, which has deteriorated significantly under the Albanese government since Hamas's terrorist attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023," Senator Cash told AAP. "This is a good opportunity for the prime minister to reset the relationship." The October 7 attack killed 1200 people and resulted in 250 hostages being taken, according to Israel's tallies. Senator Cash is set to meet Israeli ambassador Amir Maimon in the next week. Australia has joined a growing chorus of nations strengthening its rhetoric against the Jewish state as the death toll in Gaza eclipses 54,000, according to the local health authority. More than two million people face starvation with a lack of basic supplies and the strip largely reduced to rubble following the nearly 20-month-long war. Aid was stopped to pressure Hamas into releasing more hostages after a ceasefire broke down earlier this year. The prime minister branded Israel's blockade as unacceptable and said its explanation for blocking aid was "completely untenable and without credibility". Federal Labor president and former treasurer Wayne Swan said he was sure Mr Albanese would consider the invite. "But you know, the behaviour of Israel at the moment is pretty outrageous when it comes to the blockage of aid into Gaza," he told Nine's Today Show on Friday. "Now, of course, we've got additional settlements going into the West Bank, so the behaviour of the Israeli government is pretty provocative at the moment. "But I'm sure the prime minister will do everything he can constructively to work with all those involved for a swift end to this conflict." Canada, France and the UK last week warned of "further concrete action" if Israel doesn't halt its military campaign and lift aid restrictions. A ceasefire deal brokered by the White House and signed off by Israel has renewed hope. The proposal hasn't been fully detailed publicly and has been submitted to Hamas. It comes ahead of a major international summit which will debate Palestinian statehood in New York in June. Australia hasn't confirmed who will attend the summit as a representative. Australia's representative to the United Nations James Larsen welcomed "the conference's ambition of a time-bound, irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution". Israel has criticised any push for Palestinian statehood as rewarding Hamas' terrorism, a point that has been reiterated by some Jewish groups in Australia as well as the opposition. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is being pressured to visit Israel as Australia strengthens its language against the Middle Eastern nation for blocking aid into Gaza. Mr Albanese has been publicly invited by President Isaac Herzog after he strengthened his language to criticise Israel for a blockade of food and medical supplies into Gaza as it reinvigorates a military offensive. The new opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Michaelia Cash said Mr Albanese should take up the invitation and travel as soon as possible when there were no domestic issues like the NSW flood recovery. "Australia and Israel have always had a very strong relationship, which has deteriorated significantly under the Albanese government since Hamas's terrorist attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023," Senator Cash told AAP. "This is a good opportunity for the prime minister to reset the relationship." The October 7 attack killed 1200 people and resulted in 250 hostages being taken, according to Israel's tallies. Senator Cash is set to meet Israeli ambassador Amir Maimon in the next week. Australia has joined a growing chorus of nations strengthening its rhetoric against the Jewish state as the death toll in Gaza eclipses 54,000, according to the local health authority. More than two million people face starvation with a lack of basic supplies and the strip largely reduced to rubble following the nearly 20-month-long war. Aid was stopped to pressure Hamas into releasing more hostages after a ceasefire broke down earlier this year. The prime minister branded Israel's blockade as unacceptable and said its explanation for blocking aid was "completely untenable and without credibility". Federal Labor president and former treasurer Wayne Swan said he was sure Mr Albanese would consider the invite. "But you know, the behaviour of Israel at the moment is pretty outrageous when it comes to the blockage of aid into Gaza," he told Nine's Today Show on Friday. "Now, of course, we've got additional settlements going into the West Bank, so the behaviour of the Israeli government is pretty provocative at the moment. "But I'm sure the prime minister will do everything he can constructively to work with all those involved for a swift end to this conflict." Canada, France and the UK last week warned of "further concrete action" if Israel doesn't halt its military campaign and lift aid restrictions. A ceasefire deal brokered by the White House and signed off by Israel has renewed hope. The proposal hasn't been fully detailed publicly and has been submitted to Hamas. It comes ahead of a major international summit which will debate Palestinian statehood in New York in June. Australia hasn't confirmed who will attend the summit as a representative. Australia's representative to the United Nations James Larsen welcomed "the conference's ambition of a time-bound, irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution". Israel has criticised any push for Palestinian statehood as rewarding Hamas' terrorism, a point that has been reiterated by some Jewish groups in Australia as well as the opposition. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is being pressured to visit Israel as Australia strengthens its language against the Middle Eastern nation for blocking aid into Gaza. Mr Albanese has been publicly invited by President Isaac Herzog after he strengthened his language to criticise Israel for a blockade of food and medical supplies into Gaza as it reinvigorates a military offensive. The new opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Michaelia Cash said Mr Albanese should take up the invitation and travel as soon as possible when there were no domestic issues like the NSW flood recovery. "Australia and Israel have always had a very strong relationship, which has deteriorated significantly under the Albanese government since Hamas's terrorist attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023," Senator Cash told AAP. "This is a good opportunity for the prime minister to reset the relationship." The October 7 attack killed 1200 people and resulted in 250 hostages being taken, according to Israel's tallies. Senator Cash is set to meet Israeli ambassador Amir Maimon in the next week. Australia has joined a growing chorus of nations strengthening its rhetoric against the Jewish state as the death toll in Gaza eclipses 54,000, according to the local health authority. More than two million people face starvation with a lack of basic supplies and the strip largely reduced to rubble following the nearly 20-month-long war. Aid was stopped to pressure Hamas into releasing more hostages after a ceasefire broke down earlier this year. The prime minister branded Israel's blockade as unacceptable and said its explanation for blocking aid was "completely untenable and without credibility". Federal Labor president and former treasurer Wayne Swan said he was sure Mr Albanese would consider the invite. "But you know, the behaviour of Israel at the moment is pretty outrageous when it comes to the blockage of aid into Gaza," he told Nine's Today Show on Friday. "Now, of course, we've got additional settlements going into the West Bank, so the behaviour of the Israeli government is pretty provocative at the moment. "But I'm sure the prime minister will do everything he can constructively to work with all those involved for a swift end to this conflict." Canada, France and the UK last week warned of "further concrete action" if Israel doesn't halt its military campaign and lift aid restrictions. A ceasefire deal brokered by the White House and signed off by Israel has renewed hope. The proposal hasn't been fully detailed publicly and has been submitted to Hamas. It comes ahead of a major international summit which will debate Palestinian statehood in New York in June. Australia hasn't confirmed who will attend the summit as a representative. Australia's representative to the United Nations James Larsen welcomed "the conference's ambition of a time-bound, irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution". Israel has criticised any push for Palestinian statehood as rewarding Hamas' terrorism, a point that has been reiterated by some Jewish groups in Australia as well as the opposition.
West Australian
30-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Opposition calls on PM to take up Israel trip invite
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is being pressured to visit Israel as Australia strengthens its language against the Middle Eastern nation for blocking aid into Gaza. Mr Albanese has been publicly invited by President Isaac Herzog after he strengthened his language to criticise Israel for a blockade of food and medical supplies into Gaza as it reinvigorates a military offensive. The new opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Michaelia Cash said Mr Albanese should take up the invitation and travel as soon as possible when there were no domestic issues like the NSW flood recovery. "Australia and Israel have always had a very strong relationship, which has deteriorated significantly under the Albanese government since Hamas's terrorist attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023," Senator Cash told AAP. "This is a good opportunity for the prime minister to reset the relationship." The October 7 attack killed 1200 people and resulted in 250 hostages being taken, according to Israel's tallies. Senator Cash is set to meet Israeli ambassador Amir Maimon in the next week. Australia has joined a growing chorus of nations strengthening its rhetoric against the Jewish state as the death toll in Gaza eclipses 54,000, according to the local health authority. More than two million people face starvation with a lack of basic supplies and the strip largely reduced to rubble following the nearly 20-month-long war. Aid was stopped to pressure Hamas into releasing more hostages after a ceasefire broke down earlier this year. The prime minister branded Israel's blockade as unacceptable and said its explanation for blocking aid was "completely untenable and without credibility". Federal Labor president and former treasurer Wayne Swan said he was sure Mr Albanese would consider the invite. "But you know, the behaviour of Israel at the moment is pretty outrageous when it comes to the blockage of aid into Gaza," he told Nine's Today Show on Friday. "Now, of course, we've got additional settlements going into the West Bank, so the behaviour of the Israeli government is pretty provocative at the moment. "But I'm sure the prime minister will do everything he can constructively to work with all those involved for a swift end to this conflict." Canada, France and the UK last week warned of "further concrete action" if Israel doesn't halt its military campaign and lift aid restrictions. A ceasefire deal brokered by the White House and signed off by Israel has renewed hope. The proposal hasn't been fully detailed publicly and has been submitted to Hamas. It comes ahead of a major international summit which will debate Palestinian statehood in New York in June. Australia hasn't confirmed who will attend the summit as a representative. Australia's representative to the United Nations James Larsen welcomed "the conference's ambition of a time-bound, irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution". Israel has criticised any push for Palestinian statehood as rewarding Hamas' terrorism, a point that has been reiterated by some Jewish groups in Australia as well as the opposition.
