Latest news with #StephenConroy
Sky News AU
20-05-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Victorian public servant roles to be axed in cost-cutting measures
Former Labor senator Stephen Conroy claims Victoria's cost-cutting measures including axing thousands of public servants are due to some 'hard decisions'. The Labor state government will be axing the jobs despite federal Labor campaigning hard against Peter Dutton and the Liberals' pledge to cut roles in Canberra public servants. 'The Victorian budget and the federal budget were in very different places,' Mr Conroy said. 'Jim Chalmers has been able to run two budget surpluses over the last three budgets, whereas the Victorian government has had commitments to huge infrastructure projects, and they've had a much looser budgetary situation.'
The Guardian
13-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Political influence and powerful allies: how relative unknown Sam Rae catapulted himself into Labor's ministry
Moments after securing a landslide victory at the 2018 state election, a triumphant Daniel Andrews showered praise on his young campaign director, Sam Rae, who has now been fast-tracked to become a federal minister at just 38 years old. Rae remains an unknown figure to many outside Victoria, where he wielded political influence and cultivated powerful allies long before entering federal parliament in 2021 as the member for Hawke, on Melbourne's north-western fringe. His elevation to minister for aged care and seniors, just like his preselection in Hawke, came after a bruising factional fight. Rae, along with fellow Victorian rightwinger Daniel Mulino, was promoted after frontbenchers Ed Husic and Mark Dreyfus were dumped. Labor insiders concede the demotions were brutal. Rae's promotion has raised some eyebrows within Labor, including from former prime minister Paul Keating, who described Rae's Victorian right faction as 'demonstrably devoid of creativity and capacity'. Victorian Labor sources insist this criticism is unfair and fails to reflect Rae's experience. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Rae worked as a factory labourer, a call centre operator and a childcare worker before becoming an electorate officer and adviser to former communications minister and Victorian right-faction power broker Stephen Conroy in 2015. In his first speech to parliament, Rae listed Conroy as a mentor along with Labor power broker Don Farrell and the deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, who leads the Victorian right faction. On Sunday, Husic accused Marles of being a 'factional assassin' who had orchestrated his demise. After six years with Conroy, Rae moved to Victorian Labor and ran its research and tactics unit. He then became the state party's secretary and ran the 2018 Labor campaign, which secured Daniel Andrews a second term. Rae worked alongside pollster Kos Samaras, who was not surprised by his promotion. 'He grew up in a single parent household with two other brothers and worked in factories to get himself through university,' Samaras said. 'It's not exactly been a blessed life. This is the sort of person you definitely want in the cabinet.' Samaras said Rae had shown 'an incredible ability to grasp huge complex logistical problems' during the 2018 state election, which he described as the best campaign he had worked on. Months after the 2018 election, Rae became a partner at PwC Australia. During this period, Rae worked with James MacKenzie, who is the chair of law firm Slater & Gordon and a board member of the Suburban Rail Loop Authority. MacKenzie is a Labor stalwart who overhauled the Victorian ALP headquarters in the late 1970s. Rae is 'definitely not a political hack,' said MacKenzie, who worked with him on non-government projects. 'The factions don't give out MBAs. The sort of work I engaged with while he was a partner at PwC was akin to serious policy work; that is what he brings to the table. 'I was impressed by his understanding of what is a well-formulated and well-structured policy and his broad business understanding. It's not very often you come across a 'political hack' who understands what the cost of capital is.' Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion Rae left PwC Australia after being preselected to run in the seat of Hawke, which also unleashed factional divisions. Some members aligned to former leader Bill Shorten wanted a woman selected. But Rae was selected by Labor's national executive, not branch members, due to the state branch being placed into administration after branch-stacking allegations. Several unions argued there should have been a ballot, and unsuccessfully launched court action to overturn the national executive's intervention. As an MP, Rae lists campaigning to deliver urgent care clinics to Sunbury and Melton among his greatest achievements. He told Guardian Australia he 'was a massive pain in the arse' within the party to ensure the money was allocated. One former senior Victorian Labor staffer, who worked with Rae but declined to be named so they could speak freely, said criticism of him as an unknown factional player was 'unfair'. 'He's a member of Labor's national executive, for one,' the source said. 'He's a deep thinker and you don't lead a landslide victory at a state election without having an understanding of both policy and politics.' In a statement, Rae said he was 'deeply honoured to have been asked to serve as minister for aged care and seniors'. 'It's a challenging portfolio and I'm proud to take it alongside Labor's talented team,' Rae said. 'There's a lot of work to do and we're ready to get started.'
Sky News AU
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Liberals attempt to appeal to both sides on energy policy ‘wasn't meaningful'
Former Labor senator Stephen Conroy says he was 'a little bit cynical' about the nuclear policy announcement. Mr Conroy told Sky News host Andrew Bolt that they needed to not drive the left and Teal seats 'further away' from themselves. 'So they had to say, 'well we're still committed to Net Zero by 2050', but at the same time they needed to keep the National Party in the card. 'It wasn't meaningful.'
Scoop
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
A-Leagues Increase Capacity At Go Media Stadium For 2025 Finals Series
Press Release – A-Leagues A-Leagues to increase Go Media Stadium capacity by 2,700+. Auckland FC to host leg two of their Semi Final on Saturday 24 May. Additional 800 seats to be added if Auckland progress to debut Grand Final. Friday 9 May: In partnership with Go Media Stadium and Auckland FC, the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) has increased the capacity of Go Media Stadium for the Isuzu UTE A-League 2025 Finals Series. Following strong early demand for finals tickets, and a fantastic record of home support during the regular season, the APL has added 2,700 seats to the north end of Go Media Stadium, giving more Auckland FC and travelling fans the opportunity to watch their team in leg two of the Semi Final showdown on Saturday 24 May. A further 800 seats will be added should Auckland qualify for the Isuzu UTE A-League 2025 Grand Final and earn the right to host the showpiece event on Saturday 31 May. With the additional capacity, the Black Knights continue a strong record of home support at Go Media Stadium as the club continues to build an incredible connection with the local football community. Across the regular season, the Isuzu UTE A-League Men has seen a 9% growth in overall attendance year-on-year, and this weekend is set to surpass 1.5m total fans through the gates for the first time since 2018/19. A-Leagues Executive Chair, Hon. Stephen Conroy said: 'The fans in Auckland, and across the league, have been fantastic this season. As it stands, we're on track to record the highest attended season since 2016/17. 'As we enter an exciting month of A-Leagues action, it's great to be able to increase the overall capacity at Go Media Stadium for the 2025 Finals Series to give more fans the chance to see their team in action. 'Credit to all involved at Auckland FC for the momentum they've built, and a huge shout out to their growing fan base, for the passion and connection they've shown to the club in their first season.' The 2025 Finals Series kicks off this weekend with two cut-throat Elimination Finals, with the two winners progressing to the Semi Finals to face either Auckland FC or Melbourne City who earned the week off finishing as the top two teams in the regular season. As Premiers, Auckland FC will play the lowest placed Elimination Final winner in a two-legged Semi Final, with the first leg away, before the return leg at Go Media Stadium on Saturday 24 May. The highest placed team from the regular season that wins through from the Semi Finals, will earn the right to host the Isuzu UTE A-League 2025 Grand Final on Saturday 31 May. Tickets for Auckland's second leg at Go Media Stadium on Saturday 24 May are currently on sale for Auckland FC members via while tickets for away club fans go on sale at 10am AEST / 12pm NZT on Monday 12 May. General public tickets will go on sale at 1pm AEST / 3pm NZT on Tuesday 13 May. For Australian viewers, the Isuzu UTE A-League 2025 Finals Series matches will be shown live across a mix of Network 10, 10 Play and Paramount+. For New Zealand viewers, every match of the Isuzu UTE A-League 2025 Finals Series, including Auckland FC, is available live on Sky Sport and streamed on Sky Sport Now. Notes: Isuzu UTE A-League Men 2025 Finals Series: Week 2: Semi Finals (Leg 1), Friday 16 May – Saturday 17 May Lowest Placed Elimination Final Winner vs Auckland FC Highest Placed Elimination Final Winner vs Melbourne City Week 3: Semi Finals (Leg 2), Saturday 24 May Auckland FC vs Lowest Placed Elimination Final Winner, 4:00pm AEST / 6:00pm NZT on Saturday 24 May at Go Media Stadium. Melbourne City vs Highest Placed Elimination Final Winner, 7:35pm AEST on Saturday 24 May at AAMI Park. Week 4: Grand Final, Saturday 31 May Highest ranked Semi Final Winner vs Lowest ranked Semi Final Winner, Saturday 31 May. About A-Leagues: The A-Leagues represent the pinnacle of professional football in Australia and New Zealand, comprising Isuzu UTE A-League Men's and Ninja A-League Women competitions. The 2024/25 season will see 13 clubs compete in the Isuzu UTE A-League Men and 12 in the Ninja A-League Women. The A-Leagues, operated by Australian Professional Leagues (APL), is delivering against its bold ambition to develop top-tier professional football talent in Australia and New Zealand, drive engagement across the leagues and to build on football's undisputed position as the country's most popular participation sport.
RNZ News
09-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Football: Mount Smart to increase capacity for Auckland FC A-League playoffs
Auckland FC fans at Mount Smart Stadium. Photo: PHOTOSPORT An extra 2700 seats will be added to Mount Smart Stadium for Auckland FC's A-League play-off games. The ground currently has a capacity of 24,500. The extra seats will be added to the north end in time for Auckland's second leg semi-final on Saturday, 24 May. A further 800 seats will be added should Auckland qualify for the A-League grand final and earn the right to host the showpiece event on Saturday, 31 May. Auckland FC have had strong support from their fans for all of their home games with an average crowd size of 18,000, the highest in the league. The club sold out four home games, including a record crowd of 27,009 for the derby game against Wellington. Their crowd sizes were double the league average, contributing to a 9 percent growth across the league. "The fans in Auckland, and across the league, have been fantastic this season," A-League executive chair Stephen Conroy said "As it stands, we're on track to record the highest attended season since 2016/17." This weekend was set to surpass 1.5 million total fans through the gates for the first time since 2018/19. The 2025 Finals Series kicks off this weekend with two cut-throat elimination finals, with the two winners progressing to the semi-finals to face either Auckland FC or Melbourne City, who earned the week off finishing as the top two teams in the regular season. As premiers , Auckland FC will play the lowest placed elimination final winner in a two-legged semi-final, with the first leg away, before the return leg at Mount Smart. The highest-placed team from the regular season that wins through from the semi-finals, will earn the right to host the A-League 2025 grand final. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
