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News.com.au
8 hours ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
Scott Morrison, Baz Luhrmann given top accolades in King's Birthday Honours 2025
Former Covid prime minister Scott Morrison has been given the top King's Birthday honour of an Companion of the Order of Australia for his work Mr Morrison was given the honour in recognition of his 'eminent service' to the people and Australian parliament, noting his contributions to his 'leadership of the national Covid-19 response,' his economic initiatives and his work on national security, 'especially through leadership of Australia's contribution to AUKUS'. Reflecting on the challenges during his term as Australia's 30th prime minister from 2018 to 2022, he said Australians responded with 'trademark courage and a care for their country and one another'. He also highlighted China's increasingly aggressive defence posture during this period, during this period, which included the encroachment of Chinese jet fighters on the Taiwan Strait's median line in March 2019. 'During this time Australia faced challenges and threats not experienced since the Second World War,' he said in a statement. 'These ranged from unrelenting natural disasters and a once in a century global pandemic and the recession it caused, to coercion and intimidation designed to threaten our support for a free and open Indo-Pacific, a world order that favours freedom and our strong bond with allies and partners.' His statement also paid tribute to his parliamentary colleagues, state premiers, chief territory ministers, as well as Josh Frydenberg and Michael McCormack who respectively served as treasurer and Nationals leader during his term. While at times divisive, Mr Morrison's prime ministership was marred in controversy after it was revealed he secretly awarded himself the portfolios for health, finance, home affairs, treasury, and industry, science, energy and resources. His unpopularity as prime minister also resulted in what was then the 'most serious' election loss for the Liberal Party, with the party losing six of its inner metropolitan seats to teal independents. Baz Luhrmann – Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) One of Australia's most beloved Hollywood exports, Baz Luhrmann's prodigious film and theatre career is well-documented. His repertoire spans the Oscar-winning 2001 film Moulin Rouge! the third of his highly-aclaimed Red Curtain Triology which also includes Romeo + Juliet and Strictly Ballroom. His latest major work was the 2022 film Elvis which explored Elvis Presley's relationship with his manager Colonel Tom Parker and starred Austin Butler and Tom Hanks. His partner, Catherine Martin – a famed production designer – was also award a AC. Hailing from Herons Creek, a tiny town on NSW's North Coast about 291km from Sydney, Luhrmann paid tribute to his humble beginnings, and the arts community at large. 'My personal journey from a small, rural town to the world stage would not have been possible but for those who came before having the vision to support the arts, allowing us to reflect our stories back to ourselves and participate in global culture as Australians,' he said. 'Catherine Martin and I feel this honour recognises not just us, but those who have made access to the arts possible for every Australian.' Catherine Martin – Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) Hailing from Lindfield in Sydney's upper north shore, renowned costume designer, production designer and set designer Catherine Martin is behind her husbands box-office hits. She currently holds the record for the most Academy Awards held by any Australia (four), winning both best costume design and best production design for her work on The Great Gatsby (2013), and Moulin Rouge! (2001). Speaking about her latest accolade, which sits alongside four Academy Awards, a host of Baftas and a Tony, Martin said she was humbled by her AC in eminent service to the arts, to costume, production and set design, and to fostering emerging artistic talent. 'I am so honoured to be joining the ranks of so many illustrious Australians, whom I have admired and been inspired by,' she said. 'Being recognised in your home country is especially meaningful.' Outside of film, she's held executive producer and costume and production design credits on television series Faraway Downs and The Get Down. Martin also dipped her toe into filmmaking, recently launching her collaboration with Italian fashion powerhouse Miu Miu. The project showcased the brand's Upcycled capsule collection which reworks vintage dresses from the brand. Roger Byard – Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) While South Australian forensic pathologist Roger Byard has shared his expertise on headline-grabbing events like the Bali bombings, the Boxing Day tsunami and the Snowtown murders, he says the biggest impact of his profession can happen outside the mortuary. Currently a senior specialist forensic pathologist with Forensic Science SA, a role he's held since 2006, and the Emeritus Professor of Pathology at the School of Biomedicine, Prof Byard said he wants to use the knowledge found in the mortuary into public education and health and social policy. 'To do good forensic pathology, you have to have curiosity, but I think it has to be the foundation has to be compassion, so that you can actually do something with this information,' he said. 'A lot of people in forensics will just document something. They won't actually act on it and look at prevention. 'In forensic pathology we see cases that bypass the hospital, so we've got information that's extremely useful.' His area of expertise however is in pediatrics and SIDS – sudden infant death syndrome – and determining the risk factors, and causes for the rare but tragic event which affects about 0.3 deaths per 1000 live births. Showing the link between forensic pathology and social issues, he points to his work in amending legislation to create an Australian standard for cots to prevent instances of babies suffocating. 'There was a British pathologist who called said that SIDS is in danger of becoming a diagnostic dustbin if people don't investigate the cases properly, and a lot of unsafe cots where babies were suffocating, those deaths were being called SIDS,' he said. 'People weren't realising how dangerous the cots were.' Nicole Livingstone – Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) From Olympic medallist to presenter and now senior sports administrator, Nicole Livingstone has been honoured for her 'distinguished service to sports development and administration, to the promotion of women in sport, and to community health'. The mum-of-three participated in three Olympic Games including Seoul in 1988, Barcelona 1992, and finally Atlanta 1996, competing in a total of 11 events. She holds a bronze Olympic medal for the 200m backstroke, a bronze medal for the 4 x 200m freestyle relay, and a silver medal by the 4 x 100m silver medal. After retiring from professional swimming in 1996, Livingstone segued into presenting before becoming the general manager for the Women's Football at the AFL in 2017, where she was credited with expanding the game and growing the presence of the AFLW. Speaking to Domain in 2021, Livingstone reflected on the growth of women in sport. 'There's a lot more choice for women in this country now than in the 1990s,' she said. 'But you have to remember that during the 2000 Olympic Games, Friends was knocked off air to put swimming on TV and they had 1 million people watching. It was the time before pay-TV and the nation was glued.' Under her tenure, the AFLW became the largest employers of female athletes in Australia, and expanded the teams from eight to 18. Since 2024, Livingstone has served as the chief executive of the Victorian Institute of Sport. Naguib 'Nick' Kaldas – Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) The former NSW Police Force commissioner was one of the three commissioners behind the Royal Commission in Defence and Veteran Suicide, a role he undertook with James Douglas KC and Peggy Brown. Mr Kaldas has also held roles with the United Nations, including chief of investigations with the UN's probe into the use of chemical weapons in Syria in 2016, and the same role in the organisation's Special Tribunal for Lebanon. He was awarded the AO for his 'distinguished service to international and transnational law enforcement, to counter-terrorism leadership, to multiculturalism, and to veterans.' Sobering findings from the royal commission revealed 1677 serving and former Defence Force members died of suicide between 1997 and 2021, with that figure 20 times more than the number of members who were killed in action or during military exercises. The government has agreed in principle to implementing 104 of the 122 recommendations from the report, and noted an additional 17 for further consideration. Speaking at the ceremonial closing of the royal commission, Mr Kaldas urged the government and the Defence Force to 'recognise and admit' to the 'unacceptable behaviour' unearthed by the probe, which include rampant sexual abuse and inadequate support given to veterans and unfair delays taken to process claims lodged with the Department of Veterans' Affairs. He said systems had 'failed' many veterans over many years, stating 'our nation remains indebted to them and that debt must be now be repaid'. 'Vigilance must be maintained, and no one should take their foot off the pedal in the reform process once the Royal Commission ceases to exist,' he said. 'And so, we call on this government and succeeding governments to finally take the courageous step of overruling bureaucratic inertia and do what is needed, what is necessary and what is right'. Julie-Ann Finney – Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) An instrumental and relentless voice in calling for the Royal Commission in Defence and Veteran Suicide, which was released last year, Julie-Ann Finney's advocacy came from tragedy. The South Australian woman began campaigning for change in the military system after she lost her 38-year-old David to suicide in 2019. Ms Finney paid tribute to her late son and defence families nationwide who have lost a loved one. 'I did wish that he was here to get it. I really don't feel like this is my award,' she said. 'I feel like this award belongs to everybody who served or serves, and all of the voiceless and their families who are fighting for them. 'This has been such a huge fight, and usually if I something happens with me I don't talk about it but I have decided that this one, I'm going to stand on, because we still need so much change.' While she wasn't sure of the logistics, Ms Finney said she had plans of sharing the award with the defence community. 'I don't know how this works, but I'm going to hope that when we get the change that we need, that this award can go to the war memorial to say thank you to all who have served this nation, be they here or not, and their families who have supported them.' Deborah Hutton – Medal of the Order of Australi a (OAM) A familiar face on television screens, Deborah Hutton followed a decade-plus career at the Australian Women's Weekly to becoming a fixture on programs like Amazing Homes and Location Location. She's since parlayed her platform to raising awareness for skin cancer prevention s following two significant skin cancer removal surgeries, taking on ambassadorships for Chick Check Champions, The Skin Hospital, The Skin Health Institute and Lions Australia's Skin Cancer Screening and Awareness Program. Photos of Hutton's 'pretty brutal' recovery following the removal of two Basal Cell Carcinomas (BCC) from her face went viral in 2020, however she says the prevenance of the recent tan lines trend was proof of the need for continued advocacy. 'I was like: 'Are you kidding me'? Hutton said, exasperated. 'This is the message that I want these young people to listen to: You are literally investing in having a potentially really dangerous future with your skin. Three out of four Aussies are 100 per cent going to get some form of skin cancer in their lifetime. That's the stat'. Hutton said her message was about having a 'better relationship with the sun'. She also wanted to use her profile to raise more awareness for programs which operate mobile skin check buses and trucks to ensure Aussies in rural and regional areas can access free appointments. 'This is critical because these are areas where they have so little access to get their skin checked,' she said. 'We need more we need more light on these amazing organisations that are doing this, that are putting money behind these mobile units because it's very challenging in some of these areas.'
Sky News AU
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
‘A bit rough': New shadow cabinet analysed
Sky News contributor Joe Hildebrand analyses the Coalition's new shadow cabinet decisions. 'I think obviously Michael McCormack and Barnaby Joyce have both been making noises about David Littleproud's leadership, so it is probably no surprise they did not put their names forward,' Mr Hildebrand told Sky News host Danica De Giorgio. 'Probably a mistake to have Jacinta Price anywhere but Indigenous affairs.'
The Guardian
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Who's in and who's out: key takeaways from Sussan Ley's newly unveiled Coalition frontbench
After a dramatic breakup, the Coalition is back together – and the opposition leader, Sussan Ley, has announced who's made it into her inner circle. There are plenty of winners and losers, including several moderate members and key Ley supporters catapulted to the frontbench. The main casualty of the shake-up is Jane Hume, who was expected to be moved from her shadow finance portfolio, but was removed from the shadow ministry entirely. Here are the six key takeaways from the newly unveiled frontbench. The biggest loser of the new ministry is Jane Hume, with the former shadow finance minister dumped from the frontbench. Hume was the flag-bearer for a plan to restrict work-from-home for public servants that the Coalition ultimately backflipped on. Ley said Hume was an 'enormously talented, fantastic' member but wouldn't clarify exactly why she was resigned to the backbench. Bridget McKenzie told the ABC on Wednesday she was 'shocked' by Hume's demotion. Others also dropped from the shadow ministry list include conservative right faction members Sarah Henderson, the former shadow education minister; Claire Chandler, who near the end of the last term was promoted to the shadow government services portfolio; and Tony Pasin. Barnaby Joyce and Michael McCormack – both former Nationals leaders – have also been demoted out of the shadow ministry. The gender split has gone backwards under Sussan Ley's leadership, with nearly twice as many men as women sitting in the shadow cabinet. While Ley is the first female leader of the Coalition, there are 15 men and eight women in the shadow cabinet, and 19 men and 11 women across the wider ministry. That compares to Peter Dutton's final shadow cabinet which was made up of 11 women and 12 men, which matched that of Anthony Albanese's cabinet gender split. Dutton's wider ministry had 17 men and 13 women overall. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Women have also been taken out of the key finance and economics portfolios in Wednesday's reshuffle. It's despite Ley saying, 'we need more women in this party room'. Andrew Bragg, a moderate, has been promoted from the assistant ministry to cabinet as shadow housing minister; Alex Hawke, a former minister resigned to the backbench under Dutton and key Ley supporter, has been given the shadow industry portfolio; Angie Bell has been moved from the outer ministry to become shadow environment minister; and Julian Leeser has been promoted to shadow attorney general (more on that later). Tim Wilson, a former junior minister before he lost his seat, has been elevated straight to the shadow cabinet, while he waits for the recount in Goldstein to finish. There's also plenty of fresh blood in the reshuffle, with Gisele Kapterian immediately installed into the shadow ministry (if she comes out on top after a recount in the seat of Bradfield, that is), as well as Maria Kovacic, Zoe McKenzie and Dave Sharma, all of whom are moderates taking assistant roles. Conservative Leah Blyth, who replaced Simon Birmingham in the Senate, has also been given a shadow assistant ministry role. The voice to parliament campaign was polarising for the country, and for parts of the Coalition. Two of its central figures – Leeser, who stepped down from the frontbench to support the referendum, and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who ascended to the frontbench and led the campaign against it – have faced somewhat of a role reversal in the new cabinet. Leeser had faced internal heat by campaigning for the voice, and colleagues were hesitant to see him return to the frontbench, having started the 2022 term as shadow attorney general. At the end of the last parliament, Dutton gave him a small assistant shadow ministry role, but Leeser, known as a competent performer, has now officially returned from the deep freeze. Meanwhile, Nampijinpa Price, who defected to the Liberal party room, and most recently held the controversial government efficiency portfolio, has been demoted from the shadow cabinet to the outer shadow ministry, and is now in charge of defence industry and defence personnel. The government efficiency portfolio created under Dutton has also been removed; sources say Ley's team won't pillory the public service and will focus more on a deregulation agenda. The shadow ministry will now feature no positions with the word 'climate' in the title, after the Coalition changed the shadow minister for energy and climate change to the shadow minister for energy and emissions reductions. When asked about the decision, Ley responded, saying 'different governments give different titles' to portfolios. Climate and net zero will continue to be sticking points for the Coalition. Both leaders said there would be reviews on energy policy, including on net zero by 2050, which Ley said would be led by Dan Tehan. Later in the press conference, Littleproud said the Nationals' policy was to support net zero, while Ley said that net zero, the Paris climate agreement, gas settings and critical mineral policies would all be looked at by Tehan. This comes despite Nationals members Matt Canavan and Colin Boyce saying they would campaign against net zero. Despite the show of unity, with both Ley and Littleproud making their frontbench announcement together, questions continue to plague the leaders on how they can move forward after such a bitter and public breakup (and makeup). Ley said it wasn't 'bitter'. When asked whether she and Littleproud would last the next three years as party leaders, she said: 'I'm confident that we both will … I know that everyone agreed, in walking out of this party room not that many days ago, to unite behind our leadership.' Ley described the Coalition as a 'professional partnership' but said she and Littleproud 'will be friends'.
News.com.au
26-05-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
Barnaby Joyce does not rule out run at Nationals leadership after Coalition crisis
Barnaby Joyce will not rule out a bid for the National Party leadership after the Coalition's collapse and rekindling in a chaotic two weeks. The senior Nationals MP has not hid his criticism of David Littleproud's handling of Coalition negotiations with the Liberal Party, calling last week's split a 'complete shocker'. Mr Joyce said on Monday he was not actively vying to oust his boss, but it was up to the party room. 'I'm not challenging, I'm definitely not,' he told Seven. 'I've got other things I'm thinking about, but if the party room decides to do something … that's up to them.' Mr Joyce went on to say he wanted 'it sorted out'. Asked if Mr Littleproud would stay on as leader, Mr Joyce said he did not know. 'That's a question for the (party) room,' he said. 'I mean, that's up to the room, what they decide to do.' Fellow former leader Michael McCormack last week sparked rumours he was considering a challenge. 'I'm not planning to roll David any time soon,' he told the ABC. In his remarks on Monday, Mr Joyce said it was Mr McCormack's 'right' if he wanted it. 'If he decides to go for the leadership, it's his right to go for it,' he said. 'He's a good bloke, I respect Mike. If he decides to do it, he decides to do it.' Mr Joyce and Mr McCormack were among several senior National Party figures Sussan Ley reached out to in a last-ditch bid to save the Coalition. Despite the talk of threats to his leadership, Mr Littleproud on Sunday said he was 'pretty relaxed'. 'The vast majority of my party room decided to leave the Coalition,' he told Sky News. 'I enacted what was directed by me, and as a matter of days, because we took a principled position. The Liberal Party decided to revisit their position and yield to the fact that we wanted those four policy areas,' he added, referring to nuclear energy, divestiture powers, a regional fund and better mobile phone coverage in the regions. Mr Littleproud said he would 'rather go to (parliament) standing for something, and if I have to lose my job for it, I don't care'.
The Advertiser
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Coalition split could be just a phase as Nats reconvene
The Nationals are having second thoughts about the coalition's break-up, with the party's leader expecting a reunion within days. Former Nationals leader and sitting Riverina MP Michael McCormack, who was part of a minority that did not support the coalition break-up, hoped the week's events had changed minds. "Common sense would dictate that all will be well," he told AAP. "But I can't guarantee what my colleagues have got to say." The Nationals pulled the plug on the coalition's decades-long relationship over four policy demands: a recommitment to nuclear energy, a regional investment fund, powers to break up big supermarket chains and universal telecommunications coverage. But the Liberals, still reeling from their worst election defeat since World War II, wanted to put every coalition policy up for review. The Nationals' decision attracted fierce criticism, but the two parties eventually agreed to give each other more time. The Liberals have since provided "in-principle" support to the policies and Nationals leader David Littleproud said he expected an arrangement in coming days. Mr McCormack did not understand why his colleagues had voted to leave with such haste. "That's probably why things went awry," he said. "Decisions made in haste are not decisions that are well considered, well thought through, pragmatic and practical in the cold light of day." Mr Littleproud continues to back his party through the ructions, even as some raise questions about his leadership. He faced a leadership challenge from senator Matt Canavan a week earlier over climate policy and though he prevailed, Mr Littleproud did not say whether the party would stay committed to net-zero emissions by 2050. His deputy Kevin Hogan maintained any disputes over the policy were "settled years ago" and that it was not up for review. However, it could return to the fore as concerns continue to bubble. "I'm not so convinced that the National Party per se are really rusted-on to net zero," Mr McCormack said. The party had signed on to the policy during different circumstances. At the time, the US was on board, the Nationals had agreed on the back of road and infrastructure promises linked to the previous coalition government, and Australia was negotiating trade agreements over deals contingent on net-zero commitments, Mr McCormack said. The Nationals are having second thoughts about the coalition's break-up, with the party's leader expecting a reunion within days. Former Nationals leader and sitting Riverina MP Michael McCormack, who was part of a minority that did not support the coalition break-up, hoped the week's events had changed minds. "Common sense would dictate that all will be well," he told AAP. "But I can't guarantee what my colleagues have got to say." The Nationals pulled the plug on the coalition's decades-long relationship over four policy demands: a recommitment to nuclear energy, a regional investment fund, powers to break up big supermarket chains and universal telecommunications coverage. But the Liberals, still reeling from their worst election defeat since World War II, wanted to put every coalition policy up for review. The Nationals' decision attracted fierce criticism, but the two parties eventually agreed to give each other more time. The Liberals have since provided "in-principle" support to the policies and Nationals leader David Littleproud said he expected an arrangement in coming days. Mr McCormack did not understand why his colleagues had voted to leave with such haste. "That's probably why things went awry," he said. "Decisions made in haste are not decisions that are well considered, well thought through, pragmatic and practical in the cold light of day." Mr Littleproud continues to back his party through the ructions, even as some raise questions about his leadership. He faced a leadership challenge from senator Matt Canavan a week earlier over climate policy and though he prevailed, Mr Littleproud did not say whether the party would stay committed to net-zero emissions by 2050. His deputy Kevin Hogan maintained any disputes over the policy were "settled years ago" and that it was not up for review. However, it could return to the fore as concerns continue to bubble. "I'm not so convinced that the National Party per se are really rusted-on to net zero," Mr McCormack said. The party had signed on to the policy during different circumstances. At the time, the US was on board, the Nationals had agreed on the back of road and infrastructure promises linked to the previous coalition government, and Australia was negotiating trade agreements over deals contingent on net-zero commitments, Mr McCormack said. The Nationals are having second thoughts about the coalition's break-up, with the party's leader expecting a reunion within days. Former Nationals leader and sitting Riverina MP Michael McCormack, who was part of a minority that did not support the coalition break-up, hoped the week's events had changed minds. "Common sense would dictate that all will be well," he told AAP. "But I can't guarantee what my colleagues have got to say." The Nationals pulled the plug on the coalition's decades-long relationship over four policy demands: a recommitment to nuclear energy, a regional investment fund, powers to break up big supermarket chains and universal telecommunications coverage. But the Liberals, still reeling from their worst election defeat since World War II, wanted to put every coalition policy up for review. The Nationals' decision attracted fierce criticism, but the two parties eventually agreed to give each other more time. The Liberals have since provided "in-principle" support to the policies and Nationals leader David Littleproud said he expected an arrangement in coming days. Mr McCormack did not understand why his colleagues had voted to leave with such haste. "That's probably why things went awry," he said. "Decisions made in haste are not decisions that are well considered, well thought through, pragmatic and practical in the cold light of day." Mr Littleproud continues to back his party through the ructions, even as some raise questions about his leadership. He faced a leadership challenge from senator Matt Canavan a week earlier over climate policy and though he prevailed, Mr Littleproud did not say whether the party would stay committed to net-zero emissions by 2050. His deputy Kevin Hogan maintained any disputes over the policy were "settled years ago" and that it was not up for review. However, it could return to the fore as concerns continue to bubble. "I'm not so convinced that the National Party per se are really rusted-on to net zero," Mr McCormack said. The party had signed on to the policy during different circumstances. At the time, the US was on board, the Nationals had agreed on the back of road and infrastructure promises linked to the previous coalition government, and Australia was negotiating trade agreements over deals contingent on net-zero commitments, Mr McCormack said. The Nationals are having second thoughts about the coalition's break-up, with the party's leader expecting a reunion within days. Former Nationals leader and sitting Riverina MP Michael McCormack, who was part of a minority that did not support the coalition break-up, hoped the week's events had changed minds. "Common sense would dictate that all will be well," he told AAP. "But I can't guarantee what my colleagues have got to say." The Nationals pulled the plug on the coalition's decades-long relationship over four policy demands: a recommitment to nuclear energy, a regional investment fund, powers to break up big supermarket chains and universal telecommunications coverage. But the Liberals, still reeling from their worst election defeat since World War II, wanted to put every coalition policy up for review. The Nationals' decision attracted fierce criticism, but the two parties eventually agreed to give each other more time. The Liberals have since provided "in-principle" support to the policies and Nationals leader David Littleproud said he expected an arrangement in coming days. Mr McCormack did not understand why his colleagues had voted to leave with such haste. "That's probably why things went awry," he said. "Decisions made in haste are not decisions that are well considered, well thought through, pragmatic and practical in the cold light of day." Mr Littleproud continues to back his party through the ructions, even as some raise questions about his leadership. He faced a leadership challenge from senator Matt Canavan a week earlier over climate policy and though he prevailed, Mr Littleproud did not say whether the party would stay committed to net-zero emissions by 2050. His deputy Kevin Hogan maintained any disputes over the policy were "settled years ago" and that it was not up for review. However, it could return to the fore as concerns continue to bubble. "I'm not so convinced that the National Party per se are really rusted-on to net zero," Mr McCormack said. The party had signed on to the policy during different circumstances. At the time, the US was on board, the Nationals had agreed on the back of road and infrastructure promises linked to the previous coalition government, and Australia was negotiating trade agreements over deals contingent on net-zero commitments, Mr McCormack said.
