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West Australian
15-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Dvir Abramovich: Australia's social fabric strains as Albo cuts role of Special Envoy for Social Cohesion
There are decisions governments make that are loud — budget blowouts, ministerial scandals, high-profile reforms — and there are decisions that are quiet. They barely register. They come without press conferences or legacy statements. And yet, they leave a deeper mark than anyone realises at the time. This week, the Albanese Government made one of those quiet decisions: to eliminate the role of Special Envoy for Social Cohesion, previously held by Peter Khalil. There was no policy paper, no formal handover, no replacement. Just an assurance that 'the whole Government' would continue to work on cohesion, and a nod to separate envoys on anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. And with that, one of the few symbols of national leadership dedicated to stitching this frayed country back together quietly disappeared. At a time when Australia is more fragmented, distrustful and polarised than it has been in decades, the moment invites reflection. We live in an age of spiralling distrust between communities, between citizens and institutions, between the margins and the centre. From cultural flashpoints on university campuses, to fractured debates over identity, race, faith and immigration, the old instinct to give one another the benefit of the doubt has curdled into suspicion. What holds us together is no longer self-sustaining. And in such moments, leadership matters. Not just reactive leadership, but symbolic and moral leadership. The kind that says cohesion is not peripheral. It is central. It is the core business of a democracy to hold. When Peter Khalil was appointed as Australia's first special envoy for social cohesion, the role wasn't about headlines. It was about listening. Visiting. Reassuring. Showing up when things felt tense and fragile, and reminding communities that someone in Canberra still cared about the common thread. It was a small role. But it stood for a big idea: that social cohesion does not just happen. It must be nurtured. Social cohesion is not a side issue. It is the atmosphere in which democracy, prosperity and public safety all either survive or suffocate. A society that still sees itself as one people — a 'we' rather than a collection of competing 'mes' — is a society that can withstand crises, absorb shocks, and recover with dignity. It is the unspoken glue that holds the civic order together: the shared assumptions, the small civic courtesies, the quiet instinct to look out for others. When that trust erodes, the consequences are not always immediate, but they are always profound. We lose the capacity to compromise. Every debate becomes a battleground. And when people stop believing they are part of the same national story, they begin to act accordingly. A brittle society may not collapse all at once, but it splinters — one grievance, one act of rage, one moral fracture at a time. Since October 7, 2023, when the Hamas attacks in Israel triggered a global cascade of political fury and polarisation, Australia has not been immune. Anti-Semitism has surged at a pace many of us thought unimaginable. There is a growing unease, an ambient tension, a sense that the unwritten rules of mutual respect have been quietly withdrawn. This is not just about anti-Semitism. It is about the deeper rupture underneath. In recent years, Australian governments have spoken often of cohesion, especially in the aftermath of terrorism, racial violence or pandemic-driven stress. But cohesion is not built in moments of crisis. It is built slowly and deliberately, through the everyday rituals of shared nationhood. It emerges from consistent, long-term engagement, from policy grounded in empathy, and from leadership that speaks to the whole of who we are. Cohesion is not a reflex. It is a discipline. A national muscle that must be exercised before the emergency, not during it. It is encouraging that the Government continues to support other envoy roles and remains engaged on issues of identity and belonging. The broader point, however, is that cohesion — real cohesion — requires more than portfolios and policies. It requires presence. It requires a visible, ongoing commitment to the social fabric of the nation, not only in moments of tragedy or volatility, but in the quieter seasons when it is easier to assume that all is well. Australia is not immune to the centrifugal forces pulling at so many democracies today. We see the pattern elsewhere. The erosion of civic trust. The rise of ideological extremes. The weaponisation of grievance. The healthiest societies are not the ones without disagreement. They are the ones that retain enough shared moral ground to withstand it. And this is where government has a unique responsibility. Not as the only builder of trust, but as its most visible custodian. Through its tone, its decisions, and its willingness to stand in the breach when things threaten to fracture, it helps shape the national story about who belongs, what matters, and what we owe one another. The idea of a national role focused on social cohesion was not just symbolic. It was wise. It quietly affirmed that the project of holding people together is worthy of its own voice. That it is not incidental to good governance, but essential to it. Australia's social fabric remains strong. But it is under strain. And we should treat cohesion with the same care and intentionality we devote to our economy or national security — not as a passive setting, but as a living system that requires attention and support. The next chapter of Australian life will be defined not only by how we grow, but by how we hold together. That work is not optional. It is urgent. And it deserves nothing less than our full attention. Dr Dvir Abramovich is chair of the Anti-Defamation Commission
Daily Mail
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Greens candidate who wanted to deter Aussies from buying larger vehicles fails to win seat in parliament
A Greens candidate who previously proposed raising registration costs for larger vehicles has failed in her bid to enter federal parliament. Labor's Peter Khalil has retained the seat of Wills with 52.11 per cent of the two-candidate-preferred vote, narrowly defeating Greens contender Samantha Ratnam, who received 47.89 per cent. The final margin was 3,931 votes. Ms Ratman famously called for the government to increase registration fees and parking for larger vehicles like American-style pick-up trucks when she was a councillor for Melbourne 's City of Merri-bek. 'It's an undeniable fact that super-sized vehicles are dangerous. They have blind spots up to four metres in front of the vehicle,' Ms Ratnam said in 2024 'Large utes have a role in regional areas, but these luxury vehicles - that often cost upwards of $100,000 - have significantly higher emissions, and are more dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists than regular passenger cars. 'If we want to lower our transport emissions and reduce road fatalities, we need to see less of these monster cars on our streets. 'Our roads were simply not designed for these trucks - we need to deter people from purchasing these vehicles.' Meanwhile there has been more bad news for Greens leader Adam Bandt. Polling expert Dr Kevin Bonham has said Mr Bandt's political career is over. 'Melbourne: ALP gain from Green,' he said on Tuesday night 'Seat has been moved to expected win status (for Labor).' He said that he avoids 'calling' seats but added: 'I project Bandt at 47.6 in the live count which is not recoverable'. Labor's Sarah Witty is currently leading in the race for the seat of Melbourne by an estimated 4,043 votes with a swing of 9.2 per cent, as of Tuesday night. Bandt needs around a third of preferences to retain his seat but the AEC's official preference counts reveal flows of under 26 per cent. Daily Mail Australia's Political Editor Peter van Onselen says Bandt is a goner, short of a miracle turnaround.
ABC News
06-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Liberal Party's Tim Wilson reclaims Goldstein, while Labor MPs retain Franklin and Wills
The state of play in two highly contested Victorian seats has become clearer overnight, with Tim Wilson set to relaim Goldstein for the Liberal Party and Labor's Peter Khalil to retain the inner-Melbourne seat of Wills. Mr Wilson's On election night, Ms Daniel led with 51.7 per cent, or about 3,000 votes. But as more and more postal votes were counted on Tuesday, the scales began tipping in Mr Wilson's favour and will likely return the former Liberal MP to the leafy bayside electorate. His projected win provides some consolation for the Liberals after a blistering defeat, which Mr Khalil also appears set to retain the electorate of Wills, after Peter Khalil has held the seat of Wills for nearly a decade. ( ABC News: Darryl Torpy ) The Greens led the polling-day vote, but Labor recorded a majority in pre-poll voting. Like in Goldstein, postal voting also played a key role, with the Labor Party winning more than two-thirds of the two-candidate-preferred postal vote. Absent votes are expected to favour the Greens, but there will not be enough votes to overturn the current Labor lead of about 3,300 votes. More seats heading towards Labor Mr Khalil's success in retaining Wills strengthens Labor's overwhelming majority in the next parliament, which is likely to expand further as counting continues. Late on Tuesday evening, the ABC projected Agriculture Minister Julie Collins would retain her seat of Franklin in Tasmania. Ms Collins had been facing strong competition from anti-salmon farming campaigner Peter George. Julie Collins has faced criticism over Labor's handling of Tasmania's controversial salmon industry. ( ABC News: Jacqueline Lynch ) As of 9pm on Tuesday, Labor held a projected 88 seats, while the Coalition held 40. The Labor Party appears likely to win at least two more seats: Bean in the ACT and Fremantle in Western Australia. In both seats, incumbent Labor MPs have faced unexpectedly strong challenges from independents. In the seat of Bean, Climate 200-backed Jessie Price had been threatening to topple Labor's David Smith, but preferences counts are now leaning towards Labor. And an unusual race is playing out in Fremantle, where Counting error in seat of Menzies The Victorian seat of Menzies has been under the microscope following a counting error that was quickly identified and corrected by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC). On election night, AEC staff at a booth in Doncaster East initially reported more first-preferences votes for Liberal MP Keith Wolahan than he actually received. The corrected figure reduced his primary vote by about 1,800 votes. The ABC's chief elections analyst Antony Green said the AEC had a "perfectly reasonable explanation" for the tallying discrepancy, and said the Liberal Party was asking for more information. "If this comes down to a very narrow outcome, this could end up in court," he told Afternoon Briefing. "Because if the number of votes in dispute is greater than the margin of victory if Labor wins, there's perfect grounds for a challenge to the result." Mr Wolahan, who has been touted as future leadership material, has performed slightly better on postal votes than election day votes but Labor's Gabriel Ng still leads with 50.9 per cent after preferences.
The Age
02-05-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Victoria hot seats LIVE results: It's decision day in Kooyong, Bruce, Goldstein and Wills
Here's a quick refresher on the margins, history and candidates in our Hot Seat contests. Wills is our Labor v Greens contest with incumbent Peter Khalil facing off against Samantha Ratnam, a former local mayor and leader of the Greens state parliamentary party. 'Win Bruce, win the election': that was the mantra for hopeful local Liberal Party members heading into the campaign which sees Zahid Safi vying to become the party's first Muslim MP. To do so he'll need to defeat Labor minister Julian Hill. Goldstein is one of the two teal v Liberal Party seats we've covered. It's a rematch between independent MP Zoe Daniel and Tim Wilson who lost the seat in 2022. Kooyong is one of the highest profile contests in the country. Teal MP Monique Ryan famously defeated former treasurer Josh Frydenberg in 2022 and faces a strong challenge from the Liberal Party's Amelia Hamer.
Sydney Morning Herald
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Victoria hot seats LIVE results: It's decision day in Kooyong, Bruce, Goldstein and Wills
Here's a quick refresher on the margins, history and candidates in our Hot Seat contests. Wills is our Labor v Greens contest with incumbent Peter Khalil facing off against Samantha Ratnam, a former local mayor and leader of the Greens state parliamentary party. 'Win Bruce, win the election': that was the mantra for hopeful local Liberal Party members heading into the campaign which sees Zahid Safi vying to become the party's first Muslim MP. To do so he'll need to defeat Labor minister Julian Hill. Goldstein is one of the two teal v Liberal Party seats we've covered. It's a rematch between independent MP Zoe Daniel and Tim Wilson who lost the seat in 2022. Kooyong is one of the highest profile contests in the country. Teal MP Monique Ryan famously defeated former treasurer Josh Frydenberg in 2022 and faces a strong challenge from the Liberal Party's Amelia Hamer.
