Latest news with #ParliamentHouse
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Ex-MLA Kishore Samrite gets 6 months in jail for threatening to blow up Parliament
NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Friday sentenced former Madhya Pradesh MLA Kishore Samrite to six months in jail for threatening to blow up Parliament in September 2022 over his 'unfulfilled demands'. Special Judge Vikas Dhull noted that the threatening letter and the suspicious substance were sent to Parliament "which is the temple of Indian democracy". "It is a forum where issues of all hues and pertaining to national interest are expected to be discussed with decorum and in deference to public aspirations. For the highest contemplative body of the country to be subjected to a threat of being blown up with dynamite and the threatening letter to actually be accompanied by a suspicious substance is indeed a grave circum stance which requires an appropriate sentence," he said. It is equally pertinent that the convict is not just an ordinary citizen, but a former MLA from Lanji in Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat district, the judge said. "Being most acquainted and sensitised to the security of Parliamentary establishments and more so to the sanctity of such representative institutions, his dispatch of such a threatening letter to the Parliament acted to normalise the threat of violence towards the elected Houses of the Parliament. Judge imposes Rs 50k fine on Samrite If such conduct is not deterred, it raises the prospect of others emulating the course taken by Samrite for voicing his dissent towards government policies. Perhaps, every such threat would not be accompanied by harmless substances," the judge said. The judge also imposed a fine of Rs. 50,000 on Samrite. A parcel containing some suspicious substance related to explosives, besides an Indian flag, and a copy of the Constitution was received through speed post at the Parliament House on September 16, 2022. The judge said that the letter from Samrite, a former MLA from Lanji in Balaghat, threatening to blow up the Parliament building, constituted a threat to cause destruction of property by fire, thereby rendering him liable for conviction under Part II of section 506 of IPC. The judge, however, acquitted Samrite of the charge under Explosives Act, after noting that the substance in question did not constitute an "explosive" under the Act. Samrite was represented by advocate Manish Kumar Choudhary. The court in December 2022 granted bail to the accused noting that the threat to blow off Parliament did not result in any kind of explosion or loss to life or property. The parcel also had a 10page signed complaint of Samrite, from which it was made out that he was showing dissatisfaction with the policies of the ruling government and made 70 different demands with a threat to blow off Parliament House on September 30, 2022 if his demands were not fulfilled. During the investigation, it also came to light that the accused has sent a similar parcel to the Supreme Court on September 19, 2022 and a separate FIR was lodged in that regard.
ABC News
5 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Superannuation tax debate ramps up, Coalition's shadow ministry revealed
Welcome back to your weekly federal politics update, where Brett Worthington gets you up to speed on the happenings from Parliament House. There's been no shortage of "old man yells at cloud" feelings about the government's plans to increase the tax paid on superannuation balances above $3 million. The hysteria coming from some quarters, most noticeably two daily newspapers, makes it seem like it was a tax that was suddenly sprung on voters after an election. But this is far from a "there will be no carbon tax under the government I lead" moment. It's been more than two years since Treasurer Jim Chalmers stood in the prime minister's courtyard at Parliament House to announce a doubling of a tax rate. The plan was to legislate it but not have it come in for two years, noticeably after the 2025 election. Currently, the government charges 15 per cent tax on superannuation fund earnings, but only while you are still working and contributing money into it, known as the accumulation phase. The increase to a tax rate of 30 per cent will apply to accounts with $3 million or more during the accumulation phase. Treasury estimates around 80,000 people, or 0.5 per cent of super balances, would be hit with the higher tax bracket for every dollar above $3 million. When he announced the change, Chalmers said one account held more than $400 million in superannuation, a scheme originally designed for people to have a comfortable retirement. He said 17 people had more than $100 million in their account and while the average balance of accounts over $3 million was close to $6 million, the average super balance had just $150,000. Chalmers introduced the legislation into parliament in November 2023 and it passed the House of Representatives in October 2024 but Labor was unable to find the votes to pass it through the Senate before the election. Having just been delivered a whopping electoral victory, critics have been quick to hysterics that the government might actually do what it said it would do. The most contentious parts are that it isn't indexed (meaning the $3 million threshold won't increase with inflation) and that the plan to tax unrealised gains. There have been no shortage of claims about farmers having to sell their farms or property investors their places because they'll face having to pay tax on assets that have increased in value, even if its only on paper. Supporters of the tax change say the Chicken Little critics, carrying on as if the sky is falling in, are only behaving like that because they're wealthy individuals who'll have to pay more tax after having long benefited from concessional tax rates. Tax minimisation, or worse avoidance, is the reason so many of those assets — be it the farm or investment properties — were put into superannuation in the first place. Labor has faced no shortage of critics for lacking ambition in overhauling not just Australia's taxation system but the broader federal budget, which is heavily reliant on personal income tax. A failure to implement even the smallest of tax changes has some fearing it will all but kill off any broader ambition to overhaul how the government raises revenue. Covering the Coalition break up cum make up has been akin to writing recaps of Married at First Sight, except in the case of the Nationals more people watch the reality program than voted for the country party. Labor too revelled in the chaotic scenes coming from the Coalition, announcing a contentious gas project as the Liberal and Nationals leaders stepped up to announce their parties were getting back together. The off again, on again antics left no shortage of people wondering what it was all for. David Littleproud emerged with no shortage of dints in his leadership of the Nationals. Having not gained the extra cabinet seat he wanted, one of the only tangible thing that emerged from it was the sudden friendship from one-time rivals Barnaby Joyce and Michael McCormack. You know what they say about the enemy of your enemy, but we digress. Littleproud claimed he had opted for generational renewal in who he appointed to the frontbench. Joyce pulled out the the receipts, eager to point out just how many of the frontbenchers were older than him. Joyce also said Littleproud need not have rung in him to tell him he wasn't getting a job, telling the ABC he'd already read about it in the papers. More unorthodox was new Liberal leader Sussan Ley's decision to call every single member of her party. The blokes who preceded her usually just called the victors. Oh to have been on the call with Jane Hume, undoubtedly the biggest victim in the new-look opposition. The architect of the disastrous work from home policy, Hume received a call from Ley to learn she'd be working from the backbench, joining fellow former shadow cabinet members Sarah Henderson and Claire Chandler. An unhappy Henderson was quick to say high-profile women were being overlooked. Earlier in the week she'd derided former leader Peter Dutton for being too focused on cost of living in the campaign (others would argue that was the least of the disastrous campaign's problems). Female representation in the shadow cabinet has undoubtedly gone backwards since the last term. Ley pointed to the promotion of new women to the outer ministry as a sign of renewal coming through the ranks. "This is their first step, but it's far from their last," she said. Ley rewarded those who supported her bid for leadership, while also keeping senior conservatives in high profile roles, even if not in the job they were asking for. James Paterson made no secret of his desire to stay in a national security role but was moved to finance, replacing Hume, while Andrew Hastie, who wanted a social or economic portfolio, replaces Paterson at home affairs. Ley also appointed Tim Wilson and Giselle Kapterian to roles despite recounts playing out in their seats. "Gisele's appointment is a vote of confidence in the future of women in our party and it's a clear message to communities, like Bradfield, that if you support your local Liberal member, they will have a direct say in the decisions that change the direction of this country," she said. Labor's post-election honeymoon, which to date has seen a RBA rate cut and a Coalition implosion, saw the good news continue to flow at the start of the week with confirmation it had just elected Australia's youngest ever senator, South Australian Charlotte Walker whose 21st birthday was election day. The party also picked up an extra senate seat in Victoria and the ABC is projecting the party will retain the Melbourne seat of Calwell, meaning Labor didn't lose a single seat in the election. After facing a nervous wait, Tasmanian Jacqui Lambie held off a challenge from Labor and One Nation to retain her Senate seat. With the NSW race yet to be called, Labor is on track to win 29 seats in the upper house, meaning the Greens are the only crossbenchers needed to pass legislation. It could have got as high as 30 but Labor lost the final WA senate seat to One Nation, taking Pauline Hanson's ranks to three. It hasn't all been smooth sailing for the good ship Albanese. The factional warlords who oversaw Ed Husic's demise from the cabinet are getting a reminder of just how useful MPs can be from the backbench (RTYI Jane Hume). Initially opting for an opinion piece in Guardian Australia, the former industry minister criticised his own government for its response to Israel blocking aid getting into Gaza. By Monday, Albanese was offering his strongest criticism of the Israeli government. He said Israel's "excuses and explanations" for blocking aid were untenable and "completely unacceptable" and "an outrage". While Husic was calling for Australia to call in Israel's ambassador, privately the government insisted that was unnecessary given the prime minister had gone a step further and raised his criticisms direct with the country's president when the two men were in Rome recently. Albanese's approach to contentious foreign affair issues has been to step out with leaders of like-minded nations, especially Canada and New Zealand. Husic was quick to note that didn't happen this time when the UK, France and Canada threatened to impose sanctions on Israel. While praising the PM for speaking out, he insisted now was the moment for actions, not just words. No longer bound by collective responsibility and cabinet solidarity, Labor's leaders are getting a reminder of the consequences of kicking someone unafraid to use their voice outside of the tent.
News.com.au
6 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
Claims Kiama MP Gareth Ward told man he had a ‘bright future' after alleged sexual assault: court
A political staffer alleges Kiama MP Gareth Ward told him he would 'take care of him' if he 'stuck by him', the morning after the politician allegedly sexually abused him, a court has been told. Mr Ward, 43, arrived at the Downing Centre District Court on Wednesday, for the second day of his criminal trial, wearing a grey suit and an Akubra hat. The state independent was charged in March 2022 with three counts of assault with act of indecency, an alternative charge of common assault against an 18-year-old man at Meroo Meadow in 2013, and intercourse without consent against a 24-year-old man in Potts Point, in 2015. In court on Wednesday, the second complainant, who worked as a parliamentary staffer at the time of the alleged acts, was called to give evidence. The man appeared emotional and red in the face as he gave evidence in the criminal trial, and told the court he had attended an event on the night of the alleged assault at NSW Parliament House back in 2015. Crown prosecutor Monika Knowles asked the man about the event, to which the man, who was 24 at the time, said he had drunk 'three or four glasses of white wine', which was 'a lot for him'. The man said he ran into Mr Ward while he was trying to organise a cab ride home. 'We had a brief conversation then he invited me over (to his office at Parliament House) for another drink … I accepted,' he said. 'He poured me a wine, and I took a seat on his couch.' The pair then allegedly had a conversation on the couch, in which Mr Ward told the man he was 'impressed by the work' he was doing and told him he had a 'bright future'. The man told Mr Ward he had to leave as he lived 'a long way away'. 'Then he offered that I could stay at his that night,' the witness said. The pair allegedly walked to Mr Ward's apartment in Potts Point, and along the way Mr Ward continued telling the man about 'how bright' his future was. 'I was starting to feel a bit uncomfortable … he was being a bit too gracious with his kind words about me,' the witness told the court. Back at Mr Ward's apartment, the MP poured the man another drink and the man went onto the balcony. On the balcony, the man alleges Mr Ward leaned in and attempted to kiss him to which the political staffer pushed him away and said 'no'. Mr Ward leaned in again, a short time later and kissed the man, before the 24-year-old said he wanted to go to bed. The crown alleges the man was shown to his room by Mr Ward, who had allegedly stripped down to his boxers, before putting an arm over the man, and allegedly putting his hands on his buttocks before he was told to stop. Without warning, its alleged Mr Ward digitally penetrated him anally, before allegedly kissing his neck and masturbating to completion. The 24-year-old said he felt 'a bit down' and 'a little dirty and confused'. The following morning, while walking back to Parliament House, Mr Ward allegedly discussed the 24-year-old's future with him. 'It was a little quiet at first … at one stage he said if I stick by him he'll take care of me,' he said. The two maintained a professional relationship for some time after the alleged events. In March, 2022, the man made a formal statement to police and Mr Ward was formally charged. In her opening address on Tuesday, Ms Knowles told the court she alleges Mr Ward indecently assaulted another man, who had just turned 18, at his home on the South Coast in February 2013. Mr Ward, who remains on conditional bail, has pleaded not guilty to each of the five charges against him. He was committed for trial in August 2022, however, the trial has been delayed a number of times. Beginning his political career in 2011, Mr Ward was a councillor on the Shoalhaven Council, before becoming the Liberal Member for Kiama in 2011. He was re-elected as the MP for Kiama at the most recent state election in 2023. The trial continues.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Senator Fatima Payman accuses male colleague of making sexual, racist comments at social event
An independent senator has alleged a parliamentary colleague made sexually suggestive and racially insensitive comments towards her. Fatima Payman, who is Muslim and does not drink alcohol, was attending a social event as part of official parliamentary business when she says an older, male colleague made comments like 'let's get some wine into you and see you dance on the table'. 'I don't drink and I don't need to be made... to feel left out because you do,' she told ABC's Triple J radio station. 'I told this colleague, "Hey, I'm drawing a line, mate", and moved on to making a formal complaint.' The issue has been escalated to the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service, a body established after staffer Brittany Higgins made public allegations about being raped in Parliament House by a colleague. Senator Payman said the support service had taken care of her and she was happy with the swift handling of her complaint. The service managed 339 cases between 2023 and 2024, according to its most recent annual report. Just under one in ten cases related to rape and sexual assault, harassment, assault, sexual harassment, stalking or intimidation, a similar proportion were about bullying. One in five related to family and domestic violence, alcohol and drugs or mental health, roughly one in four were over workplace conflict and the rest were undefined. Fatima Payman, who is Muslim and does not drink alcohol, was attending a social event as part of official parliamentary business when she says an older, male colleague made comments like 'let's get some wine into you and see you dance on the table' (she is pictured in Canberra) The vast majority were related to those hired to help politicians to carry out duties but not for party political purposes but 17 involved parliamentarians. Calling out inappropriate behaviour could help others, the senator said. 'Being clear is being kind,' she said. 'You actually are helping somebody understand what your boundaries are by speaking up.'
West Australian
7 days ago
- Business
- West Australian
‘We have listened': Revised workers compensation reform in NSW passes milestone, challenges remain
Controversial reforms to workers compensation in NSW which brought unions to the steps of Parliament House have passed the first major milestone. A revised version of the proposed plan to reform workers compensation was introduced to parliament on Tuesday by Industrial Relations Minister Sophie Cotsis. The initial proposal faced fierce backlash when it was unveiled earlier this month from unions and industry groups who slammed many of its provisions, including a 31 per cent threshold for damages for permanent impairment from psychological injury. A requirement that someone seeking damages from psychological injury due to sexual or racial harassment or bullying require a court or tribunal finding was removed. The Minns state government hopes the proposal will instil a 'culture of prevention' in the workers compensation scheme, while also securing it financially for years to come. Treasurer Daniel Moohkey told an inquiry into the proposal earlier this month he would no longer be authorising payments to the Treasury managed Fund, the state's self-insurer, into which billions of dollars had been poured by successive governments. Introducing the Bill, Ms Cotsis said that until now 'psychological injury has been left largely undefined in the Workers Compensation Act'. 'The Bill introduces new definitions for psychological injuries to make sure workers and employers have certainty on what the scheme protects,' she said. 'Clear definitions will mean less time spent on disputes and more time on prevention.' Ms Cotsis revealed the government would establish a tripartite review – which had been pushed for by Unions NSW – to review and monitor the changes and 'to help guard against unintended consequences'. 'The review will be run by a panel of experts, with at least one expert recommended from Unions NSW, Business NSW and the NSW government,' who will also determine its terms of reference, Ms Cotsis said. Ms Cotsis outlined the changes to the Bill parliament on Tuesday. 'The relevant event that caused the injury must have a real and direct connection with employment,' she said. 'Real and direct connection does not necessarily mean the relevant event has to occur in the physical workplace. 'New evidentiary requirements will support insurers to make objective and timely decisions in relation to claims. 'Relevant events include, but are not limited to, bullying, sexual harassment and indictable criminal conduct, including threats of violence and assault.' Ms Cotsis said the intent was to target workers compensation toward events and behaviours, and preserved 'in no uncertain times' compensation for PTSD caused by trauma or exposure to traumatic events. She defended the 'objective test' for bullying, excessive work demands, and racial or sexual harassment claims as 'reducing the reliance on the worker's perception', and said the Bill would provide employers with certainty around what is acceptable in the workplace. 'Interpersonal conflict and work stress are typical and reasonably expected to occur on almost a daily basis in all modern workplace,' she said. 'In contrast, bullying, excessive work demands, racial harassment or sexual harassment unacceptable in any workplace and should never be expected. 'The Bill amends the employer defences to psychological injury claims that were the result of reasonable management action.' Psychological claims for bullying or harassment would also be expedited under the Bill, including if there is a dispute to the claim. Addressing concerns about the 31 per cent WPI threshold, Ms Cotsis said 'we are listening' and that there would be a 'stepped transition'. The Bill will not apply to coal miners or frontline service workers, including police and paramedics, save for a few of the amendments. Unions pushback against workers compensation reform Unions NSW and a range of other unions, including the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association and the NSW Teachers Federation, rallied outside of parliament on Monday morning in opposition to the reforms, which they said was being rushed through. Industry groups, including in the legal and sports physiotherapy sectors, as well as activist groups have also voiced opposition to the Bill, with Australians for Mental Health on Tuesday pleading with the government to 'slow down' the proposed reforms. 'We welcome the revisions the government has made. It shows our policymakers are listening, but still requiring someone to be so unwell that they can barely function before receiving the long-term support they need is alarming,' chief executive Chris Gambian said. 'We agree the current workers compensation system is unsustainable, but overhauling it so quickly could take away vital support for the likes of first responders, teachers, nurses and social workers; people who are exposed to traumatic experiences every day.' At the same time, the NSW government will also propose sweeping changes to workplace health and safety. Among the proposed changes are plans to empower the NSW Industrial Relations Commission to issue 'stop-bullying' orders as well as the Tribunal's ability to resolve industrial disputes, give new powers and manpower to SafeWork NSW – in particular, around compliance – and codify workplace accountability and codes of practise. The changes come after an $344m package from the state government and were welcomed by Ms Cotsis as a way to 'further strength the Industrial Relations Commission's ability to resolve disputes and to now resolve issues arising from Work Health and Safety legislation. 'It proposes major reform particularly around gender equality. The elimination of workplace bullying and sexual harassment are new key objectives of the IR Act. 'Workplace bullying causes serious harm to worker health and organisations. According to the Productivity Commission, bullying is estimated to cost up to $36bn annually in Australia. 'The amendments establish a 'one-stop shop' for handling complaints through the IRC and enhance its powers to resolve disputes and support injured workers' return to work. 'This legislation follows the passing of laws in 2023 which restored the independent industrial umpire, creating the structure needed to deliver meaningful improvements to the working lives of hundreds and thousands of workers in the state.'
