Latest news with #StateElection
Sky News AU
7 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
'FFS': Football WAG and influencer Bec Judd urges Victorians to vote out Labor amid machete attacks and spiralling Melbourne youth crime
Rebecca 'Bec' Judd has issued a fiery call to action, urging Victorians to vote out the Labor government after a brutal machete attack unfolded at Northland Shopping Centre. The 42-year-old influencer and wife of retired AFL legend Chris Judd took to Instagram on Wednesday to express her outrage, after learning six of the seven young men arrested over the incident were out on bail at the time, including the alleged ringleaders. Reposting a Herald Sun article titled 'Accused ringleaders of Northland machete brawl were on bail', Judd wrote over a picture of the chaos: "Are we surprised. FFS." The mother-of-four then shared a follower's message: "How do we sack the Victorian state government?!" "It's pretty simple guys- STOP VOTING FOR THEM," she responded. While the next Victorian state election isn't due until November 28, 2026, Judd said she wants it to be sooner. "We can have a State Election next year (can we bring it forward?) where every Victorian has the opportunity to show them the door," she wrote. Never one to bite her tongue, the fashion mogul has long been critical of the state's response to youth crime, particularly in Melbourne's affluent bayside suburbs, where she lives with her family in a $7.3 million Spanish Colonial-style mansion. In 2022, Judd hit out at the government, then led by Premier Daniel Andrews, after a violent burglary occurred in her neighbourhood. "So sick of the rapes, bashings and home invasions at the hands of gangs in Bayside," she wrote on Instagram at the time. "The state government doesn't seem to care. We feel unsafe. "I personally know two women who have experienced home invasions in Brighton in the last few weeks while they were at home." Andrews dismissed her comments as "sweeping assessments", telling media, "I'm not interested in having an argument with Ms Judd." Judd continued to raise alarms the following year, after reports of a dog theft in her area sparked renewed fears for community safety. "Same s***. Different night," she wrote on Instagram. "And I'm well aware this isn't just happening in Bayside." She also encouraged her 752,000 followers to take action: "Write to your local MP and let them know if you have strong feelings on this issue." Judd has also drawn comparisons between her warnings and the state government's eventual crackdown. After Premier Jacinta Allan announced sweeping bail reforms in March, which she described as the "toughest" in the country, Judd reposted a throwback of her 2022 clash with Andrews, writing: "Gee, this aged well". "Imagine the lives that could've been saved," she added. "Imagine the terror experienced by so many Victorians that could've been stopped if the Dictator had acted when I called this out." Critics of Andrews gave him the moniker 'Dictator Dan' during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Melbourne endured some of the world's longest lockdowns. Judd, however, didn't let his successor off lightly either. She labelled the government's new bail laws "too late for many" but conceded it was "a start". "And mark my words, if the Government stuffs this up again, I will continue to let everyone to know about it," she wrote. In response to the Northland incident, Premier Allan fast-tracked a planned machete ban, originally slated for September, on Monday, announcing that it would come into effect immediately. "Those knives are dangerous weapons," Ms Allan said. "They have no place on our streets anywhere, and that is why I will introduce as many laws to get these dangerous knives off the streets." has contacted Ms Judd for comment.
Daily Express
22-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Express
Logging behind Sook's worsening floods?
Published on: Thursday, May 22, 2025 Published on: Thu, May 22, 2025 By: Clarence Dol Text Size: Villagers rescue an elderly woman who was trapped in her orchard. SOOK: Residents of five villages in the Sook district are now increasingly desperate as floods continue to occur almost every month, with three floods in May alone. It is not known if it is due to decades of illegal logging, among others. This situation has also affected more than 300 students from five schools, in addition to threatening the safety of senior citizens, daily wage workers and small traders. Since the last State Election (PRN), the problem of flooding on the main route from Kg Malima to Kg Binuwou Tengah, which is a daily route for residents of Kg Seribulu, Kg Nukakatan, Kg Terlobou Baru, Kg Johan Jaya and areas near Syarikat Jutaya has become increasingly acute and worrying for residents. Flooding has now become a monthly routine, and what is more worrying is that flooding still occurs even though it only rains moderately. The main route is impassable due to the collapsed surfaces and the drainage system that is no longer functioning properly. According to a resident, repair work was once carried out by a company by spreading stones on the route including road grading. Advertisement However, this not only did not solve the problem, but also caused the road to become lower and more prone to flooding. The scattered stones also got washed away by the flood, making the road even more dangerous. Kampung Terlobou head Matilin Bin Sapin, said: 'Every time it rains, we worry. The roads here are not only flooded, but also endanger lives. Many residents are trapped, students are forced to skip school and daily wage workers who work in Sook town and Keningau town have lost their income. 'We have made many reports in writing, through social media and verbally to the authorities, elected representatives, the Public Works Department (JKR) and the companies that maintain the roads in this area, but still no concrete solution. 'We really hope the authorities, elected representatives, JKR and the State Government will go to the ground and see for themselves our suffering,' he said. The impact of the floods was so significant that the five schools involved — SMK Sook, SK Malima, SK Bunang, SK Binuwou Tengah and SK Sook — had to implement PDPR when students were unable to attend school. There were also incidents of students almost drowning while trying to cross the flood, and small traders and crops such as palm oil were damaged and could not be sold due to the road being cut off. An elderly person was trapped when returning from the garden, but was successfully rescued by villagers. Residents have worked together to clean the ditches and try to build temporary paths, but without long-term support, this situation has not changed much. The problem of flooding still occurs. Villagers just want safe roads, especially for children to go to school. Villagers hope that the authorities, State and Federal governments will take this issue seriously. Among the urgent proposals include upgrading the main road from Kg Malima to Kg Binuwou Tengah, filling low-lying areas that are prone to flooding and enlarging the size of culverts and drainage systems along the main route. The villagers' hopes are clear, they want immediate action, change and a comprehensive solution, not just visits like those that were done in the past. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
West Australian
20-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Under-fire Electoral Commissioner Robert Kennedy stood aside for rest of year
Under-fire Electoral Commissioner Robert Kennedy has been stood aside for the rest of the year, with the Government announcing a senior bureaucrat to take on the key role ahead of local council polls in October. Electoral Affairs Minister David Michael told Parliament on Tuesday the Government had appointed Water and Environmental Regulation department deputy director general Dennis O'Reilly as acting electoral commissioner until the end of the year. The move comes as Mr Kennedy continues 'personal leave' which he took at the end of March following the election, for which he and the WAEC faced criticism over the operations, including on polling day. 'I am very pleased to have someone of Mr O'Reilly's calibre take on this vitally important role for Western Australians,' Mr Michael said. 'October's local government elections are important for communities across our State and Mr O'Reilly will be working hard with his team to ensure they run smoothly. 'I thank Deputy Commissioner Courtney Baron for acting as Commissioner in recent weeks. 'With the report on the State Election Special Inquiry due on 30 June, there will also be work to do to ensure the difficulties experienced in the March election are not repeated, and Mr O'Reilly will lead this after the government has considered the report.' Mr O'Reilly's appointment by the Governor came off the back of engagement with the Opposition and crossbench party leaders over the role. Mr Kennedy drew criticism in the fallout from the State Election, with problems ranging from voter queues, ballot shortages and concerns about poorly trained staff. After taking just a handful of questions the day after the election, Mr Kennedy shied away from public scrutiny, refusing to do any formal interviews. He told The West Australian after he was approached outside a meeting with Mr Michael that he wanted to finish the count first. 'That's what we owe to the community at the moment, is to finish the count so that everyone knows what the result is,' he said in March. 'We can get into the analysis after that.' An independent inquiry, lead by former Governor Malcolm McCusker, has heard from staff members and voters, and is set to hand down a final report to the Government at the end of June.
Daily Express
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Tamparuli GRS backs going solo
Published on: Monday, May 19, 2025 Published on: Mon, May 19, 2025 By: Clarence Dol Text Size: We want to participate in this movement to realise the people's wishes from the grassroots level,' Jess said. TAMPARULI: The recent statement by Sabah Chief Minister and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Chairman Datuk Seri Haji Hajiji Haji Noor that GRS is ready to contest solo in the coming State Election (PRN) was met with full support here. N14 Tamparuli Parti Star Wiramuda Chief cum Wiramuda Exco Secretary and GRS Youth Exco Member, Jess Joel Moriga, said the voice of the young is very clear that the future of Sabah must be determined by the people of Sabah. Advertisement 'The leadership of Sabah's local parties will be inherited by the next generation, so if GRS decides to contest solo, this is a very good starting point for the youth of Sabah. We want to participate in this movement to realise the people's wishes from the grassroots level,' he said in a statement. Hajiji's wisdom in handing over the final decision to the GRS Supreme Council shows transparency and openness in his leadership, and this gives space to all coalition components to express their stance, he added. A call was also made for all GRS component parties to unite and be prepared to contest solo, as a symbol of mature and sovereign local political strength. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
New Straits Times
17-05-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
GPS must uphold unity to face next Sarawak election
SIBU: Members of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) component parties have been urged to strengthen cooperation ahead of the upcoming State Election to ensure the coalition's strength remains intact. Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) senior vice-president Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh stressed that any action to mobilise the grassroots to oppose fellow party components will only give the opposition an advantage. "If there are party components that try to oppose other parties among us, this will lead to division in GPS," he said when speaking at the NN.53 Bawang Assan Pre-Gawai Night 2025 event organised by the Bawang Assan PDP last night. Wong, who is Bawang Assan assemblyman, also touched on the importance of the Gawai Dayak celebration, saying the event reflected the identity of the Dayak community, which is rich in culture, resilient and proud of their heritage. He said that for PDP, the Gawai celebration is also a reminder of the party's commitment to protecting the rights of the Dayak community, ensuring balanced development in rural Sarawak and empowering every citizen through education, infrastructure and economic opportunities. "Let us not forget that as we celebrate our traditions, we also need to prepare the next generation to face the future," he added.
