#AUSTRALIA: PM Albanese Handling of Floods Criticized By Opposition

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been blasted by a Liberal MP over his response to the New South Wales flood crisis.

More than 30,000 people have been ordered to evacuate their homes as torrential rain continues to cause flooding in Sydney and surrounding areas.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#AUSTRALIA: Peter Dutton Elected Liberal Party Leader After Election Deafeat

[world politics news]

Peter Dutton being elected as the new Liberal Party leader and Sussan Ley as his deputy.

Their election follows the defeat last week of the Liberal party in Australia's federal elections. The next federal election is scheduled for 2025.

Dutton came out swinging after accepting the top spot, saying the country’s newly elected Labor government was not “ready to govern and we are already seeing their inexperience on display."

Dutton, 51, has represented the Queensland seat of Dickson since 2001 and previously held senior ministerial office as a cabinet minister in Coalition governments between 2013 and 2022.

The National Party also determined their leadership on Monday, with Queensland MP David Littleproud successfully ousting Barnaby Joyce as leader

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#AUSTRALIA: State Liberal Party Leader Concedes Defeat In March Election

[world politics news]

Western Australia's Liberal Party Leader Zak Kirkup has conceded defeat ahead of the March state election, admiting he would likely not be voted in on polling day.

However, Kirkup said he would continue campaigning to ensure that local candidates are elected to Parliament.

In tweets posted early on Wednesday morning, Mr Kirkup said Western Australians were informing him that Premier Mark McGowan’s job was not in danger.

"As I get around the state, many West Aussies are telling me Mark McGowan’s job is safe. We have to acknowledge that, because I don’t want to treat people like mugs. 

 

I’m not going to stop fighting, but I’m not going to pretend & make this election about something it’s not. If the Premier is re-elected, your vote matters for an entirely different reason.

 

Your vote is about who will fight for you locally. Your vote matters because you will need a strong Liberal Party when Labor gets it wrong or goes too far."

Labor Party Premier Mark McGowan responded to the tweets through the media on Thursday morning, indicating the opposition leader gave up.

“Well the West Australian way is to never give up,” he told reporters.

“The election hasn’t been held yet and we have to respect the people of Western Australia and let them have their say.”

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#AUSTRALIA: PM Morrison Defeats Labor's Shorten, Defying Polls

[world politics news]

In a victory some are comparing to Donald Trump's, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has defied years of opinion polls and public expectation to lead the right-leaning Coalition to a shocking election victory Saturday.

Morrison's Liberal Party will form a government in parliament with the help of one or more smaller parties.

The result is a crushing defeat for the Labor Party, with Opposition Leader Bill Shorten immediately announcing he will step down as the party's leader.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#AUSTRALIA: Sen. Cory Bernardi Leaves Liberal Party, Founding "Australian Conservatives"

[world politics news]

Sen. Cory Bernardi says he has resigned from the Liberal Party and has formed a new party, the Australian Conservatives. He says he resigned because respect for values has been replaced by political expediency, and because the "political class" is failing Australia. Liberal leaders anger over the defection was muted by the fact they'll rely on Bernardi's vote for their future legislation. He does not believe in man-made climate change, takes a hard line against Muslim immigration, and is against gay marriage.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#AUSTRALIA: PM Turnbull Lobs Verbal Assault On Oppo Ldr Shorten After Week Of Attacks On Wealth

[world politics news]

A fired-up Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has let loose on the leader of the opposition, Bill Shorten, in a withering attack in Parliament, accusing him of being "a social climbing sycophant" of billionaires, a "parasite" and of being a corrupt union leader when he headed a union. The spirited attack after a week of attacks from Shorten on Turnbull for being wealthy, which Turnbull conceded. Twitter users said they were glad Turnbull finally found his voice and went on the attack. He said, in part:

"There was never a union leader in Melbourne that tucked his knees under more billionaire’s tables than the leader of the opposition. He lapped it up, yes, he lapped it up. He was such a sycophant, a social-climbing sycophant if ever there was one. There has never been a more sycophantic leader of the Labor Party than this one and he comes here and poses as a Tribune of the people. He likes harborside mansions, he is yearning for one, he is yearning to get into Kirribilli House, because somebody else pays for it! Just like he loved knocking back Dick Pratt’s Cristal and looked forward to living at the expense of the taxpayer, this man is a parasite and has no respect for the taxpayer!

[Video HERE. Turn on "Captions"]

[FULL STORY HERE]

Pictured: Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce laughs heartily during Turnbull's attack.

#AUSTRALIA: New South Wales Premier Resigns Unexpectedly; Cites "High Cost," Ill Family Members

[world politics news]

Mike Baird, the Premier of NSW, has announced he is retiring from politics. At a press conference in Sydney on Thursday Baird said he was stepping down from the job after three years as Premier and 10 years in parliament to allow a "refresh" of his government, which faces an election in 2019. An emotional Baird revealed that a disastrous 2016 for his government that saw his popularity plummet had been coupled with "much tougher" personal challenges of significant health issues faced by his father, mother and sister.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#AUSTRALIA: Two MPs To Attend Feb. Anti-Muslim Dinner To Raise Funds For Defamation Case

[world politics news]

Two federal government MPs, Sen. Cory Bernardi and House member George Christensen, will attend a dinner to help an anti-Islam organisation fund a defamation case. The two Liberal Party politicians will attend the Q Society's function in Melbourne next month, with Senator Bernardi listed to give a speech. The organisation's website says all proceeds of the dinner will go towards the legal expenses of the Q Society and two individuals in a Supreme Court defamation action initiated by Mohamed El-Mouehly of the Halal Certification Authority. Bernardi has hinted about leaving the Liberal-National Coalition Party.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#AUSTRALIA: PM Turnbull Seeks Amendment To "Fair Work" Law To Protect Volunteer Firefighters From Unions

[world politics news]

The Coalition Government led by Liberal MP Malcolm Turnbull will seek to amend the Fair Work Act to protect the Victorian Country Fire Authority and similar volunteer organizations from union takeovers. The government of the state of Victoria is seeking to hand control of the CFA’s volunteers to the United Firefighters Union through a new agreement under the 2009 Fair Work Act.

#AUSTRALIA: Free Speech Crusaders Close To Amending Controversial Racial Discr. Act

[world politics news]

Free-speech crusaders are “closer than ever” to eroding the controversial Racial Discrimination Act, Liberal senator James Paterson said last night, saying Malcolm Turnbull should be “taking up the mantle and leading” on the hot-button issue. Former PM Tony Abbott angered his supporters in 2014 by abandoning an election promise to repeal the law, amid fears that loosening restrictions on speech could stymie efforts to silence radical preachers.

Pictured: Senator for Victoria James Paterson

#AUSTRALIA: PM Turnbull Takes Responsibility For Poor Campaign; Slams Labor's "Medi-Scare" Campaign

[world politics news]

As the Liberal/Coalition gov't waits to see if they can form a government following a very close election result, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull took responsibility for not doing better at the polls, while also slamming Labor's "medi-scare" campaign, which questioned their commitment to medicare for the elderly. It's unclear if Turnbull can face down a leadership challenge if the Coalition is given the chance of forming a government again.

#AUSTRALIA: PM Turnbull Calls "Snap" Election For July 2

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has dissolved both houses of parliament and has called for a July 2 election, firing the starting gun on a 55-day election campaign, placing jobs, growth and economic management at the heart of his re-election pitch. Turnbull's legislation has been stalled in the Senate.

BREAKING: #AUSTRALIA: PM #TonyAbbott Ousted In Liberal Party Coup; Malcolm Turnbull New PM After Vote

[world politics news]

Malcolm Turnbull has ousted Tony Abbott as leader of the Liberal Party in a 54-44 vote, and will become Australia's 29th prime minister. Turnbull, unlike Abbott, supports efforts to combat climate change and legalizing gay marriage. Abbott's poll numbers had been weak, prompting the leadership challenge.

Pictured: Malcolm Turnbull, center

#AUSTRALIA: PM #TonyAbbott Planning Major Cabinet Re-Shuffle, Potentially Axing 6 Ministers

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Tony Abbott is reportedly planning a major cabinet reshuffle, which could see six ministers axed. Defence Minister Kevin Andrews, Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane and Employment Minister Eric Abetz could all be in the firing line.

#AUSTRALIA: PM #TonyAbbott Survives Leadership Challenge

[world politics news]

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott survived a challenge to his leadership on Monday after his ruling Liberal Party voted 61-39 to defeat a motion to unseat him after weeks of infighting, but the attempted revolt appears likely to weaken his grip on power.