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Body found in search for wife of former rugby star

<p>A body has been found in the search for Jenny Hastings, the wife of the former Scotland rugby star Scott Hastings. </p> <p>Jenny, 60, went missing at Wardie Bay, a wild swimming spot near Edinburgh, on Tuesday.</p> <p>A massive search involving police, ambulance and coastguard crews was launched in the Firth of Forth, according to <em>The Sun</em>. </p> <p>Despite their efforts, the search was stood down on Tuesday night. </p> <p>On Saturday afternoon, police said a woman's body was found in the Hound Point area of South Queensferry, near Edinburgh. </p> <p>Formal identification has yet to take place, but police said that: “The family of missing woman Jenny Hastings has been informed.”</p> <p>They also said "there did not appear to be any suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal". </p> <p>Police were treating her disappearance as a “high-risk missing persons case,” as Jenny struggles with her mental health. </p> <p>Her family previously issued a statement amid fears she was dead. </p> <p>“It appears that she wished to end her suffering in what was a regular and healing place for her," they said. </p> <p>“She loved the water but unfortunately her mind was not in a place of safety.</p> <p>“The Hastings family are absolutely heartbroken. We miss our Jenny.</p> <p>“She leaves a gaping hole in all our hearts and hope that she is returned to us safely so that we can celebrate her remarkable life.”</p> <p>Scottish Rugby also shared a statement on social media yesterday, sending their love and support to the Hastings family. </p> <p>“Scottish Rugby sends its love and support to Scott Hastings, Scotland cap 848, after his wife Jenny was reported missing whilst swimming earlier this week.</p> <p>“Our thoughts are with their children, and the wider Hastings family, at this heartbreaking time.”</p> <p>Jenny had been open about her struggles with mental health. In March 2017, she disappeared from the couple's Edinburgh home for 36 hours and walked to the Pentland Hills while she was suffering from depression. </p> <p>The couple both became ambassadors for charity Support in Mind Scotland and devoted work to helping others with their own mental health by staying active. </p> <p>They helped launch the 100 Streets challenge, encouraging people to get out and exercise with friends.</p> <p><em>Images: news.com.au</em></p> <p> </p>

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An emotional Scott Morrison delivers his last speech to parliament

<p>In a poignant and somewhat unexpected farewell, former Prime Minister Scott Morrison bid adieu to federal parliament, leaving behind a legacy tinged with tears – and a surprising tribute to pop sensation Taylor Swift.</p> <p>As he marked his exit, Morrison delivered a heartfelt address, reflecting on his political journey, acknowledging his colleagues, and offering insights into his future endeavours.</p> <p>Flashing a Swiftie friendship bracelet emblazoned with the nickname "ScoMo" beneath the sleeve of his suit, Morrison's speech was a blend of personal anecdotes, political reflections and nods to popular culture. Surrounded by his family – his mother Marion, wife Jenny, and daughters Abby and Lily – Morrison addressed a gallery that, while not at full capacity, held a significant emotional weight for the departing leader.</p> <p>With a touch of humour, Morrison recounted his daughters' suggestion of incorporating references to Taylor Swift albums into his remarks, a challenge he gamely accepted. Seamlessly weaving Swift's song titles into his speech, Morrison painted a picture of his political journey, acknowledging the challenges he faced and the steadfast support of his loved ones, particularly his wife Jenny, whom he affectionately referred to as his "Lover":</p> <p><em>"It is true that my political opponents have often made me see <strong>Red</strong>.</em></p> <p><em>Often when subjected to the <strong>Tortured Poets</strong> who would rise to attack my Reputation. </em></p> <p><em>In response, I always thought it important to be <strong>Fearless</strong> and <strong>Speak Now</strong>. </em></p> <p><em>Or forever hold my silence and allow those attacks to become <strong>Folklore</strong>. </em></p> <p><em>Ever since leaving university in <strong>1989</strong> this has always been my approach.</em></p> <p><em>My great consolation has always been my <strong>Lover</strong>, Jen, who has always been there for me whenever I needed her from dawn, and beyond the many <strong>Midnights</strong> we have shared together.</em></p> <p><em>See? I'm actually a <strong>True Romantic</strong> after all.</em></p> <p><em>I can assure there is no <strong>Bad Blood</strong>, as I've always been someone who has been able to … <strong>Shake It Off</strong>."</em></p> <p>Reflecting on his tenure as Australia's 30th prime minister from 2018 to 2020, Morrison expressed gratitude to the Indigenous community and the defence personnel, emphasising their contributions to the nation's freedom and prosperity. He cautioned against what he termed a "drift of secularism" and advocated for a reconnection with traditional Christian values, underlining the importance of faith in his own life.</p> <p>Amid tears, Morrison thanked his staff, household personnel and security detail, acknowledging their dedication and sacrifice – particularly recalling two individuals injured while protecting him. “I want to specially mention Travis Ford and Jen McCrae," he said, "who were <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/dangerous-traffic-crash-rocks-scott-morrison" target="_blank" rel="noopener">terribly injured in the line of duty</a> protecting me … in a terrible car accident in Tasmania. I will always be grateful for your sacrifice.”</p> <p>Emotionally addressing his family, Morrison expressed profound gratitude to his wife and daughters, recognising the challenges they endured due to his public role.</p> <p>In a magnanimous gesture, Morrison extended well wishes to his political opponents and congratulated Prime Minister Albanese on his recent engagement. He also expressed appreciation for his party colleagues, including former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Peter Dutton, highlighting their support and camaraderie.</p> <p>Touching upon his role in the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal and Australia's stance against Chinese coercion, Morrison underscored the importance of standing firm in the face of geopolitical challenges. He warned against complacency and urged vigilance in safeguarding national interests against external threats.</p> <p>Closing on a deeply personal note, Morrison reaffirmed his faith in Jesus Christ, acknowledging his own imperfections and the power of forgiveness. Quoting scripture, he embraced his Christian beliefs unapologetically, emphasising the strength derived from his faith.</p> <p>The solemnity of the moment was then relieved somewhat when Morrison ended his speech with the words "And, as always, up, up, Cronulla!", as colleagues from across the political spectrum approached to bid him farewell.</p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Morrison made a point of highlighting the main lessons he says he's learned during his political career, which we have summarised here:</span></p> <p><strong>1. Without a strong economy, you cannot achieve your goals as a nation</strong></p> <p>He said there have been strong contributions made in this respect by both sides of politics, and Australia must be careful not to "reinstitutionalise our economy" and crush entrepreneurial spirit.</p> <p><strong>2. Threats are out there, and they are real</strong></p> <p>Morrison talked about a new era of strategic competition, in which the old rules-based international order is being challenged by "a new arc of autocracy" ranging from Pyongyang to Beijing to Tehran and Moscow.</p> <p>He cited AUKUS, the Quad and new trading and defence relationships as key achievements of his government in this arena, but said that "continued vigilance and the connection between all spheres of police" is required going forward.</p> <p><strong>3. Judeo-Christian values shouldn't be forgotten in the 'increasing Western embrace of secularism'</strong></p> <p>"Individual liberty, the rule of law, equality of opportunity, responsible citizenship, morality, liberty of speech, thought, religion and association. All of these stem from the core principle of respect for individual human dignity," Morrison said. "So does representative democracy. And even market-based capitalism. This is a unique Judeo-Christian principle."</p> <p><em>Image: ABC News</em></p> <p> </p>

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As Scott Morrison leaves parliament, where does he rank among Australian prime ministers?

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/paul-strangio-1232">Paul Strangio</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a></em></p> <p>This week Scott Morrison, Australia’s 30th prime minister, will deliver his valedictory speech to the House of Representatives. As Morrison leaves parliament, it’s timely to ask where he is placed in the pantheon of Australia’s national leaders.</p> <p>Already there have been unflattering verdicts on Morrison’s prime-ministerial standing. For example, in her withering account of his leadership, veteran columnist and author <a href="https://scribepublications.com.au/books-authors/books/bulldozed-9781922585981">Niki Savva writes</a> that among detractors, “Morrison was regarded as the worst prime minister since Billy McMahon”. Moreover, according to Savva, following the August 2022 revelation of his commandeering of five ministries during the COVID pandemic, his reputation sunk still lower: “he was worse than McMahon. Worse even than Tony Abbott, who lasted a scant two years in the job”.</p> <h2>How can we rank prime ministerial performance?</h2> <p>How might we know how Morrison’s record stacks up against his prime-ministerial peers? One device for evaluating comparative leadership performance is expert rankings. Australia has had a slow take-up in this field, unlike the United States, where presidential rankings have a lineage stretching back three-quarters of a century and are a veritable scholarly cottage industry.</p> <p>In recent years, there have been forays into this territory in Australia, with three prime-ministerial rankings conducted by newspapers and two initiated by Monash University in 2010 and 2020. (I was the organiser of both of these Monash rankings.)</p> <p>These rankings have been largely consistent in their results. The experts, mostly political historians and political scientists, have judged the nation’s greatest prime minister to be its second world war leader, John Curtin. The other leaders in the top echelon are, in rough order, Bob Hawke, Ben Chifley, Alfred Deakin, Robert Menzies, Andrew Fisher, John Howard, Paul Keating and Gough Whitlam.</p> <p>At the other end of the scale, Billy McMahon, who is chiefly remembered for being defeated by Labor’s Whitlam at the December 1972 election, thereby bringing to a close the Liberal Party’s postwar ascendancy, has been consistently rated Australia’s prime-ministerial dunce. Even his biographer, Patrick Mullins, acknowledges that McMahon has become “a by-word for failure, silliness, ridicule”.</p> <p>However, in the most recent of the rankings, the Monash 2020 survey, McMahon had a close competitor for bottom place: Tony Abbott. Forty-four out of 66 respondents to that survey assessed Abbott’s prime ministership a failure. Other prime ministers to the rear of the field included Abbott’s contemporaries, Kevin Rudd and Malcolm Turnbull.</p> <p>Morrison was not included in the 2020 rankings because as the incumbent his prime ministership was incomplete, and so it was premature to evaluate his performance. Let us now, though, measure his record against the nine benchmarks that the experts were asked to consider in rating the nation’s leaders.</p> <h2>So how does Morrison shape up?</h2> <p>The first is “effectively managing cabinet”. To date, little has been disclosed about the integrity of cabinet processes under Morrison’s stewardship. Yet, whatever the merits of that management, his scandalous breach of the norms of cabinet government by <a href="https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-the-bell-report-on-morrisons-multi-ministries-provides-a-bad-character-reference-195368">secretly assuming several ministries</a> will irretrievably stain his reputation in this regard.</p> <p>Next is “maintaining support of Coalition/party”. That Morrison avoided being deposed by his party, which was the fate of his immediate predecessors (Rudd, Julia Gillard, Abbott and Turnbull), counts in his favour. As the ABC docuseries Nemesis shows, however, his prime ministership was marked by serious frictions both within the Liberal Party and between the Liberal and National coalition partners.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gLXdXUwGrJs?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>“Demonstrating personal integrity”. This was not one of Morrison’s strong suits. As Savva makes searingly evident, and Nemesis also highlights, Morrison earned a reputation for being economical with the truth (including hiding his acquisition of colleagues’ ministries), for evading accountability and shifting blame (“I don’t hold a hose, mate”), and for corrupted processes under his watch (an example being the <a href="https://theconversation.com/more-sports-rort-questions-for-morrison-after-bridget-mckenzie-speaks-out-133160">shameless pork-barrelling</a> of the community sport infrastructure program in the lead-up to the 2019 election).</p> <p>“Leaving a significant policy legacy”. Here Morrison is partly damned by his own words. In office, he insisted he was not concerned about his legacy, equating the idea with a vanity project. Indeed, an obsession with the theatre of politics and a corresponding lack of substance caused his prime ministership to come to be seen as bereft of purpose.</p> <p>On the other hand, management of the COVID pandemic, however mixed, accords a significance to his time in office. AUKUS stands as the other major legacy of Morrison’s prime ministership, entrenched as it has been by his successor, Anthony Albanese. The agreement promises to influence Australia’s defence capability until the middle of this century and beyond, although only time will tell whether it enhances the nation’s security or is a dangerous white elephant.</p> <p>“Relationship with the electorate”. Morrison’s record here is mixed. In his favour, he won an election (something McMahon couldn’t claim). Yet, by the time of the 2022 election, according to the Australian Election Study, he was the least popular major party leader in the history of that survey, which dates back to the 1980s.</p> <p>His public toxicity was a primary factor in the Coalition’s defeat, one of his Liberal colleagues comparing the depth of public sentiment against the prime minister in 2022 to “having a 10,000-tonne boulder attached to your leg”.</p> <p>“Communication effectiveness”. Styling himself as a Cronulla Sharks-supporting “daggy dad” from the suburbs, at least initially Morrison’s communication mode seemed to be well received in the community. He was relentlessly on message during the 2019 election campaign.</p> <p>But the shine rapidly wore off his persona following that victory, with growing doubts about his authenticity. Rather than persuade, his habit was to hector, and rather than empathise, he exuded smugness. A series of notorious tin-eared statements, which especially alienated women voters, came to define his image. By the end he was known as the “bulldozer-in-chief”.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yamdw5VeNtA?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>“Nurturing national unity”. An innovation of Morrison’s at the beginning of the pandemic was the national cabinet. Bringing together the prime minister and premiers, it worked effectively for a time, only for partisan interests over lockdowns to strain relations between Canberra and the states.</p> <p>Under pressure, Morrison also flirted with divisive culture-war politics, instances being his divisive Religious Discrimination Bill and his egregious handpicking of the anti-transgender Liberal candidate Katherine Deves to contest the 2022 election.</p> <p>“Defending and promoting Australia’s interests abroad”. The AUKUS pact has vehement critics, led by Morrison’s prime-ministerial peers Keating and Turnbull, who argue it jeopardises national sovereignty.</p> <p>There is no denying, however, that AUKUS was Morrison’s signature foreign policy enterprise. On the other hand, Australia’s reputation as a laggard on climate change under the Coalition hurt our international standing, not least among Pacific neighbours. The Morrison government’s belated commitment to a net zero carbon emissions by 2050 target was too little, too late. Bellicose rhetoric towards Beijing also led to a deterioration in relations with the nation’s major trading partner (as well as estranging Chinese-Australian voters).</p> <p>“Being able to manage turbulent times”. Here, again, Morrison’s record is at best mixed. In his favour is decisive early actions to ameliorate the COVID pandemic, headed by the JobKeeper program. As the pandemic progressed, however, his government was too often flat-footed, demonstrated by its dilatory approach to procuring vaccines. His response to natural disasters, most notably the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires, was another shortcoming, exemplified by his secret holiday to Hawaii in the midst of the crisis. Arguably, his prime ministership was doomed from that moment.</p> <h2>And the verdict?</h2> <p>Prime-ministerial reputations can take time to settle. The passing of years fleshes out historical knowledge as well as providing greater perspective on performance in office. For example, the fate of AUKUS will quite possibly affect Morrison’s standing well into the future.</p> <p>Even allowing for this, it seems safe to forecast that Morrison will be rated among the least distinguished of Australian prime ministers. His government’s relatively successful early management of the COVID pandemic and the legacy of AUKUS might spare him from falling below McMahon and Abbott at the bottom of the prime-ministerial heap. But avoiding that ignominy will probably be a close-run thing.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/223003/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/paul-strangio-1232">Paul Strangio</a>, Emeritus professor of politics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/as-scott-morrison-leaves-parliament-where-does-he-rank-among-australian-prime-ministers-223003">original article</a>.</em></p>

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“We’ve been keeping a secret”: The Block couple announce heartwarming news

<p dir="ltr"><em>The Block</em> couple Dylan and Jenny are expecting their first child. </p> <p dir="ltr">The fan favourite couple from the renovation series took to Instagram to share the exciting news, posting a series of photos of the soon-to-be parents posing on the beach with their ultrasound in hand. </p> <p dir="ltr">Writing on their joint social media account, the couple shared that their first baby is due this coming winter. </p> <p dir="ltr">"We've been keeping a little secret… Baby Adams due July 👶🏼," the elated couple wrote in the post.</p> <p dir="ltr">The post was met with an abundance of well-wishes from fellow <em>Block</em> stars, with Tom and Sarah-Jane commenting: "Yasssssssss 🙌🙌🙌 I am so thrilled for you guys! You guys are going to be phenomenal parents ❤️."</p> <p dir="ltr">El'ise and Matt added, "Congratulations beautiful people!!! The fun is about to begin," while Shelley Craft also shared her well wishes for the couple. </p> <p dir="ltr">The announcement of their growing family comes just less than a year after the couple got married in March last year, at the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort on the Gold Coast.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CqPnmfJvu6R/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CqPnmfJvu6R/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Dylan and Jenny (@dylanandjenny)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The wedding was attended by a host of <em>Block</em> couples, including Rachel and Ryan, Ankur and Sharon and Tom and Sarah-Jane.</p> <p dir="ltr">Dylan and Jenny were fan favourites on <em>The Block</em>'s 2022 Season, but their stunning Macedon Ranges house was passed in at auction.</p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 18pt;"><em>Image credits: Instagram </em><span id="docs-internal-guid-e6c363e0-7fff-a33b-dab5-e4580d7e479b"></span></p>

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Scott Morrison resigns from parliament

<p dir="ltr">Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison has resigned from parliament, marking an end to his 16-year career in politics. </p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Morrison said he would leave politics at the end of February, setting up a by-election a year out from the next federal election.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a lengthy statement, the 55-year-old explained that he would be stepping back from politics to spend more time with his family, and be more involved in his church community. </p> <p dir="ltr">ScoMo paid tribute to his family – wife Jenny and daughters Lily and Abbey – in the statement, who he said “have sacrificed a great deal to support my service to our country and local community”. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I am grateful for their support, but the time has come for me to return to my private life and support my family to pursue their goals and for us to spend more time together as a family,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I am also looking forward to being more active in my church community outside the constraints of public office.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Morrison said it had been his “great privilege” to represent his constituents in the Sydney electorate of Cook and noted the decision to leave had been “difficult”. </p> <p dir="ltr">“However, I believe the timing is now right to move on to a new season with my family and take on fresh challenges,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">After making the announcement of his resignation, Morrison appeared on <em>Sky News</em> to discuss his lasting legacy as one of Australia’s most controversial prime ministers. </p> <p dir="ltr">He told the <em>Sky News</em>’ Paul Murray, “I’m sure there’s things that people will need to forgive me for and I’ll forgive them. You just don’t carry these things around with you. You look forward.”</p> <p dir="ltr">He then quoted former US president Theodore Roosevelt, who Mr Morrison described as a “hero” for him. </p> <p dir="ltr">“He used to talk about – I’m one of those ones who was on the field, who has known victory and defeat, not one of those timid souls who have known neither, and just looks on from the outside,” he said.<span id="docs-internal-guid-a7151a37-7fff-a3f1-de75-5a7687aa9fec"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

News

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"Devastated": James Morrison's partner dies aged 45

<p>British singer James Morrison is grappling with the heartbreaking news of the sudden death of his partner, Gill Catchpole, as <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-67910325" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported by the BBC</a>.</p> <p>Catchpole, 45, who had been in a relationship with the renowned hitmaker since their teenage years, was discovered lifeless on Friday at her residence in Gloucestershire, UK.</p> <p>Authorities have issued a statement indicating that the coroners and the woman's next of kin have been informed. While her death is currently labeled as "non-suspicious", the details surrounding the tragedy remain undisclosed.</p> <p>The couple, who had been together since their youth, leaves behind two daughters. Morrison, 39, has not yet made any public statements regarding the news, and his latest Instagram post from a recording studio only days before the incident hinted at new beginnings and adventures for the year.</p> <p>In the face of this tragedy, followers flooded Morrison's Instagram comments section to offer their condolences and support to the grief-stricken singer. The outpouring of sympathy from fans reflects the deep connection that Morrison has forged with his audience over the years through his soulful music.</p> <p>Morrison, originally from Warwickshire, rose to fame with hits like "You Give Me Something" and "Broken Strings". Despite his success in the music industry, Morrison has faced significant personal losses in recent years, having lost his father, brother and nephew within a span of three years.</p> <p>According to reports from <em>The Sun</em>, Morrison is described as "devastated" by the untimely passing of Catchpole. The couple's enduring connection, from their challenging beginnings to the shared joy of raising a family, has become a poignant chapter in Morrison's life.</p> <p>In a previous interview on the White Wine Question Time podcast, Morrison nostalgically shared the story of how he and Catchpole first crossed paths. Their initial encounter occurred when she moved in with her then-boyfriend as a lodger in Morrison's mother's house. Despite the unconventional start, Morrison considered it a romantic tale, describing their journey as a "little fairy tale".</p> <p>As the news of Gill Catchpole's passing reverberates through the music world and beyond, James Morrison's supporters join him in mourning the loss of a loved one and offering their heartfelt condolences during this difficult time.</p> <p><em>Images: Facebook / Instagram</em></p>

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Former Neighbours star’s stunning Yarra Valley wedding

<p>In a celebration filled with love, laughter and music, singer and former <em>Neighbours</em> star Bonnie Anderson tied the knot with her beau, Samuel Morrison, in a breathtaking ceremony at the enchanting Acacia Ridge Vineyard in Yarra Valley, Victoria.</p> <p>The 29-year-old songstress and her landscaper husband exchanged vows in the presence of their closest family and friends, marking the beginning of a beautiful journey together.</p> <p>The radiant bride walked down the aisle in a sleeveless, halter-neck lace gown crafted by the talented Australian designer Jason Grech, while the dashing groom looked ever so handsome in a classic black tuxedo. The picturesque vineyard provided the perfect backdrop for this special day, creating an atmosphere of pure magic and romance.</p> <p>Sharing their joy with the world, Anderson captioned the first wedding photo on Instagram with the simple yet powerful words, "Mr and Mrs Morrison."</p> <p>The newlyweds flooded their social media with countless photos and videos, giving fans a glimpse into the magical celebration of their love.</p> <p>During the reception, the talented bride took the stage once again, not only as a singer but as a romantic lyricist. Anderson serenaded her new husband with a heartfelt song she had written especially for him, creating an unforgettable moment as their guests gathered around to witness their love story unfold.</p> <p>The celebration continued inside a marquee on the sprawling estate, where the bridesmaids, adorned in elegant black satin gowns, kicked off the festivities with a rehearsed entrance set to the iconic Beyoncé hit, "Single Ladies". Dinner was served, and the atmosphere was electric as the bride treated the guests to her musical prowess before the DJ took over, transforming the evening into a dance-filled extravaganza.</p> <p>In a pre-wedding interview with the <em>Herald Sun</em>, Anderson expressed her desire for the celebration to be a "big party" filled with entertainment and music, and she certainly delivered on that promise. Life may be chaotic as a mum, singer and wedding organiser, but for Bonnie Anderson, the chaos is well worth the joy that comes with looking forward to the future.</p> <p>The couple, who had already welcomed their bundle of joy, Bobby, in December the previous year, radiated happiness and love throughout the day. Anderson, who found fame at the tender age of 12 as the first winner of <em>Australia's Got Talent</em> in 2007, has come a long way, gracing the screens of <em>Neighbours</em> from 2018 to 2021. Now, as Bonnie Morrison, she begins a new chapter in her fairy tale alongside Samuel.</p> <p>As they dance into the rest of their lives together, Bonnie and Samuel Morrison serve as a testament to the enduring power of love, the magic of music, and the joy of sharing life's grandest moments with those who matter most. Cheers to the newlyweds, and may their journey be filled with endless love, laughter, and, of course, more unforgettable music!</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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Modern prime ministers have typically left parliament soon after defeat. So why doesn’t Scott Morrison?

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/paul-strangio-1232">Paul Strangio</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a></em></p> <p>With each passing month, Scott Morrison is developing into a post-prime-ministership peculiarity. Well over a year since voters cast him from power, he remains limpet-like in the House of Representatives, defying speculation that he is ready to quit parliament and trigger a byelection in his New South Wales seat of Cook. Hanging around on the backbench is generally not the way of ousted national leaders in the modern political era.</p> <p>It is true that in bygone times former prime ministers did not scurry to leave parliament after losing office. The most spectacular example is Australia’s leader during the first world war, William Morris Hughes. Bumped from office in 1923, the “Little Digger”, as he was known, remained in the House for another three decades, relentlessly scheming for power. Only death in 1952 brought closure to his parliamentary career.</p> <p>Since the 1980s, however, the habit of former PMs has been to hastily abandon politics once the mantle of office has slipped their grasp. Malcolm Fraser established this modern pattern, triggering a byelection in his seat of Wannon two months after his Coalition government was defeated by the Bob Hawke-led Labor Party in March 1983.</p> <p>From that time there have been few exceptions to this norm. Deposed from office by Paul Keating in December 1991, Hawke was out of the parliament by February 1992, with his seat of Wills won by the independent, Phil Cleary. Keating, too, followed the trend. After his Labor government lost power to the John Howard-led Coalition in March 1996, Keating resigned from the House the following month.</p> <p>For Howard, the decision was taken out of his hands, as voters not only finished his prime ministership in November 2007 but terminated his more than three decades as the member for Bennelong.</p> <p>Howard’s slayer, Kevin Rudd, did buck the trend after he was overthrown by caucus colleagues in June 2010. Convinced of the righteousness of his resurrection and thirsting to avenge his usurper, Julia Gillard, he stayed on for another parliamentary term, wresting the prime ministership back in June 2013. However, when electors put an end to his second government three months later, Rudd swiftly exited politics. Meanwhile, Gillard had resigned as the member for Lalor only weeks after being dethroned by Rudd.</p> <p>Prone to eccentricity, Tony Abbott is the clearest exception to the rule of modern ex-PMs not dallying in parliament once their reign is over. Deposed by Malcolm Turnbull in September 2015, less than two years after becoming prime minister, Abbott lingered mostly aimlessly on the backbench for the rest of that term and the next. Recontesting his seat of Warringah again at the May 2019 election, he lost to the independent, Zali Steggall.</p> <p>In contrast to Abbott, Turnbull left parliament with almost unseemly haste once he was unseated from power. After being dumped from the leadership in favour of Morrison in August 2018, he tendered his resignation as the member for Wentworth within a week. In the ensuing byelection, his seat too went to an independent, Kerryn Phelps.</p> <p>How do we explain the modern pattern of former prime ministers sprinting to the exit door once their time in office is over?</p> <p>In earlier times, there was a role for ex-leaders as elder statesmen in parliament. The best example is the Great Depression-era PM, Labor’s James Scullin. Despite failing health, he remained in the House for nearly another two decades and served as a trusted confidant to John Curtin throughout the harrying days of the second world war.</p> <p>Modern former prime ministers can be a source of counsel to their successors, offering advice both welcome and unwelcome. But there is no appetite among colleagues for them to hang around in parliament fulfilling that function. The media are quick to portray them as an unhelpful distraction or curiosity, while opponents point-score off them. Better they are out of the way.</p> <p>Another reason modern former leaders are impatient to move on is that, with extended lifespans and expanded opportunities post-office (for example, book-writing deals, lecture circuits, ambassadorships, business ventures, NGO and think-tank appointments), ex-PMs can now enjoy a second wind once out of parliament in a way that was not so open to earlier predecessors. Politics is now less of a lifetime vocation.</p> <p>Why, then, is Morrison clinging on? We can discount his declarations that he is relishing being the member for Cook. Being a humble backbencher visits daily humiliation on him. Indeed, Morrison’s post-prime ministership has been most notable for his reputation being tarnished by revelations of his bizarre commandeering of several portfolios while PM, and by the adverse findings against him by the Robodebt Royal Commission.</p> <p>These scandals have undoubtedly complicated an early departure for Morrison because, in going, he would be seen to be retreating in disgrace. He needs time and space from the scandals for the semblance of a dignified escape. The opportunities Morrison had hoped for following politics have potentially also thinned because of his sullied reputation.</p> <p>Finally, there is the political calculation surrounding his exit for his party. Stay or go, Morrison is a headache for Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. As long as the scandal-ravaged Morrison hangs around, he is damaging the Liberal brand.</p> <p>Yet a byelection in his electorate is also unwelcome. Though Cook is very safe on paper, the history of the seats of three former PMs going to independents over the past 30 years is intriguing and not to be lightly dismissed.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/212544/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/paul-strangio-1232">Paul Strangio</a>, Professor of Politics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/modern-prime-ministers-have-typically-left-parliament-soon-after-defeat-so-why-doesnt-scott-morrison-212544">original article</a>.</em></p>

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Devastating leaked email places Jenny Craig on brink of collapse

<p dir="ltr">Weight loss firm Jenny Craig is reportedly closing its doors after four decades leading the industry. </p> <p dir="ltr">According to leaked staff communications, <em>NBC News</em> have shared that the company’s corporate and salaried field employees will face their final day of work on May 5, while their hourly staff will experience theirs on May 9. In the email, Jenny Craig explained that this was occurring “due to its inability to secure additional financing”. </p> <p dir="ltr">Employees were informed, however, that they would be receiving a “final pay cheque, including your full compensation earned through your last day of work and all accrued, unused paid time off”. </p> <p dir="ltr">Rumours have circled the company for some time, with <em>Bloomberg</em> reporting in just April 2023 that they were on the hunt for a buyer. The publication claimed that a source told them the company was “considering a bankruptcy filing” if their efforts to secure a buyer failed.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Bloomberg </em>also shared the news that the company was in around $250,000 USD in debt (~$376,000 AUD/NZD).</p> <p dir="ltr">Around the same time, corporate staff at the company’s California office received notice that they would be closing June 24, but that that day may actually be as soon as the next Friday. An FAQ was also released to them, alongside an explanation that they would be decreasing their physical operations to make way for their more e-commerce focussed business model. </p> <p dir="ltr">As a spokesperson told <em>NBC News</em> in the wake of the reports of potential layoffs, the company was “embarking on the next phase of our business to evolve with the changing landscape of today’s consumers. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Like many other companies, we’re currently transitioning from a brick-and-mortar retail business to a customer-friendly, e-commerce driven model. We will have more details to share in the coming weeks as our plans are solidified.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite this assurance, even coupled with the latest communications, it remains unclear whether or not that transition will still be taking place, with employees left in a state of limbo. </p> <p dir="ltr">The industry supergiant currently employs over 1,000 members of staff, with approximately 500 stores - both company-owned and franchised - across just the United States and Canada, with a further 600 around the rest of the world, including Australia. </p> <p dir="ltr">The company was actually founded in Melbourne in 1983, by husband and wife Jenny and Sidney Craig. The American couple went on to take their venture back to the states, but not until two years later in 1985. </p> <p dir="ltr">And while the situation looks dire overseas, an employee did tell Bloomberg that franchise-owned locations “may remain open”, though this is yet to be confirmed.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

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The Block couple lists stunning “dream home”

<p dir="ltr"><em>The Block</em> contestants Dylan and Jenny-Heath Adams are selling their newly built home located at 100 Palm Beach Ave, Palm Beach, Queensland.</p> <p dir="ltr">The five-bedroom and three-bathroom home will be up for auction on April 29, and the couple have said that they have always planned on selling it despite it being their “dream home”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I think people honestly thought this was our dream home, but we’re going to build heaps of dream homes,” said Jenny.</p> <p dir="ltr">The stunning Hamptons-style abode boasts 6m-high cathedral ceilings with nine skylights allowing plenty of natural light in.</p> <p dir="ltr">The coastal home also includes beautiful timber floors, a spacious open living and dining area, a small breakfast bar, and a Hamptons-inspired kitchen complete with a stone island bench.</p> <p dir="ltr">While the interior is impressive, the exterior is equally stunning with a generous al fresco area that’s perfect for hosting events or family gatherings, a magnesium pool and outdoor shower so you can cool down in summer, and a firepit to keep you warm and snug in winter.</p> <p dir="ltr">The low-maintenance lawns are perfect for avid plant mums (and dads) or for families with kids who love to play outdoors.</p> <p dir="ltr">The property is also fitted with an energy-saving Red Earth battery system.</p> <p dir="ltr">This is another milestone for the couple who got <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/the-block-stars-lavish-gold-coast-wedding" target="_blank" rel="noopener">married</a>, built two houses, and sold one in the past year.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: realestate.com.au</em></p>

Real Estate

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What explained the seismic 2022 federal election?

<p>The 2022 Australian federal election was distinctive in two ways.</p> <p>First, it was held in the wake of a major crisis – the COVID-19 pandemic. While the salience of the pandemic had subsided by the time of the election, voters’ assessments of the Coalition government’s performance on the pandemic proved to be a major factor in their voting decision, as did the cost of living crisis it helped create.</p> <p>Second, almost one in three voters cast their ballots for a minor party or independent candidate, the highest since the 1930s. Of the two major parties, the Liberals fared worst, winning their lowest seat share since 1946 (the first election the party contested). But Labor didn’t reap the benefits of this Liberal decline, with the party recording its lowest primary vote since the 1930s.</p> <p>What explains this seismic result, and what does it tell us about the future of electoral politics in Australia?</p> <p>Using the just-released 2022 Australian Election Study (AES) – a comprehensive post-election survey conducted at each election since 1987 – we can answer these questions.</p> <h2>Why the Coalition lost</h2> <p>A perception of poor government performance played a key role in the Coalition defeat. In 2022 there were three performance explanations for the Coalition’s defeat – the economy, the pandemic, and Scott Morrison’s leadership.</p> <p>With rising inflation and a cost of living crisis, around two-thirds of voters thought the economy had worsened in the 12 months leading up to the election. This was the most pessimistic view of the economy in over three decades.</p> <p>In previous elections, voters have usually preferred the Coalition over Labor on economic issues. In 2022, however, voters preferred Labor over the Coalition on the cost of living – the single biggest issue in the election.</p> <p>The Coalition’s performance on the pandemic was also regarded as unsatisfactory. Just 30% of Australians thought the federal government had handled the pandemic well. Indeed, voters had much more favourable views of their state governments’ performance. Because virtually the whole period between the 2019 and 2022 elections was dominated by the pandemic, the public’s evaluations of the Morrison government’s performance were therefore closely associated with the pandemic.</p> <p>The third reason for the Coalition defeat was the negative opinions many voters formed of Morrison’s leadership. While Morrison was generally popular when he won the election in 2019, by 2022 he had become the most unpopular major party leader since at least 1987. Morrison wasn’t considered honest and trustworthy, two of the traits most closely associated with how favourable we view leaders. The public’s dislike of Morrison has its origins in his Hawaii holiday during the 2019-20 bushfires, and was strengthened by a perception of poor performance in the second year of the pandemic.</p> <h2>Labor’s ‘victory by default’</h2> <p>Labor won the election despite their record low vote and a 0.8% swing against them. Indeed one newspaper <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/anthony-albanese-wins-but-its-a-victory-by-default-for-labor/news-story/75b7d87c9b61157a16dc6d772c306deb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">described</a> it as a “victory by default”.</p> <p>During the election campaign, Labor adopted a “small target” strategy. While Labor fought the 2019 election on ambitious proposals for tax reform, in the 2022 election they avoided putting forward policies that would deter voters, and emphasised their policy agreement with the Coalition – even promising to keep the Coalition’s stage three income tax cuts.</p> <p>The effects of this change in Labor strategy are evident in the AES data. Fewer voters cast their ballots based on policy preferences than in 2019, and the proportion of voters who saw “a good deal of difference” between the parties declined from 40% in 2019 to 28% in 2022.</p> <p>Labor also entered the election with Anthony Albanese as leader, who was more popular than both Scott Morrison and Labor’s predecessor, Bill Shorten. The previous majority government win for Labor in 2007 was one that generally inspired voters. Indeed in 2007, Kevin Rudd was the most popular prime minister in the history of the AES, and satisfaction with democracy was at a record high at that time.</p> <p>By contrast, Labor’s 2022 win was more about directing attention to the Coalition’s weak performance, rather than putting forward a policy agenda that was really attractive to voters.</p> <h2>The big movers: women and young people</h2> <p>The 2022 election brought into sharp focus two major changes in party support that have been slowly eroding the social bases of the major parties: gender and generation.</p> <p>There’s a significant gender gap in voter behaviour – since the early 2000s, fewer women have voted for the Coalition than men. Labor has the opposite gender voting gap, attracting more votes from women than men (though to a lesser extent).</p> <p>Since 2016, the gender gap in voting has been greater than in all previous elections covered by the AES. In 2022 just 32% of women voted for the Coalition, the lowest share ever. One contributing factor to this collapse in female support for the Coalition is the treatment of women within the Liberal party.</p> <p>The divide between how younger and older generations of Australians vote is more pronounced than the gender gap. Millennials (the oldest of whom are now in their 40s) and Generation Z (those born after 1996) make up an increasing proportion of the electorate, greatly outnumbering Baby Boomers.</p> <p>These younger generations have different voting patterns to previous generations at the same stage of life, and are also much further to the left in their party preferences. Just 27% of Millennials said they voted for the Coalition in 2022.</p> <p>At no time in the 35-year history of the AES has there been such a low level of support for either major party among younger people.</p> <p>The assumption that Millennials and Gen Z will shift to the right as they age hasn’t been supported by the evidence thus far. Which generation one is in seems to have a much more significant effect on voting behaviour than one’s age.</p> <p>Therefore, the implication is the electorate is moving further to the left and becoming more progressive across a range of policy areas.</p> <h2>Increasing voter volatility</h2> <p>As the traditional social bases of the major parties have gradually changed, so too have the political ties that have bound voters to parties. Around one in four voters say they don’t have an attachment to a political party, the highest figure ever recorded in the AES. The proportion of voters who considered voting for another party during the election campaign, at 36%, has at no time been higher.</p> <p>This is reflected most dramatically in the proportion of voters who said they had always voted for the same party. In 1967 this figure was 72%, and in 2022 it declined to an all-time low of 37%.</p> <h2>What now for the party system?</h2> <p>If voters are drifting away from the major parties, who are they choosing instead and what are the implications for the party system?</p> <p>The “teal” independents were obviously an important beneficiary. However, most teal voters were former Labor and Green voters casting a tactical vote to unseat a Liberal candidate. The medium-term fate of the teals will depend on how far they can create a distinct political identity to hold their support together at the 2025 election. More broadly, support for minor parties and independent candidates will continue to increase.</p> <p>The gradual changes in voting behaviour that are taking place, and which were especially pronounced in the 2022 election, represent an existential crisis for the Liberals. With their support base declining through generational replacement, they must not only attract new voters but also stem defection to give themselves a chance of election.</p> <p>As the political agenda moves towards support for action on climate change, constitutional recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and (perhaps) moving to a republic – all issues on which the Coalition is divided – it’s unclear where these new voters will come from.</p> <p><strong>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-explained-the-seismic-2022-federal-election-the-australian-election-study-has-answers-195286" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</strong></p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

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“A disgrace”: Grace Tame slams Scott Morrison

<p dir="ltr">Grace Tame has hit out at former Prime Minister Scott Morrison, describing his secret acquisition of several government portfolios as a “disgrace”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Appearing on Thursday night’s episode of <em>Q&amp;A</em>, Ms Tame was asked about her thoughts on Mr Morrison’s self-appointment to five ministerial portfolios during his time as Australia’s leader, and the 23-year-old activist had plenty to say.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The gaslighting, the dishonesty, was another level that we witnessed,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He wasn’t even a good enough villain – he had the ambitions of Voldemort with the brains of Peter Griffin,’ she added, referring to the villain of the <em>Harry Potter</em> series and main character of the TV series <em>Family Guy</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s very important that we have people in positions of power that we can trust.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was a disgrace – we need better than that.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Her comments come after Mr Morrison became the first former Prime Minister to be censured in federal parliament - a rare move to show parliament’s condemnation of his actions.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Morrison was condemned by members of the House of Representatives for failing to disclose that he had appointed himself as the minister for health, finance, home affairs and industry, energy, resources, science and treasury.</p> <p dir="ltr">During the <em>Q&amp;A</em> episode, Ms Tame also revealed that she has considered stepping back from her public life, given that the man who sexually abused her as a child has continued to harrass her.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’ll be honest with you, yes I do (think about stepping back),” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’ve had a really hard 24 hours. This morning I was meeting with the Department of Public Prosecutions.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The child sex offender who abused me has been menacing and harassing me all this year.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He hasn’t really stopped for the last 12 years, behind the scenes.”</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-301982ce-7fff-3d95-84c5-db66e50dafed"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Twitter / Getty Images</em></p>

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Graffiti grandma banned by council

<p dir="ltr">A fed up grandma who helped motorists avoid huge potholes has been banned by the local council.</p> <p dir="ltr">Jenny Hartich from the NSW Central Coast has taken it upon herself to spray paint warning signs or colourful animals around and near potholes.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 76-year-old said she was sick of waiting for the council to fix the roads and knew she had to take matters in her own hands.</p> <p dir="ltr">“No, I've been fixing it, doing it and getting it done, getting them filled,” she told <em>A Current Affair.</em></p> <p dir="ltr">“The community have donated money and donated spray cans just to keep me going to keep everyone safe. They know they're coming up to a pothole.”</p> <p dir="ltr">But despite her helpful work, Jenny said she has been banned from warning motorists for her own safety and requested she take photos of the potholes and send it to them.</p> <p dir="ltr">“They didn't want to see me splattered on the road.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Severe rain has caused many potholes to open up on NSW roads with drivers becoming frustrated waiting for compensation from the government.</p> <p dir="ltr">Transport for NSW (TFNSW) said more than 1,000 claims for damage have been made between March and June this year.</p> <p dir="ltr">Only 82 of the claims have been processed due to a delay in investigations.</p> <p dir="ltr">"When a claim is received, an investigation into the condition of the road is carried out," a TFNSW spokesperson said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Factors such as the incident location and date as well as inspection and maintenance records are taken into consideration to determine whether there is potential liability and the claim may be accepted."</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: A Current Affair</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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What’s next for Scott Morrison

<p dir="ltr">Scott Morrison has opened up about his future plans as he continues to collect a hefty sum from taxpayers while sitting on the backbench. </p> <p dir="ltr">The former prime minister was enjoying a beer with Sky News host Paul Murray at the Wanda Surf Club in Cronulla, in Sydney’s south when he was interviewed.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Morrison said that he was improving his golf skills while also looking at taking on more responsibilities. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I look forward to continuing to be a really effective local member of parliament,’’ he said. </p> <p dir="ltr">“You know, I will be doing a bit more of things, possibly, you know, in addition to my parliamentary responsibilities, which many members of parliament do.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’ve started playing golf again. I hadn’t picked up a club in about 15 years. I have picked up the bug a bit.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Morrison then went on to discuss the issues that arose when he secretly appointed himself to multiple cabinet portfolios.</p> <p dir="ltr">He explained that at the time he was “doing the best for the country” at the time and he said what he had to say in the moment.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’ve said what I’ve had to say about the issue. Particularly about the ministries. It was an incredibly tumultuous time.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Murray mentioned that Aussies who didn’t vote for him still wanted an answer as to why he did what he did. </p> <p dir="ltr">“They say, ‘Why didn’t you say sorry? Why didn’t you say sorry loud enough? Why didn’t you give a pint of your blood?’ Murray asked.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Morrison said he didn’t expect everyone to agree with him and that was in the past. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty </em></p>

Retirement Life

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“A tragedy for our nation”: Reason for Scott Morrison’s firing 16 years ago revealed

<p dir="ltr">The woman who sacked former Prime Minister Scott Morrison from Tourism Australia has finally opened up about the mysterious end to his time there and shared how she was “gobsmacked” that he went on to become PM.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Morrison’s firing from Tourism Australia in 2006 has long been shrouded in mystery, but Fran Bailey - who was Tourism Minister at the time and ordered the Chair of Tourism Australia to fire Mr Morrison - has now spoken about the decision in a brutal interview with the <em><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/i-was-gobsmacked-when-he-became-prime-minister-20220826-p5bd19.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sunday Age</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Bailey reportedly chose to finally speak on the record after she was left incensed by the revelations that Mr Morrison <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/andrew-bolt-leads-the-charge-on-scott-morrison-tirade" target="_blank" rel="noopener">secretly swore himself into five additional ministerial positions</a> while he was Prime Minister.</p> <p dir="ltr">"What has changed my mind is that all of those characteristics that make up Scott Morrison – the secrecy... the supreme belief that only he can do a job, the lack of consultation with those closest to him – those characteristics were evident 16 years ago, and perhaps we’re seeing the end result of those now," she told the paper’s longtime columnist, Jon Faine.</p> <p dir="ltr">Echoing a common criticism of Mr Morrison, Ms Bailey said he took a bullying approach to his work, which eventually led to those in senior positions having less trust that he could do his job.</p> <p dir="ltr">"It came down to a complete lack of trust. It’s not something that I have stewed over for all those 16 years, but I certainly have become very concerned as he worked his way through the ministry, and I was gobsmacked when he became prime minister," she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Because I knew what he was really like to work with, and I think that’s been a tragedy for the Liberal Party and it has been a tragedy for our nation."</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Bailey is one of many critics calling on Mr Morrison to leave Parliament following the revelations, as former High Court judge Virginia Bell is expected to head an inquiry into his actions and hand down a report on November 25.</p> <p dir="ltr">The inquiry will examine Mr Morrison’s ministerial appointments and the functioning of departments, government business enterprises and statutory bodies.</p> <p dir="ltr">It comes after advice released last week from Australia’s solicitor-general found that Mr Morrison didn’t break any laws, but that his actions undermined the principles of “responsible government”.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b515b564-7fff-c497-b6b2-a263d150c2a3"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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"It's been fun": ScoMo joins in on nationwide roasting of himself

<p>As the internet banded together to create memes and art out of Scott Morrison's secret ministerial roles, the former PM thought he would join in the fun.</p> <p>After the news broke of ScoMo secretly appointing himself to at least five ministries without the public's knowledge while he was prime minister, businesses, artists, journalists, and internet fiends alike started rolling out the memes of Morrison working different roles. </p> <p>But the barrage of sarcasm came to a screeching halt on Thursday night, when the opposition backbencher joined in. </p> <p>The Member for Cook's official Facebook page went on a commenting spree, replying to more than a dozen memes from Aussie companies welcoming him to their team.</p> <p>"It's been fun joining in on all the memes. But there are so many now I can't keep up," Morrison said, in a post accompanying his own attempt at a meme.</p> <p>"As Aussies we can always have a chuckle at ourselves. Have a good evening."</p> <p>"This was my own effort with the Sooshi Mango boys. Glad to be also joining their team, along with all the other gigs you guys have given me today."</p> <p><iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fscottmorrisonmp%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02ugv6rDyELJ2DJek9XCdS9bGMH5UUNoLRJXMrRr4pKUL11aL2rzgU2hNqx78aMNoFl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="472" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>The former PM gleefully responded to Photoshopped posts showing him tiling, concreting, moving a piano and even modelling a new range of fetching women's sun shirts.</p> <p>Some commenters praised Morrison's tongue in cheek reaction, thanking him for a "few good chuckles" but others were not so complimentary.</p> <p><iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fmalidesignsau%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02oEDWSsUV6fAgodQLu7CrudeJmdZoK8suoTLDWL5CPdNjUhgSsxeARiU5PGifEWZ8l&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="459" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p><iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FJeffordtreeservices%2Fposts%2Fpfbid09yc15H4KprM5vD8T7yPexQ44SZyPjCGb7TmU8XaWq41tphsXdAQnGUUNUhxx5nu1l&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="658" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p><iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fsouthportbudgettyres%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02ZvRpAcmCJnwF61KB6tVEK4ieU1EYPT9Q1ZLAsHx1Qaoi3fXXX89E78wPLQeKAwjjl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="432" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p><iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Frooftilersmind%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02MvegtBhwppWBRqUdNP6aCe7GNuyUKdxckkYFQKvDVoQZjX7z3Zu8zUHd6Rijf7W1l&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="608" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>"You think the running of this country is a joke," one user wrote.</p> <p>"Have some humility and say you made a mistake. We don't need US-style gloating about how badly you behaved in office."</p> <p>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has launched an investigation into how Morrison was able to take on extra portfolios in secret during his time in the top job, describing the moves as "beyond belief".</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>

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Andrew Bolt leads the charge on Scott Morrison tirade

<p>Andrew Bolt has unleashed a scathing tirade against former Prime Minister Scott Morrison for secretly appointing himself to five ministries during his time as PM. </p> <p>The <em>Sky News</em> host said Morrison has "embarrassed" the Liberal party and should "just go" from the government all together. </p> <p>The fired-up conservative commentator also blasted new Liberal leader Peter Dutton for defending Mr Morrison, saying it amounted to a "double disaster".</p> <p>In an almost 10 minute long monologue, Bolt slammed Morrison and his apology. </p> <p>"Former prime minister Scott Morrison has embarrassed, even devastated his party and today the scandal got even more bizarre," Bolt said. </p> <p>"He's finished, quit parliament now, just go."</p> <p>Bolt said Mr Dutton made "exactly the wrong call" when he defended Morrison and should have "cut him loose". </p> <p>He was furious Mr Morrison had gone on 2GB radio on Tuesday to "defend his crazy decision" to make himself the second Minister for Health, Resources and Finance and was asked "was that all, just those three?"</p> <p>Mr Morrison denied there were any more roles, but shortly after it emerged that he had also appointed himself as the second Treasurer and Home Affairs Minister. </p> <p>"What a shocking memory. Morrison had somehow forgotten being secretly sworn in by the Governor-General as minister of not just one more ministry, but two," Bolt said.</p> <p>"It seems that Morrison got a real taste of power when he became the other Health Minister, and over the next 14 months got hungrier and hungrier."</p> <p>Despite Bolt's take on Scott Morrison's wrongdoings, the former PM was defended by former Liberal prime minister, John Howard, who led the country from 1996 to 2007, who said he should not resign from parliament over the scandal. </p> <p>"I don't think it's something that is so reeking with principle as to require an unwanted, expensive, unnecessary by-election," Mr Howard said on ABC's <em>7.30</em>.</p> <p>"There are reasons why he did it. And part of the conservative tradition is to always understand the context."</p> <p>When quizzed for said context, Mr Morrison issued a lengthy explanation on why he secretly appointed himself to these ministries during his time as PM, saying he made the unprecedented decision partly because he feared that ministers at any moment could be struck down with Covid.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Sky News</em></p>

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Grace Tame delivers snide dig amid ScoMo’s cabinet drama

<p dir="ltr">Amid the news that Scott Morrison reportedly gave himself powers to run three government portfolios, activist Grace Tame has joined in with a scathing hot-take of her own.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-3a8e4b21-7fff-e8dc-7a3f-2096b881246e"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“You see now, we had to stop him from swearing himself in as Australian of the Year 2022,” the 27-year-old tweeted, sharing the infamous photo of herself with the former Prime Minister when she met him at the Lodge at the start of the year.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">you see now, we had to stop him from swearing himself in as Australian of the Year for 2022 <a href="https://t.co/qlWsxyHi4f">pic.twitter.com/qlWsxyHi4f</a></p> <p>— Grace Tame (@TamePunk) <a href="https://twitter.com/TamePunk/status/1559022544518545408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Many were quick to praise Tame and jump in on the fun, joking that Mr Morrison made himself the ‘minister for side-eyeing’ and the minister for women.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You had him figured from the start Grace,” New England MP Tony Windsor commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Who didn't know that he was a risky choice from day one? He is a friend of Harvey Norman for God’s sake,” another wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">Tame’s jab comes after the current Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, announced that the government would investigate claims that Mr Morrison secretly appointed himself as the minister for health, finance, and resources during the pandemic.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Albanese said the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet is seeking legal advice from the solicitor-general in the wake of the claims, published by <em><a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&amp;dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fnation%2Fpolitics%2Fscott-morrison-appointed-by-gg-to-take-control-of-department-of-industry-science-energy-and-resources-11months-before-he-scuttled-offshore-gas-project%2Fnews-story%2F38338e07f09df91fa68409cde43e013c&amp;memtype=anonymous&amp;mode=premium&amp;v21=dynamic-low-test-score&amp;V21spcbehaviour=append" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Australian</a></em> and <a href="https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/scott-morrison-shocked-minister-by-secretly-swearing-himself-into-cabinet-portfolio/news-story/ac7505f1648a335ccd01f88faf881086" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a>’s coverage of <em>Plagued</em>, a new book from political journalists Simon Bensen and Geoff Chambers.</p> <p dir="ltr">Governor-General David Hurley confirmed that he secretly signed instruments to allow Mr Morrison to administer the portfolios, “consistent with section 64 of the constitution”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Hurley said it wasn’t uncommon for ministers to be appointed to other departments, but that the decision to publicise it “is a matter for the government of the day”.</p> <p dir="ltr">The <em><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-15/scott-morrison-secret-ministry-appointments-to-be-investigated/101332916" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC</a></em> reported that then-Health Minister Greg Hunt was aware of Mr Morrison’s joint position and agreed to it as a safeguard in case he was struck down by COVID-19, but that Matthias Cormann, the former Finance Minister, wasn’t told the Prime Minister had appointed himself as joint finance minister.</p> <p dir="ltr">Keith Pitt, the former Resources Minister, told the ABC that Mr Morrison used his self-appointment to the resources portfolio to stop a controversial gas drilling project on the NSW south coast.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Albanese said the revelations were “extraordinary” and “just weird”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The people of Australia were kept in the dark as to what the ministerial arrangements were, it’s completely unacceptable,” he said on Monday.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This is very contrary to our Westminster system. It was cynical and it was just weird that this has occurred.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Albanese said the allegations were serious, and that they might explain the controversial rollout of COVID-19 vaccines at the height of the pandemic.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Perhaps this explains why we didn’t order enough vaccines. I mean, the Minister for Health might have thought the Prime Minister was ordering them because he was also the Minister for Health, and he thought the Minister for Health was ordering them,” Mr Albanese said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-08221e9c-7fff-1108-2d88-b20a69ab6b52"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">According to <em>Sky News</em>, Mr Morrison has declined to comment on the accusations, claiming he hasn’t “engaged in any day to day politics” since his election loss in May.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">.<a href="https://twitter.com/Kieran_Gilbert?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Kieran_Gilbert</a> asked former Prime Minister Scott Morrison whether he wished to respond to today's revelations &amp; PM Albanese.</p> <p>Mr Morrison said -- "No, haven’t seen what he has said. Since leaving the job I haven’t engaged in any day to day politics". <a href="https://twitter.com/SkyNewsAust?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SkyNewsAust</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/auspol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#auspol</a></p> <p>— Cam Reddin (@CamReddin) <a href="https://twitter.com/CamReddin/status/1559032433529393152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“No, haven’t seen what [Mr Albanese] has said,” Mr Morrison told <em>Sky News</em> reporter Kieran Gilbert.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Since leaving the job I haven’t engaged in any day to day politics.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, <em>AAP </em>New Zealand correspondent Ben McKay confirmed that New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern hasn’t engaged in similar behaviour.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-71694b42-7fff-2cab-c1ad-4affe41c2401">“Thought best to double check. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she has never secretly sworn herself into other ministeries,” he <a href="https://twitter.com/benmackey/status/1559025854914895872" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweeted</a>.</span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Twitter</em></p>

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Woman buys ad in newspaper to call out cheating partner

<p dir="ltr">A furious woman who was cheated on by her partner has taken out a whole page of the local newspaper to call him out. </p> <p dir="ltr">Jenny from Queensland purchased one page from the Mackay and Whitsunday Life paper with her cheating partner’s credit card page. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Dear Steve, I hope you’re happy with her,” the message on page 4 read. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Now the whole town will know what a filthy cheater you are. From Jenny.</p> <p dir="ltr">“PS. I bought this ad using your credit card.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The newspaper said they have received several messages from locals asking who Steve and Jenny are but they have kept quiet about it.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We do NOT know who Steve is, but apparently he’s been very very bad,” the newspaper said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We won’t be revealing any details about Jenny.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite writing that she used Steve’s credit card for the ad, the newspaper confirmed they have not yet charged the card. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We have not charged the credit card in question.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The ad made its way to social media with many commending Jenny for calling out her cheating partner. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Jenny sounds like someone I want to be friends with,” someone wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Not all heroines wear capes. Jenny is my new favourite person,” another commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Sucks to be Steve,” another wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Facebook</em></p>

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