Latest news with #ex-Liberal
Sky News AU
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Former opposition leader Peter Dutton returns to Canberra for first time since losing seat and the federal election
Peter Dutton has arrived in Canberra in the first public sighting of the former opposition leader since he lost his seat in the federal election. He flew into Canberra Airport on a domestic Qantas flight on Wednesday afternoon. Mr Dutton was met by a small media pack at the airport. 'I think the model for me will be to lead a graceful silence," Mr Dutton told reporters. 'I'd say to my colleagues, the Liberal Party rebuilds from here, and that's as it should be. 'The best model I've seen is where leaders, former, make a graceful exit from politics and maintain their graceful silence, so that will be my model'. When asked how he was in the wake of the election defeat, he said, "I'm very good, thank you". Mr Dutton also commented on how he plans to spend his time now that he is free from life in politics. 'I feel there are lots of opportunities but most importantly, to spend some time with family and friends and that's about it,' he said. 'But as I said, the easiest thing for former leaders to do is maintain a graceful silence so I'll leave that to others. "I just want to say thank you to all of those who have offered good wishes, there are a lot of people who have been very kind and generous in their remarks, so I am very grateful for that." The Coalition suffered a resounding loss in the election, winning only 40 seats to Labor's 89, with counting remaining ongoing in a further 11 seats. The 54-year-old's political career was dramatically ended in the election as Mr Dutton not only lost the race to become prime minister, but also the Queensland seat of Dickson. The ex-Liberal leader held the seat since 2001, and was holding onto a slim 1.7 per cent margin at the time voters went to the polls, making it the most marginal seat in Queensland. He was ultimately booted out of parliament after being unseated by Labor candidate Ali France. Mr Dutton was gracious in his concession speech and congratulated the Labor Party and the newly-elected Dickson MP Ali France on their victory as he reflected on a Coalition campaign that "clearly wasn't good enough". He said Ms France would "do a good job as a local member" and that he was grateful to have spent such a long time in politics. "Twenty-four years is a long time to be in public life, and it has been an amazing honour," he said. "Our Liberal family is hurting across the country tonight, including in my electorate of Dickson, and I want to say thank you very much to all of them."
7NEWS
29-04-2025
- Politics
- 7NEWS
South Australian MP accused of assaulting his wife returns to state parliament
Another ex-Liberal politician is raising eyebrows as the South Australian parliament returns after an Easter break, with one MP on several assault charges returning to work. Independent member for MacKillop Nick McBride fronted state parliament on Tuesday, raising eyebrows from Premier Peter Malinauskas. McBride was arrested during the recess on April 10 and charged with three counts of assaulting his wife, Katherine. After question time in Parliament, McBride didn't wish to discuss the assault charges. 'I have no comment to make, and the matter is before the courts,' he said. Premier Peter Malinauskas told media on Tuesday he is not surprised that another Liberal is in court. 'I'm literally starting to lose count of how many Liberal MPs or ex-Liberal MPs have been charged with crimes in this parliament,' he said. 'These are matters of criminality that seem to be coming up every week or second week from either Liberal MPs or ex-Liberal MPs' Malinauskas was also referring to ex-SA Liberal leader David Speirs, who on Friday was found guilty of supplying cocaine. Opposition leader Vincent Tarzia said that while the party condemns any acts of domestic violence, McBride is paid to be in parliament. 'He's paid a lot of money by his constituents to be here, so he should front up and face the music,' he said. 'We obviously condemn any alleged act of domestic violence.' McBride was elected to parliament in 2018 running for the Liberal Party in the Limestone Coast seat of MacKillop. He left the party in 2023 to sit as an independent. His great-grandfather Sir Philip McBride was a founding member of the Liberal Party of Australia and Defence Minister in the Menzies government. The broader McBride family is the 18th largest landholder in Australia with properties covering more than 1.1 million hectares. McBride has been granted bail and is due in the Naracoorte Magistrates Court on May 7. understands that McBride's alleged assault case nor bail conditions do not prohibit him from attending parliament as part of his usual duties, with it not breaching the parliament code of conduct.
Sky News AU
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Brittany Higgins and David Sharaz's newborn baby undergoing surgery
Brittany Higgins has publicly revealed her newborn son with husband David Sharaz is currently in hospital undergoing surgery. The ex-political staffer married Mr Sharaz in a lavish wedding on the Gold Coast last year and the newlyweds have recently relocated to Melbourne with their son Freddie. Ms Higgins, 30, took to Instagram on Wednesday afternoon to reveal that her baby is 'having surgery' for an undisclosed condition. 'Our sweet Freddie is in hospital having surgery,' she wrote on Instagram. Higgins and Sharaz's son is currently undergoing surgery. Picture: Instagram. The couple recently returned to Melbourne. Picture: Instagram. 'I've never been more grateful to live in Australia and have access to our world class public healthcare system. 'Huge thank-you to the doctors and nurses who are taking care of our little angel.' The update comes just days after Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz shared their baby's full name for the first time on Easter Sunday. Frederick's middle name, Leon, is reportedly a touching tribute to Ms Higgins' personal lawyer, Leon Zwier. Higgins and Sharaz previously lived in France. Picture: Instagram. The high-priced solicitor is a well-known and highly respected Melbourne lawyer, known as Mr Fixit, from the prestigious firm Arnold Bloch Liebler. Mr Zwier has been by the ex-Liberal staffer's side as Ms Higgins has navigated a criminal trial and two defamation cases since going public with her claim that Bruce Lehrmann raped her in Parliament House. The lawyer was also by Ms Higgins' side when she collected a $2.4 million compensation payout from the Commonwealth over her then-employers' handling of the rape. Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz were previously living in France in a home purchased by Ms Higgins in an effort to start afresh following intense media coverage in Australia. Brittany Higgins and David Sharaz have slashed the price of the chateau again. Picture: Figaro. However, the couple were forced to list their chateau in the south of France and returned to Australia, reportedly to fund legal fees in the ongoing Reynolds defamation case. The 160 sqm three-bedroom, two-bathroom villa near Bergerac in Dordogne, France, was originally listed on a local real estate website for €420,000 (AU$682,820) before being reduced to €404,000 (AU$656,808). As of Wednesday, the home is currently advertised for the bargain price of just €350,000 (AU$600,000).
