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"What gives?" Victorian MP slams "photoshopped" image

<p>A Victorian MP has slammed Channel Nine for airing a "photoshopped" image of her, in which her outfit was made more "revealing" and her breasts were "enlarged". </p> <p>Georgie Purcell, an MP for the Animal Justice Party, was featured on Nine News on Monday night during a segment about duck hunting, with the network using a promotional image of the MP for the TV package. </p> <p>However, Ms Purcell claims the major news work altered the photo, and took to social media to share a side by side comparison of the original image and the one Nine aired. </p> <p>“I endured a lot yesterday. But having my body and outfit photoshopped by a media outlet was not on my bingo card,” she wrote alongside the images. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">I endured a lot yesterday.</p> <p>But having my body and outfit photoshopped by a media outlet was not on my bingo card.</p> <p>Note the enlarged boobs and outfit to be made more revealing. </p> <p>Can’t imagine this happening to a male MP. </p> <p>What gives? <a href="https://t.co/NhnkDRMidc">pic.twitter.com/NhnkDRMidc</a></p> <p>— Georgie Purcell (@georgievpurcell) <a href="https://twitter.com/georgievpurcell/status/1752088649527853107?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p>“Note the enlarged boobs and outfit to be made more revealing," she added, pointing out that her white top had been altered to look like a crop top, showing off her midriff.</p> <p>“Can’t imagine this happening to a male MP. What gives?”</p> <p>In a second tweet, Purcell pointed out her stomach has been tattooed since 2020 and the photoshopped image did not show any tattoos, despite her outfit being changed to show her stomach.</p> <p>On Tuesday, a statement was issued from Nine News Melbourne news director Hugh Nailon apologising for the “graphic error”.</p> <p>“Our graphics department sourced an online image of Georgie to use in our story on duck hunting,” he said.</p> <p>“As is common practice, the image was resized to fit our specs. During that process, the automation by Photoshop created an image that was not consistent with the original.</p> <p>“This did not meet the high editorial standards we have and for that we apologise to Ms Purcell unreservedly.”</p> <p>Purcell told 7News that she only realised her image had been photoshopped when she watched Nine’s bulletin.</p> <p>“I noticed because my stomach didn’t have a tattoo on it. So I found the original photo and noticed not only had they given me abs and the crop top, but they’ve enlarged my breasts as well,” she said.</p> <p>“Seeing your own body altered on TV on the big screen is very confronting and I hope lessons are learnt from it."</p> <p>“This has affected me in some way and it could affect other women even more and it should never happen again.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: X (Twitter)</em></p> <p class="css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word; margin: 0px 0px 1.125rem; line-height: 25px; font-size: 1.125rem; font-family: HeyWow, Montserrat, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; caret-color: #292a33; color: #292a33;"> </p>

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Queensland MP pleads with Taylor Swift to bring her tour to town

<p dir="ltr">When international music sensation <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/music/taylor-swift-s-massive-news-sends-aussie-fans-into-a-frenzy">Taylor Swift announced her international tour dates</a>, most Australian fans fell into one of two categories: delighted or devastated.</p> <p dir="ltr">For while the star was answering the prayers of thousands and bringing her Eras Tour down under, she was only set to play in Sydney and Melbourne, leaving a number of other major cities out of the loop. </p> <p dir="ltr">And while most took to social media to share their heartbreak, some even <a href="https://www.change.org/p/get-taylor-swift-to-brisbane">launching a change.org petition</a> to bring her their way, one Queensland MP and Swift superfan opted instead to share his heartbreak with reporters down in Canberra. </p> <p dir="ltr">Andrew Wallace, who joined the Swiftie ranks thanks to car rides with his daughters and a soundtrack courtesy of the singer-songwriter’s impressive catalogue, also seized it as an opportunity to beg Taylor to reconsider her tour dates, and bless Brisbane with her presence.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Interestingly, there is about a week in between her three concerts in Sydney and two concerts in Melbourne. That is the perfect opportunity,” he pointed out. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Taylor, I’m asking you, begging you, I’m pleading with you. I’ll get down on my knees if I have to. Please come to Queensland. There are so many Swiftie fans in Queensland. I am one of them.”</p> <p dir="ltr">As he went on to note, addressing “the guys at Frontier Touring”, it wasn’t clear why Queensland had been left out, as “it’s the first time Taylor will be visiting Australia and not Queensland.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Wallace wasn’t the only one with strong feelings on the matter either, with Sports Minister - and fellow Queenslander - Anika Wells dropping by the press conference to announce that it was an “outrage” to be excluded, and Taylor should know that all too well. </p> <p dir="ltr">However, Wallace wasn’t going to hold it against Taylor, promising that their love story would continue as “no one would ever be able to develop ‘Bad Blood’ between myself and Taylor Swift. It just would not be possible.”</p> <p dir="ltr">He even went on to dedicate <a href="http://andrewwallacemp.com.au/taylorswift/">an entire section of his own website</a> to the cause, where he reiterated that he was “the dad of four daughters, and I’m an unashamed Swiftie. And I’m a proud Queenslander who knows that thousands of fans are disappointed to see Queensland left off the Eras Tour map.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m calling on Frontier Touring to extend Taylor’s tour to Queensland – and particularly to the Sunshine Coast, the heart of Queensland’s Swiftie population … we know that a visit to the Sunshine Coast would mean the world to tens of thousands of Queenslanders who think the absolute world of Taylor Swift.” </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Facebook</em></p>

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MP proposes schools remain open until night-time

<p>A NSW Liberal MP has proposed that Australian schools should remain open until 6pm to better accommodate “modern employment”.</p> <p>During his maiden speech to parliament, Member for Ryde Jordan Lane said that "local schools should become hubs for after-school activity”, where the government guarantees that a child can remain on school campuses after 3pm.</p> <p>"It affords parents flexibility, while at the same time making school a place for extracurricular excellence," he said.</p> <p>"By engaging providers and community organisations, we avoid overworking our tirelessly hardworking teachers but expose more children to rounded experiences, such as coding classes, culture and language, art, dance, music and sport.</p> <p>"I care deeply about the academic results that our students are able to achieve, and about ensuring they can compete on a global stage, but I care even more that our education system helps us to create a new generation of Australians with the content of character we need to be successful as a country.”</p> <p>The move could lead to an extra year of education as a result of the extended hours of teaching, Lane added.</p> <p>"Greater flexibility for parents, a productivity and employment boost to the state, financial relief from the high cost of child care and an injection of hope for potential but reluctant parents who, like me, struggle to rationalise how to afford, in terms of both time and money, children, a home and equal employability between partners," he said.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty / Instagram</em></p>

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Former MP reveals "devastating" Covid vaccine side effects

<p>Former federal MP Dr Kerryn Phelps has revealed both she and her wife have suffered continual health issues after receiving the Covid vaccine, while implying the true rate of adverse effects is higher than reported. </p> <p>In an explosive submission to Parliament’s Long Covid inquiry, the former Australian Medical Association (AMA) president has broken her silence about the "devastating" experience. </p> <p>“This is an issue that I have witnessed first-hand with my wife who suffered a severe neurological reaction to her first Pfizer vaccine within minutes, including burning face and gums, paraesethesiae, and numb hands and feet, while under observation by myself, another doctor and a registered nurse at the time of immunisation,” the 65-year-old said.</p> <p>“I continue to observe the devastating effects a year-and-a-half later with the addition of fatigue and additional neurological symptoms including nerve pains, altered sense of smell, visual disturbance and musculoskeletal inflammation. The diagnosis and causation has been confirmed by several specialists who have told me that they have seen ‘a lot’ of patients in a similar situation.”</p> <p>“Jackie [Kerryn's wife] asked me to include her story to raise awareness for others,” she said.</p> <p>“We did a lot of homework before having the vaccine, particularly about choice of vaccine at the time. In asking about adverse side effects, we were told that ‘the worst thing that could happen would be anaphylaxis’ and that severe reactions such as myocarditis and pericarditis were ‘rare’.”</p> <p>Dr Phelps revealed she was also diagnosed with a <a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/federal-budget/covid-vaccine-injury-payouts-explode-to-77-million-budget-reveals/news-story/df39fcf430c6cadb487a9914df7a3422" target="_self" data-tgev="event119" data-tgev-container="bodylink" data-tgev-order="df39fcf430c6cadb487a9914df7a3422" data-tgev-label="finance" data-tgev-metric="ev">vaccine injury</a> from her second dose of Pfizer in July 2021, “with the diagnosis and causation confirmed by specialist colleagues”.</p> <p>Dr Phelps said both reactions were reported to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) “but never followed up”.</p> <p>She revealed she had spoken with other doctors “who have themselves experienced a serious and persistent adverse event” but that “vaccine injury is a subject that few in the medical profession have wanted to talk about”.</p> <p>“Regulators of the medical profession have censored public discussion about adverse events following immunisation, with threats to doctors not to make any public statements about anything that ‘might undermine the government’s vaccine rollout’ or risk suspension or loss of their registration,” she said.</p> <p>“There has been a delay in recognition of vaccine injury, partly because of under-reporting, concerns about vaccine hesitancy in the context of managing a global pandemic, and needing to find the balance between risks and benefits on a population level.”</p> <p>According to the TGA’s most recent <a href="https://www.tga.gov.au/news/covid-19-vaccine-safety-reports/covid-19-vaccine-safety-report-15-12-2022" target="_self">safety update</a>, there have been a total of 137,141 adverse event reports from nearly 64.4 million doses — a rate of 0.2 per cent.</p> <p>There have been 819 reports “assessed as likely to be myocarditis” from 49.8 million doses of Pfizer and Moderna.</p> <p>Fourteen deaths have officially been linked to vaccination — 13 after AstraZeneca and one after Pfizer.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

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Anthony Albanese accused of bullying female MP

<p dir="ltr">Anthony Albanese has been accused of bullying by Federal MP Michelle Landry after she "left Question Time in tears".</p> <p dir="ltr">The Prime Minister was called out by Ms Landry who said she was left “intimidated, bullied and treated with disrespect”. </p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Landry was questioning Mr Albanese if the government was going to delay $800m in Commonwealth funding to construct the Rockhampton Ring Rd in her electorate.</p> <p dir="ltr">The prime minister began his response but instead confused Yeppen Floodplain with Yeppoon before opposition leader, Peter Dutton interjected to correct him. </p> <p dir="ltr">The parliament got rowdy with Mr Albanese explaining that he was speaking about the Yeppen Floodplain with footage showing Ms Landry laughing. </p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Albanese then yelled at the other side of parliament saying, “Queenslander…says it all. I know about Queensland roads because the Bruce Hwy under John Howard’s government put $1.3 billion in, we put $6.7 billion in in half the time. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Including the Yeppen Floodplain, including planning the money for the Rockhampton Ring Rd.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But when the government changed in 2013 it went on the backburner. So you were in government for almost a decade and you haven’t dug a hole on the project.” </p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Albanese continued his response but after Question Time, Ms Landry accused the Prime Minister of bullying her after claiming she had to leave parliament. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I did not expect the response I received from him and his colleagues. I felt intimidated and bullied,” Ms Landry said in a statement. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Unfortunately, this is not the first time the Prime Minister has treated me with disrespect.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Speaker of the House Milton Dick however refuted Ms Landry’s comments after reviewing footage saying she was not disrespected and did not leave parliament. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">How on earth is this answer bullying, as the PM is now being accused of. He was asked a question, was interjected with a factually inaccurate comment and he dealt with it as he should have. Give me a break… 🙄🤯🤦‍♂️ <a href="https://t.co/kknRF7Ox6h">pic.twitter.com/kknRF7Ox6h</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/auspol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#auspol</a></p> <p>— Dr Peter van Onselen (@vanOnselenP) <a href="https://twitter.com/vanOnselenP/status/1585528117606895616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“In reviewing the footage, I did not see the Prime Minister show any disrespect to the member for Capricornia,” Mr Dick said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“As the footage was not on the member for Capricornia for the entire response, I did not see her leave the chamber. Of the footage I was able to review, she seemed engaged in the response from the Prime Minister.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Landry confirmed that Mr Albanese called to apologise but she demanded an apology in the House of Representatives.</p> <p dir="ltr">“While I appreciate the gesture of calling me personally, it does not ignore the fact that he screamed, pointed, and yelled at me on a national stage,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I am no shrinking violet, and I have been in politics for a long time. I respectfully ask the Prime Minister to publicly apologise to me in the House of Representatives.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Twitter</em></p>

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Police launch manhunt after attack on MP's daughter

<p><em>Image: 7NEWS</em></p> <p>Footage has been released of the man wanted over the alleged “political assault” of the daughter of a key Victorian cross-bench MP.</p> <p>Andy Meddick’s daughter Kielan was attacked on a Fitzory street on the evening of November 18th. She sustained head injuries during the attack, in what the MP believes may have been a politically motivated incident.</p> <p>The 25-year-old woman was spray painting over a poster on Smith St about 11 pm when a man approached her, according to police reports.</p> <p>In the security camera footage released by police on Wednesday, Ms Meddick is seen walking away with the spray can in hand as the man follows her.</p> <p>It is then alleged she threw the can towards him while attempting to flee and he threw it back, striking her in the back of the head.</p> <p>Ms Meddick ran into the 86 Bar, where staff treated a three-centimetre gash to the head.</p> <p>The alleged assault came soon after the Animal Justice Party MP expressed concern about threats and intimidation directed towards his family, staff and colleagues over his support for the state government’s proposed pandemic laws.</p> <p>Mr Meddick insists his daughter, who is a transgender artist was not the instigator and was spray painting over an anti-vaccination poster.</p> <p>Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews have both condemned the alleged attack, as police continue to search for the suspect.</p>

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MP cycles to hospital while in labour

<p>In the early hours of Sunday morning, New Zealand Member of Parliament Julie Anne Genter welcomed her new baby into the world.</p> <p>The MP took to Facebook to share her dramatic birthing story, and how she cycled to the hospital while in labour.</p> <p>The Greens politician wrote, "Big news! At 3.04am this morning we welcomed the newest member of our family. I genuinely wasn’t planning to cycle in labour, but it did end up happening."</p> <p>"My contractions weren’t that bad when we left at 2am to go to the hospital - though they were 2-3 min apart and picking up in intensity by the time we arrived 10 minutes later."</p> <p>"And amazingly now we have a healthy, happy little one sleeping, as is her dad."</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FJulieAnneGenter%2Fposts%2F4916210785057860&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="797" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></p> <p>Her extraordinary story has racked up thousands of likes on Facebook, with many well wishers commending her strength.</p> <p>One person wrote, "Wow, cycling in labour... not sure I could've done that!"</p> <p>Others shared their congratulations and called Julie a "Wonder Woman" for riding a bike while enduring contractions. </p> <p>Julie also praised the medical staff that assisted in the delivery, saying, "Feeling blessed to have had excellent care and support from a great team, in what turned out to be a very fast (and happily uncomplicated) birth."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>

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Liberal MP accused of using his daughter for a political stunt

<p>Liberal MP Matt Bach has come under fire for posting a controversial photo of his three-year-old daughter.</p> <p>The Victorian minister has been accused of using his daughter Phoebe in what is being described as a "cheap political stunt" following a statement from Premier Dan Andrews. </p> <p>In the wake of growing COVID-19 cases in Victoria, the premier announced a ban on playgrounds among other measures to curb increasing cases form the Delta variant. </p> <p><span>Bach is one of a fierce critic of the playground decision, describing it as “utterly unwarranted” and an example of overreach.</span></p> <p><span>Last night, Bach took to social media to share a photo of his three-year-old daughter Phoebe a</span>t his local playground, gripping red-and-white caution tape that cordoned off equipment.</p> <p>He simply captioned the image with three sad face emojis, which he shared on Twitter and Facebook.</p> <p><img style="width: 397.8102189781022px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843283/screen-shot-2021-08-19-at-123827-pm.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/b4374de0c87e4db587f8a86394592303" /></p> <p><em>Image credit: Twitter @bach_mp</em></p> <p>The image caused a near instant reaction from his followers, many claiming what they saw was a political stunt. </p> <p><span>“So you deliberately took your child to the playground you knew was closed so that you could try to point score, wow, what a great human you are,” one Twitter user wrote.</span></p> <p><span>Another commenter said, “Did you explain to her that they’re closed in case she gets infected with a potentially deadly virus while she’s there?”</span></p> <p><span>Labor MP Nick Staikos joined the flood of criticism, retweeting the image and saying: “Who would take a child to a playground knowing that it is closed? For a photo?”</span></p> <p><span>Mr Bach quickly shot back at the opposition by tweeting, “You’re a flog. My wife took Phoebe to central gardens (where the Rocket Park is) for a run around on the grass after she spent all day inside. Quit being a SM troll and try fixing the mental health crisis you’ve created.”</span></p> <p><span>Mr Bach expressed his concerns in an opinion piece in The Herald Sun saying his daughter was “a tough little bugger” but claiming “the Andrews government might have finally broken her”.</span></p> <p><em>Image credits: Twitter @bach_mp</em></p>

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Lisa Wilkinson slams Liberal MP Andrew Laming

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p><em>The Project</em><span> </span>co-host Lisa Wilkinson slammed Liberal MP Andrew Laming after multiple allegations of misconduct have been made known in the press.</p> <p>Laming has taken medical leave after being accused of taking a photograph of a woman bending over to fill a fridge with soft drinks without her consent as well as abusing two women online to the point where one considered suicide.</p> <p>Laming has vigorously denied the allegations but has announced he will be quitting politics at the next federal election and will not move to the crossbench.</p> <p>Opposition leader Anthony Albanese said that he should quit now and not wait until the next election.</p> <p>Wilkinson had clearly had enough and slammed him in Sunday night's episode.</p> <p>"One of the coalition’s scandal-ridden MPs is stepping away from politics, and the fact we even need to specify which one it is shows how dire things are for the government … Good point Lisa,” she said.</p> <p>She then decided to slam Scott Morrison who ordered Laming to undergo "empathy training" to "build understanding and awareness" around his behaviour.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">One of the Coalition’s scandal-ridden MPs is stepping away from politics. Today Andrew Laming confirmed he will not contest the next election -- but will that be enough? <a href="https://t.co/tpFGurzMMw">pic.twitter.com/tpFGurzMMw</a></p> — The Project (@theprojecttv) <a href="https://twitter.com/theprojecttv/status/1376091551990972416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2021</a></blockquote> <p>“Let’s hope whoever is in charge of Laming’s empathy training isn’t the same team in charge of Scott Morrison’s empathy training because we all know the tax payer funded bin-fire that‘s turned out to be,” Wilkinson said.</p> <p>“When it comes to this cabinet reshuffle that’s supposedly being looked at in the next couple of days, surely Linda Reynolds and Christian Porter have got to be removed from that front bench,” Wilkinson said.</p> <p><em>The Sunday Project</em><span> </span>co-host Peter Van Onselen said that he would "punt the both of them".</p> <p>“That might seem unfair to Christian Porter given he’s denying the allegation but politics isn’t always fair, it’s about a lot more than that,” PVO said.</p> <p>“The simple fact is this government is bleeding from a gushing open wound, and pushing him onto the backbench, and the same with Linda Reynolds, frees up spots for more women, and in Linda Reynolds’ case, a woman that hasn’t perhaps called an alleged rape victim a lying cow.</p> <p>“Both of them out of the road would be what Scott Morrison needs to show that everything he says he wants to do by way of action is more than just words, but it has action to follow.”</p> <p>PVO also pointed out the double standards the Prime Minister seems to have after he urged ex Australia Post CEO Christine Holgate to stand down after purchasing $3,000 Cartier watches as bonuses for executives.</p> <p>“(Christine) was howled down by the prime minister in parliament and pushed aside like that,” PVO said.</p> <p>“These are much more serious allegations, much more serious admitted to actions in the case of the other Minister (Reynolds).”</p> <p>Wilkinson said, “The thing is, Christine Holgate is a woman and Christian Porter is a man. There’s your difference right there.”</p> <p>“Brittany Higgins will not be silenced,” Wilkinson said. “What has left me in awe is the way this country has responded to this story. Finally we are having the conversations we have been aching to have for far too long.”</p> </div> </div> </div>

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David Koch slams MP Craig Kelly after quitting Liberal Party

<p><span><em>Sunrise</em> host David Kochie Koch confronted conspiracy theorist and politician, Craig Kelly, for his wild beliefs regarding COVID-19.</span><br /><br /><span>The MP made the rogue decision to quit the Liberal Party on Tuesday, and instead move to crossbench as an independent.</span><br /><br /><span>While on <em>Sunrise</em>, Kelly said he left the Coalition so he could “speak fearlessly and frankly about issues that concern me.”</span><br /><br /><span>The MP said these issues include advocating for head lice treatment to be prescribed to coronavirus patients, even though Australian health experts have regarded it as ineffective.</span><br /><br /><span>“I believe Australian doctors should be able, if they think it can help their patient, they should be able to prescribe that,” he said.</span></p> <p><span>Kochie went on to ask: “Every chief medical officer says what you sprout is rot, it’s misleading and dangerous - why wouldn’t you take their advice?”</span><br /><br /><span>Kelly claimed he receives his health advice from “immunologists, professors and some of the highest qualified medical people from all around the world.”</span><br /><br /><span>The <em>Sunrise</em> host did not accept the claim though and accused Kelly of “confusing the public” by undermining the health advice provided by Australia’s political leaders and health experts.</span><br /><br /><span>“Our chief medical officers, every single one of them, federal and state, says that you’re wrong,” he said.</span><br /><br /><span>Kelly has been an increasingly controversial figure during the coronavirus pandemic.</span><br /><br /><span>Last week, he was banned from posting on Facebook for one week after he violated the coronavirus misinformation policy.</span><br /><br /><span>Kelly’s decision to leave from the Liberals means the Coalition has lost its one-seat majority.</span><br /><br /><span>Now there are 61 Liberals, 16 Nationals, 68 Labor MPs, one Green, one Katter’s Australia Party MP, one Centre Alliance MP and four independents.</span><br /><br /><span>Kelly maintains that he will “still be there supporting the government” from the crossbench and has “assured the Prime Minister” that will be the case.</span></p>

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"You need to be quiet": MP with fringe COVID views taken to task

<p><span>Government backbencher Craig Kelly has come under fire after being told to be quiet on national television in an interview with <em>Today</em>.</span><br /><br /><span>Pressure is mounting on the government to rein in the MP for undermining the country’s pandemic response.</span><br /><br /><span>Mr Kelly has been accused of promoting debunked coronavirus remedies, and questioning the need for a vaccine.</span><br /><br /><span>He’s also been slammed for spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories about Covid-19.</span><br /><br /><span>Labor has fiercely gone after the Liberal MP for his controversial words.</span><br /><br /><span>Appearing on <em>Today</em> on Wednesday morning, Mr Kelly said he was “very disappointed about the Labor party making this a partisan issue”.</span><br /><br /><span>He went on to defend his numerous posts on social media that he claims were peer reviewed studies pushed by “experts”.</span><br /><br /><span><em>Today</em> host Allison Langdon was quick to refute the broad claim.</span><br /><br /><span>“That’s not true, Craig,” she said. “I spent some time online last night and I managed to debunk every one of your theories. They’re not peer reviewed.</span><br /><br /><span>“Don’t you need to pull your head in?” she asked the Liberal member.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">"You need to be quiet." <br /><br />Allison Langdon SLAMS Liberal MP Craig Kelly over his unfounded and inaccurate comments about COVID-19. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9Today?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9Today</a> <a href="https://t.co/Vudxqcqzw8">pic.twitter.com/Vudxqcqzw8</a></p> — The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheTodayShow/status/1356718211081904134?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><br /><span>Mr Kelly’s main theories claim the use of hydroxychloroquine and another drug ivermectin to treat Covid-19 – one of his only causes that has had minor support in the medical community.</span><br /><br /><span>He referred to Emeritus Professor Robert Clancy of the University of Newcastle on the issue, and claimed the drug combination could be used in conjunction with a vaccine.</span><br /><br /><span>Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly has previously said however that there is “no evidence” the drugs should be used in Australia.</span><br /><br /><span>He also suggested the MP’s views in general were “not scientifically based”.</span><br /><br /><span>The interview between Langdon and Kelly quickly turned into a shouting match after Kelly promoted a Covid study pushed by a Bangladeshi plastic surgeon.</span><br /><br /><span>Kelly defended his position that enforcing children to wear face masks is tantamount to child abuse.</span><br /><br /><span>“When you read the science, it says it causes them harm,” he said.</span><br /><br /><span>Langdon fierily shot back: “Craig, we have seen deaths from Covid, we've seen sickness. We've seen mass job losses, hundreds of billions of dollars spent in government stimulus, all our hopes are riding on a vaccine,” she said.</span><br /><br /><span>“You need to be quiet.”</span></p>

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MP suffers collapse during speech in parliament

<p>Labor MP Chris Hayes suffered a collapse while giving a speech during parliament at Midday on Thursday.</p> <p>The politician was speaking about child sexual abuse when he suddenly said “I’ve got a problem” and clutched at his chest.</p> <p>Mr Hayes was taken to hospital.</p> <p>Labor leader Anthony Albanese says his collapse was a "sudden medical event".</p> <p>According to Mr Albanese, the MP “recovered quickly".</p> <p>The opposition leader praised Labor MP Dr Mike Freelander and Nationals MP Dr David Gillespie for rushing to provide Mr Hayes with assistance.</p> <p>"He is in good spirits, and we all wish him a very speedy recovery and I say to the chief opposition whip, if you want to leave he should just ask for it," Mr Albanese said.</p> <p>"There are easier ways to get it then what occurred this morning."</p> <p>Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has offered his support to Mr Hayes.</p> <p>Before thanking Mr Albanese for the health update, he sent prayers to the MP and his family.</p> <p>"We may disagree on many things in this place, but we all agree Chris Hayes is a very good bloke," Mr Morrison said on Thursday.</p> <p>The MP, who is the Chief Opposition Whip, was speaking on the anniversary of the national apology to survivors and victims of institutional child sexual abuse before the incident.</p> <p><span>Mr Hayes has held the seat of Fowler in Sydney's south-west since 2010.</span></p>

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Labor MP suspended after ASIO raid and suspected links to Chinese Communist Party

<p>Australian Federal Police and spy agency ASIO have raided the Sydney home of a NSW Labor MP amid allegations of a Chinese government plot to influence a serving politician.</p> <p>The Rockdale house belonging to NSW upper house Labor MP Shaoquett Moselmane was searched on Friday amid questions about his links to China.</p> <p>ASIO is focusing on whether Chinese government agents were aiming to influence Australian politics through Moselmane, the <em><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/nsw-mp-s-sydney-home-raided-as-asio-probes-china-links-20200626-p556f6.html">Sydney Morning Herald</a></em> reported.</p> <p>NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay said she had been told police and ASIO members had a warrant to search Moselmane’s parliamentary office.</p> <p>Moselmane’s membership of NSW Labor will be suspended and he will no longer sit in the Labor parliamentary caucus, McKay said.</p> <p>“There’s an expectation on MPs that, whatever they do, it’s in the best interests of the people of the state,” McKay said.</p> <p>“I’d hope every single MP in the parliament – not just on the Labor side but the Liberal and National Party side and crossbench – has that at the heart of their actions.</p> <p>“I’m very restricted in what I can and can’t say.”</p> <p>In April, Moselmane resigned as assistant president of the Legislative Council after repeatedly praising Chinese President Xi Jinping’s response to the coronavirus crisis.</p> <p>“For the People’s Republic of China, President Xi stepped up and provided that leadership. He mustered the resources of the nation and together with the great people of China – fought it and contained it,” Moselmane wrote on his personal website.</p> <p>He had taken nine privately funded trips to China since entering the NSW parliament in 2009, the <em>Sydney Morning Herald </em>reported. Disclosure records showed his transport and hospitality costs were often covered by Chinese government officials or agencies.</p>

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Victorian MPs spotted partying in Bali nightclub amid bushfire crisis

<p><span>A video has emerged of Victorian Labor MPs partying at a Bali nightclub while bushfires in the state escalated.</span></p> <p><span>Health minister Jenny Mikakos was filmed dancing with backbenchers Steve Dimopolous, Nick Staikos and Jackson Taylor in Seminyak’s Motel Mexicola on December 28, one day before the evacuation of East Gippsland was ordered.</span></p> <p><span>Victorian Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien said the health minister should have been at work when bushfires ravaged the region.</span></p> <p><span>“We had massive pressure on our country hospitals, we had people being injured... The health minister should have been on deck,” he said.</span></p> <p><span>Mikakos defended her actions, saying she returned to Melbourne as soon as she could and tried unsuccessfully to get an earlier flight from December 29. </span></p> <p><span>“I was being briefed by my department and my office the whole time I was overseas, and was very prepared to cut my leave short and be back on duty,” she said.</span></p> <p><span>“Effectively what the Liberal Party is saying today is that Scott Morrison should not have been in Hawaii.”</span></p> <p><span>The MPs returned from their privately funded holiday on January 2. A state of disaster was declared in the state on the same day.</span></p> <p><span>Premier Daniel Andrews backed his MPs, saying it is “appropriate that Ministers have some leave”.</span></p> <p><span>“I’m happy to stand beside an outstanding health minister. This is not a story,” Andrews told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bluemountainsgazette.com.au/story/6635927/vic-minister-hoses-down-holiday-concerns/?cs=9397" target="_blank">reporters</a>.</span></p> <p><span>Fellow holidaymaker and Bentleigh MP Staikos said of the video, “The biggest revelation is that I’m a bad dancer and I’m just glad they didn’t get footage of <em>Footloose</em>.”</span></p>

International Travel

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Dumping the royals without a referendum: Labor MP’s radical plan

<p>Labor MP Julian Hill is urging Australia to sever ties with the British monarchy and become a republic without a referendum.</p> <p>The Labor backbencher for Bruce, Victoria, is pushing for a plan to get state and federal MPs to vote to change royal succession laws.</p> <p>According to Hill, members of parliament should be responsible for changing the laws rather than the Australian public.</p> <p>If the proposal is accepted, Queen Elizabeth would be the country’s last ever monarch.</p> <p>“Like the majority of MPs, I believe our nation should have an Australian as our head of state,” Hill told parliament last week.</p> <p>“Our head of state should be a citizen not a foreigner. Our head of state should live here, not in Britain.”</p> <p>He is pushing for the Governor-General to become Australia’s head of state rather than a member of the royal family such as Prince Charles.</p> <p>The plan reveals that the Governor-General would serve five years in the position before a successor is appointed by the Chief Justice of the High Court.</p> <p>“This parliament should seriously examine a different and an easier way, which may well be legal,” said Hill.</p> <p>“I don’t believe we should have a president; we should stick with the Governor-General … and there should be a constitutional ban on any member of parliament becoming Governor-General, and on a Governor-General ever being elected to a parliament.”</p> <p>Hill is not a fan of the British royal family, saying he “could not give a hoot about their lives”.</p> <p>“If we have to, amend the laws to make the Governor-General the Queen, put him in drag if needed, as long as our head of state is in Australia,” said Hill.</p>

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Bob Hawke’s daughter alleges he told her not to report rape by former Labor MP

<p>The daughter of late former Prime Minister Bob Hawke, Rosslyn Dillon, has come out with explosive allegations claiming a Labor MP from the 1980s raped her but was asked by her father not to report it to police.</p> <p>First published on<span> </span><em>The New Daily</em>, the allegations were made in a $4 million legal claim Ms Dillon has made on her father’s estate.</p> <p>In an affidavit lodged with the NSW Supreme Court, Ms Dillon alleged that she informed her dad in the ‘80s about the incident, to which he told her not to go to the police.</p> <p>“You can’t go to the police. You can’t. I can’t have any controversies right now. I am sorry but I am challenging for the leadership of the Labor Party,” he apparently told her.</p> <p>As reported by<span> </span><em>The New Daily</em>, Ms Dillon says in the affidavit that she remains “haunted” by the sexual assaults allegedly committed by late Victorian Labor MP Bill Landeryou.</p> <div> <div class="reply-list-component"> <div class="reply-component"> <div class="reply-body-component"> <div class="reply_body body linkify"> <div class="reply-body-wrapper"> <div class="reply-body-inner"> <div class="body_text "> <p>Labor MP Tanya Plibersek said she could not comment on specific allegations because of the legal action, but said “in the most general terms, anybody who has been the victim of a sexual assault should be encouraged to take the matter to police to have it dealt with properly, to be thoroughly investigated.”</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="new-reply-component"></div> </div>

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Nationals MP George Christensen under scrutiny over Philippines adult bar claims

<p>Nationals MP George Christensen has denied claims that he was a regular at an adult entertainment bar in the Philippines.</p> <p>The claim came as Christensen blocked the release of information about the Australian Federal Police probe into his frequent travels to the Philippines between 2014 and 2018.</p> <p>Christensen was revealed to have taken 28 trips and spent almost 300 days in the Philippines over the four-year period.</p> <p>The manager of bar Ponytails, which identifies itself as an “adult entertainment service”, said the federal politician was a “very regular visitor” and a “big spender” at the venue.</p> <p>“It was well known that he went to other bars in the areas,” manager Marjorie Lamsen told <span><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/george-christensen-a-regular-at-philippines-adult-entertainment-bar-manager-20191202-p53g57.html">Nine News, <em>The Age </em>and <em>The Herald</em></a><em>.</em></span></p> <p><span>“The weakness of George is women. He would usually give allowances to these people.”</span></p> <p><span>The joint investigation by the outlets also alleged that Christensen’s wife April Asuncion, whom he met in the Philippines in 2017, was an employee at the Ponytails bar.</span></p> <p>In a statement to Nine News, a<span> spokesperson for Christensen said the allegations were “highly defamatory”.</span></p> <p>“Your allegation made about my client’s wife is denied and the so-called documentary proof that you refer to, is therefore either false or fabricated,” the spokesperson said.</p> <p>“Slandering the wife of a sitting member of parliament, who is not in the public eye, is highly defamatory and needless to say the damages would be substantial.</p> <p>“If you should publish anything that is false about my client or his wife, we are instructed to commence defamation proceedings.”</p> <p>The AFP had previously briefed former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull six times on the matter and advised Christensen that his travel could put him at risk of blackmail. However, the organisation’s probe into Christensen’s overseas travel found “no evidence of wrongdoing” and “no evidence of criminal behaviour”.</p>

International Travel

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“I don’t know”: Student’s simple question for ScoMo amid bushfire crisis stumps Liberal MP on Q&A

<p>A student stole the show on Monday night’s<span> </span><em>Q&amp;A</em><span> </span>after asking the Prime Minister a simple question – while another guest’s bizarre PR pitch left some viewers fuming.</p> <p>As bushfires continue to burn throughout the country, three lives have so far been lost along with multiple homes.</p> <p>The panel, which seemed to have an air of grief surrounding it, focused mainly on the issues of climate change, renewable energy and the Coalition’s perceived inaction on both.</p> <p>“With 150 fires burning across New South Wales and the devastating loss of lives and homes, our Prime Minister has offered thoughts and prayers,” the student asked.</p> <p>“As young student leaders and citizens we are more inclined for more direct action, so we are collecting food and essential items to donate to regional areas. We would like to know why Prime Minister Morrison did not head the warnings of Greg Mullins, the former Commissioner of Fire and Rescue NSW, and plan preventative action to avoid the devastation?”</p> <p>Mr Mullins is part of a group, along with 22 other former emergency chiefs, called Emergency Leaders for Climate Action, which has been trying to have a meeting with the government since April as they predicted the bushfire crisis early on.</p> <p>When asked why Morrison had not appeared on the show to answer the questions himself and whether it was because they were viewed as political, Liberal MP Jason Falinski said he “can’t speak for the PM or his diary manager but I can say that would have absolutely nothing to do with it”.</p> <p>Host Tony Jones asked, “Do you think the PM should meet those 23 fire chiefs who have tried to meet him in April and again in September with the idea of warning him that precisely this sort of thing would happen?”</p> <p>Mr Falinski stressed that he has no knowledge as to why Morrison didn’t meet with the fire chiefs. “He’s a very busy person,” he said.</p> <p>“At this point that’s a decision for him. Yeah, look, I think that at least the Minister at very least should take the time to meet with them, hear from them. I understand the meeting’s under way.”</p> <p>Labor MP Mark Butler said Morrison “should take that meeting”.</p> <p>“We’ve had advice for years now, from the Bureau, the CSIRO, the Australian Academy of Science and from emergency services chiefs that the fire season has got longer and more intense and impacting parts of the country that have never been impacted before,” he said.</p> <p>“Once this is over the PM and other ministers need to start taking the advice of emergency service chiefs and all our scientific agencies much more seriously. For coming days our focus should entirely be on keeping people safe.”</p>

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“We’re working very long hours”: Tasmanian MP demands pay rise after claiming $190,000 isn’t enough

<p>Sue Hickey has previously been known for speaking out on social issues such as homelessness, but now, The Clark MP is making headlines for completely different reasons.</p> <p>The Tasmanian parliamentary speaker believes that she deserves to earn more than her $190,000 annual salary.</p> <p>According to Hickey, Tasmania’s Speaker and Legislative Council President were the worst-paid presiding officers in the country and argued that the salary should be increased to make sure that those who are the most qualified are attracted to the role.</p> <p>She did admit that her position was an unpopular opinion.</p> <p>“I recognise that most of our public servants believe they’re underpaid, and a lot of people would like to see Newstart increased, and we do look like we’ve got significantly larger salaries,” she said.</p> <p>“But I can tell you we’re working very, very long hours, seven days a week, and sometimes putting ourselves at great risk.</p> <p>“I would just like to see it commensurate with our peers on the mainland.”</p> <p>But despite Legislative Council President and Labor MP Craig Farrell also earning $190,000, he disagrees with Hickey’s stance as he believes they’re paid more than enough.</p> <p>“I think after listening to some of the stories I’ve listened to this weekend [at the Labor conference] about public servants battling, people having to take two jobs, I don’t think I’ll be standing up saying, ‘please give me more money’,” said Farrell.</p> <p>In the ACT, which has a significantly smaller population to Tasmania, Speaker Joy Burch is on an annual salary of over $260,000.</p> <p>Northern Territory Speaker Kezia Purick earns almost $270,000.</p>

Money & Banking

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Alan Jones shocks Q&A audience with brutal advice to bullied MPs

<p>Alan Jones drew audible gasps when he said bullied female MPs should “take a teaspoon of cement and toughen up”, on last night’s Q&amp;A.</p> <p>Speaking of the Liberal leadership spill, the 2GB broadcaster said the party were right to depose former PM Malcolm Turnbull.</p> <p>“Turnbull started this by attacking a democratically elected leader and imagines the same rules shouldn’t apply to him,” he said.</p> <p>He also rebuked Turnbull for resigning from parliament and flying off to New York and said he should have defend his seat.</p> <p>But it was the fiery commentator’s remarks about the alleged bullying of female MPs that shocked the audience.</p> <p>“Politicians know the game they’re going in to and it is tough and it is confrontational and it is antagonistic at times.</p> <p>“I would recommend some of them who are saying they’re being bullied — they need to take a teaspoon full of cement and toughen up.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/AlanJones?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AlanJones</a> thinks some of the politicians need to toughen up. <a href="https://twitter.com/AlboMP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AlboMP</a> says it can't be dismissed. <a href="https://twitter.com/StevenCiobo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@StevenCiobo</a> says we need to enforce standards <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QandA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QandA</a> <a href="https://t.co/ldgXEgC4B8">pic.twitter.com/ldgXEgC4B8</a></p> — ABC Q&amp;A (@QandA) <a href="https://twitter.com/QandA/status/1036591916765204480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>He said he had little sympathy for people in that position and that accusers should name names or stay quiet.</p> <p>“If these people have complaints, surely they should articulate against whom the complaints are being made? Otherwise you can accuse anybody of anything.”</p> <p>Defence industry minister Steven Ciobo, who was on the panel, distanced himself from Jones’ comments, calling Banks “a terrific woman”.</p> <p>“Our Westminster system is an adversarial system. The table is broad enough to stop two swords from touching. That doesn’t mean that anything goes. We need to tackle the cultural issues. We need to be seen to be doing it because we’re enforcing it in other workplaces,” he said;</p> <p>Prime Minister <strong><u><a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/the-last-straw-scott-morrison-vows-to-stamp-out-bullying-culture-in-liberal-party">Scott Morrison has vowed to stamp out bullying</a></u></strong> of MPs after Julia Banks quit over what she claims were pressure and intimidation tactics used during the leadership spill.</p>

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