FORMER SHORTLAND MP PASSES AWAY
Former Member for the division of Shortland, Peter Morris, has passed away at the age of 93. Morris served as the Member for Shortland from 1972 until 1998 and served as the Minister for Transport under Prime Minister Bob Hawke, and also spent time as the Minister for Resources, Minister for Housing and Aged Care, and Minister for Industrial Relations. Morris was only the second member of the division of Shortland since its establishment in 1949, and there have only been four members for Shortland in the seat’s history.
Peter Morris | Source: Sky News
Following his return to the backbench, Morris served as the chair of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Transport, Communications and Infrastructure, where he delivered the influential Ships of Shame report.
NEW SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE ANNOUNCED
Last week, Prime Minister Albanese announced that, following Greg Moriarty’s elevation to the role of Australia’s Ambassador to the United States of America, Meghan Quinn PSM will be the first woman to be appointed to the role of Secretary of the Department of Defence.
Meghan Quinn | Source: Sky News
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that, “Ms Quinn has a distinguished career as a senior leader in the Australian Public Service and is currently the Secretary of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. Ms Quinn has advised Government on a wide range of Australian and international policy matters. She previously held several Deputy Secretary roles at the Department of the Treasury and was head of the Secretariat for the ‘Australia in the Asian Century White Paper’ at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Prior to this, Ms Quinn worked for BHP and the Bank of England. In 2009, Ms Quinn was awarded the Public Service Medal for outstanding public service in the development of climate change policy. Ms Quinn’s term will commence on 18 May 2026 for a five-year period.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles has backed the Prime Minister’s comments by saying, “I welcome the Prime Minister’s announcement today that Meghan Quinn will become the next Secretary of the Department of Defence.“
MOTHER OF ALLEGED DOUBLE MURDERER CHARGED
Coleen Lamarre, mother of Beau Lamarre-Condon, who allegedly killed Jesse Baird and Luke Davies in 2024, has now been charged with doing an act intending to pervert the course of justice.
Coleen Lamarre | Source: ABC
It is understood Lamarre had allegedly attempted to influence a key witness to change their testimony in the trial involving her son, which is due to begin in September. As this matter is before a court, I do not intend to comment further.
IT'S NOT WHAT YOU KNOW
It was recently revealed that Australia’s richest person, Gina Rinehart, has presented One Nation leader Pauline Hanson with a $1million aircraft, a Cirrus G7. Senator Hanson has described the aircraft as “sexy”, “fast”, and “amazing” when she posted on social media about the present.
Pauline Hanson with her new aircraft | Source: ABC
This present was also presented with $2 million in donations from friends of Gina Rinehart. Treasurer Jim Chalmers commented on this where he said “Whether it is in industrial relations, whether it is in cost-of-living relief … what we have seen again and again from One Nation is they typically vote the way Gina Rinehart wants them to, rather than how the workers and battlers need them to.”
TRUANCY CRACKDOWN
The New Zealand government is cracking down on students not attending school, including parents who either condone or allow their children to stay home from school. Associate Minister for Education, David Seymour, has confirmed that at least 16 cases of chronic absence from school are being investigated by the Ministry of Education.
David Seymour | Source: RNZ
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Education has stated that “cases at this stage are typically complex, and the Ministry continues to progress them while focusing on resolving attendance issues and supporting students back into school.” Minister Seymour has told the media that “the truth is that a lot of people want to get to school, but if you're a 'won't' rather than a 'can't', then we are going to throw the book at you, because you're not just letting down yourself, you're letting down your child and their future, The threat of prosecution had been effective at getting students re-enrolled.”
MODERN SLAVERY BILL IS READ A FIRST TIME
A bill drafted by Labour’s Camilla Belich and National's MP Greg Fleming has passed the first reading with bipartisan support, the first time this has happened in this Parliament. This bill was subject to a relatively new rule, Standing Order 288, which allows “a member's bill to be progressed so long as it has support from a majority of MPs who are not in the executive - that is, Ministers, Associate Ministers and undersecretaries.”
Greg Fleming | Source: RNZ
The first reading of this legislation passed with the support of all parties in the Parliament except for ACT, who argued modern slavery is already illegal in New Zealand and would increase business costs. Now that the bill has been read a first time, it is now before the Education and Workforce select committee.
FIRE AT MASSEY UNIVERSITY
Massey University’s Albany campus in Auckland was evacuated recently due to a fire that began in a classroom on the top floor of the Quadrangle B building. The specifics surrounding the cause of the fire have not been publicly disclosed, but a spokesperson from the University has stated, “everyone has been evacuated, and the fire triggered the sprinklers.”
Massey University | Source: Stuff
Emergency services were called to Albany Campus at around 10:00 AM and found a fire burning in the plant room located on level four of the building. As a precaution, those in both building A and B were evacuated, and parts of building B will remain closed while assessments are completed and damages are repaired.
JAROME LUAI CONFIRMS TRANSFER TO PNG CHIEFS
West Tigers player Jarome Luai has confirmed he will leave the team at the end of the 2027 season and will join the Papua New Guinea Chiefs when they enter the NRL in 2028, and has an option to remain with the club from 2030 onwards.
Jarome Luai | Source: ABC
This comes as PNG Chiefs signed their first player signing recently with South Sydney Rabbitohs player Alex Johnston. Luai recently travelled to Papua New Guinea, where he met with Prime Minister James Marape and senior officials of the Papua New Guinea Chiefs.
The General Manager of Football for the Chiefs, Michael Chammas, said, “Jarome is a world-class player and a proven winner. Securing his signature is a big step forward for our club and for rugby league in Papua New Guinea. We said we would attract the best players in the competition, and we've done that. It is a proud moment for us. He embodies the style, passion, and competitiveness we want our team to represent. We're thrilled to welcome Jarome and his family to the Chiefs family."
NEW CALEDONIA SET TO HEAD TO AN ELECTION
It appears that the third time may well be the charm as New Caledonia prepares to head to the polls after three postponed ballot dates and the French government advising there will be no further postponements.
Composition of New Caledonia's Congress | Source: RNZ
It seems like the most likely date for polling day will be Sunday, 28th June; however, no date has been confirmed as yet, and so we will need to await the official announcement, which is expected at the end of this month. This election will be the first since 2019 and will be the first election since the failed independence referendum in 2021, with 96.5% rejecting the idea of independence.
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