Latest news with #SMH
9 News
6 days ago
- Politics
- 9 News
Tasmanians head to the polls again for an election 'no one wanted'
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Tasmanians are heading to the polls today for an election that Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff said no one wanted after he received a damning vote of no confidence. The polls opened across the island state at 8am and will close at 6pm today, with electoral officials to begin counting soon after. Voters are deciding whether to re-elect Rockliff, who has held the position since 2022, or replace him with Labor Leader Dean Winter. Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff. (Alex Ellinghausen/SMH) The election was called last month after Winter tabled a no-confidence motion in parliament, arguing that rising debt, delayed ferries and a previous plan to privatise state assets made Rockliff's leadership untenable. The Liberals' state budget in May revealed that debt was forecast to reach almost $11 billion by the end of the decade. The motion was passed and, instead of resigning, Rockcliff decided to take the state through their second election in 15 months. "Another election is not what I wanted, and I know that it's not what Tasmanians wanted," he said in June. "But it was forced upon us by the leader of the Opposition." Governor Barbara Baker granted the dissolution of parliament to hold another election because she believed there was "no real possibility that an alternative government can be formed", but acknowledged the "public interest in avoiding the cost of another election and the prevailing public mood against holding an election". Tasmania has been in political turmoil after having a total of four elections in seven years. Tasmanian Labor Leader Dean Winter. (LinkedIn) Rockliff called an early election last year in the hope of regaining majority rule in parliament after two of his MPs quit the Liberal Party and defected to the crossbench. He suffered a 12 per cent swing at the polls, but won more seats than Labor, creating a hung parliament. He later reached a deal with three MPs from the Jacqui Lambie Network to form government. Then-Labor leader Rebecca White conceded defeat and resigned following her third straight loss at the polls, allowing Winter to successfully contest the role. There are concerns the turbulence will derail Tasmania's incoming AFL team, which is due to join the league in 2028. One thing is for sure — Rockliff and Winter have a lot to prove at this election. The Liberals have held Tasmania since 2014, but the vote of no confidence means that Labor may have a fighting chance. tasmania national Australia Politics elections CONTACT US Auto news: BYD speaks out about their ongoing battle with Tesla.
The Australian
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Australian
Mark Latham lashes media ‘galahs and fools' as accusations grow
Mark Latham has dismissed claims he breached confidentiality over a medical report on Sydney MP Alex Greenwich in a wild radio spray during which he blasted members of the media as a 'pack of galahs and fools'. The former Labor and one-time NSW One Nation leader has faced a week of controversy, including allegations he abused his former partner, Nathalie Matthews, and sent her sexual messages from the parliament chamber. Mr Latham has strenuously denied Ms Matthews' allegations, which are untested and contained in an application for an apprehended violence order (AVO) filed in court this week, and has not been charged with any offence. Speaking during his weekly slot with Brent Bultitude on Radio 2SM, Mr Latham said he 'couldn't say much' about the case, which is before the courts, but instead used his half-hour slot to lash out at negative reporting. Mr Latham accused journalists from The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper of being the 'biggest pack of galahs and fools' who had a 'manic determination to engage in the politics of personal destruction against me'. Mark Latham has dismissed claims he breached confidentiality. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer The former Sky News presenter's criticism of the SMH focused on an opinion piece published on Thursday that described Mr Latham as a 'cockroach' and alleged he shared a confidential psychologist's report. The article alleged Mr Latham used parliamentary privilege to share the confidential medical information about Sydney MP Alex Greenwich that was presented to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT). Mr Greenwich began proceedings in the tribunal alleging homosexual vilification and workplace sexual harassment after the Federal Court found that Mr Latham had defamed Ms Greenwich in a series of tweets. Mr Latham told Bultitude that he ascertained the 'nature' of the medical material by googling the name of the treating clinician after they were mentioned during NCAT proceedings and in affidavits to the Federal Court and NCAT. He went on to call NSW upper house leader Penny Sharpe to withdraw a motion over the matter and claimed he had 'never received notification of any complaint' from the parliamentary ethics committee over his behaviour. Mr Latham also bizarrely claimed to have received a phone call from SMH editor Bevan Shields on the day of the 2025 federal election but told Bultitude that he was unsure if it was Shields and could not call the number. Alex Greenwich began proceedings in NCAT alleging homosexual vilification and workplace sexual harassment. Picture: NewsWire/Tamati Smith. 'When the fella saying he's Bevan Shields, the editor (of The Sydney Morning Herald) rings me up on federal election day, if indeed that was him … Bevan, come out and out yourself,' Mr Latham went on to tell Bultitude. Bultitude defended his relationship with Mr Latham during the program on Friday afternoon and described criticism of Mr Latham by Premier Chris Minns as 'payback' for his opposition to the Rosehill Racecourse sale. He said he had received 'abuse for still having him on'. Latham was re-elected to the upper house in 2023. He had previously served in the NSW parliament from 2019 with One Nation before being sacked from the party by Pauline Hanson in 2023. Before that, Mr Latham took the Labor party to defeat in the 2004 federal election. Mr Latham is further alleged to have filmed sexual acts within his office in parliament, covertly photographed female colleagues, and not disclosed tens of thousands of dollars given to him by his ex, Ms Matthews.
News.com.au
7 days ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
Mark Latham lashes media ‘galahs and fools' as accusations grow
Mark Latham has dismissed claims he breached confidentiality over a medical report on Sydney MP Alex Greenwich in a wild radio spray during which he blasted members of the media as a 'pack of galahs and fools'. The former Labor and one-time NSW One Nation leader has faced a week of controversy, including allegations he abused his former partner, Nathalie Matthews, and sent her sexual messages from the parliament chamber. Mr Latham has strenuously denied Ms Matthews' allegations, which are untested and contained in an application for an apprehended violence order (AVO) filed in court this week, and has not been charged with any offence. Speaking during his weekly slot with Brent Bultitude on Radio 2SM, Mr Latham said he 'couldn't say much' about the case, which is before the courts, but instead used his half-hour slot to lash out at negative reporting. Mr Latham accused journalists from The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper of being the 'biggest pack of galahs and fools' who had a 'manic determination to engage in the politics of personal destruction against me'. The former Sky News presenter's criticism of the SMH focused on an opinion piece published on Thursday that described Mr Latham as a 'cockroach' and alleged he shared a confidential psychologist's report. The article alleged Mr Latham used parliamentary privilege to share the confidential medical information about Sydney MP Alex Greenwich that was presented to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT). Mr Greenwich began proceedings in the tribunal alleging homosexual vilification and workplace sexual harassment after the Federal Court found that Mr Latham had defamed Ms Greenwich in a series of tweets. Mr Latham told Bultitude that he ascertained the 'nature' of the medical material by googling the name of the treating clinician after they were mentioned during NCAT proceedings and in affidavits to the Federal Court and NCAT. He went on to call NSW upper house leader Penny Sharpe to withdraw a motion over the matter and claimed he had 'never received notification of any complaint' from the parliamentary ethics committee over his behaviour. Mr Latham also bizarrely claimed to have received a phone call from SMH editor Bevan Shields on the day of the 2025 federal election but told Bultitude that he was unsure if it was Shields and could not call the number. 'When the fella saying he's Bevan Shields, the editor (of The Sydney Morning Herald) rings me up on federal election day, if indeed that was him … Bevan, come out and out yourself,' Mr Latham went on to tell Bultitude. Bultitude defended his relationship with Mr Latham during the program on Friday afternoon and described criticism of Mr Latham by Premier Chris Minns as 'payback' for his opposition to the Rosehill Racecourse sale. He said he had received 'abuse for still having him on'. Latham was re-elected to the upper house in 2023. He had previously served in the NSW parliament from 2019 with One Nation before being sacked from the party by Pauline Hanson in 2023. Before that, Mr Latham took the Labor party to defeat in the 2004 federal election. Mr Latham is further alleged to have filmed sexual acts within his office in parliament, covertly photographed female colleagues, and not disclosed tens of thousands of dollars given to him by his ex, Ms Matthews.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Out yourself': Latham's latest bizarre claim
Mark Latham has dismissed claims he breached confidentiality over a medical report on Sydney MP Alex Greenwich in a wild radio spray during which he blasted members of the media as a 'pack of galahs and fools'. The former Labor and one-time NSW One Nation leader has faced a week of controversy, including allegations he abused his former partner, Nathalie Matthews, and sent her sexual messages from the parliament chamber. Mr Latham has strenuously denied Ms Matthews' allegations, which are untested and contained in an application for an apprehended violence order (AVO) filed in court this week, and has not been charged with any offence. Speaking during his weekly slot with Brent Bultitude on Radio 2SM, Mr Latham said he 'couldn't say much' about the case, which is before the courts, but instead used his half-hour slot to lash out at negative reporting. Mr Latham accused journalists from The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper of being the 'biggest pack of galahs and fools' who had a 'manic determination to engage in the politics of personal destruction against me'. The former Sky News presenter's criticism of the SMH focused on an opinion piece published on Thursday that described Mr Latham as a 'cockroach' and alleged he shared a confidential psychologist's report. The article alleged Mr Latham used parliamentary privilege to share the confidential medical information about Sydney MP Alex Greenwich that was presented to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT). Mr Greenwich began proceedings in the tribunal alleging homosexual vilification and workplace sexual harassment after the Federal Court found that Mr Latham had defamed Ms Greenwich in a series of tweets. Mr Latham told Bultitude that he ascertained the 'nature' of the medical material by googling the name of the treating clinician after they were mentioned during NCAT proceedings and in affidavits to the Federal Court and NCAT. He went on to call NSW upper house leader Penny Sharpe to withdraw a motion over the matter and claimed he had 'never received notification of any complaint' from the parliamentary ethics committee over his behaviour. Mr Latham also bizarrely claimed to have received a phone call from SMH editor Bevan Shields on the day of the 2025 federal election but told Bultitude that he was unsure if it was Shields and could not call the number. 'When the fella saying he's Bevan Shields, the editor (of The Sydney Morning Herald) rings me up on federal election day, if indeed that was him … Bevan, come out and out yourself,' Mr Latham went on to tell Bultitude. Bultitude defended his relationship with Mr Latham during the program on Friday afternoon and described criticism of Mr Latham by Premier Chris Minns as 'payback' for his opposition to the Rosehill Racecourse sale. He said he had received 'abuse for still having him on'. Latham was re-elected to the upper house in 2023. He had previously served in the NSW parliament from 2019 with One Nation before being sacked from the party by Pauline Hanson in 2023. Before that, Mr Latham took the Labor party to defeat in the 2004 federal election. Mr Latham is further alleged to have filmed sexual acts within his office in parliament, covertly photographed female colleagues, and not disclosed tens of thousands of dollars given to him by his ex, Ms Matthews.
News.com.au
15-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Australia's iconic West Indies Test tours may be on borrowed time as crucial call looms
As Australia's Test series against the West Indies comes to an end there is the real possibility it could be the last one Australia plays in the Caribbean. While on the surface that may sound far-fetched as the trip to the Caribbean is one that both fans and cricketers look on fondly and is full of nostalgia. But with changes likely to come to the five-day format, Australia vs. West Indies Test matches could now be a thing of the past. The International Cricket Council's (ICC) Future Tours Program is reportedly strongly considering moving to the two-tier system which would see Australia and the Windies no longer face in Test cricket. And a report in the SMH backs that up, with the news outlet reporting there are no Tests locked in between Australia and the West Indies in the Caribbean from 2027 onwards. Cricket Australia and the Aussie team would undoubtedly be keen for another Test series but with numbers again down it would be no surprise to see it scrapped. However, most likely that decision is not CA's to make, instead if the ICC opts to split Test cricket into two divisions, the West Indies would almost certainly be in the second tier. Another reason for that Test cricket in the Caribbean could be doomed, is the focus shifting from Test to T20 cricket. In recent years the Windies have played some of the fewest Test matches of all eligible nations. Of the scheduled Test matches in this cricket calendar from 2023 to 2027, the Windies have and are scheduled to play just 28 Tests. That is 17 fewer than England, 16 fewer than Australia and 14 fewer than India. But if the two-tier system becomes a reality, it will almost entirely kill off one of the sport's greatest ever Test nations. It even led West Indies great Clive Lloyd to say he was 'very disturbed' by the idea earlier this year when it was first floated by the ICC> 'I think it will be terrible for all those countries who worked so hard to get the Test status,' Lloyd said. 'Now they'll be playing among themselves in the lower section. How are they going to make it to the top when you play against better teams?' But next Australia will face the West Indies in a five-match T20 series starting July 20 in Jamaica.
