Australian news and politics live: South African in neo-nazi rally detained in Sydney, faces visa cancellation

Former federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg has praised new Victorian Liberal Leader Jess Wilson’s rise to leadership, calling her “smart” and “determined.”

“Congratulations to Jess Wilson on her election as the Leader of the Victorian Liberal Party,” Mr Frydenberg posted to X.

“Jess is smart, sensible, and determined, and has what it takes to lead the State and create a better future for all Victorians.

“There is only one thing that counts from here: creating a safer and stronger Victoria.”

Former Victorian opposition leader Michael O’Brien told Sky News, “Jess is a star and she will be Jacinta Allan’s worst nightmare”.

Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has thanked defeated Victorian Leader leader Brad Battin for his “tireless work” and congratulated challenger Jess Wilson on becoming the party’s next state leader.

“Brad has always put his community first and is an important contributor to the team,” Ms Ley said in a statement.

“I also want to congratulate Jess Wilson on her election as Leader of the Victorian Liberal Party. Jess represents a fresh, next generation approach at a time when Victoria needs it most.”

“After years of a tired and out of touch Labor Government, families are facing rising debt, growing crime and a health system that is stretched to breaking point,” Ms Ley added.

The federal leader, who is facing leadership uncertainty of her own, says she and Ms Wilson will “work together to build a stronger Liberal team across the country and offer Victorians the real alternative they are looking for”.

NSW Nationals Leader Dugald Saunders has resigned from his position less than three years after taking the job and just one day after his 19-year-old daughter was featured in a documentary about the adult industry.

Mr Saunders informed colleagues of his decision to step down on Monday, stating it was to prioritise his family.

A spokesperson for the Dubbo MP described the timing as coincidental following his daughter’s appearance in the online pornography documentary, according to The Australian. It comes as a serious illness affects several family members.

The resignation comes soon after his daughter, Charlie, also known as Willow, made her debut as the star of a reality show focused on OnlyFans creators. Charlie appeared on the first episode of Spicy Summer, describing how she began producing adult content at 18.

“Tiktok” inspired her to join Onlyfans, she said.

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The Nationals, often stereotyped as a party of old white men, has become the first major Australian political party to have a Sikh leader.

Gurmesh Singh was elected unopposed as NSW Nationals leader on Tuesday morning, a day after Dugald Saunders resigned citing family reasons.

The fourth-generation Australian farmer, whose great-grandfather moved from India 130 years ago, last month told Parliament the main racism he experienced was from his left-wing political opponents who had called him the party’s “useful idiot of colour”.

He told The Nightly last month he was sick of ethnicity being unduly emphasised.

“How many more generations does it have to be before I stop being an Indian-Australian and just an Australian? I think that’s the question we all have to answer,” he said.

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A TPG Telecom customer has tragically died after not being able to connect to triple-0 emergency services.

The Sydney-based customer, who was using a Lebara service on a Samsung device, passed away on November 13, and the telco was informed of the incident on Monday afternoon by NSW Ambulance.

TPG said at the time of the attempted contact with the triple-0 service, the mobile network was operational and no outages were occurring.

An early investigation conducted by the telco suggests that the failed calls were due to the customer’s Samsung device operating on outdated software that was not compatible with making triple-0 calls on the network.

“Customer safety remains our highest priority. This is a tragic incident, and our condolences and thoughts are with the individual’s family and loved ones,” TPG Telecom Managing Director and CEO, Inaki Berroeta, said in a statement.

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New Victorian Liberal Leader Jess Wilson says ousted Brad Battin will play a “key role” in the 2026 Victorian State election.

“This morning, the Liberal party room elected me as parliamentary leader unopposed, and I congratulate the team behind me. Sam Groth, Bev McArthur and Evan Mulholland. People who represent all parts of Victoria,” she said after the spill.

“From the outset, can I thank Brad Battin. Brad is a tireless supporter and worker in the Liberal Party.

“We thank him for his work as leader over the past 11 months.”

“I know he will have a key role to play in the team going forward, at the next election, 12 months from now.”

Former Victorian Liberal Leader Brad Battin says he is proud of what he achieved while heading the party after he was voted out in favour of shadow treasurer Jess Wilson.

“I stand continuously proud in the role that I’ve done,” Mr Battin said as he left the party room.

“The Victorian Liberal Party now has a very clear path towards the next election.

“The vote didn’t go my way.”

NSW Nationals have elected Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh as the new leader of the party.

Mr Singh was elected after an uncontested ballot on Tuesday.

More to come....

Brad Battin has been ousted by the Victorian Liberal Party, with former Josh Frydenberg staffer Jess Wilson securing the votes to become the new Opposition Leader.

More to come...

One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson, who is gaining support by the day according to polls, says the Coalition is watching what she does and copying her.

Speaking about the recent decisions made on net zero, Senator Hanson said the Coalition has taken her lead but not “gone far enough”.

“They should be getting out of the Paris Agreement because you can’t have one without the other,” Senator Hanson told ABC Radio National.

“Everything we have put in place, the Coalition has followed our lead.

“One Nation is gathering more and more support because the clear-cut policies that we are putting out there, we’ve been consistent with what the Australian people want.

“They (voters) don’t like their policies, they don’t like the direction the country is going.”

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