Thousands join the Walk for Truth to confront Victoria's colonial past
Commissioner Travis Lovett walked over 500km in the Walk for Truth, a Yoorrook Justice Commission initiative to inform Victorians about colonisation's impact. The walk, from Portland to Parliament House, drew more than 12,000 participants.
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Herald Sun
4 hours ago
- Herald Sun
Opposition Leader Brad Battin committed to winning state election
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News. It's been a tumultuous first six months for Opposition Leader Brad Battin. Once asked what knocks a government off course former UK Prime Minister Harold Macmillan famously said: 'Events, dear boy, events'. From his controversial cruise holiday, to his deputy being embroiled in a parliamentary allowances scandal, internal turmoil inside his party room, factional warfare and the never-ending saga that is the ongoing feud between John Pesutto and Moira Deeming, events have made the first six months of Battin's leadership a rough ride. Despite best efforts and intentions the party has slipped backwards in the polls, only narrowly, for the first time in more than 12 months and in recent weeks serious questions about whether he will lead the party to next year's November election have been raised among MPs and party members. There's no plan to topple him, numbers aren't being counted, and talk of change right now is only hypothetical. But Battin accepts the talk is happening and says while frustrating, it makes no difference to how he tackles his job. Battin has the will, the belief, and the want to succeed in spades, and believes his Opposition has become increasingly effective, even if admitting his focus couldn't have been wholly on the task of forming government over the past six months. Most of that was because of inherited, rather than created, problems. Less than 24 hours after he helped orchestrate a deal to save the political career of John Pesutto – via a $1.55m Liberal Party loan that will allow him to pay the $2.3m he owes Moira Deeming and avoid bankruptcy – Battin told the Sunday Herald Sun he can finally focus on winning government. 'It's now time to start talking about our vision and what we want to see for Victoria,' he said. 'We know that Victoria has struggled for far too long under this Labor government. 'We want to return Victoria to what it should be, which is to have fairness, opportunity and safety for everyone. 'And I think it's really important that we start to get back to the things that are important to people at home.' Battin knows his party has for too long failed to resonate with Victorians as its MPs waged war on each other instead of on the Labor government. But he feels there's been a shift under his watch, and points to a series of policy backflips by Jacinta Allan to prove his point. 'A good opposition obviously makes a more accountable government and we can already see we're having an impact,' he said. 'They're reversing some of their bail laws because they know we're holding them to account. 'We are being more effective, and I think the team knows that. 'So now we just got to get it so the only thing we're talking about is going to the next election.' The Coalition need to win 16 seats, and lose none, to form government at the 2026 election which will take massive swings against Labor across the state. A perceived policy vacuum remains a major stumbling block in achieving that plan. For years the Liberals have defined themselves by what they oppose rather than what they stand for. Battin talks in broad statements about his vision for Victoria, but little by way of detailed policy has been put forward, to the frustration of some of his party room. Battin is also facing a generational problem. Young voters have all but turned away from the Liberals because they see a party fixated on culture wars and nostalgia, not cost of living or climate. Battin knows the Liberals won't win again until they reconnect with voters under 40, and his challenge his dragging some of his party room with him. He sees housing and cost of living as election winning issues, followed by crime. 'We want to unlock the opportunity for home ownership. We know we're going to grow the economy, whether that's via cutting taxes or in creating opportunities for investment,' he said. 'We want to reduce the cost of living … and make sure we can get gas back into the market. 'Education is a big issue, and the health system, we're seeing it daily, people are genuinely dying now because of the state of the health system.' To keep on message and sell his Opposition as a viable alternative government Battin knows he needs to unite his team – a problem which has plagued many of his predecessors. He plans to do it by meeting with each and every MP in his stable and talking to them about their goals for government. 'I will speak to every single member and as when you first came into parliament, what did you say in your maiden speech, what were you going to deliver and can you do it from opposition? 'If the answer is no, then it's time to focus on getting into government. 'I believe that once we've had the conversations with people and they can get the realignment, I think people want to win. 'People in our party are sick of not just being in opposition, but sick of the worst government in Australia's history. 'You've got to find the common goal. It's like any football club, any sports team, any business.' That goal, forming government, has been seemingly too lofty an ambition to unite the team for much of the past decade, but Battin has faith he can turn that around. Even if he is facing accusations of picking sides in the feud between Pesutto and Deeming – a claim he vehemently rejects. The perception has put him off-side with a number of colleagues who he will need to placate if he stands any chance of party unity moving forward. Asked if he wants to see Mrs Deeming preselected to run in 2026 – a move which would all but secure her a second term in parliament – Battin says only that he wants to take his current team to the next election. It is a tacit endorsement. 'I know the reasons I got into politics, I know the things I want to deliver, and I can't do them from opposition,' he says. 'Sometimes it just takes that reminder again to say, we've only got 16 months. It is time now to start focusing on those outcomes, and to get those outcomes you need to win an election.'
Sky News AU
15 hours ago
- Sky News AU
‘Topsy-turvy': Victorians are used to their government ‘siding with criminals'
Victoria Shadow Treasurer James Newbury says Victorians are used to their government siding with criminals. 'When you're a Victorian, the sad thing is you're used to this government siding with criminals,' Mr Newbury told Sky News host Steve Price. 'When you live in Victoria, it's topsy-turvy.'
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
Liberal leader's unity call after $1.5m party bailout
A state Liberal leader is defending a million-dollar bailout to save his predecessor's political career and reunite his fractured party. The Victorian Liberals' administrative committee on Thursday night agreed to lend former leader John Pesutto $1.55 million to settle legal costs owed to first-term MP Moira Deeming. Opposition Leader Brad Battin voted to support the deal, with the money to be paid directly to Mrs Deeming and Mr Pesutto set to repay it at market-rate interest. Mr Battin denied he had effectively chosen to side with Mr Pesutto in his defamation dispute with Mrs Deeming, which has engulfed the party since March 2023. "I would say anyone that states that is factually wrong," he told reporters on Friday. "My side is on the Victorian Liberal Party to ensure we can put a line in the sand and move forward." Mr Pesutto was ordered to pay $2.3 million in legal costs to Mrs Deeming after the Federal Court found he defamed her by implying she was associated with neo-Nazis. It left him facing bankruptcy, which would have triggered his exit from parliament and a subsequent by-election in his marginal seat of Hawthorn, unless the debt was paid by the end of July. Mr Pesutto, who has already coughed up $315,000 in damages, had only raised about $750,000 through wealthy backers and a GoFundMe campaign. The loan for the remainder of the money is not drawn from party campaign or taxpayer funds. Political scientist Zareh Ghazarian said the party had "dodged a bullet" by avoiding a politically dangerous by-election. He said the public episode demonstrated deep divisions within the Liberals' parliamentary ranks and could have consequences at the ballot box. "All political parties have divisions ... but it's really important that the party appears united," the Monash University political lecturer told AAP. "I'm reminded of the line that Bob Hawke used in the lead up to the 1990 election that 'if you can't govern yourselves, you can't govern the country'." Dr Ghazarian said Mr Battin and the party had "plenty of time" to mend fences before the November 2026 election, but could not afford more internal spotfires. The next potential hiccup could come during candidate preselections, expected to start in September. Mr Battin plans to speak with his colleagues to stress the need to present a credible alternative to the Victorian Labor government, in power for all but four years since 1999. "I am confident we'll be going to the next election with a united team," he said. "Victorians are sick of the Liberal Party talking about the Liberal Party." Mrs Deeming, who was expelled from the Liberal party room over the furore before returning in December, did not appear to subscribe to Mr Battin's unity message. She compared her treatment to victims of institutional abuse. "They failed to protect her when she was attacked," Mrs Deeming posted. "They punished her for defending herself ... this is what institutional abuse looks like." Mr Battin said he would speak to Mrs Deeming, but refused to comment on the substance of her post. An offer to defer some of Mr Pesutto's legal bill in exchange for Mrs Deeming's guaranteed preselection and him swearing off trying to return as leader for three years was rejected. The proposed deal led to a complaint to the state's corruption watchdog, but Mrs Deeming denied claims of blackmail. Mr Pesutto said he was grateful and humbled by the committee's decision. "I am totally committed to continuing my work as the member for Hawthorn and also serving as a member of Brad's team," he said in a statement. Deputy Premier Ben Carroll was similarly relieved for Mr Pesutto and his family, but argued the "never-ending schoolyard spat" showed the Liberals were unfit to govern. A state Liberal leader is defending a million-dollar bailout to save his predecessor's political career and reunite his fractured party. The Victorian Liberals' administrative committee on Thursday night agreed to lend former leader John Pesutto $1.55 million to settle legal costs owed to first-term MP Moira Deeming. Opposition Leader Brad Battin voted to support the deal, with the money to be paid directly to Mrs Deeming and Mr Pesutto set to repay it at market-rate interest. Mr Battin denied he had effectively chosen to side with Mr Pesutto in his defamation dispute with Mrs Deeming, which has engulfed the party since March 2023. "I would say anyone that states that is factually wrong," he told reporters on Friday. "My side is on the Victorian Liberal Party to ensure we can put a line in the sand and move forward." Mr Pesutto was ordered to pay $2.3 million in legal costs to Mrs Deeming after the Federal Court found he defamed her by implying she was associated with neo-Nazis. It left him facing bankruptcy, which would have triggered his exit from parliament and a subsequent by-election in his marginal seat of Hawthorn, unless the debt was paid by the end of July. Mr Pesutto, who has already coughed up $315,000 in damages, had only raised about $750,000 through wealthy backers and a GoFundMe campaign. The loan for the remainder of the money is not drawn from party campaign or taxpayer funds. Political scientist Zareh Ghazarian said the party had "dodged a bullet" by avoiding a politically dangerous by-election. He said the public episode demonstrated deep divisions within the Liberals' parliamentary ranks and could have consequences at the ballot box. "All political parties have divisions ... but it's really important that the party appears united," the Monash University political lecturer told AAP. "I'm reminded of the line that Bob Hawke used in the lead up to the 1990 election that 'if you can't govern yourselves, you can't govern the country'." Dr Ghazarian said Mr Battin and the party had "plenty of time" to mend fences before the November 2026 election, but could not afford more internal spotfires. The next potential hiccup could come during candidate preselections, expected to start in September. Mr Battin plans to speak with his colleagues to stress the need to present a credible alternative to the Victorian Labor government, in power for all but four years since 1999. "I am confident we'll be going to the next election with a united team," he said. "Victorians are sick of the Liberal Party talking about the Liberal Party." Mrs Deeming, who was expelled from the Liberal party room over the furore before returning in December, did not appear to subscribe to Mr Battin's unity message. She compared her treatment to victims of institutional abuse. "They failed to protect her when she was attacked," Mrs Deeming posted. "They punished her for defending herself ... this is what institutional abuse looks like." Mr Battin said he would speak to Mrs Deeming, but refused to comment on the substance of her post. An offer to defer some of Mr Pesutto's legal bill in exchange for Mrs Deeming's guaranteed preselection and him swearing off trying to return as leader for three years was rejected. The proposed deal led to a complaint to the state's corruption watchdog, but Mrs Deeming denied claims of blackmail. Mr Pesutto said he was grateful and humbled by the committee's decision. "I am totally committed to continuing my work as the member for Hawthorn and also serving as a member of Brad's team," he said in a statement. Deputy Premier Ben Carroll was similarly relieved for Mr Pesutto and his family, but argued the "never-ending schoolyard spat" showed the Liberals were unfit to govern. A state Liberal leader is defending a million-dollar bailout to save his predecessor's political career and reunite his fractured party. The Victorian Liberals' administrative committee on Thursday night agreed to lend former leader John Pesutto $1.55 million to settle legal costs owed to first-term MP Moira Deeming. Opposition Leader Brad Battin voted to support the deal, with the money to be paid directly to Mrs Deeming and Mr Pesutto set to repay it at market-rate interest. Mr Battin denied he had effectively chosen to side with Mr Pesutto in his defamation dispute with Mrs Deeming, which has engulfed the party since March 2023. "I would say anyone that states that is factually wrong," he told reporters on Friday. "My side is on the Victorian Liberal Party to ensure we can put a line in the sand and move forward." Mr Pesutto was ordered to pay $2.3 million in legal costs to Mrs Deeming after the Federal Court found he defamed her by implying she was associated with neo-Nazis. It left him facing bankruptcy, which would have triggered his exit from parliament and a subsequent by-election in his marginal seat of Hawthorn, unless the debt was paid by the end of July. Mr Pesutto, who has already coughed up $315,000 in damages, had only raised about $750,000 through wealthy backers and a GoFundMe campaign. The loan for the remainder of the money is not drawn from party campaign or taxpayer funds. Political scientist Zareh Ghazarian said the party had "dodged a bullet" by avoiding a politically dangerous by-election. He said the public episode demonstrated deep divisions within the Liberals' parliamentary ranks and could have consequences at the ballot box. "All political parties have divisions ... but it's really important that the party appears united," the Monash University political lecturer told AAP. "I'm reminded of the line that Bob Hawke used in the lead up to the 1990 election that 'if you can't govern yourselves, you can't govern the country'." Dr Ghazarian said Mr Battin and the party had "plenty of time" to mend fences before the November 2026 election, but could not afford more internal spotfires. The next potential hiccup could come during candidate preselections, expected to start in September. Mr Battin plans to speak with his colleagues to stress the need to present a credible alternative to the Victorian Labor government, in power for all but four years since 1999. "I am confident we'll be going to the next election with a united team," he said. "Victorians are sick of the Liberal Party talking about the Liberal Party." Mrs Deeming, who was expelled from the Liberal party room over the furore before returning in December, did not appear to subscribe to Mr Battin's unity message. She compared her treatment to victims of institutional abuse. "They failed to protect her when she was attacked," Mrs Deeming posted. "They punished her for defending herself ... this is what institutional abuse looks like." Mr Battin said he would speak to Mrs Deeming, but refused to comment on the substance of her post. An offer to defer some of Mr Pesutto's legal bill in exchange for Mrs Deeming's guaranteed preselection and him swearing off trying to return as leader for three years was rejected. The proposed deal led to a complaint to the state's corruption watchdog, but Mrs Deeming denied claims of blackmail. Mr Pesutto said he was grateful and humbled by the committee's decision. "I am totally committed to continuing my work as the member for Hawthorn and also serving as a member of Brad's team," he said in a statement. Deputy Premier Ben Carroll was similarly relieved for Mr Pesutto and his family, but argued the "never-ending schoolyard spat" showed the Liberals were unfit to govern. A state Liberal leader is defending a million-dollar bailout to save his predecessor's political career and reunite his fractured party. The Victorian Liberals' administrative committee on Thursday night agreed to lend former leader John Pesutto $1.55 million to settle legal costs owed to first-term MP Moira Deeming. Opposition Leader Brad Battin voted to support the deal, with the money to be paid directly to Mrs Deeming and Mr Pesutto set to repay it at market-rate interest. Mr Battin denied he had effectively chosen to side with Mr Pesutto in his defamation dispute with Mrs Deeming, which has engulfed the party since March 2023. "I would say anyone that states that is factually wrong," he told reporters on Friday. "My side is on the Victorian Liberal Party to ensure we can put a line in the sand and move forward." Mr Pesutto was ordered to pay $2.3 million in legal costs to Mrs Deeming after the Federal Court found he defamed her by implying she was associated with neo-Nazis. It left him facing bankruptcy, which would have triggered his exit from parliament and a subsequent by-election in his marginal seat of Hawthorn, unless the debt was paid by the end of July. Mr Pesutto, who has already coughed up $315,000 in damages, had only raised about $750,000 through wealthy backers and a GoFundMe campaign. The loan for the remainder of the money is not drawn from party campaign or taxpayer funds. Political scientist Zareh Ghazarian said the party had "dodged a bullet" by avoiding a politically dangerous by-election. He said the public episode demonstrated deep divisions within the Liberals' parliamentary ranks and could have consequences at the ballot box. "All political parties have divisions ... but it's really important that the party appears united," the Monash University political lecturer told AAP. "I'm reminded of the line that Bob Hawke used in the lead up to the 1990 election that 'if you can't govern yourselves, you can't govern the country'." Dr Ghazarian said Mr Battin and the party had "plenty of time" to mend fences before the November 2026 election, but could not afford more internal spotfires. The next potential hiccup could come during candidate preselections, expected to start in September. Mr Battin plans to speak with his colleagues to stress the need to present a credible alternative to the Victorian Labor government, in power for all but four years since 1999. "I am confident we'll be going to the next election with a united team," he said. "Victorians are sick of the Liberal Party talking about the Liberal Party." Mrs Deeming, who was expelled from the Liberal party room over the furore before returning in December, did not appear to subscribe to Mr Battin's unity message. She compared her treatment to victims of institutional abuse. "They failed to protect her when she was attacked," Mrs Deeming posted. "They punished her for defending herself ... this is what institutional abuse looks like." Mr Battin said he would speak to Mrs Deeming, but refused to comment on the substance of her post. An offer to defer some of Mr Pesutto's legal bill in exchange for Mrs Deeming's guaranteed preselection and him swearing off trying to return as leader for three years was rejected. The proposed deal led to a complaint to the state's corruption watchdog, but Mrs Deeming denied claims of blackmail. Mr Pesutto said he was grateful and humbled by the committee's decision. "I am totally committed to continuing my work as the member for Hawthorn and also serving as a member of Brad's team," he said in a statement. Deputy Premier Ben Carroll was similarly relieved for Mr Pesutto and his family, but argued the "never-ending schoolyard spat" showed the Liberals were unfit to govern.
