Latest news with #NSWLiberals
Sydney Morning Herald
5 days ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
These two men want an extra hurdle for sexual harassment claims. It will cost millions
The push by the NSW Liberals and rogue MP Mark Latham to introduce an extra test for sexual harassment claims would remove all types of bullying from workers' compensation and put more financial pressure on struggling schemes, an analysis for NSW Treasury shows. Liberal upper house leader Damien Tudehope and Latham have jointly written amendments to the government's workers' compensation bill, proposing changes to the definition of sexual harassment as well as axing claims made for excessive work demands and vicarious trauma. The move has heaped pressure on the Liberals for teaming up with Latham, who has been accused of domestic violence against his ex-partner, which he emphatically denies, as well as inappropriate workplace behaviour, including taking photos of female MPs. He has apologised to the women. Under the Tudehope-Latham amendments, a person who makes a sexual advance towards a colleague would need to have known, or should have known, that the advance was unwelcome. Treasury secretary Michael Coutts-Trotter asked the state insurer icare, on behalf of Tudehope, to prepare costings for the amendments. Analysis shows that the private sector scheme, known as the nominal insurer, would be almost $800 million worse off under the pair's proposed changes. The costings, which have been provided to Tudehope, show that the government bill would save the nominal insurer between $4.31 billion and $4.41 billion over the four years to 2029, while the amendments would lead to smaller savings of between $3.53 billion and $3.63 billion. Loading Opposition Leader Mark Speakman has insisted that changes to the definition of sexual harassment would still protect workers from 'ignorant bigots' but wouldn't necessarily allow employees to claim compensation if a colleague 'makes a pass' at them. However, the analysis from icare said the 'amendments will require intent of the perpetrator to harm to be established by an injured worker before compensation for a primary psychological injury caused by bullying, racial and sexual harassment may be paid'.
The Age
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Age
These two men want an extra hurdle for sexual harassment claims. It will cost millions
The push by the NSW Liberals and rogue MP Mark Latham to introduce an extra test for sexual harassment claims would remove all types of bullying from workers' compensation and put more financial pressure on struggling schemes, an analysis for NSW Treasury shows. Liberal upper house leader Damien Tudehope and Latham have jointly written amendments to the government's workers' compensation bill, proposing changes to the definition of sexual harassment as well as axing claims made for excessive work demands and vicarious trauma. The move has heaped pressure on the Liberals for teaming up with Latham, who has been accused of domestic violence against his ex-partner, which he emphatically denies, as well as inappropriate workplace behaviour, including taking photos of female MPs. He has apologised to the women. Under the Tudehope-Latham amendments, a person who makes a sexual advance towards a colleague would need to have known, or should have known, that the advance was unwelcome. Treasury secretary Michael Coutts-Trotter asked the state insurer icare, on behalf of Tudehope, to prepare costings for the amendments. Analysis shows that the private sector scheme, known as the nominal insurer, would be almost $800 million worse off under the pair's proposed changes. The costings, which have been provided to Tudehope, show that the government bill would save the nominal insurer between $4.31 billion and $4.41 billion over the four years to 2029, while the amendments would lead to smaller savings of between $3.53 billion and $3.63 billion. Loading Opposition Leader Mark Speakman has insisted that changes to the definition of sexual harassment would still protect workers from 'ignorant bigots' but wouldn't necessarily allow employees to claim compensation if a colleague 'makes a pass' at them. However, the analysis from icare said the 'amendments will require intent of the perpetrator to harm to be established by an injured worker before compensation for a primary psychological injury caused by bullying, racial and sexual harassment may be paid'.
Sydney Morning Herald
6 days ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
How the diabolical federal election result has hit the NSW Liberals
The NSW Liberals have been hit by the aftershocks of the Coalition's disastrous federal election result, with the state opposition trailing the Minns government for the first time in 18 months. In the first voter survey since the May election, which saw the federal Coalition decimated across the country, the NSW Liberals' primary vote has slumped to 32 per cent, down from 36 per cent. NSW Labor, however, has seen its primary vote jump five points to 38 per cent- its best result since September 2023 and one point higher than when it swept to power at the last state election. The exclusive Resolve Political Monitor for the Herald shows Chris Minns remains preferred premier with 35 per cent voters - down from 40 per cent - while the Liberal Leader Mark Speakman has boosted his rating by one point to 16 per cent. Crucially, 49 per cent of voters are undecided about who is best to lead NSW. Resolve director Jim Reed said the election hangover had impacted the NSW Coalition. 'NSW Labor's regain of a primary vote lead mirrors federal Labor's fortunes, and given Minns has not improved his standing there's every reason to conclude that they are benefiting from the reflective glory,' Reed said. 'The Coalition are back down to the levels we first saw post-election, but Speakman has not lost any personal capital so that looks to be a brand effect too.'
The Age
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Age
How the diabolical federal election result has hit the NSW Liberals
The NSW Liberals have been hit by the aftershocks of the Coalition's disastrous federal election result, with the state opposition trailing the Minns government for the first time in 18 months. In the first voter survey since the May election, which saw the federal Coalition decimated across the country, the NSW Liberals' primary vote has slumped to 32 per cent, down from 36 per cent. NSW Labor, however, has seen its primary vote jump five points to 38 per cent- its best result since September 2023 and one point higher than when it swept to power at the last state election. The exclusive Resolve Political Monitor for the Herald shows Chris Minns remains preferred premier with 35 per cent voters - down from 40 per cent - while the Liberal Leader Mark Speakman has boosted his rating by one point to 16 per cent. Crucially, 49 per cent of voters are undecided about who is best to lead NSW. Resolve director Jim Reed said the election hangover had impacted the NSW Coalition. 'NSW Labor's regain of a primary vote lead mirrors federal Labor's fortunes, and given Minns has not improved his standing there's every reason to conclude that they are benefiting from the reflective glory,' Reed said. 'The Coalition are back down to the levels we first saw post-election, but Speakman has not lost any personal capital so that looks to be a brand effect too.'
Sky News AU
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
NSW Liberals lobby party to implement US-style primary system to choose candidates as re-build continues
High ranking NSW Liberals are calling on Sussan Ley to consider imposing a US-style primary system to pre-select candidates in significant structural overhaul of the party's long-standing practices. The NSW Liberals were all but decimated at the recent federal election which has led to internal debate about how to bolster the party's appeal and revitalise aging local branches. Gender quotas have become a point of contention within the party, with proponents and critics engaging in a bitter public dispute including in a leaked group chat titled 'quotas v merit' where senior Libs debated the policies validity. However, top NSW Liberals have touted a separate route, urging the party to revamp its pre-selection process through the use of US-style open primary elections. Shadow attorney general and federal member for Berowra Julian Leeser has said opening up pre-selection to non-members and the wider public would expand the Liberal Party's scope and bring in a new wave of members. 'The best way to ensure that our members reflect the communities that they represent is to have the largest number of members of the general community choose them,' Mr Leeser told the Telegraph. Mr Leeser, who is one of the last Liberal members occupying an outer-metropolitan seat nationwide said the plan would increase 'diversity' and 'overcome the challenge of a declining membership an supporter base.' Liberal Party pre-selection, which currently involves local party members and state delegates voting to choose a candidate, would be scrapped, with all eligible voters in the relevant electorate given the chance to have their say under the proposed model. Mr Leeser, who narrowly fended of a challenge from local publisher turned Teal candidate Tina Brown said holding US-primary style elections would bring ideological vigour to local branches and allow the community to actively immerse themselves in the inner workings of the Party. He insisted it would 'demonstrate to the general public that we are a broad, open welcoming party that is seeking the best talent available.' Mr Leeser has been a long-time advocate of parachuting the concept of US primary elections down under, with the move also receiving the support of numerous party elders including former NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet. The method was previously considered a fringe idea in Liberal ranks. Shadow defence minister and former Liberal leadership contender Angus Taylor backed Mr Leeser's proposal and said open primaries could aid in rebuilding the party's 'grassroots movement.' 'One pathway to do that would be by bringing in primaries,' Mr Taylor told The Daily Telegraph. 'The objective here has to be to rebuild the grassroots political movement that stands for our values, and to do that we're going to have to involve and engage people in ways we haven't before.' Mr Taylor's staunch NSW Right factional ally Anthony Roberts also endorsed primary elections and said it would prevent powerbrokers from hand selecting their candidate of choice in a given electorate. 'The days of captain's picks have got to be over, they are proven not to work,' Mr Roberts said. Mr Leeser said the party should work to commence a trial to gauge the efficacy of primary elections, and that the method should be piloted in a Teal, regional and western Sydney seat.
