Liberals

Anthony Marsh appears to be in commanding position in significant boost to opposition leader Jess WilsonThe Liberals have claimed victory in a key Victorian byelection seen as a preview of what to expect when the rest of the state hits the polls in November.As counting continued in the Mornington peninsula seat of Nepean, the Liberal candidate, Anthony Marsh, appeared to be in a commanding position in a significant boost to opposition leader Jess Wilson. Continue reading...

Independent candidate and One Nation’s David Farley are viewed as the frontrunners in the four cornered-contest for the 9 May pollGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Liberals and Nationals will preference One Nation ahead of Michelle Milthorpe in the Farrer byelection in a potential blow to the independent’s hopes of winning the 9 May race.Milthorpe and One Nation’s David Farley are viewed as the frontrunners in the four cornered-contest, meaning the flow of preferences from the Liberals and Nationals could be crucial in deciding the final outcome in the southern New South Wales seat. Continue reading...

By-election wins and defections push Canada’s Liberals into majority government under the prime ministerMark Carney has said he will govern with “humility, determination and a clear understanding of what this moment demands” after his Liberals swept three by-elections Monday evening, forging a parliamentary majority just more than a year after he took power.Carney has achieved only the third majority government in two decades – and has done so in a highly unusual fashion, cobbling together both ballot box wins and defections from rival parties. Continue reading...

Howard-era former minister Amanda Vanstone criticises parts of hardline policy but backs English language requirementGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFormer Howard government minister Amanda Vanstone has warned Angus Taylor against turning immigration into heavy-handed law enforcement, saying most migrants from countries run by dictators and extremists move here to escape authoritarianism.Releasing the first elements of a new hardline immigration policy on Tuesday, the opposition leader sparked criticism from refugee advocates, Pauline Hanson and even one sitting Liberal MP, who all likened the plans to policies from US president Donald Trump. Continue reading...

The split comes as some MPs raise the prospect of a new conversation about the party’s leadershipFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAngus Taylor has shut down Andrew Hastie’s push for the Liberals to be “open-minded” to increasing taxes on gas companies and winding back concessions for property investors, exposing a clash of philosophies between the opposition leader and his most likely future rival.The opposition leader also did not repeat Hastie’s criticism of Donald Trump as he refused to say whether or not he endorsed the US and Israel’s war with Iran. Continue reading...

One Nation leader says voters ‘want to get rid of the Labor party, by all means’ but rejects possibility of formal power-sharing partnershipFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPauline Hanson says One Nation wants to work with the Liberals and Nationals – including on preferences deals – to defeat Labor and has offered to prop-up a future minority Coalition government.But Hanson ruled out forming an official coalition with the two conservative parties, declaring she will never agree to an arrangement “where I will be told what I can say, what I can do”. Continue reading...

The result in Slovenia will relieve EU diplomats and means the incumbent will lead exploratory talks to form the next governmentMeanwhile, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni has urged Italians to take part in the referendum on the government’s proposals to shake up the organisation of the justice system.On her social media accounts, she posted a picture posing with a ballot paper, and said:“Ready to vote. Remember: you have until 3 PM today to get to the polls. Participation is important.” Continue reading...

Labor’s Peter Malinauskas secures at least 32 seats while Pauline Hanson’s party outpolls Liberals and could become de facto oppositionOne Nation will win at least one South Australian lower house seat, and is leading in a handful of others, as the Liberals consider “sobering lessons” from Saturday’s thumping election loss to Labor.One Nation’s electoral success came as federal MP Barnaby Joyce downplayed racism and bigotry accusations against the party before likening a ban on migration from Muslim countries to buying cattle “that just don’t work”. Continue reading...