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Daily Mail
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Monique Ryan no longer a 'one-hit wonder' as she claims victory in Kooyong
Monique Ryan has proved she is no 'one-hit wonder', with the teal independent vanquishing a second Liberal rival in succession. With 56.1 per cent of the vote counted, the former paediatric neurologist held an estimated lead of about four per cent in the Melbourne seat of Kooyong over Liberal candidate Amelia Hamer. Dr Ryan took a swipe at members of a secretive Christian sect known as the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, campaigning for Ms Hamer. 'We're still waiting for some data to come in,' she told supporters at the Auburn Hotel late on Saturday night. 'But it seems pretty clear that despite the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, this band of brothers has overcome the Brethren.' While Ms Hamer is yet to concede, Dr Ryan concluded her speech with 'let's have a party' as Tina Turner's River Deep Mountain High blared through the venue. Kooyong was one of many former Liberal heartland seats to fall to teal independents in 2022. Dr Ryan ousted senior Liberal Josh Frydenberg, the first sitting treasurer to lose his seat since Ted Theodore at the 1931 election. Despite fears of the teals being a 'one-hit wonder', Dr Ryan was confident the crossbench could hold or even expand. 'Clearly the coalition has lost ground across the country,' she told reporters earlier in the night. 'So it seems quite likely ... that there might well be more seats on the crossbench.' The campaign in Kooyong has been marred by various controversial moments, including a legal spat between the Liberals and a council over pre-poll signs. Dr Ryan was also forced to apologise after her husband was caught pulling down a sign of her political opponent. Meanwhile, Ms Hamer was criticised for failing to disclose she owned apartments in Canberra and London after pitching herself as a struggling renter. The independent MP described the campaign as 'bruising' in comparison to her 'joyous' and 'fun' 2022 tilt. 'This has been tough and there's lots of reasons for that,' Dr Ryan said. 'We're a different country from where we were three years ago and we have some challenges, we have some bridges to rebuild and some things to mend. 'But I think we can do that as a country and I hope we can do that in the next three years.'
Daily Mail
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Kooyong election results: Teal doctor Monique Ryan - who doesn't answer journalists' questions, has a rogue husband who tears down candidates' signs - celebrates victory after being pooed on by a bird on election day
Teal independent MP Monique Ryan has retained her inner Melbourne seat after a fraught election campaign, including an investigation by the electoral taskforce. With 56.1 per cent of the vote counted, the former paediatric neurologist held an estimated lead of about four per cent in affluent Kooyong over Liberal candidate Amelia Hamer. 'We're still waiting for some data to come in,' she told supporters at the Auburn Hotel late on Saturday night. 'But it seems pretty clear that despite the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, this band of brothers has overcome the Brethren.' The comment was a clear swipe at members of secretive Christian sect the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, which was campaigning for Ms Hamer. While Ms Hamer is yet to concede, Dr Ryan concluded her speech with 'let's have a party' as Tina Turner's River Deep Mountain High blared through the venue. Earlier on Saturday, Dr Ryan experienced a 'good luck' omen when a bird pooed on her outside Glenferrie Primary School in Hawthorn, where she would cast her vote. But the road to re-election has been chaotic over the five-week campaign with Dr Ryan facing a series of controversies. The MP told Nine News on election day that the streets in her electorate had been 'tense' up until the last fortnight. 'There was more tension then there normally would be [at polling booths], it felt uncomfortable,' she said. A week before election day, April 27, Dr Ryan came under fire after footage emerged of two campaign volunteers claiming they were told by the Hubei Association to support her. The group has previously been accused of working with the Chinese Communist Party's United Front Department, a foreign influence operations agency. As a result, the Australian Electoral Commission referred it to the Electoral Integrity Assurance Taskforce, a move which was welcomed by the Teal MP. The drama surrounding her campaign kicked off in March when her husband, Peter Jordan, was filmed removing a sign backing Ms Hamer. 'I unreservedly apologise for removing the sign. It was a mistake,' Mr Jordan later told Daily Mail Australia. 'I believed the sign was illegally placed, but I should have reported my concerns to council.' Dr Ryan also issued her own apology, saying it should not have happened. In a video that circulated on social media in April, leading spine neurosurgeon Professor Greg Malham could be seen tearing down one of her corflutes. 'Just finishing the job, boys. Always gotta bury the body,' he said to the camera after stomping on the sign multiple times. Prof Malham apologised for his behaviour and agreed to fully co-operate with an independent investigation by Epworth Healthcare, the private hospital he works with. Dr Ryan also endured a series of painful media interviews while campaigning, including being laughed at by an ABC presenter after failing to answer a simple question. Referring to independent MP Allegra Spender paying social media content providers 'to make videos talking about the great things she is doing', Insiders host David Speers asked Dr Ryan if she had a problem with that. The Teal MP at first looked confused at the question, then fumbled over an answer, eventually saying: 'We pay to generate the content we put to the voters.' A week later, she then turned her back on a Sky News reporter as she attempted to ask her about Ms Spender's social media content.
Daily Mirror
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Britain's Got Talent fans astonished as singer from forgotten girl band opens semi-final show
The 2025 live semi-finals of Britain's Got Talent got off to a sensational start as Karis Anderson stormed the stage to belt out a classic Tina Turner hit as she opened the show Britain's Got Talent fans were stunned to learn the opening performer of first semi final show of the 2025 season was once in a hit girl band. The long-running series kicked off with a show stopping performance from singer Karis Anderson - who is currently leading the cast of the hit West End musical Tina. The 35-year-old singer takes on the role of iconic singer Tina Turner in the musical - which chronicles the life and career of the Goldeneye singer who passed away at the age of 83 in 2023. Britain's Got Talent viewers were treated to a dazzling performance from Karis, who belted out the 1966 Ike & Tina Turner singer River Deep Mountain High. While many were blown away by Karis's powerful vocals alone - many others were gobsmacked when they realised they recognised the singer for her career away from the West End. That's because the singer is a member of girl band Stooshe - which she performed in alongside Alexandra Buggs and Courtney Rumbold. The trio formed their band in 2010 after answering a call for auditions, and signed a record deal with Warner Music in August 2011. They went on to release the hit singles Slip, Love Me and the Number 3 hit Black Heart - while their debut album, London with the Lights On, was released in 2013 and reached number 8 on the charts. Those tuning in to watch BGT on Saturday night were stunned by Karis's powerhouse vocals - and wished that they could vote for her to win the contest. One wrote on X: "Karis Anderson singing Tina Turner should win Britain's Got Talent." While another typed: "The amazingly fabulous Tina Musical to start!" Fans of Stooshe may be disappointed that the group have not released any music since 2016 - and do not appear to have any plans to make any more tracks. Last year, the band posted on their official Instagram to confirm they have no plans to release music. Alexandra from the band wrote: "Hey loves, I'm sorry to say we aren't announcing new music before I get your hopes up. 'Your girls a mumma (been for a couple years now lol) and I am starting a new business within the parent and baby space.' Saturday night saw Scottish singer Vinnie Mckee and Swiss dance troupe The Blackouts make it through to the grand final. Vinnie won the votes of the viewing public to make his way to the final. While The Blackouts were automatically sent through after judge Amanda Holden gifted them the first ever golden buzzer of the live semi final shows. For the 2025 season there has been a rule change where one judge is nominated each episode and granted the power to slap the golden buzzer and grant an act finalist status. After being wowed by the team - who were delayed to the stage by technical issues - Amanda hit the buzzer and they went through. However, the rule change has sparked a mixed response from fans - with many fearing the final will be overfilled with the judges favourites rather than viewer favourites. And many watching at home found the live studio audience unbearable as they screamed at Amanda to hit the gold buzzer after every performance - until The Blackouts were given the reward. One complained on X: "the golden buzzer in the semi finals already causing havoc cause the audience won't shut up #bgt." And another complained: "Will this audience shut up #BGT." Many viewers hit out over the decision to introduce a golden buzzer during the live semi final rounds. One wrote: "#BGT so basically the judges may as well ljust pick the finalists and forget about the semis ... what a joke." Another typed: "A live show golden buzzer is completely unnecessary. What if she doesn't press it at all? #BGT." And another raged: "#BGT in other words it's so the judges can fix it!" Others took to social media to blast the format of multiple semi final shows stretched over more than a month. One complained, writing: "So every Saturday for the next 6 weeks, is the Semi Final episodes #BGT."
