Victorian Liberal party shapes up for ‘nastiest, most toxic’ state council in years amid leaks and infighting

State party’s deep divisions on show as sexist messages force resignation of director days before annual meetingGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTiming is everything in politics. It’s a principle worth recalling when nine-month-old messages are made public just two days before the Victorian Liberals’ annual state council meeting.The messages, taken from a WhatsApp group involving a small handful of party headquarters staff, are undeniably sexist and inappropriate. In them, Victorian Liberal party director Stuart Smith mocked the party’s women’s council, saying it could only make decisions at a meeting “after two men told them they had to”, and joked that upper house MP Bev McArthur had dementia. Continue reading...

Comments

World news

Florida attorney general says cops should stop enforcing open carry gun ban after court ruling

Independent

Comments

Similar News

Two Victorian police officers charged with negligent manslaughter over man’s fatal 2024 arrest

Victorian Liberals director resigns after messages mocking the party’s women’s council revealed

Victorian Labor targets affluent Melbourne suburbs for rezoning to allow 16-storey apartment towers

Herald Sun failed to seek response from Victorian MP Sam Groth and wife before article that invaded privacy, court documents claim

Mushroom murderer Erin Patterson to learn fate at sentence hearing in Victorian supreme court

Drawings reveal Victorian proposal for London’s own Grand Central station

The Victorian seaside resort that was home to a famous poet and Cold War secrets

Victorian Liberal members to push for regulated cannabis market at state council

Victorian couple sue TikTok for blocking account after allegedly competing in live battles against banned users

Victorian Liberal leader defends impromptu press conference at scene of fatal stabbing

World news

Florida attorney general says cops should stop enforcing open carry gun ban after court ruling

Russia shows off conventional and nuclear military might in drills — and raises tensions with NATO

Tyson Foods to eliminate high-fructose corn syrup in brands like Jimmy Dean and Hillshire Farm

A new Ebola outbreak has been declared. Here’s what we know

Luigi Mangione due in court amid double jeopardy fight in UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killing

How hands-off investing could have made you six times more than saving this year

‘I fought in Afghanistan but faulty earplugs left me with physical and mental scars’

Birmingham City and the battle of ambition vs tradition

I’m a first-time buyer – why does being self-employed mean I can borrow less?

Canada’s friendly seafood capital with a road trip and vineyards nearby

Sorry book snobs – Richard Osman’s The Impossible Fortune is a delight

Trump’s Tariffs Start to Bite in Vietnam

ADHD and bipolar patients face medicine delays – even when drugs are in stock

My Man Utd XI to save Amorim’s job – with three major changes

Please stop suggesting a date night – I’d rather you unblock the drain

DWP imposes ‘gagging order’ on disability experts ahead of PIP review

"Not welcome": Rubio says U.S. is deporting visa holders who celebrated Kirk's death

What to know about the US deportations to non-citizen African countries

Photos show how an Indonesian motorbike mechanic became a macaw trainer

Polls open in Malawi’s presidential and parliamentary elections

Trump World’s Deals With the U.A.E.

‘Squid Game’ Star Lee Jung-jae Talks About Korean Fan Culture

President Trump’s State Visit to the UK: What to Know

National park to remove exhibit of famed photograph showing former slave’s scarred back, says report

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Poland asks Nato to impose no-fly zone over Ukraine to stop Putin’s drone incursions

Drills in Belarus and drone incursions into Romania: How the war in Ukraine has already become a European conflict

E-bike battery fire displaces 11 people from Vancouver home

Drought level in the Okanagan increases under new provincial system

Brit tourist 'puts men to shame' in Benidorm with astonishing record break

'Tinder Swindler' con artist arrested in Georgia

Senate clears Trump pick Miran to Fed board ahead of key interest rate vote

Court stops Trump’s attempt to fire Fed Board Governor Lisa Cook

Wellington Bridge closure worries small business owners in west-central Edmonton

Recreate our favourite beauty looks from TIFF 2025

Lethbridge first responders celebrate 1 year of youth initiative

Bridgeland business speaks out about street being ripped up 3 times in a year

Alberta takes teachers’ union to labour board over accusations of false claims

Schwarzenegger decries polarization, criticizes Newsom's gerrymandering effort

Face-to-face with Zelenskyy, his frustration is clear

Zelenskyy makes demand of Trump - and issues warning to NATO

Republicans dare Democrats on avoiding government shutdown

Trump nominee Miran confirmed to Fed ahead of rate decision

Scoop: A group of House Democrats has a steep demand list to stop a shutdown

Republicans scramble to kick Ilhan Omar off committees over her Charlie Kirk comments

SEC "prioritizing" Trump bid to change public company reporting rules

Thousands flagged to face "consequences" for cheering Charlie Kirk's death

Appeals court rules Fed governor Cook can continue to serve

Queer advocacy group asks mayor, council to declare Calgary a sanctuary city

California man steals ambulance from paramedics attending fatal stabbing near high school, say cops

As Charlie Kirk crisscrossed the country, security levels varied from venue to venue

Elon Musk piggybacks Tommy Robinson and brings his troll show to Britain after being banished from the White House

SC lawmaker wants to pull funding from major college over three faculty members’ alleged Charlie Kirk comments

Trump hints at how he could arrest flag burners despite free speech protections

Lone survivor of East Vancouver triple stabbing dies in hospital

Trump deploys U.S. troops to Memphis in ‘replica’ of D.C. crime crackdown

Saskatchewan family demands action after 2-year-long murder investigation

Israel, U.S. show unity as other allies condemn attack on Qatar

The US and China have a new TikTok “deal”

First deportation flight to France ‘stalled after last-minute challenge’

Historically Black colleges see funding boost despite Trump's war on DEI