Michael Sven Sukkar (born 11 September 1981) is an Australian politician serving as Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Housing since 2019. The 'Bank of Mum and Dad' is now the FIFTH largest lender in the country. Previously he was a CBD columnist for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. [1], Sukkar was born in the eastern Melbourne suburb of Ringwood, to a father who was born in Lebanon. The Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey to ask Australian's opinions on whether the Marriage Act should be changed was always going to be passionate. It's just deceiving people into thinking the Liberals are doing anything about housing affordability. This is how Shady Sukkar likes to work, behind the scenes and not in your interests. [37], In his maiden speech, Sukkar categorised himself as an "economic liberal" and with "strong conservative foundations". Asked how the federal government would balance the interests of property developers and home buyers, Mr Sukkar said there "aren't really inherent inconsistencies" between them. Hes quietly confident of getting Dr Haines bill passed through the Senate in the next sitting, which may then force a vote in the lower house. Even the "First Home Whatever" grants that Sukkar is touting is an insult to the people of Deakin. Please try again later. Why then has for the last several years, Michael Sukkar been seeking to sabotage charities and prevent them from doing their work? However, he rebuked Mr Sukkar for disparaging remarks he had made about fellow Victorian Liberal Jane Hume, which were also aired in the reports. What's more he has lied about it and tried to cover it up. Senior ministers have dug in behind Mr Sukkar after The Age, the Sydney Morning Herald and 60 Minutes revealed personal correspondence showing he was aware of a scheme where his brother, best friend and factional allies were paid by taxpayers for political work. Two senior federal Liberals have been cleared of wrongly using taxpayer-funded staff for party political purposes after factional opponents tried to destroy their careers. It's the news you need to know, with Charlie Lewis. It was great to be with our community at the Asian Business Association of Whitehorse Lantern Festival. Hiding in the background, pulling the strings. Samantha Hutchinson is the AFR's National Reporter. As the electorate neighbouring Aston, I have a lot to do with the Aston community as well and I can say with Roshena Campbell, she is going to work day and night to earn their trust between now and the election day., Roshena Campbell is an outstanding candidate for Aston: Michael Sukkar. Michael Sukkar was grilled by Lisa Millar on Tuesday morning. 7. Mr Sukkar said he completely rejected the branch-stacking allegations, which were aired by 60 Minutes and The Age. Files obtained by The Age and Herald show that at the request of Mr Sukkar's office in early February 2017, Mr Pham created two flyers designed to smear conservative state Liberal MP Gary Blackwood by falsely claiming he was aligned to "socially progressive voters". Michael Sukkar was preselected for Deakin for the 2013 election, as part of the Tony Abbott led "conservative resistance movement".The former Ashurst tax lawyer started his mission from God to impose his will on the Party. Michael Sukkar (@MichaelSukkarMP) November 7, 2021. Electorate officers are funded by the taxpayer, and are not allowed to engage in party political activities in the office. The finance department said the terms and conditions of the panel known as the legal services panel and the commonwealth procurement rules both require firms to identify conflicts of interest and disclose them. We need a proper investigation that reveals the truth. I have never authorised my staff to undertake activities contrary to applicable policies and guidelines when they are being paid to serve the constituents of the Deakin electorate.. Finance department outsourced review into assistant treasurer and Kevin Andrews. While he and his donors care about their multiple investment properties, it does nothing for the people of Deakin who want to buy their castle and who have been forced to swallow a bitter pill. [42], Sukkar also intervened during the development of the 2021 Australian census to exclude questions about gender and sexuality despite these being recommended for inclusion by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. All times AEDT (GMT +11). Staff were allegedly placed in the office of Victorian MP Kevin Andrews. North Providence won at home against Juanita Sanchez, 73-51, on Feb. 2. The issue is that Michael Sukkar said he'd do something then didn't. Charities are concerned about who Sukkar will target. Even at record low interest rates that won't last forever on a 30 year (or more) mortgage. Liberal frontbencher Michael Sukkar says the blame for any hate speech and negative consequences generated by the continuing debate over marriage equality should be directed at advocates in favour of marriage equality. . [2] From 2006 he spent seven years working as a tax lawyer with the firm Blake Dawson Waldron (now known as Ashurst Australia) where he was a senior associate. To make matters worse Sukkar wants charities to be deregistered for thought crimes[3] . Sign up to The Sydney Morning Heralds newsletter here, The Ages newsletter here, Brisbane Times' here and WAtoday's here. It was based on an examination of departmental records and written statements from Mr Sukkar. Jett Woodward (Newcastle) 11. For every dollar thats allegedly spent on someone branch-stacking is a dollar thats not spent on helping someone with an NDIS claim or a dollar thats not spent on assisting a community group with a letter of support for a grant application.. What hope is there for you? Thanks to the East Ringwood Cricket Club for a great day. It was reported that Michael Sukkar seemingly endorsed a memo that outlined a scheme to build a stronger Sukkar-controlled faction from inside the electoral office of Kevin Andrews. Josh Frydenberg says he still supports Michael Sukkar after fresh allegations came to light.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen. Mitchell Woods (Canterbury) 8. Michael Sukkar is not sorry, he just thinks he can get away with ignoring the law when it suits him. A "club" which does not lodge financial disclosures on the basis that it says it isnt an "associated entity" of a political party. Examples include lobbying heavily for the Menzies branch to retain Kevin Andrews (Keith Wolahan won comfortably) and supporting state Member for Kew, Tim Smith. Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. The three were then ordered to appear before the Victorian Supreme Court to explain why they shouldn't be charged with contempt of court. Ashurst told the Guardian it took its responsibilities seriously and acted in accordance with the highest standards of ethics and conduct at all times. There is a housing crises in Australia and growing homelessness. A Finance spokesman confirmed information provided by Mr Sukkar and Mr Andrews to the review included several statutory declarations from staff. The excellent report by Nick McKenzie , Joel Tozer and Paul Sakkal in The Age details leaked documents and tapes, and points out: The most serious allegations facing Mr Sukkar, the Federal Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Housing, and Mr [Kevin] Andrews involves their dealings with Liberal backroom powerbroker Marcus Bastiaan. What if your family doesn't own their own home? The court hadn't yet reached a decision on the case. What if you're a single mum on the average income of $45,000 and even on a 2% deposit won't be able to service a mortgage for a $750,000+ loan? Is it any wonder that Michael Sukkar has voted against a Federal ICAC? Thanks to an investigation by The Age and Nine's 60 Minutes, we now know of further attempts by Sukkar to gain more power within the party. [20] However, Scott Morrison defeated both figures, becoming Prime Minister leaving Sukkar on the back benches. This work was alleged to have been paid out of Sukkar's taxpayer funded office budget. Then you'll be having the kids staying around. minister sukkar: Well, no because the point of lowering the instalment rate, Pete, is to make sure that that instalment rate better reflects the reality of the situation. It is alleged the scheme began in mid-2017. Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar said the changes were necessary to stop some organisations using their "privileged position as charities" to engage in, promote or condone criminal . Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar says allegations aired by 60 Minutes and The Age were 'false and malicious'. In November 2021 it was reported that new material has come to light that suggests Mr Sukkar knew more then he originally said when interviewed in 2020. Several Liberal backbenchers have been talking to Attorney-General Michaelia Cash about how to strengthen the commission. It was great visiting the team at Accent Aluminium Windows & Doors. Mr Sukkar did not respond to questions about whether his office directed Mr Pham to design material for Deakin 200 Club fundraisers or any smear sheets. She said his office had separately paid for the printing and that she had later reimbursed the office. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong The charities sector will have to wait longer for national fundraising reforms that were recommended in 2019, agreed to by all jurisdictions 12 months ago and are estimated to lose the sector $13.3 million every year in administration costs. Michael Sukkar was preselected for Deakin for the 2013 election, as part of the Tony Abbott led "conservative resistance movement". Emails sent by Mr Pham reveal that he was used by Mr Sukkar's office to design flyers to solicit political donations for the Liberal Party's Deakin 200 Club in early February 2017. Mr Sukkar released a statement completely rejecting the allegations. We live in a representative democracy. Michael Sukkar, left, with his good friend and sometime employee, Matt Pham.Credit:Facebook. Stay up-to-date by signing up to receive Michaels eNewsletter. How can you bemoan a decision not yet made?! The member for the east Melbourne seat of Deakin is facing calls from Labor to resign from federal cabinet, scrutiny from an internal Liberal Party probe as well as a departmental audit. THE HON MICHAEL SUKKAR MP SHADOW MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, NDIS, HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS TRANSCRIPT INTERVIEW WITH KIERAN GILBERT [], THE HON MICHAEL SUKKAR MP SHADOW MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, NDIS, HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS TRANSCRIPT INTERVIEW WITH STEPHEN CENATIEMPO, [], THE HON MICHAEL SUKKAR MP Shadow Minister for Social Services Shadow Minister for NDIS Shadow Minister for Housing Shadow Minister []. Some MPs like Andrew Hastie always said they would never vote for the bill; regardless of the outcome of the survey. An electorate office budget can be used to pay for mailouts to local residents and to assist a minister to conduct parliamentary business. Stay up-to-date by signing up to receive Michaels eNewsletter. Our usual processes were followed in relation to identification of conflicts in advance of accepting instructions, and we are confident that there is no bias or conflict of any kind, personal or professional, on the part of the firm or any of the individuals who worked on this matter, the firm said in a statement, provided via the finance department. (ABC News: Matt Roberts) Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this article abc.net.au/news/fact-check-michael-sukkar-first-home-buyers/101074546 The claim Michael Sukkar MP Newsletter Welcome to the latest edition of my community newsletter. During this period, Mr Pham was engaged sporadically depending upon the constituent communication workload," Mr Sukkar's statement said. If there is any new information, no doubt that will be referred again to the finance department.. In a statement, Ms Bastiaan said "the material was not created, authorised or used by me. Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Housing Michael Sukkar at question time on Monday. Michael Sukkar promised 5 car parks in Deakin from the $660 million Commuter Car Park Projects fund. Source: ABC But Mr Sukkar stressed the announcement was just the latest support the Coalition was offering first-home buyers over. It is therefore arrogant and hypocritical of Michael Sukkar to think he is above the law and arrogantly ignore it for his own political purposes. While it is unclear if this was done by Mr Sukkar's office, it appears it had at least some role facilitating the campaigns of local Liberal council candidates in 2016. Crossbench MPs are renewing their push for a federal integrity watchdog with the kind of powers to investigate further allegations about Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkars faction misusing taxpayer resources to strengthen his political power base. Sky News Australia - Afternoon Agenda with Kieran Gilbert - 23 February 2023, 90 Second Statement - Cashless Debit Card, Matter of Public Importance - Cost of Living, Sky News Australia - AM Agenda with Laura Jayes - 17 January 2023, Private Members' Business - National Disability Insurance Scheme, Second Reading Speech: Appropriations Bill, Adjournment Debate - Victorian State Election, The Kenny Report - Sky News Australia (10 November 2022), Condolence Motion - Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Sky News Sunday Agenda with Andrew Clennell - 18 September 2022, Sky News First Edition with Peter Stefanovic, Sky News First Edition with Peter Stefanovic - 23 March 2022, Sky News AM Agenda with Andrew Clennell - 13 March 2022, Bedford Rd and Great Ryrie Rd Intersection, Investing in new and upgraded local sporting facilities, Stronger Communities Round 8 Expression of Interest is now open Feb 2023, 2023 Michael Sukkar. Is there any wonder why the Liberals don't want a federal anti corruption body. He also said all the allegations had already been reviewed by the Department of Finance, which concluded there was no basis for a further investigation. [9], At the 2016 federal election, Sukkar increased his margin by 2.5 points, the Liberal Party's largest swing in Victoria. Documents filed in the Federal Court allege Mr Sukkar was involved in placing factional operatives inside taxpayer-funded electorate office jobs to do Liberal Party work. Activities that may have been in breach of federal laws. Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. I look forward to continuing to working for you and your family. Not those who are actually struggling to get started. Did you know about what was going on with charities and the ACNC? The results are more stark when young . Senior federal government ministers have leapt to the defence of Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar over allegations he misused taxpayer funds. Michael Sukkar was part of the "Yarra 3", a group of ministers (including Greg Hunt and Alan Tudge) who launched an extraordinary attack on the Victorian judiciary. The government intends to put its updated model for a commonwealth integrity commission to Parliament in the final sitting fortnight of the year, with one frontbencher flagging changes to strengthen the original proposal. The Victorian Premier has spoken out after Queensland moved to make major changes to its drug laws. [36], Sukkar is a member of the National Right faction of the Liberal Party. "I think the party is very enthusiastic about our candidate in Aston and . 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