liveFederal politics live: Death threats, intimidation, violence: Labor MP labels Wills campaign 'disgusting'By political reporter Joshua Boscaini and Caitlin RawlingTopic:Government and Politics3h ago3 hours agoThu 8 May 2025 at 8:57pmSkip to timelineabc.net.au/news/federal-politics-live-election-albanese-labor-liberal-party/105271228Link copiedShareShare articleLabor MP Peter Khalil says some of the behaviour from Greens MPs has been "unacceptable".He says the party spread "lies and slurs" during the Wills campaign, actions which he described as "pretty disgusting".Meanwhile, the Labor party room will meet today and is expected to endorse a proposed ministerial line-up that will see Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and Science and Industry Minister Ed Husic dropped from the ministry.Follow our live blog below.Key EventsNick McKim rules out becoming leader of the Greens35m ago35 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 11:56pmDan Tehan pulls out of Liberal leadership contest39m ago39 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 11:52pmKhalil says he was subject to 'lies and slurs' in Wills campaign1h ago1 hours agoThu 8 May 2025 at 11:16pmShow all key eventsSubmit a comment or question Log in to commentLive updatesLatestOldest20m agoFri 9 May 2025 at 12:11amHere's the current state of play across AustraliaJBy Joshua BoscainiVotes are still being counted and that means we're still waiting on who will claim a handful of undecided seats across Australia.Let's take a look at the current seats in doubt:Victoria: Bendigo, Calwell, Flinders, Monash and KooyongQueensland: Longman and Ryan Western Australia: BullwinkelNew South Wales: Bradfield ACT: BeanReactReactCopy linkKey Event35m agoThu 8 May 2025 at 11:56pmNick McKim rules out becoming leader of the GreensCBy Caitlin RawlingGreens Senator Nick McKim says he will not be putting his name forward to be leader of the Greens.McKim was on Radio National Breakfast earlier this morning and says "the short answer is no"."It's an immense privilege to lead the Greens and I've been the leader of the Greens in Tasmania, but that also means that I know what the job is and I have had a fair bit of self reflection over this, over the last few days and I've always believed, if you can't give the job 120 per cent then you shouldn't be doing it," he says. "I don't want to let my party room colleagues down. I don't want to let our party down. I don't want to let the movement that we represent down."I've decided not to take that job on but my job now is to shepherd us through the next little while and make sure that we come out of the chats that we're having as a united and strong team ready to do the job that the Australian people have voted us in to do," McKim says.ReactReactCopy linkKey Event39m agoThu 8 May 2025 at 11:52pmDan Tehan pulls out of Liberal leadership contestJBy Joshua BoscainiDan Tehan says he won't contest the Liberal Party leadership following discussions with his party colleagues."After careful consideration and conversations with my colleagues, I have decided not to stand for a leadership position," he says.Peter Dutton was ousted from his seat of Dickson in Saturday's election, opening up the position to a new leader.Dan Tehan, Sussan Ley and Angus Taylor were widely expected to contest the leadership in a three-cornered race, but the removal of Tehan leaves just Ley and Taylor.In a statement, Tehan says the Liberal Party must work to reconnect with the Australian people and Liberal values.He says the Australian people want a Liberal Party that speaks to their lives, families and hopes for the future."We must develop a platform that offers lower taxes and high productivity; smaller and more efficient government where not a single taxpayer dollar is wasted; one that makes the reality of home ownership achievable to young Australians and outlines an immigration plan that serves Australia's long-term interests," he says.ReactReactCopy link59m agoThu 8 May 2025 at 11:32pmGreens senator asked about party's stance on Gaza warCBy Caitlin RawlingGreens senator Nick McKim was on Radio National Breakfast this morning and was asked if the party's stance on Gaza damaged its election performance.He says he didn't think it did at all."Let's be really clear about why we took the stance we have on Gaza, this was not about some kind of political calculation."There's a genocide underway in Gaza. It's not a war. It's not a conflict. It is mass murder. It's a war crime," he told Radio National Breakfast."There are tens of thousands of innocent people who are being burned to death, they are being dismembered, they are being buried alive, including children and babies."That sort of thing has to be called out, no matter where it's happening and no matter who is doing it."We will always call out war crimes, we will always call out ethnic cleansing, and we will always call out genocide, and we'll continue to call out and tell the truth about what is happening in Palestine," McKim says.ReactReactCopy link1h agoThu 8 May 2025 at 11:24pm'It's a big loss for us': Nick McKim on losing Adam Bandt as Greens leaderCBy Caitlin RawlingGreens Senator Nick McKim was on Radio National Breakfast this morning and was asked about the loss of Adam Bandt as the leader of the Green Party.McKim says it was a "really emotional" day right throughout the party."We lost an inspiring and outstanding leader, but also someone who's just a really admirable person," he told Radio National Breakfast."As a political leader, Adam was a rare beast, he sort of combined really high intellect and political acumen and a real vision for the future of Australia, on one hand, with a really big heart and a large capacity for compassion and care on the other hand."It's a big loss to us and we're really going to miss him, but we've got a number of terrific people in our party room who've got the capacity to lead us. "We're ready to put our shoulders to the wheel and get to work," he says.ReactReactCopy linkKey Event1h agoThu 8 May 2025 at 11:16pmKhalil says he was subject to 'lies and slurs' in Wills campaignJBy Joshua BoscainiAsked why he thinks Adam Bandt lost his seat of Melbourne, Peter Khalil says he thinks it's because the electorate wants someone who is a part of the government.Khalil says the obstructionism from the Greens in parliament may have also contributed to their demise in Melbourne."The obstructionism in parliament, the way that they've conducted themselves, the politicisation of issues, the inability to deliver, I think are all factors there. And that's up to them to reflect on those issues," he says.He says some of the behaviour from Greens MPs has been "unacceptable".Khalil says the party spread "lies and slurs" during the Wills campaign which he described as "pretty disgusting".In not pointing directly to the Greens, Khalil says his team was subjected to physical intimidation, harassment and violence.He says he was physically prevented from speaking to constituents and shouted at by volunteers at pre-poll."I think the vast majority of Australians reject that kind of politics," he says."There were volunteers on the pre-poll who were really making death threats to others, and that's been referred to the police. I don't want to see a normalisation of this in our politics in Australia."ReactReactCopy linkKey Event1h agoThu 8 May 2025 at 11:04pmPeter Khalil says there has been misinformation about Labor's response to GazaJBy Joshua BoscainiLabor MP Peter Khalil has phoned into a ABC Radio Melbourne to chat about the election result in his seat of Wills.Khalil suffered a 2.4 per cent swing to the Greens on a two-party preferred basis this election following a redistribution of his seat.Asked if he thought the war in Gaza had an impact on his margin, Khalil says he believes there has been some misinformation about the Labor government's response to the war in the Middle East."We've worked really hard to, within the international community to call for a ceasefire, vote for a ceasefire, a release of the hostages, increase our humanitarian aid," he says.He says he acknowledges there are disagreements about the government's foreign policy, but says "that's democracy" and "it's important to listen to those views".ReactReactCopy link1h agoThu 8 May 2025 at 10:47pm'Liberal party has a lot of deep thinking to do': McKenzieCBy Caitlin RawlingSenator Bridget McKenzie was on Sky News this morning and was asked if the Coalition should stay together.She says she has always been a "coalitionist"."When we work together we actually achieve a lot for our country," she said."We've always been in government more than we haven't but that's when we behave sensibly, when we treat each other with respect, when we have trust between our two very separate political movements."Those of us in the National Party aren't just liberals that live in the country, we actually have a very separate political philosophy and a long tradition."We're over 100 years old and we are very renowned in our communities for delivering for them, and that's why they trust us."The Liberal Party has got a lot of deep thinking to do, we wish them well with that but they shouldn't be seeking to damage us in the process of trying to rebuild themselves."ReactReactCopy link1h agoThu 8 May 2025 at 10:42pmNationals senator Bridget McKenzie 'incredibly disappointed' by Price's move to LiberalsCBy Caitlin RawlingNationals senator Bridget McKenzie was on Sky News this morning and says she is "incredibly disappointed" by Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price's defection."I think loyalty matters a lot, and only five days ago, Jacinta was elected in the [Northern] Territory to sit in the National Party party room."We've had the CLP senator in our Senate party room since 1980, the CLP senator has been a leader of our Senate room and also a leader of the National Party itself."This is a long-standing relationship and there's a lot of fallout in the Territory itself.McKenzie says she was on the phone late last night with "territorians" in the CLP who are "very concerned about Price's decision and what it means for them in terms of representation."What I'm very concerned about is that it now seems that the Liberal Party was actively recruiting Senator Nampijinpa Price five days out from an election," she says."That is not the behaviour of trusted partners, it's very, very concerning."I think the Liberal Party and the CLP have to make decisions around the impact of Jacinta's decision to resign from the National Party, the country Liberal Party in the Northern Territory and the federal Liberal Party are going to have to make decisions about whether they accept her decision, what the fallout will be and they are obviously separate and independent organisations."ReactReactCopy linkKey Event1h agoThu 8 May 2025 at 10:41pmPrice spoke to Tony Abbott before defection, doesn't rule out future leadership tiltJBy Joshua BoscainiJacinta Nampijinpa Price says she spoke to former prime minister Tony Abbott before moving across to the Liberal party room.Price says Abbott supports her move."He's explained to me that he supports that move," she says."Tony, has ... supported me, he supported my mother when she was a minister in a territory government."Asked whether she wants to lead the Liberals one day in the future, Price doesn't rule it out."That's a massive ask and you know, I certainly need to be able to learn the ropes and understand, how to be able to support the Australian people. To the best of my capacity," she says.ReactReactCopy link1h agoThu 8 May 2025 at 10:36pmPrice won't say whether she'll run for deputy Liberal leaderJBy Joshua BoscainiJacinta Nampijinpa Price has brushed off a question on whether she would be putting her hand up for a leadership role in the Liberal Party.Price tells 2GB's Ben Fordham she won't speculate on that right now and says she has been welcomed by Sussan Ley to the party room.But when pressed on whether she would she would run for deputy Liberal leader, she pivots back to Matt Canavan's comments."I guess you know, Matt might be angry with me for making this decision. He was angry that I didn't discuss this like a week ago with him," she says.ReactReactCopy linkKey Event2h agoThu 8 May 2025 at 10:30pm'I am a fighter', Jacinta Nampijinpa Price tells 2GB following defection to LiberalsJBy Joshua BoscainiJacinta Nampijinpa Price says she did inform Nationals members ahead of moving to the Liberals yesterday, despite colleagues saying she didn't. Responding to Matt Canavan's comments comparing her defection to Lidia Thorpe's departure from the Greens, Price has told 2GB she followed the correct process."I've spoken to my party president and made sure we followed the correct process," she says."I also spoke to every one of my National Party Senate colleagues, because I wanted to give them the courtesy of knowing the decision I was about to embark on."Price says moving to the Liberal Party is something she has wanted to do since being elected, but was instead expected to sit with the National Party."I am a fighter. I have that fighting spirit I have been all my life, and that for me to fight on behalf of the Australian people, given the fact that our true enemy is Labor and the fact that they're about to destroy the country," she says.ReactReactCopy link2h agoThu 8 May 2025 at 10:24pmPM congratulates Pope Leo XIV's on being electedCBy Caitlin RawlingPrime Minister Anthony Albanese has congratulated Pope Leo XIV for being elected as pope.Here is his statement in full:"Today is a momentous day for Catholics around the world and faithful in Australia, and I join them in congratulating their Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, Bishop of Rome, on his election overnight.As the first North American Pope, Pope Leo XIV's leadership comes at an important time for the Catholic Church and the world.Australia will invite His Holiness Pope Leo to Australia for the International Eucharistic Congress being proudly hosted in 2028.My government looks forward to continuing Australia's strong relationship with the Holy See under Pope Leo XIV's pontificate.This is a moment which will bring joy and hope to Catholics everywhere.May the papacy of Pope Leo advance the cause of peace and social justice for all humanity," the prime minister says.ReactReactCopy linkKey Event2h agoThu 8 May 2025 at 10:12pmMark Butler hints Anne Aly may be elevated to CabinetJBy Joshua BoscainiLet's turn our attention to Labor now ahead of a caucus meeting today to decide who will form the next Albanese government ministry.Health Minister Mark Butler has stepped up to talk on ABC News Breakfast and he's hinted that Early Childhood Education Minister Anne Aly may be elevated to Cabinet."You know, there's speculation that Anne Aly who's been a very effective minister, junior minister over the last three years, might be promoted to Cabinet. The first Muslim woman to be in the Cabinet. That's obviously a matter for the prime minister…," he says.Asked by co-host James Glenday whether he's confirming Aly will be promoted, Butler says it's just speculation.Butler says it will ultimately be up to the prime minister and caucus to determine the make up of the next ministry."Anne was an incredibly talented, effective minister. Just goes to show, though, that, you know, as there is turnover inevitably through these democratic processes, we have an incredibly talented and diverse pool of backbenchers and junior ministers to choose from," he says.Loading...ReactReactCopy link2h agoThu 8 May 2025 at 9:58pmLandry says Nationals will work with whoever becomes Liberal leaderJBy Joshua BoscainiMichelle Landry has been asked whether she thinks Jacinta Nampijinpa Price's defection to the Liberal party room has anything to do with Price potentially becoming a Liberal deputy leader.Landry says the Nationals will work with whoever becomes Liberal leader."There's quite a few people vying for positions within the Liberal party and that's their decision I have nothing to do with that vote," she says."We've got to put this behind us and all work together because the main thing is to not worry about the internal politics is to hold Labor to account."ReactReactCopy link2h agoThu 8 May 2025 at 9:51pmNationals 'very upset' about Price's move to the LiberalsJBy Joshua BoscainiNationals MP Michelle Landry says Jacinta Nampijinpa Price's defection to the Liberal party room will affect the National Party's status in the senate.Landry has told ABC Radio National Breakfast her Nationals colleagues are "very upset" about Price's defection to the Liberal party room."Probably the worst thing about it is that we had six senators in the senate and then we've lost Perin [Davey] because she didn't get enough votes and now that Jacinta's gotten it leaves us four in the senate and it's gong to be difficult to have party status in there," she says."You need to be loyal to your party is what I think"ReactReactCopy linkKey Event2h agoThu 8 May 2025 at 9:47pmSussan Ley says she is putting herself 'forward' to leader of the Liberal PartyCBy Caitlin RawlingDeputy leader Sussan Ley has announced she will be putting her hat in the ring to become the next Liberal leader."I will be putting myself forward for the position of leader of the Federal Party," she told Seven's Sunrise earlier this morning.She says the party needs to reflect modern Australia and to reflect a "modern liberal party"."I'm determined and convinced that I am the right person to lead the party forward at this time," she says.ReactReactCopy linkKey Event2h agoThu 8 May 2025 at 9:44pm'I'm very disappointed': Nationals MP says of Jacinta Nampijinpa Price's moveJBy Joshua BoscainiNationals MP Michelle Landry says she's shocked and had no warning that Jacinta Nampijinpa Price would defect to the Liberal party room yesterday.Speaking on ABC Radio National Breakfast, Landry says Price apparently contacted Nationals leader David Littleproud one hour before making the announcement to inform him of the move."Our shadow ministers were up in the Northern Territory, they were helping her enormously up there … and to win under the National Party banner then to change sides, less than a week after being re-elected, I'm very disappointed," she says.Asked if she thought Price's defection was disloyal, she agreed."I know that Jacinta has big ambitions and she has made that clear but run for the Liberals if you want to stick with the Liberals. Don't go in under the National Party banner then changed sides," she says.ReactReactCopy link3h agoThu 8 May 2025 at 9:31pmSharma 'suprised' by Jacinta Nampijinpa Price's defection to the LiberalsJBy Joshua BoscainiLiberal senator Dave Sharma says he was surprised to hear about NT senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price's shock defection to the Liberal party room.The Country Liberal Party senator announced yesterday that she would move party rooms to help the senior Coalition partner "rebuild and be strong for the benefit of the country".But some insiders have suggested Price's move will boost Angus Taylor's leadership hopes.Speaking on Nine's Today, Sharma says he understands why the Nationals are aggrieved."I was surprised, I didn't see that one coming," he says."To me it's important whoever the leader is needs to get to grips with the scale of the challenge we face and make sure we can start appealing to the people who live in cities again."ReactReactCopy link3h agoThu 8 May 2025 at 9:11pmMark Dreyfus and Ed Husic booted from new Albanese ministryCBy Caitlin RawlingAttorney-General Mark Dreyfus and Science and Industry Minster Ed Husic have been booted from Anthony Albanese's new ministry.It comes before caucus is expected to sign off on the list of 30 frontbenchers later today.You can read more by national affairs correspondent Jane Norman here:Cabinet ministers Dreyfus, Husic scrapped from new Albanese ministryReactReactCopy linkShow more postsPosted 3h ago3 hours agoThu 8 May 2025 at 8:57pm, updated 13m ago13 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 12:18amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)TimelineRead nextCommentsTimelineKey EventsLatestNick McKim rules out becoming leader of the Greens35m ago35 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 11:56pmDan Tehan pulls out of Liberal leadership contest39m ago39 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 11:52pmKhalil says he was subject to 'lies and slurs' in Wills campaign1h ago1 hours agoThu 8 May 2025 at 11:16pmPeter Khalil says there has been misinformation about Labor's response to Gaza1h ago1 hours agoThu 8 May 2025 at 11:04pmPrice spoke to Tony Abbott before defection, doesn't rule out future leadership tilt1h ago1 hours agoThu 8 May 2025 at 10:41pm'I am a fighter', Jacinta Nampijinpa Price tells 2GB following defection to Liberals2h ago2 hours agoThu 8 May 2025 at 10:30pmMark Butler hints Anne Aly may be elevated to Cabinet2h ago2 hours agoThu 8 May 2025 at 10:12pmSussan Ley says she is putting herself 'forward' to leader of the Liberal Party2h ago2 hours agoThu 8 May 2025 at 9:47pm'I'm very disappointed': Nationals MP says of Jacinta Nampijinpa Price's move2h ago2 hours agoThu 8 May 2025 at 9:44pmGreens expected to vote for new leader next week3h ago3 hours agoThu 8 May 2025 at 8:57pmTop StoriesAmerican Robert Prevost elected pope and will be known as Pope Leo XIVTopic:Religious LeadersPhoto shows A man in religious robes looks down from a balconyPrice defection slammed as hostile Liberal takeover with Angus TaylorTopic:Political LeadershipAn energy giant 'drained' this householder's batteryTopic:Energy IndustryFirst Trump tariff deal boosts US shares but ASX set for flat startTopic:Stock MarketMeeting with hate preacher triggers court order for notorious terror leaderTopic:ExtremismJust InAustralia's political conclave theatrics feel blokey, but the future is femaleAAnalysis by Annabel Crabb12m ago12 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 12:19amShould Netflix's Adolescence be a teaching tool in schools?Topic:Parenting Teenagers19m ago19 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 12:12amRenting labelled the Pilbara's 'Achilles heel' with no clear solutionTopic:Rental Housing36m ago36 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 11:55pmIn 10 minutes, Pope Leo XIV told us a lot about himself, and his agendaTopic:Religious Leaders21m ago21 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 12:10amMore Just InBack to top