Latest news with #Stefanovic
Sky News AU
26-05-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Sky News' Peter Stefanovic accuses Labor's super tax reform of falling under 'socialism umbrella' as MP cornered over the bill's long-term effects
Assistant Foreign Minister Matt Thistlethwaite has been forced to defend the Albanese government's proposed superannuation reforms which seek to tax unrealised gains and apply an additional tax on balances over $3 million. The proposed legislation will apply a 30 per cent tax rate to super balances more than $3 million, including unrealised capital gains. The $3 million threshold has not been indexed, meaning it will gradually drag more taxpayers into the tax net over time. The measure has been projected to raise $2.3 billion in the first year and $40 billion over a decade. Sky News First Edition host Peter Stefanovic pressed the Labor MP on the policy and said it seemed 'unreasonable' and 'totally bizarre' to tax an unrealised gain. Mr Thistlethwaite said the proposed legislation would only affect a 'very, very small proportion' of people, but was then held to the fact more would be affected by the framework over time as wages increase. 'Essentially, it's an equality argument. We're saying that people shouldn't be able to shift income into superannuation to avoid paying their fair share. Now, if you don't tax it in that manner, then it means that people will simply shift all of their assets into property,' Mr Thistlethwaite said. Asked why the tax was being put on unrealised gains instead of other kinds of revenue, such as businesses investments, Mr Thistlethwaite repeated it was based on an 'equality argument'. 'The average Australian worker, a nurse, a teacher, a childcare worker, they can't shift much of their income into superannuation to avoid paying their fair share of tax,' he said. 'But that less than one per cent of the population can because they're high-income earners. We don't believe that that's fair. We think that everyone should pay their fair share.' Mr Thistlethwaite's response attracted scepticism from Stefanovic, who pounced on the 'one per cent' argument. 'I think a lot of economists agree that there's opportunity in super - there is opportunity in super - it's just the idea of taxing something that hasn't happened yet, that's under the socialism umbrella,' Stefanovic said. Mr Thistlethwaite said if the legislation was not set up in such a way, there was a risk of 'undermining the actual purpose' of why the framework was being put in place. He said people could simply shift their money into other assets and avoid paying the tax. Asked who would be affected by the taxable threshold of $3 million in 20 years, Mr Thistlethwaite said 'at the moment, it's less than one per cent of the population'. Stefanovic repeated the question, to which the Labor Assistant Minister said the government could 'always adjust policies into the future'. ' We did take it to the election, so it's not like we're springing it on people. And it's essentially an equality argument,' he said. Outgoing Liberal Senator for NSW Hollie Hughes, who joined the panel, said it was 'just unbelievable' the Labor government was coming down on unrealised gains. 'We've now got such a high proportion of our tax system based in income tax. There are ways that it could be reformed,' she said. ' As someone departing the parliament, I hope that the Labor Party, in a similar way that Bob Hawke worked with John Howard, that there was able to be significant tax reform with serious parties of government actually able to work through this constructively. And again not this pie in the sky,' she said. 'I mean, unrealised gains is just unbelievable theft. 'But they're not relying on the Greens to pass this stuff, because if you want socialism, you'll get out and out communism if you let the Greens near it.'
Sky News AU
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Karl Stefanovic vying for new role as host of Nine's latest top ratings TV hit The Floor Australia amid contract negotiations
Karl Stefanovic is reportedly vying for a new role at the Nine Network's latest top ratings hit, The Floor Australia. On Friday, insiders at the network revealed the Today host, 50, wants to replace Australian actor Rodger Corser as host of the trivia game show. The Floor has proved popular with audiences and broke records when it premiered on April 28 with a total national reach of 2.22 million viewers. The family-friendly show has dominated the prime-time 7.30 pm slot since. Contestants battle it out in topics like Australian cuisine, famous characters, and gold medallists, which are flashed across large coloured tiles on the ground. Stefanovic wants to host the program after he featured in a promo for the prime time hit ahead of its premiere, sources told The promo saw Corser introduce the star who debated his Today co-host Sarah Abo on the topic of breakfast foods. Abo beat him in the first round, but he made a comeback in the second round, when the stars dueled over bands. Stefanovic's interest in taking over Corser's role comes as Nine is due to negotiate with him over his current $3 million contract. Sources told that the network's management was bemused by his interest in taking over the Doctor Doctor actor's hosting duties. It's said the 50-year-old thinks he is better suited to hosting the program than Corser, who secured the gig in October 2024. The Floor follows the popular Dutch version of the show, which was then emulated in the US, featuring 80s American actor Rob Lowe. When it premiered, the Australian iteration even topped Nine's A Current Affair, which recorded a much lower total TV national audience of 1,147,000. All 81 contestants on the show aim to challenge and win their neighbours' tiles and steal their area of The Floor. Whoever wins the entire floor will claim a life-changing prize of $200,000.
Daily Mail
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Today star Karl Stefanovic makes dark prediction about Peter Dutton's political future - as he attends Liberal Election Night party
Karl Stefanovic has made a telling prediction about Peter Dutton's political future in the Liberal party, as the Opposition Leader attended an election night party amid the vote count on Saturday. The Today host, 50, believes Dutton, 54, will be rolled as the leader of the Opposition if he fails to secure an upset victory in the federal election tonight. Speaking from the W Hotel in Brisbane's inner-city this evening, Stefanovic said Dutton would need a miracle to win when the votes were counted tonight—and that his entire political career was at stake. 'It's certainly the calm before the storm here at Liberal party headquarters in Brisbane,' he said. 'Peter arrived a short time ago with his entire family straight upstairs, where they'll watch those all-important numbers come in. 'It is a huge mountain to climb and he left no stone unturned during this five-week campaign, crisscrossing the nation from end to end, doing something in the order of 60,000km to try and secure every possible vote.' Karl Stefanovic, 50, has made a telling prediction about Peter Dutton's, 54, political future in the Liberal party, as the Opposition Leader attended an election night party amid the vote count on Saturday Stefanovic added: 'But it is a massive mountain for him to climb, there is no doubt about that.' Stefanovic said Dutton would 'need a miracle of 2019 magnitude' when then Liberal Prime Minister Scott Morrison pulled off an upset victory against Labor leader Bill Shorten. 'That's exactly what they'll need, if not more,' Stefanovic said. 'You have the feeling, though, if things don't go his way, it may not just be the leadership of the country that is up for grabs tonight, but possibly leadership of the Coalition. 'Let's see how things pan out.' It comes as Labor has shown an early lead in Tasmania, Daily Mail Australia political editor Peter van Onselen says. 'Something interesting is going on in Tasmania in the early counting. It's early but Labor is tracking well in both Bass and Braddon,' van Onselen said. 'If the Liberals lost both seats any chance of winning can be officially ruled out. It would also mean no Liberal held seats in Tasmania. The Today host believes Dutton will be rolled as the leader of the Opposition if he fails to secure an upset victory in the federal election tonight 'In both 1993 and 2004 early results out of Tasmania quashed opposition attempts to win government. It happened to John Hewson's Liberals in 1993 and Mark Latham's Labor Party in 2004. 'Could history be repeating itself this year for Dutton's opposition? Maybe, but it's early and I keep reminding readers that when pre-poll votes land later they will favour the Liberals. 'But swings to Labor in Tasmania are a concern for Liberals if the early results become a pattern.' The ABC's Antony Green also pointed out 'big swings' toward Labor in Tasmania during the early vote count. 'There is only five (Tasmanian) electorates and one of them is rock solid and if you look at the change in vote that is occurring there, a big swing to (Labor) and a big swing against the LNP,' he said. 'All of the electorates are showing a significant swing so it's not just one or two polling places, there is something else going on there.' Green added that 'only time will tell if these figures are indicative'. Australians are anxiously awaiting the news of who will lead the nation for the next three years. Speaking from the W Hotel in Brisbane 's inner-city this evening, Stefanovic said Dutton would need a miracle to win when the votes were counted tonight—and that his entire political career was at stake If Anthony Albanese is victorious, he will be the first Prime Minister to be granted a second term since former Liberal leader John Howard in 2004. If Peter Dutton is handed the top job, it will mark the first time a first-term government has been kicked out of office since 1931. Polls have now closed on the east coast, South Australia and the Northern Territory. Follow Daily Mail Australia's live coverage of the Federal Election results.
News.com.au
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Sharp Shooting: Dumped Nine star Alex Cullen in line for new gig on rival Seven
Five years after daytime talk show The Daily Edition was scrapped by Channel 7, we hear the program, or a show rather a lot like it, is once more on the drawing board at the network. Seven programming execs are seriously stressed about the success of Channel 9 game show Tipping Point. At a series of executive meetings, ideas for remedying the problem have been discussed. Top of the pile, or so we hear, is a strong 3pm-5pm news show that potentially could lift the ailing ratings of Seven's 6pm news lead-in, The Chase. But who would host it? Departed Today sports reporter Alex Cullen is, we hear, at the top of Seven's wishlist. Cullen's reps have been in discussions with Seven we hear and Cullen, who previously appeared on Seven's screens as a reporter on Sunday Night, is expected to screen-test within days. What a remarkable turnaround that would be for the sports presenter Nine sacked for pocketing $50k from Adrian Portelli. Among other talent being looked at to host are Nine's Belinda Russell, Seven news presenter Michael Usher, Weekend Sunrise host David Woiwod and reporters Katrina Blowers and Blake Johnson. Karl crusades for Crown Having been relegated to a lowly reporting position in Nine's Saturday night federal election coverage, Karl Stefanovic went crusading on behalf of another commercial partner this week, Crown Casino. Wearing his Crown ambassador hat, Stefanovic set off to Crown Sydney where he donned an apron to record a cooking segment alongside chef Alex Pavoni of a'Mare restaurant. Stefanovic later posted the segment to his Instagram page where it was buttressed with a full-screen slide featuring a Crown logo. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission has been known in the past to take a dim view of influencers who neglect to disclose ad content on their social media accounts. So too, it seems, does Nine when the talent it pays close to $3 million forgets to acknowledge outside sponsorships. On Wednesday keen-eyed observers claimed the post, which also featured Stefanovic's daughter Harper and wife Jasmine, was without a disclosure identifying the lengthy spot as an #ad. By Thursday this column observed the post was tagged #CrownPartner. It had also had been edited during the previous 24 hours. A Nine spokeswoman dismissed any suggestion there might be an issue with Stefanovic's post and said Crown occasionally sponsors Today 'at times throughout the year'. She added: 'Karl is an ambassador of Crown as he disclosed on his post.' The post comes as Stefanovic takes a back seat to Sydney newsreader Peter Overton and A Current Affair host Ally Langdon, Stefanovic's former Today show co-host, in Nine's Federal Election coverage this weekend. Instead of anchoring the coverage, the Today show's jester will be dispatched to cover the mood and celebrations at the Liberal Party's headquarters when Opposition Leader Peter Dutton learns his fate. Sarah Abo will cover the celebrations at the ALP camp. Stefanovic also can't complain at being overlooked in promos for the coverage. Even though his is the ninth and final head featured in a promo graphic depicting specialist commentators. Nat cheers for Liz Liz Hayes was sighted in Seven's Eveleigh building this week putting some spit and polish on her almost exclusive (she was pipped by a print publication) interview with Jock Zonfrillo's widow Lauren Fried. While the Spotlight team and Seven's promo department are eagerly anticipating a bumper ratings event, one who can barely contain their excitement, or so we hear, is Sunrise host Natalie Barr. According to our spies on the ground, Barr has been telling other female talent they should not feel threatened by veteran Hayes' power and should get behind her appointment to back in the network's news and current affairs division. 'Liz is Liz Hayes and it's in everyone's interest that this works. She deserves respect,' is the roughly paraphrased version of cheerleader Barr's ringing endorsement. It's a sentiment not everyone can embrace however and some think news star Ashlee Mullany has good reason not to. Mullany has been identified as a future star of Spotlight and was under the impression 2025 would be her year. Hayes' arrival came as a surprise to Mullany who we hear took executive producer Gemma Williams aside to ask why she wasn't informed of Hayes's recruitment prior to a press release being distributed. It's a fair question as Mullany is a talent – and gorgeous – and any company (or bloke for that matter) that fails to recognise that and value her is a dope. We put the question to Seven about Mullany's Spotlight dream and was told she has investigations in the works for the show having wound up her gig as Seven's Europe & Middle East correspondent in February. Congrats Ash! Meanwhile after a decade on the ground working the rounds at Seven we can understand why she might have felt overlooked in the excitement about Hayes coming on board. Of course Hayes has only signed up, so far, for one guest appearance – an appearance put at a pricey $20k by industry insiders. Seven declined to comment on that speculation but did dismiss rumours Zonfrillo's widow was paid for her interview. Backlash to Kyle's dummy spit Kyle Sandilands' Wednesday morning on-air dummy spit and threat he'd pull his KIIS FM breakfast show from Melbourne by year's end if southern audiences didn't hop to it and accept the duo, went down like a navy suit at a pontiff's funeral with non-fans. The day before the release of radio ratings that would reveal the show lifted slightly in the city, Sandilands had raged on air: 'You either glue on in Melbourne or you (CENSOR BLEEP). One or the other … I'll just take the show off, Melbourne. You can (CENSOR BLEEP).' It was a threat that evidently delighted some who have refused to embrace the Kyle & Jackie O radio show and quickly flooded chat platforms with backlash comments. 'Don't threaten me with a good time,' one posted to reddit. 'I can barely contain my indifference,' said another. 'Don't wait Kyle. The merciful thing to do would be kill the Melbourne show immediately,' remarked a third. 'Dudes threatening people who aren't listening … to listen,' said one incredulous respondent. The tone soon turned serious on the back of news KIIS's parent company had announced a raft of redundancies. 'ARN are doing mass redundancies to keep up with Kyle and Jackie O's salaries and for what? For Kyle to walk out twenty minutes into a four hour show because 'the vibes are off'?' Old friends ABC-TV Media Watch producers left its chairman Kim Williams' recollections of when he met comedian Austen Tayshus in 1998 on the cutting room floor. In a statement supplied by Williams and featured in the show the under scrutiny chairman said he and Tayshus's alter ego Sandy Gutman had a 'brief involvement some 27 years ago'. Missing from the expose was Williams' admission the men met 'when (Gutman) was cast for a theatrical moment attaching to the opening of the sound stages at Fox Studios in Sydney'. Williams added: 'He may be a friend of my former wife Kathy Lette. Kathy left me in 1988.' The revelation sheds light (and perhaps a little personal bitterness – though he did add that they are now friends) on Williams' motivation for using his position to intervene on Gutman's behalf to line-up a slate of regional radio interviews to promote a 40th anniversary comedy tour. Eleven radio interviews in the end did take place following Williams' intervention. On Thursday Gutman told he suspects the men first encountered each other 'in the eighties' after the comedian broke through with his hit comedy album Australiana in 1983. 'It might have something to do with Kathy Lette. We were all around in the eighties,' Gutman said, contradicting earlier comments attributed to him on the ABC's Media Watch program, in which he called Williams a friend of some 40 years' standing. 'I don't think we've ever broken bread or had a Shabbos dinner … I'm of similar age to him though, so we might have been in the same circle at one time,' Gutman said. Hoping to further clarify the origins of the relationship, this column attempted to reach Lette. The Puberty Blues author, who was married to Williams from 1983 to 1989, had not responded by publication time. Williams has been caught up in the controversy all week with furious ABC staff demanding to know if the organisation's chairman had sought to interfere with regional radio content or used his position to influence managers. Gutman's allegations he'd encountered anti-Semitism within the ABC's regional operations are said to have further inflamed the matter and motivated Williams to act. Gutman is Jewish. Williams has denied his actions were in breach of editorial policies but acknowledged overstepping in relation to a comment he made describing ABC staff as 'arrogant'. Gutman was still bruised by the ABC report at week's end. '(Media Watch host Linton Besser) called me a washed up entertainer. It was personal. I've been working for decades. They accused me of weaponising anti-Semitism,' he said. The controversy gave the ABC's new managing director Hugh Marks an opportunity to establish public boundaries in his relationship with Williams, who has denied Marks was his pick for the job. It was lost on few however that the man who'd thrown the Nine board into turmoil in 2020 by failing to declare his romance with a subordinate, leading to his shock resignation from that company, is now presenting himself as a champion of corporate governance at the ABC.
Courier-Mail
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Courier-Mail
Karl Stefanovic could have been benched during Nine's election night coverage
Don't miss out on the headlines from TV. Followed categories will be added to My News. EXCLUSIVE Will Nine's highest paid man Karl Stefanovic get the tap to play a role in Nine's federal election coverage? On Thursday, with the election nine days away, Nine was yet to announce its election coverage line-up for May 3 but it appeared Stefanovic has been benched. TV insiders claim that might have something to do with the broadcaster's head of news Fiona Dear using Tuesday night's debate between PM Anthony Albanese and opposition leader Peter Dutton as an opportunity, albeit a late one, to road test talent. Karl Stefanovic at the Crown Sydney celebrates Vivid event. Picture: Supplied Fresh from his Fiji Easter mini-break, Stefanovic didn't get a start in Tuesday's debate coverage. Instead, his former Today co-host Allison Langdon, A Current Affair anchor, was tapped to moderate the debate in what appears a significant snub to 'Karlos'. Also rewarded with plum roles in Tuesday's coverage were Nine's chief political editor Charles Croucher, newsreader and former radio presenter Deb Knight and the AFR's Phil Coorey. New favourite Allison Langdon Newsreader Peter Overton Some 48 hours later, on Thursday night, Nine slipped what looked to be a hastily thrown together promo for its election broadcast into its rugby league coverage. The promo, or so claim those who caught it, suggests Langdon so impressed bosses on Tuesday night she will return as co-host of Nine's election coverage alongside Sydney newsreader Peter Overton, host of Nine's March budget special. Insiders are of the view Nine's delayed announcement is due to news execs failure to approach and lock in key political talent with sufficient lead time prior to the May 3 broadcast. That might be why the promo brushed over the line-up of politicians Nine has secured for its coverage, possibly because they still hadn't 100 per cent confirmed their availability on Thursday. Nine news boss Fiona Dear Expected to join Nine's panel are Croucher, Today political reporter Liz Daniels and political reporter Andrew Probyn. Having missed out on securing the coverage of the third Leaders debate to Nine, Seven (having perhaps wrongly expected Nine would to drop its election coverage promo during its Tuesday debate coverage) rushed it's election coverage talent lineup into the market post-debate on Wednesday. Seven's coverage will be anchored by veteran newsman Michael Usher and Sunrise anchor Natalie Barr. it gets underway at 4pm on May 3. Natalie Barr to anchor Seven's coverage ...alongside Michael Usher. Photo: Getty The network's political editor Mark Riley will also play a key role with expert commentary provided by pollies including Bill Shorten, Tanya Plibersek, Jane Hume, Michaelia Cash, Clare O'Neil, Warren Mundine and Clive Palmer. Bombshell rumour in Aussie game show war Channel 7 has moved quickly to scotch rumours Larry Emdur's role on The Chase is under review as the network is forced to act to arrest the program's recent losses. was this week informed Emdur, one of the highest paid stars on Seven's books, is to be replaced as host of the game show following the collapse of The Chase's ratings to Nine's rival program Tipping Point. Tipping Point, hosted by Todd Woodbridge, has swiftly turned the tide for Nine in the 5pm ratings timeslot following its premiere in January 2024. Within a matter of weeks, the program eroded Seven's hold on the critical late afternoon time slot – critical because it leads into the 6pm evening news bulletin and all but guarantees the ratings success of the evening news that follows. Nine's Tipping Point currently has a 113,000 average lead over Seven's The Chase (figure based on total people, five city metros, weeks 5 – 16, year-on-year), a result that is creating headaches for Seven bosses. Todd Woodbridge host of Tipping Point Ex The Chase host Andrew O'Keefe Last week, Tipping Point attracted an average audience (five city metros, total people) of 504,000 across five days. That figure is up 19 per cent on the same period last year. By comparison Seven's The Chase averaged just 355,000, down 6 per cent on the same period the previous year. More worryingly, The Chase hasn't won a whole week (five city metros) since February 2024. The capitulation is one of the most pressing problems facing Seven programmers. asked Seven if this meant the network was looking to replace Emdur as host of The Chase or if the program format would be shaken up or revived. On Thursday a network spokesman offered an upbeat:'The Chase doesn't need reviving! It remains very competitive in its timeslot, delivering a big audience night in, night out.' Then a slight pivot: 'We are about to launch a new push for the show, offering the biggest cash prize in its history.' The rep emphatically denied Emdur's role was in any doubt. 'Larry will absolutely continue to host The Chase. To suggest otherwise is nonsense and deliberately misleading,' he said. 2024 Gold Logie winner. Photo: Getty With Morning Show host Kylie Gillies According to sources, should the versatile Emdur be dropped from The Chase the Gold Logie winner will retain his role as Kylie Gillies' sidekick on weekday advertorial program The Morning Show. Despite Seven's public statement of support for The Chase and Emdur, Seven execs are, it's claimed, at wit's end over the ratings capitulation which has helped bolster Nine in the prestigious 6pm news hour and may have contributed to the softer-than-expected season premiere of Farmer Wants A Wife this week. Insiders say executives have 'drawn lines' and are now engaged in a simmering conflict over who should bear responsibility for the ratings drop-off. Farmer Wants A Wife had a sluggish 2025 ratings premiere this week Is the network's CEO of 12 months Jeff Howard, the man who oversaw the reshuffling of the executive ranks at the company in June 2024, responsible? Or is it the network's recently promoted chief content officer Brook Hall, or the newish director of unscripted content Majella Hay, or, possibly, the recently promoted group MD Seven Television Angus Ross, who was formerly chief content officer and previously had oversight of The Chase? Seven West CEO Jeff Howard Seven content boss Brook Hall The only person who doesn't seem to have been fingered for The Chase's problems is Seven's director or news and current affairs and editor in chief (etc etc etc) Anthony De Ceglie, the man who must face up to his contribution to Seven's news woes and who last year introduced a series of feeble comedy and astrology segments to try and arrest the slide of Seven's news ratings to Nine. Seven West chair Kerry Stokes, meanwhile, must grow ever weary of the turmoil and of seeing Seven's share price wallowing at 13c. Laws' former idyllic home up for grabs The Yarramalong Valley rural retreat that was once home to radio legend John Laws and wife Caroline has returned to the market. Called Cloud Valley Farm, the 14-bedroom, 11-bathroom property, set on 324 acres was sold by Laws in 2006 for an undisclosed sum. Reports at the time said the radio commentator had sought $10 million for the lush farm that had been the couple's retreat for over two decades. John Laws & wife Caroline At home on the land, John Laws In the end he settled for around $6 million for the holding, which included three houses, the main house designed by one of Laws's favourite architects, Espie Dods. It subsequently changed hands again in 2009 for $5.7 million. It's current owners, Jackie and Tim Hughes, a former radio executive and broker, are now hoping to realise a price of between $25 and $30 million for the home which they've owned for 15 years. The Hughes' are rumoured to have fallen in love with the Yarramalong Valley while Tim was working for former television supremo Reg Grundy, who had a property nearby. Retired Australia radio announcer's home as it is today John Laws at his home of 20+ years, Cloud Valley, in the nineties Described by agents as a 'world class entertainer', the farm features two guest residences along with equine facilities and provisions for livestock – however it was generous garage that stands as a lasting reminder of one of Laws's greatest past times. The automobile lover relished the 90 minute drive to Sydney in one of the cars from his large fleet of luxury vehicles, among them Bentleys, Rolls-Royces, Mercedes-Benzes and Jaguars. The sight of the Golden Tonsils rolling through the foggy valley in a Bentley or Roller delighted the locals for years during star's heyday at 2UE in the eighties and nineties. Originally published as Nine is yet to announce its election coverage line-up but it appeared Stefanovic has been benched
