Latest news with #Liberals'
The Advertiser
13 hours ago
- Business
- The Advertiser
'Line in the sand': Lib leader voted for Pesutto loan
A state Liberal leader is calling for his colleagues to end a long-running civil war after the party agreed to a $1.55 million loan to save John Pesutto's political career. The Victorian Liberals' administrative committee met on Thursday night and agreed to lend former leader John Pesutto the seven-figure sum to settle legal costs owed to first-term MP Moira Deeming. The cash is separate from campaign money and not drawn from taxpayer funds. Opposition Leader Brad Battin was among those who voted to support the deal, with the money to be paid directly to Mrs Deeming and Mr Pesutto to repay it at market-rate interest. "We've actually put the line in the sand on that and now we really have to focus on moving forward," Mr Battin told ABC Radio Melbourne on Friday. 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 back in a matter of weeks. Mr Pesutto, who has already coughed up $315,000 in damages, had only raised about $750,000 through wealthy backers and a GoFundMe campaign. Time is running out for Mr Battin to unite the Liberals before the next state election in November 2026. Mr Battin urged his fellow MPs to stop the infighting to present a credible alternative to the Victorian Labor government, in power for all but four years since 1999. "I really believe now is our opportunity to ensure each and every one of my members has a think about what they've wanted to get into parliament for, and it wasn't to be in opposition," he said. Mrs Deeming, who was expelled from the party room before being welcomed back in December, appeared unprepared to follow his advice when she took to social media after the bailout news. "They failed to protect her when she was attacked," she posted. "They punished her for defending herself ... this is what institutional abuse looks like." An offer to defer some of the legal bill in exchange for Mrs Deeming's guaranteed preselection and Mr Pesutto swearing off trying to return as leader for three years was rebuffed. The proposed deal led to a complaint to the state's corruption watchdog, but Mrs Deeming has denied claims of blackmail. A state Liberal leader is calling for his colleagues to end a long-running civil war after the party agreed to a $1.55 million loan to save John Pesutto's political career. The Victorian Liberals' administrative committee met on Thursday night and agreed to lend former leader John Pesutto the seven-figure sum to settle legal costs owed to first-term MP Moira Deeming. The cash is separate from campaign money and not drawn from taxpayer funds. Opposition Leader Brad Battin was among those who voted to support the deal, with the money to be paid directly to Mrs Deeming and Mr Pesutto to repay it at market-rate interest. "We've actually put the line in the sand on that and now we really have to focus on moving forward," Mr Battin told ABC Radio Melbourne on Friday. 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 back in a matter of weeks. Mr Pesutto, who has already coughed up $315,000 in damages, had only raised about $750,000 through wealthy backers and a GoFundMe campaign. Time is running out for Mr Battin to unite the Liberals before the next state election in November 2026. Mr Battin urged his fellow MPs to stop the infighting to present a credible alternative to the Victorian Labor government, in power for all but four years since 1999. "I really believe now is our opportunity to ensure each and every one of my members has a think about what they've wanted to get into parliament for, and it wasn't to be in opposition," he said. Mrs Deeming, who was expelled from the party room before being welcomed back in December, appeared unprepared to follow his advice when she took to social media after the bailout news. "They failed to protect her when she was attacked," she posted. "They punished her for defending herself ... this is what institutional abuse looks like." An offer to defer some of the legal bill in exchange for Mrs Deeming's guaranteed preselection and Mr Pesutto swearing off trying to return as leader for three years was rebuffed. The proposed deal led to a complaint to the state's corruption watchdog, but Mrs Deeming has denied claims of blackmail. A state Liberal leader is calling for his colleagues to end a long-running civil war after the party agreed to a $1.55 million loan to save John Pesutto's political career. The Victorian Liberals' administrative committee met on Thursday night and agreed to lend former leader John Pesutto the seven-figure sum to settle legal costs owed to first-term MP Moira Deeming. The cash is separate from campaign money and not drawn from taxpayer funds. Opposition Leader Brad Battin was among those who voted to support the deal, with the money to be paid directly to Mrs Deeming and Mr Pesutto to repay it at market-rate interest. "We've actually put the line in the sand on that and now we really have to focus on moving forward," Mr Battin told ABC Radio Melbourne on Friday. 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 back in a matter of weeks. Mr Pesutto, who has already coughed up $315,000 in damages, had only raised about $750,000 through wealthy backers and a GoFundMe campaign. Time is running out for Mr Battin to unite the Liberals before the next state election in November 2026. Mr Battin urged his fellow MPs to stop the infighting to present a credible alternative to the Victorian Labor government, in power for all but four years since 1999. "I really believe now is our opportunity to ensure each and every one of my members has a think about what they've wanted to get into parliament for, and it wasn't to be in opposition," he said. Mrs Deeming, who was expelled from the party room before being welcomed back in December, appeared unprepared to follow his advice when she took to social media after the bailout news. "They failed to protect her when she was attacked," she posted. "They punished her for defending herself ... this is what institutional abuse looks like." An offer to defer some of the legal bill in exchange for Mrs Deeming's guaranteed preselection and Mr Pesutto swearing off trying to return as leader for three years was rebuffed. The proposed deal led to a complaint to the state's corruption watchdog, but Mrs Deeming has denied claims of blackmail. A state Liberal leader is calling for his colleagues to end a long-running civil war after the party agreed to a $1.55 million loan to save John Pesutto's political career. The Victorian Liberals' administrative committee met on Thursday night and agreed to lend former leader John Pesutto the seven-figure sum to settle legal costs owed to first-term MP Moira Deeming. The cash is separate from campaign money and not drawn from taxpayer funds. Opposition Leader Brad Battin was among those who voted to support the deal, with the money to be paid directly to Mrs Deeming and Mr Pesutto to repay it at market-rate interest. "We've actually put the line in the sand on that and now we really have to focus on moving forward," Mr Battin told ABC Radio Melbourne on Friday. 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 back in a matter of weeks. Mr Pesutto, who has already coughed up $315,000 in damages, had only raised about $750,000 through wealthy backers and a GoFundMe campaign. Time is running out for Mr Battin to unite the Liberals before the next state election in November 2026. Mr Battin urged his fellow MPs to stop the infighting to present a credible alternative to the Victorian Labor government, in power for all but four years since 1999. "I really believe now is our opportunity to ensure each and every one of my members has a think about what they've wanted to get into parliament for, and it wasn't to be in opposition," he said. Mrs Deeming, who was expelled from the party room before being welcomed back in December, appeared unprepared to follow his advice when she took to social media after the bailout news. "They failed to protect her when she was attacked," she posted. "They punished her for defending herself ... this is what institutional abuse looks like." An offer to defer some of the legal bill in exchange for Mrs Deeming's guaranteed preselection and Mr Pesutto swearing off trying to return as leader for three years was rebuffed. The proposed deal led to a complaint to the state's corruption watchdog, but Mrs Deeming has denied claims of blackmail.
The Age
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
Gina Rinehart spends tens of thousands of dollars to evacuate media chief from Israel
We last encountered Radford spinning for the Liberals' failed candidate, Ro Knox, in the hard-fought Liberal-Teal battle for Wentworth at the last election. And before that, he popped up at Mar-a-Lago in November as US President Donald Trump celebrated his return with a lavish event. Clearly a man with a knack of being at the centre of the news cycle. While in Israel as stress levels rose, Radford was sharply critical of the Australian government at one point, posting 'Thank God for the private sector!' on Instagram after attacking the government for having 'ZERO plan on how to get Aussies out'. It is fair to say this attitude and Radford's speedy evacuation rankled with some other Australians who were stuck in Tel Aviv while he made it out against Australian and Israeli government advice, which in the early stages was to stay close to bomb shelters. But Radford said he was given advice from another source to evacuate. 'I think the Australian government could have been more prepared and acted faster,' he told CBD. Radford made his way in a convoy of black luxury minivans to the Jordanian border and then to Amman and a flight back to Melbourne when airspace was open. And judging by his Insta post of a breakfast tray of a silver basket containing heated croissants, a pat of butter and a jam pot, he clearly wasn't flying coach. CJ Hendry does Chaddy Chadstone Shopping Centre, aka Melbourne's Fashion Capital, is busy playing host to one of Australia's most successful contemporary artists. And here we were thinking Chaddy was just a place to enjoy a nice plate of lemon chicken. CJ Hendry – South African-born and New York-based but a self-described 'Brissie bogan' – has grown quite the following on social media. Although she has no interest in the traditional art world or Australia's stuffy Archibald Prize, her almost 900,000 Instagram followers are serving her just fine – thank you very much! This Lost & Found exhibition is based on Hendry's first visit to the Fashion Capital, where she grew quickly disoriented among the centre's 500 different stores. 'It's like a labyrinth,' the artist mused. Loading We couldn't agree more, CJ. On Wednesday night, the champagne flowed, costumed ladies glided around on stilts, and an ever-enthusiastic disc jockey spun some bouncy Dua Lipa remixes. But Hendry and her team were surely weary after basically pulling an all-nighter to finish building the set pieces in time. (Some parts of the exhibition were held up at the Australian border, you see). No sign of the centre's billionaire nonagenarian owner, John Gandel. He was getting a private viewing at a later date, of course. But in true Melbourne fashion, a gaggle of event connoisseurs flocked to the city's south-east. Former queen of the FM airwaves, Kate Langbroek, was spotted beelining straight for the caviar and oysters, and indulging in both a negroni and a glass of Moet. Lovable larrikins Symon Lovett and Adam Densten of Gogglebox Australia fame couldn't resist being patrons of the arts – nor could fellow Network 10 Melebrity Sam Wood from the 2015 edition of The Bachelor. And Lauren Phillips from Nova's Melbourne breakfast show was the lucky winner of a Hendry original, if social media is to be believed. Overall, CBD liked what they did with the place. This columnist almost forgot we were sitting inside a shopping centre … As long as we ignored the giant Target logo in our peripheral vision. CHUniverse Potts Point Vietnamese joint Lady Chu has become an unlikely magnet for the Sydney's good and great ever since CBD revealed its outspoken owner Nahji Chu 's profane but righteous rant at a bunch of hapless council workers. The latest customers – South Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young with her dining companion, Sydney independent MP Alex Greenwich. Gotta take the out-of-towners to the best spots. As CBD has reported previously, Greenwich, a protegee of Sydney's forever Lord Mayor Clover Moore, took up the role of unlikely peacemaker in Chu's war with the council. Helps to have friends on both sides. The restaurant's success – Nigella Lawson dined there last week – represents quite the comeback for Chu. A decade ago, her Vietnamese tuckshop empire MissChu collapsed with millions owed to creditors, including unpaid staff entitlements. Now, she's talk of the town. Stela job shift Last year, the Albanese government suddenly got very excited about quantum computers. So excited that it invested $470 million in Silicon Valley-based start-up PsiQuantum, which is planning to build a supercomputer in Brisbane. The investment was matched by Queensland's then-Labor government. Loading But the Coalition has continued to cry foul about the deal, pointing to links between then-industry and science minister Ed Husic 's staff and one of the company's investors. Last year, the newly elected Liberal National government in Queensland promised to review its predecessors' investment, claiming PsiQuantum was 'dripping with Labor lobbyists'. Naturally, the company had hired Labor-aligned lobbyists, as most ambitious corporates in Canberra have. And now, they've picked up another Labor connection straight out of the Prime Minister's Office, with Stela Todorovic, one of Anthony Albanese 's 10 media advisers (none of whom answer CBD's calls), joining the company. And then there were nine. Todorovic, formerly a press gallery rising star, joined the PMO two years ago when she resigned from Network 10 after being passed over to replace Peter Van Onselen (remember that guy?) as political editor. Now, she joins the classic post-election reshuffle as staffers come and go from the ministerial wing.
Global News
a day ago
- Business
- Global News
Canada's economic growth likely to stall in Q2 as trade war bites
The parliamentary budget officer said Thursday he expects the federal government's deficit will balloon this year thanks to ramped-up defence spending — but without a spring budget or more clarity from Ottawa, he can't say for sure. Yves Giroux, the government's fiscal watchdog, issued a new economic and fiscal update Thursday that omits the usual deficit projections for future years. Giroux said in an interview Thursday that the lack of a spring budget leaves him unable to offer a concrete analysis to Parliamentarians about the sustainability of the government's finances. 'Being the parliamentary budget officer, not having a budget is a big gap,' he said. Giroux said his office could use the Liberals' costed spring election platform as a basis for its analysis, but those plans have already shifted just a few weeks into the new government's tenure. Story continues below advertisement Prime Minister Mark Carney announced plans earlier this month to reach the NATO defence spending target of two per cent of GDP this fiscal year with $9.3 billion in new funding — a rapid expansion of his own previous promise to hit those levels by the end of the decade. 9:55 Former Chief of the Defence Staff reacts to spending plans The prime minister also promised $4.3 billion in aid for Ukraine at the G7 summit earlier this week. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy In pre-election estimates that did not account for the impacts of the trade war, the PBO predicted the federal deficit would come in at $42 billion for this fiscal year. Based on new spending announced since then, Giroux said he now pegs that figure at between $60 billion and $70 billion. The final number could be lower, Giroux said, if the government implements cost cutting somewhere this year. But he noted Ottawa's revenues are also under pressure. Story continues below advertisement The PBO expects economic growth to stall in the second quarter of the year as Canada's trade war with the United States sinks exports. The federal government also has introduced plans for a one-percentage-point cut to the bottom income tax bracket, the net cost of which the PBO pegged at $28 billion over five years in a separate report released Wednesday. Giroux said Thursday he also can't properly assess whether the federal government is on track to meet its fiscal targets because the Liberals haven't defined their new budget benchmarks. Carney announced a plan before the spring election to split Ottawa's budget into operating and capital streams, and to balance the operating side in three years. Giroux said in an updated economic and fiscal monitor report that the Liberals haven't yet said what will be included in this operating budget. 1:57 Prime Minister Carney races to dismantle trade barriers before Canada Day 'In the absence of a clear set of criteria as to what would constitute operating versus capital spending, it's not possible to determine whether they would be on track to meet that,' he said. Story continues below advertisement Parliamentarians 'may wish to seek additional clarity' on how the government intends to define these measures and keep federal finances stable, Giroux's report concludes. The government's old fiscal anchors were based on keeping annual budget deficits below one per cent of GDP and maintaining a declining debt-to-GDP ratio over the medium term. The PBO report notes that the federal government could hit its operating budget targets but still see the debt-to-GDP ratio rise due to additional borrowing to fund, for example, accelerated military spending. 'The debt-to-GDP ratio being on the declining trend, it's not clear that would still be met if that was to still be the anchor, considering the recent announcements for defence spending,' Giroux said. The same goes for keeping deficits at one per cent of GDP, he added. The Liberal government has had a busy first few weeks, Giroux said, with King Charles' visit for the throne speech, the G7 summit, the upcoming NATO summit in Europe and a trade war with the U.S. But that's no excuse to not publish some kind of fiscal update, he said. 'We would have expected, at the very least, an economic and fiscal update to be tabled before the House rises,' Giroux said. 'And I'm confident that the good public servants at the Department of Finance would have been able to provide that type of information to ministers for them to table in the House or in another forum.' Story continues below advertisement The PBO does say the federal government's deficit for the last fiscal year likely came in at $46 billion, roughly $4.3 billion lower than estimates in March, thanks in part to higher corporate tax revenues and the imposition of counter-tariffs on the United States. The Canadian Press reached out to Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne for comment but has not yet received a response.
Vancouver Sun
a day ago
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Ottawa's fiscal watchdog says it's in the dark on federal government's fiscal targets
The parliamentary budget officer says he can't properly assess whether the federal government is on track to meet its fiscal targets because the Liberals' new budget benchmarks haven't been defined. Without a spring budget, that means Ottawa's budgetary watchdog is in the dark on how recently announced plans to boost Canada's defence spending and cut income taxes will affect the government's fiscal position. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a plan before the spring election to split Ottawa's budget into operating and capital streams, and to balance the operating side in three years. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Parliamentary budget officer Yves Giroux says in a new analysis that the Liberals haven't yet defined what will be included in this operating budget, so there's no way to say if the federal government is on track to meet its new fiscal targets. The government's old fiscal anchors were based on keeping annual budget deficits below one per cent of GDP and keeping debt-to-GDP on a declining path over the medium term. Giroux does say the federal government's deficit for the last fiscal year likely came in at $46 billion, roughly $4.3 billion lower than estimates in March, thanks in part to higher corporate tax revenues and the imposition of counter-tariffs against the United States. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Edmonton Journal
a day ago
- Business
- Edmonton Journal
Ottawa's fiscal watchdog says it's in the dark on federal government's fiscal targets
Mark Carney announced a plan before the spring election to split Ottawa's budget into operating and capital streams, and to balance the operating side in three years Published Jun 19, 2025 • Last updated 11 minutes ago • 1 minute read Prime Minister Mark Carney answers during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick The parliamentary budget officer says he can't properly assess whether the federal government is on track to meet its fiscal targets because the Liberals' new budget benchmarks haven't been defined. Without a spring budget, that means Ottawa's budgetary watchdog is in the dark on how recently announced plans to boost Canada's defence spending and cut income taxes will affect the government's fiscal position. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a plan before the spring election to split Ottawa's budget into operating and capital streams, and to balance the operating side in three years. Parliamentary budget officer Yves Giroux says in a new analysis that the Liberals haven't yet defined what will be included in this operating budget, so there's no way to say if the federal government is on track to meet its new fiscal targets. The government's old fiscal anchors were based on keeping annual budget deficits below one per cent of GDP and keeping debt-to-GDP on a declining path over the medium term. Giroux does say the federal government's deficit for the last fiscal year likely came in at $46 billion, roughly $4.3 billion lower than estimates in March, thanks in part to higher corporate tax revenues and the imposition of counter-tariffs against the United States. Read More Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here. Cult of Hockey Politics Cult of Hockey Edmonton Oilers Sports
