Tony Stephen

Experienced company director, private equity, startups and social enterprises. IT and allied health sectors. Background in M&A & tax. On my yoga journey.

[Tony Stephen @AWStephen]

I can now also be found @[email protected] Be patient just feeling my way, but feels pretty familiar 👍

[Aaron Smith @aaronsmith]

Annika’s coverage of Hawthorn has been quite selective. Perhaps she’s pacing herself?

There is, as many know, an elephant in the Hawthorn room.

If Pesutto hangs on in Hawthorn, and the loan from Vapold (the Liberal investment arm), which helped him stave off bankruptcy has to be unwound as a consequence of ongoing legal action, what happens to Hawthorn?

For the record, although I am no fan of the Liberal Party, and especially its current incarnation, I think it’s outrageous that the Liberal Party didn’t cover Pesutto’s legal costs. The dispute with Deeming arose from actions he took and words he said in the capacity of leader. The party should have stood behind him. But such is the turmoil in the Liberal party, it didn’t, and John ended up with an astronomical bill - likely more than $3M including his own costs, Deeming's costs and the compensation paid to Deeming.

People outside his party chipped in for some of his costs. Among them, remarkably, was Shima Ibuki, the independent now standing against him in Hawthorn. She and many others were prepared to chip in to help him with a bill I think his own party should have covered, but those donations fell very short of the total.

The ongoing legal challenge to the $1.55 million loan the party advanced to Pesutto to help him pay Deeming’s costs is reported to be back to court sometime in the new year. The Liberals clearly had an interest in pushing it beyond the election, given the existence of the loan in first instance was to prevent a by-election in Hawthorn. If the legal action results in a finding that the loan breached the party’s constitution, which is the basis of the current Liberal on Liberal legal action, will it have to be unwound? What happens then, because it was effectively a loan of last resort to stave off imminent bankruptcy?

Even if the loan survives, by my estimate, servicing it on an MP's salary, assuming an interest rate around 7.5% will consume somewhere between 80 and 90 per cent of John's after-tax income. That’s before his own defence costs, which earlier reporting put at around $1 million. How much Pesutto owes is unclear, although the existence of it remains disclosed on his Parliamentary register, and how that debt will be ultimately discharged has not been reported or countenanced as far as I've seen.

So even if Hawthorn re-elects Pesutto, it could find itself back at the polls if the financial fallout leaves him unable to remain in Parliament.

The Age has declared Hawthorn a seat of interest. You’d think that this giant mess of the Liberal Party’s own making, one that could send voters back to the polls, might be of interest too.

[Tony Stephen @AWStephen]

@bonnieallan72 Another new low not to have some type of leaders debate on the national broadcaster

[6 News Australia @6NewsAU]

NEW VIDEO: It would be one of the biggest upsets in Victorian political history, but Sophie Torney tells 6 News she has a path to victory in Kew, where the two-time independent candidate is trying to unseat Liberal leader Jess Wilson

WATCH: https://t.co/QqAq3ThWFv

[Tony Stephen @AWStephen]

@aaronsmith @bonnieallan72 @inthemarquis @CrogerParody @kazza264 @AndrewWallaceMP The major parties have spent decades perfecting the small target strategy and they trade off professional public policy for a merry go round of power sharing; and it’s a spiral down.

[Tony Stephen @AWStephen]

Absolute vile repudiation of our legal tradition that should disqualify him to be part of our parliament. Where is the evidence of your outrageous allegation about the UK judiciary? Shocking!

[Senator Babet @senatorbabet]

All it takes is a woman saying that a man raped her 20 years ago. No evidence. Just her word and the vibes. And just like that, prison. Meanwhile his word? Zero weight. Only what she says matters.

Those cheering Russell Brand’s conviction should understand what’s at stake. The judicial system is a cornerstone of Western civilisation. And now we know with 100 percent certainty that it’s completely corrupt.

Justice was not served, this is the opposite of that.

[Tony Stephen @AWStephen]

@bonnieallan72 Absolutely telling and shows the pure opportunism

[Aaron Smith @aaronsmith]

Eventually the media training fails, the talking points dry up, and someone asks how you’ll fix Labor’s spending by spending even more.

Jess Wilson hoped nobody would notice before the election.

Instead, her friendly chat with Neil Mitchell became a car crash.

[Tony Stephen @AWStephen]

@PastorAlexLove So disappointing! I wish they’d just stick to their A,B, Cs 😉

[Sophie Torney @Sophie__Torney]

If you want to represent this community, you should be prepared to face it.

I’m again calling on Jess Wilson to fulfil the most fundamental responsibility of the job she’s paid to do: show up for our community and answer their questions.

[Tony Stephen @AWStephen]

@patto_1981 @aaronsmith In the week before the scheduled debate Jess lodged an apology that she was too busy after 6 months notice. Very disrespectful to Kew voters and the long established community group organising the event

[Dr Monique Ryan MP @Mon4Kooyong]

If you seek to lead people, you seek to influence how they behave through your thoughts, your words, and your actions.

Politicians have to take responsibility for trivialising violence and normalising aggression.

Our words matter.
https://t.co/ux3Z9mR9tf

[Tony Stephen @AWStephen]

@BrentHodgson @kazza264 @aaronsmith @RonniSalt All about themselves live to air - not serious professional broadcasters

[Tony Stephen @AWStephen]

@PastorAlexLove Flying like an eagle, truely miraculous

[Aaron Smith @aaronsmith]

Absolute fire here from Monique Ryan:

“She is a negative force in Australian politics.”

For decades Pauline Hanson has been platformed and legitimised despite the racism, bigotry and division.

If you’re going to give her the platform and the reach, then hold her to account.

[Aaron Smith @aaronsmith]

Jess Wilson says if you vote before she releases her magic pudding costings, that’s essentially your own stupid fault for voting too early.

My radical suggestion is that Jess Wilson release her costings before people vote.

[Tony Stephen @AWStephen]

@TheSarge61 @aaronsmith Yea I think you’re right, Jess really doesn’t identify with those Kewites!

[Tony Stephen @AWStephen]

@bonnieallan72 @kazza264 Absolutely unexplained 180 degree shift in policy. No evidence supports such a shift, in fact quite the reverse. But total political expedience does explain it. Shocking really. The LP are not to be trusted as a serious opposition

[Dr Monique Ryan MP @Mon4Kooyong]

Please join us in showing support for Helen, the Haines family, her staff, and the community of Indi by lighting a candle tomorrow night. 🧡

[Tony Stephen @AWStephen]

The long accepted model of the 4th Estate protecting the public interest occurred by happenstance only. Commercial pressures have made the misalignment all too obvious. Their self regulation is a fig leaf. A new paradigm is urgently needed.

[Aaron Smith @aaronsmith]

@RonniSalt @idahanks8 @pondero60943260 The media’s refusal to scrutinise its own is a serious problem.

Journalists are increasingly participants in the stories they’re supposed to report, yet their colleagues give them a free pass.

An industry that routinely preaches accountability while practising none.

[Tony Stephen @AWStephen]

@JordanEVGuy That’s good, even better we focused much more investment on public and active transport making it more convenient and safe to use even FAR better options.