Last night’s Sky News People’s Forum, which can be viewed in full here, was deemed by 44 out of a hand-picked audience of 100 undecided voters to have been won by Anthony Albanese, with 35 favouring Peter Dutton and 21 undecided. I suspect though that to the extent that the broader public notices the low-rating event at all, what’s most likely to filter through is that Peter Dutton performed creditably immediately after learning that his father had suffered a heart attack. The event was conducted at Wentworthville Leagues Club in the electorate of Parramatta, a culturally diverse electorate notable particularly for its Indian population, which seemed suitably well represented.
The next debate, to be held from 8pm next Wednesday, will assuredly reach a larger audience by virtue of being broadcast free-to-air by the ABC. It too will be held in Parramatta, that being the location of the ABC’s new studios, though that’s of no great consequence as it will not follow the town hall format of the “People’s Forum”. Whether any further debates are held later in the game remains to be determined.
Breaking News…
Following Liberal Party crushing defeat at the 2025 Federal Election they announce they have to get better at selling their message, Dutton will conduct an investigation into their loss prior to his retirement & employment as an adviser to the Qld government
Market Summary
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Stocks weaker in the US as Trump restates tariff threats in relation to imports from China.
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/australia-and-canada-poised-to-join-british-led-sixth-gen-jet-fighter-program, …
44-35 win
Bit of a gap for Anthony Albanese , in a lib/nats propaganda media unit debate
Thanks to the PBers who dutifully watched the debate last night and provided the live commentary on the previous thread.
🙂
https://theshovel.com.au/2025/04/08/americans-starting-to-get-tired-of-all-this-winning-2/, …
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 5:20 am
“BSA Bobsays:
Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at 10:16 pm
Re Wayne
Last federal election, wasn’t there some git who’d post short “Our glorious coalition will increase its majority” sort of stuff on a regular basis? Can’t remember the name. Is Wayne that person?”
Wayne was indeed his name. And oddly enough Wayne was the only one on this site who correctly predicted the outcome of the 2019 election!
From The Guardian:
“Trump extols ‘beautiful, clean coal’ as he talks of signing executive order
Donald Trump says he will sign an executive order “that slashes unnecessary regulations that targeted the beautiful, clean coal.”
He adds that the United States “will rapidly expedite leases for coal mining on federal lands,” “streamline permitting,” “end the government bias against coal,” and use the Defense Production Act “to turbocharge coal mining in America.””
The USA is circling the drain and pulling all of us with it.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2025/04/08/coal-executive-orders-trump/
I thought that Casey Briggs’ focus-group program in the ABC last night was interesting. I think that watching the way the focus group engaged with the prospect of an election should give Peter Dutton some heart.
Age blog: Andrew McNabb, the campaign manager for the Liberal candidate for Bruce, has been sacked by the party after he posted a series of offensive social media comments.
The Age approached the Liberal Party on Tuesday with questions about McNabb’s online activity.
“The party has been made aware of completely unacceptable comments made by a volunteer,” a Liberal spokesperson said in a statement. “He is no longer involved in the campaign. These comments do not reflect the party’s values or the standards we expect.”
Services Australia, the Australian Tax Office, National Disability Insurance Agency and Home Affairs are among the federal departments with the highest rates of natural attrition.
The Coalition has promised to shrink the public service by 41,000 positions over five years if elected, without retrenchments or cuts to frontline services.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-09/service-delivery-roles-large-part-of-attrition-rates/105145176
A Chinese meme video of American re-industrialisation. Very good. 😆
https://x.com/gaborgurbacs/status/1909348105675211192
Mocking fat people is very good?
Looks familiar?
Boerwar:
What goes around, comes around.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/08/us/politics/jd-vance-peasants-china.html
Looks like another bad day ahead on the markets.
Confessions says:
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 6:56 am
Boerwar:
What goes around, comes around.
….’
==================
That is as may be. Mocking fat people and/or peasants is good?
The worst thing about Trump – from a market confidence point of view – is his reckless impulsiveness.
But hey, it keeps his narcissistic supply topped up.
So much for Turnaround Tuesday. An epic stock-market bounce turned into a historic fizzle, extending the bruising selloff sparked by President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff measures to a fourth straight session.
The S&P 500 saw an intraday gain of 4.05% evaporate to end with a loss of 1.6%, marking its biggest blown percentage gain since Oct. 14, 2008, during the darkest days of the 2007-09 financial crisis. And it’s the first time the S&P 500 was up more than 4% at its intraday high but finished with a loss of more than 1%, based on data going back to 1978, according to Dow Jones Market Data.
We are on our own.
We need to start work on climate adaptation.
We need to reset our international security arrangements.
We need to reset our defence spend.
sprocket
Dead cats abound.
It is getting so destructive they’re turning on Trump in droves.
It’s only taken the collapse of the market. Sheesh……
Ructions amongst the court jesters…
Tech billionaire Elon Musk has blasted Donald Trump’s top trade adviser as a “moron” and “dumber than a sack of bricks”, escalating a war of words within the US president’s inner sanctum over his tariff policy.
It came as US markets swung wildly again on Tuesday, local time, after initially being buoyed by fresh signs the president was willing to negotiate over his sweeping tariff agenda.
Peter Navarro, who is the senior counsellor to Mr Trump on trade and manufacturing, is considered one of the most ardent supporters of keeping tariffs in place for the long term.
But his full-throated support for tariffs on many of America’s biggest trading partners has angered Mr Musk, who earlier this week began posting online about the virtues of free trade.
In an interview on Monday, Mr Navarro responded to Mr Musk’s implied criticism by labelling the billionaire a “car manufacturer” who imported cheap parts for his Tesla vehicles from overseas.
“He’s a car assembler in many cases — if you go to his Texas plant, a good part of the engines that he gets … the batteries come from Japan and come from China, the electronics come from Taiwan,” he told CNBC.
Responding to the clip on his social media platform X, Mr Musk said Mr Navarro was “truly a moron”.
“What he says here is demonstrably false,” he added.
“Tesla has the most American-made cars.
“Navarro is dumber than a sack of bricks.”
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-09/elon-musk-peter-navarro-donald-trump-trade-tariffs/105154190
Morning all. Speaking of Boerwar’s comment about resetting our defense spending this makes far more sense than ploughing on with US aircraft that we can’t maintain alone. The timing also suits replacement of the RAAFs F18s.
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/australia-and-canada-poised-to-join-british-led-sixth-gen-jet-fighter-program
Kos Samaras on the SkyFoxNews debate..
Debates might not pull huge audiences, but they’re a gut check on how each main political party’s campaign really going. And right now, Labor has the Coalition staggering. A few body blows, and the Coalition is looking rattled, with 10 rounds still to go. If this keeps up, they won’t make it to the final bell.
That’s before the Treasurers’ debate tomorrow. I hope Angus can handle a few liver punches because Jim Chalmers will be hard to beat.
And Dr Bonham
Audience vote for Sky’s People’s Forum was 44-35 to Albanese FWIW. I take little notice of these audience votes since pollsters are poor at finding neutral pools of undecided voters but that result will disappoint the talking heads on Sky!
…
Dutton had the worse run of the questions on the whole, more were friendly ground for Albanese than for him.
World News & Politics Patrol:
Australia and Canada Poised to Join British-led Sixth-Gen Jet Fighter Program: https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/australia-and-canada-poised-to-join-british-led-sixth-gen-jet-fighter-program
Tariff tensions escalate as White House hits China with 104% hike: https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/policy/tariff-tensions-escalate-as-white-house-hits-china-with-104-hike
Treasury Secretary Bessent says China’s escalation was ‘big mistake,’ country playing with ‘losing hand’: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/08/treasury-secretary-bessent-says-chinas-escalation-was-big-mistake-country-playing-with-losing-hand.html
Trump says EU must buy $350B of US energy to get tariff relief: https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-says-eu-must-buy-350b-of-us-energy-to-get-tariff-relief/
One of the bodyguards in US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s security detail was arrested by Brussels police at a hotel in the Belgian capital on 31 March: https://www.brusselstimes.com/brussels/1526014/brussels-police-arrest-us-state-secretary-rubios-bodyguard-tbtb
South Korea Fires Warning Shots After North Korean Soldiers Cross Border: https://www.newsweek.com/south-korea-fires-warning-shots-after-north-korean-soldiers-cross-border-2056710
Two Chinese citizens captured during fighting in eastern Ukraine, Zelenskyy says: https://news.sky.com/story/two-chinese-soldiers-captured-during-fighting-in-eastern-ukraine-zelenskyy-says-13344417
Liz Truss blames Mark Carney for causing economic meltdown ‘on her watch’: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/liz-truss-economy-crash-mark-carney-canada-uk-b2729404.html
Keir Starmer: Labour will give 16- and 17-year-olds right to vote: https://www.politics.co.uk/parliament/keir-starmer-labour-will-give-16-and-17-year-olds-right-to-vote/
Donald Trump’s Polling After ‘Liberation Day’ is Disastrous For Republicans: https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trumps-polling-after-liberation-day-disastrous-republicans-2056720
Trump Claims Nazis Treated Jewish Prisoners With “Love”: https://newrepublic.com/post/193725/donald-trump-israel-hostages-nazis-jewish-prisoners-love
The Supreme Court’s New 5–4 Bailout for Trump Couldn’t Be More Ominous: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/04/supreme-court-analysis-trump-el-salvador.html
Senate Democrat Ron Wyden Says He’ll Force Vote on Repealing Trump Tariffs: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-08/senate-democrat-says-he-ll-force-vote-on-repealing-trump-tariffs
Musk and Vance Were Begged By Friends to Stop Trump From Implementing Tariffs: https://www.latintimes.com/musk-vance-were-begged-friends-stop-trump-implementing-tariffs-report-580185
A dozen House Republicans mull defying Trump on tariff bill: https://www.axios.com/2025/04/08/house-republicans-tariff-bill-trump-don-bacon
US Justice Dept disbands crypto enforcement team, citing Trump order: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-justice-dept-disbands-cryptocurrency-enforcement-unit-2025-04-08/
Musk’s DOGE using AI to snoop on U.S. federal workers: https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/musks-doge-using-ai-snoop-us-federal-workers-sources-say-2025-04-08/
Keystone oil pipeline shutdown could quickly lead to higher gasoline prices: https://apnews.com/article/keystone-oil-pipeline-north-dakota-spill-36e86142566763a5464e1dd132eede56
Victoria @ #23 Wednesday, April 9th, 2025 – 7:03 am
Mitch McConnell isn’t happy either. This is an excerpt from an op-ed he wrote for the Wall St Journal:
https://electionlawblog.org/?p=149374
Of course the irony is that he is largely responsible for this mess. If he’d supported Republican Senators to convict Trump after 6 January he’d never have been able to run.
Thanks Holdenhillbilly,
That article on Trump stylising what happened to the Jews in Nazi Germany as an expression of love was unbelievable. I had to watch the vision to confirm. Sick in the stomach material.
An expression of love, God what a mess
Holdenhillbilly
Thanks for your roundup, lots of interesting sources
What does sacking a campaign manager of a seat look like? They get someone else to answer the phone but this McNabb guy could easily be still telling people what to do behind the scenes.
@ Sceptic 536am
“We need to get better at delivering our message”.
I’ve been around for more than a few Federal and State elections where the Coalition has gone down and that comment has been made in post- election reviews.
What they need to do is to get better at delivering their message about getting better at delivering their message.
”
Confessionssays:
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 6:56 am
Boerwar:
What goes around, comes around.
Beijing has denounced Vice President JD Vance’s rhetoric as “ignorant” after he said the United States was borrowing money from “Chinese peasants” in a television interview last week.
”
JD Vance is equal opportunity abuser
He is bent on insulting people of every country including people of USA.
‘Socrates says:
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 7:11 am
Morning all. Speaking of Boerwar’s comment about resetting our defense spending this makes far more sense than ploughing on with US aircraft that we can’t maintain alone. The timing also suits replacement of the RAAFs F18s.
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/australia-and-canada-poised-to-join-british-led-sixth-gen-jet-fighter-program‘
======================
This was actually an option in the immediate post WW2 years. Canada had done quite advanced work on its own jet at the time.
The problem will be that technologies are advancing so very rapidly that we could easily get the step change decisions wrong.
Will it be unmanned? And are dozens of smaller platforms much better than one big platform.
In addition, the strategic problems are different for Canada and Australia on the one hand and the UK on the other. The former have much longer range requirements.
China is killing the world two new coal stations opening a month been going on for years whilst West puts its head in the sand for trade.
Another good day Trump winning in the courts can kick people out of USA confirmed and remove the unproductive from government and save money also after court wins.
China being dealt with well.
Meanwhile in 10 year deficit labor run Australia the Aus greens ransom note says no rent increases ,no capital gains tax and dental for all.Albanese will cave.
“ Chinese peasants” new one but a goodie! Forgot to include words -communist Dictatorship supporting -Vance did.
Why is Australia educating the children of China the next gen of democracy haters?
Excellent I feel winter is coming aka a Cold War with human rights abusing Chinese.
”
Boerwarsays:
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 7:00 am
Confessions says:
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 6:56 am
Boerwar:
What goes around, comes around.
….’
==================
That is as may be. Mocking fat people and/or peasants is good?
”
Do Americans and Chinese are insulting each other. Good, isn’t it?
5 worst stock market crashes in US history:
1929 – Hoover
1987 – Reagan
2008 – Bush
2020 – Trump
2025 – Trump
Thanks, Hh.
”
sprocket_says:
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 7:01 am
The worst thing about Trump – from a market confidence point of view – is his reckless impulsiveness.
But hey, it keeps his narcissistic supply topped up.
So much for Turnaround Tuesday. An epic stock-market bounce turned into a historic fizzle, extending the bruising selloff sparked by President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff measures to a fourth straight session.
The S&P 500 saw an intraday gain of 4.05% evaporate to end with a loss of 1.6%, marking its biggest blown percentage gain since Oct. 14, 2008, during the darkest days of the 2007-09 financial crisis. And it’s the first time the S&P 500 was up more than 4% at its intraday high but finished with a loss of more than 1%, based on data going back to 1978, according to Dow Jones Market Data.
”
As Tony Abbott said “shit happens”.
Where is Centre, who abused a section of PBers without any proof?
Perun previously covered 6th gen fighter jets:
https://youtu.be/RPrWm6fWuaM?feature=shared
”
sprocket_says:
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 7:09 am
Ructions amongst the court jesters…
Tech billionaire Elon Musk has blasted Donald Trump’s top trade adviser as a “moron” and “dumber than a sack of bricks”, escalating a war of words within the US president’s inner sanctum over his tariff policy.
It came as US markets swung wildly again on Tuesday, local time, after initially being buoyed by fresh signs the president was willing to negotiate over his sweeping tariff agenda.
Peter Navarro, who is the senior counsellor to Mr Trump on trade and manufacturing, is considered one of the most ardent supporters of keeping tariffs in place for the long term.
But his full-throated support for tariffs on many of America’s biggest trading partners has angered Mr Musk, who earlier this week began posting online about the virtues of free trade.
In an interview on Monday, Mr Navarro responded to Mr Musk’s implied criticism by labelling the billionaire a “car manufacturer” who imported cheap parts for his Tesla vehicles from overseas.
“He’s a car assembler in many cases — if you go to his Texas plant, a good part of the engines that he gets … the batteries come from Japan and come from China, the electronics come from Taiwan,” he told CNBC.
Responding to the clip on his social media platform X, Mr Musk said Mr Navarro was “truly a moron”.
“What he says here is demonstrably false,” he added.
“Tesla has the most American-made cars.
“Navarro is dumber than a sack of bricks.”
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-09/elon-musk-peter-navarro-donald-trump-trade-tariffs/105154190
”
Good to know about that fight
Navarro of course is moron, no doubt about that. That is the reason he is selected as trade advisor by Trump.
The Sky News Debate – their viewership is about 20,000 people across the country. As neither bloke last night delivered a serious clanger or stuff up, I doubt any of this will make much impact when we’re focused on Trump ruining the world economy.
The times we’re in now suit Albanese, incumbancy and all that.
And the Liberals have more internal campaign type problems, as is being reported today, having to sack their campaign manager in the seat of Bruce.
As for the Sky News panel last night, they’re either ex Liberal politicians or they’re Murdoch scribes who have to trot out the company line from Rupert and Lachlan – ie. Dutton is wonderful, Albo is crap.
It’s been a good choice to appoint Clare as Labor’s spokesperson for the election. He has more than a working knowledge across portfolios, is articulate, and presents a good image.
Dr Doolittle,
Another way the grand final analogy works is the effect of winning or losing on the team. If players start doubting the plan you’re in big trouble. Conversely ALP MPs are probably more disciplined and on message now because they can see the results coming in. When the opposition starts madly shifting magnets around the whiteboard to go to Plan B and Plan C you know you’re going to start seeing more of the fringes of the Lib broad church going rogue.
Confessions 715am
Of course the irony is that he is largely responsible for this mess. If he’d supported Republican Senators to convict Trump after 6 January he’d never have been able to run.
I wonder whether McConnell ever reflects on this – like Elrond in ‘The Lord of the Rings’ reflecting that he was with Isildur at the Crack of Doom and could have destroyed the Ring then and there (about 2500 years earlier if I remember these timelines correctly).
“It should have ended that day, but evil was allowed to endure”
Albo should make this point more often. The consevative media with all their crocodile tears about Labor deficits were quiet as mouse during the Liberal years. There nothing more then politcal opportunitists and hypocrites. The Liberals left a debt five times the Rudd/ Gillard governments and pushed the national debt almost out to a trillion. Labor also had to cancel many Liberal pork barrelling projects when it came to office while delivering back to back surpluses.
“Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Labor “turned around” the previous Liberal government’s projected 2022 $78 billion deficit into a surplus.
“There as a $78 billion deficit planned in the 2022 election, that you had the March 2022 budget, the election was in May and money splashed out including the cut to fuel excise, all this money out the door … we turned that into a surplus,” Mr Albanese said.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/albanese-claims-labor-turned-around-coalition-s-78-billion-deficit-into-a-surplus/ar-AA1Cw0PQ
”
Tariff tensions escalate as White House hits China with 104% hike: https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/policy/tariff-tensions-escalate-as-white-house-hits-china-with-104-hike
Treasury Secretary Bessent says China’s escalation was ‘big mistake,’ country playing with ‘losing hand’: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/08/treasury-secretary-bessent-says-chinas-escalation-was-big-mistake-country-playing-with-losing-hand.html
”
This is fantastic.
The only difference between Xi and Modi is that whatever Modi does he does quietly without chest beating. He took some heat from Indian opposition for remaining quite and not responding.
We are seriously entered unchartered waters and it is all stormy weather ahead. Fasten your seatbelts.
‘Bizzcan says:
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 8:10 am
Perun previously covered 6th gen fighter jets:
https://youtu.be/RPrWm6fWuaM?feature=shared‘
=============
Thanks. Good link.
”
Trump Claims Nazis Treated Jewish Prisoners With “Love”: https://newrepublic.com/post/193725/donald-trump-israel-hostages-nazis-jewish-prisoners-love
”
And Israelis think Trump is their saviour. Jesus wept.
Good Morning! Here’s Your Post Debate #1 News and Views Roundup.
Who won the debate and why? Our experts deliver their verdicts
ByDavid Crowe, Jacqueline Maley and James Massola
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/who-won-the-debate-and-why-our-experts-deliver-their-verdicts-20250408-p5lpzk.html
Albanese accuses Coalition of ‘gaslighting’ public over energy as Dutton touts economic credentials in first leaders’ debate. Prime minister asks ‘how can you believe what they’ll do after the election’ as opposition leader accuses Labor of having the wrong priorities
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/08/albanese-accuses-coalition-of-gaslighting-public-over-energy-as-dutton-touts-economic-credentials-in-first-leaders-debate
New Liberal candidate for Whitlam claimed ‘Marxist brainwashing’ happening at Australian schools
Nathaniel Smith, previously a NSW state MP, is a member of the party’s religious conservative faction
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/08/new-liberal-candidate-for-whitlam-claimed-marxist-brainwashing-happening-at-australian-schools-ntwnfb
Not enough water available for Coalition’s nuclear proposal to run safely, report finds
Analyst says nuclear is the ‘thirstiest’ energy source, as report commissioned by Liberal supporters throws doubt on plan’s feasibility
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/09/not-enough-water-available-for-coalitions-nuclear-proposal-to-run-safely-report-finds
Chalmers calls emergency economy meeting to deal with Trump tariff dump. Trade Minister Don Farrell will also speak with the European Union’s top trade official on Wednesday in a bid to revive stalled negotiations on a European free trade pact, part of a broader push to open up new markets for Australian exporters.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/emergency-meeting-of-economy-experts-to-deal-with-trump-dump-20250408-p5lq0c.html
Peter Dutton stokes fears of Trump-led economic crash under Labor as Treasury modelling shows modest hit. By political reporter Tom Crowley
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-08/dutton-stokes-fears-of-trump-crash/105152210
First election debate has not reversed a nightmare week for Peter Dutton, despite his best efforts.
By Annabel Crabb
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-09/leaders-debate-sky-news-peter-dutton-anthony-albanese/105148158
Election Diary: The election’s first debate was disaster-free but passion-free too. By Michelle Grattan
https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/australian-politics/federal-election-2025/2025/04/09/first-election-debate
All the expected topics were canvassed, including the cost of living, the economy, housing, health and education, immigration, the war in Gaza, and of course US President Donald Trump. So how did the two leaders shape up? Three expert authors give their analysis.
https://theconversation.com/no-major-gaffes-and-no-knockout-punch-the-first-leaders-debate-was-a-pedestrian-affair-253711
Negative gearing reforms Labor was modelling last year would be back on the table in the event of a hung parliament as the Greens plan to push for the controversial tax change in exchange for their support.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/greens-want-to-force-negative-gearing-capital-gains-tax-back-on-agenda-20250408-p5lq3r.html
‘Get stuffed you overweight GRUB’. Andrew McNabb, the campaign manager for the Liberal candidate for Bruce, has been sacked by the party after he posted a series of offensive social media comments. McNabb is the campaign manager for Zahid Safi, who hopes to unseat the current MP, Labor’s Julian Hill, at the May 3 election. Hill holds the seat on a margin of about 5 per cent.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/victoria-s-hot-seats-live-updates-zoe-daniel-s-campaign-launch-julian-hill-hits-hustings-in-bruce-amelia-hamer-faces-questions-on-investment-properties-20250406-p5lpml.html
New Blog Post by Grumpy Geezer: I’m with Stupid. Spotlight on Spud. Dud’s Orange Man ploy has backfired. Looks like he’s sticking with it though.
https://www.geezerspot.com/single-post/i-m-with-stupid
Greens say Facebook ad in Melbourne seat linking party to Hamas is ‘inflammatory and untruthful’. The ad was endorsed by two former Labor MPs and staunch Israel supporters who are spearheading a campaign described as being run by “members of the community”, which is urging voters to preference the Liberals above the Greens in Macnamara.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/09/greens-say-macnamara-community-group-facebook-ad-inflammatory-and-untruthful-melbourne-federal-election-campaign-ntwnfb
Six community independents or “teals” are running for long-time LNP-held seats in Queensland. If elected, they will become the first federal independents in Queensland since Pauline Hanson and Bob Katter more than 20 years ago.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-08/climate-200-teal-independent-candidates-queensland-fed-election/105145466
Peter Dutton’s father suffers heart attack before first leaders’ debate
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/peter-dutton-s-father-suffers-heart-attack-before-first-leaders-debate-20250408-p5lqa9.html
More than 900 young people tell Guardian Australia they worry about money, housing and healthcare – and feel a sense of dread about the climate emergency, social cohesion and rise of the far right
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/09/australia-election-2025-young-voters-issues-youth-vote
Federal election live: Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton begin day in Sydney following leaders’ debate
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-09/federal-election-2025-live-updates-albanese-dutton-campaign/105153900
Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese will both formally launch their election campaigns with major set-piece events this Sunday, as Labor and the Coalition scramble to nail down their election pitch to voters before the Easter long weekend.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/major-parties-race-clock-and-each-other-to-make-big-pitches-to-voters-20250407-p5lpo4.html
The voters’ insistence that the election campaign must be about the cost of living has been a godsend to both major parties. They can look as if they’re lowering electricity and gas prices and avoid talking about their failure to tackle climate change. By Ross Gittins
https://www.theage.com.au/business/the-economy/energy-s-a-big-part-of-living-costs-but-fixing-it-won-t-be-cheap-20250408-p5lq47.html
The Coalition has released long-awaited modelling on its national gas plan that forces companies to keep Australian gas onshore, revealed in Dutton’s budget-in-reply speech last month.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/dutton-reveals-details-of-campaign-pledge-to-cut-power-prices-20250408-p5lq8v.html
Peter Dutton’s cornerstone east coast gas reservation policy may reduce household electricity bills by “around 3 per cent” in 2026, according to modelling released nearly two weeks after the plan was announced.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-08/dutton-gas-modelling-plan-to-lower-bills-election-2025/105153500
Power prices and conversations around energy policy have become a focus in the early stages of the election campaign. Labor has promised up to 1 million household batteries for solar-loving Australians and more rebates on power bills; the Coalition has focused on saving more Australian gas for the local market. But the electricity market is extremely complicated, with many levers to potentially pull and lots of suggestions for solutions that don’t always pan out.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-09/experts-explain-the-quickest-ways-to-push-down-power-prices/105146964
These are voters’ questions about energy policy ahead of the Australian election
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-09/energy-renewable-nuclear-coalition-labor-aus-election-2025/105147950
Yes, Dutton and Albanese are dull. It’s a problem we’re lucky to have. By Melanie La’Brooy
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/yes-dutton-and-albanese-are-dull-other-countries-should-be-so-lucky-20250404-p5lpc7.html
Peter Dutton’s plan to cut public service ‘difficult’ without frontline losses. Services Australia, the Australian Tax Office, National Disability Insurance Agency and Home Affairs are among the federal departments with the highest rates of natural attrition. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is yet to release the Parliamentary Budget Office costings he says the policy is based on.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-09/service-delivery-roles-large-part-of-attrition-rates/105145176
Trump’s trade chief admits US ‘running up the score’ with tariffs on Australia. Running up the score generally refers to a sporting strategy where a team that is already significantly ahead keeps trying to score heavily despite the result being beyond doubt.
https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/trump-s-trade-chief-admits-us-running-up-the-score-with-tariffs-on-australia-20250409-p5lqap.html
ASX set to fall after Wall Street’s furious rally is wiped out. After roaring to an early jump of 4.1 per cent, which had it on track for its best day in years, the S&P 500 quickly lost all of it within a few hours. It is 0.5 per cent lower in late trade.
https://www.theage.com.au/business/markets/big-swings-rock-wall-street-as-uncertainty-about-trump-s-tariffs-reigns-20250409-p5lqaq.html
Pomp, ceremony – and dire warnings, as WA Parliament returns and Zempilas faces Cook
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/western-australia/plenty-of-pomp-ceremony-and-dire-warnings-as-parliament-returns-and-zempilas-faces-cook-20250408-p5lq7i.html
A key energy project that will connect regional Queensland to the national power grid has suffered another cost blowout, ballooning to more than double the original estimate.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/queensland/critical-queensland-energy-project-price-balloons-again-20250408-p5lq0a.html
Fortunes are being made overnight across Sydney as neighbours band together to take advantage of new planning rules that allow apartment buildings in low-rise neighbourhoods.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-08/nsw-planning-law-changes-property-developers-housing-crisis/105123016
NSW Greens health spokesperson Dr Amanda Cohn has introduced a bill in the upper house that would amend several aspects of the state’s abortion law. Here’s what you need to know.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/nsw/abortion-was-made-legal-six-years-ago-so-why-has-a-new-fight-erupted-20250401-p5lo47.html
Police are investigating an alleged threat by a defence contractor to bomb a Burgertory outlet owned by prominent Palestinian activist Hash Tayeh. The threat to “park a couple of b0mb$” outside the hamburger restaurant in Melbourne’s northern suburbs was allegedly made on LinkedIn and posted under the profile of army veteran-turned-defence industry expert Guy Langford.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/defence-contractor-under-police-investigation-over-threat-to-bomb-burgertory-outlet-20250408-p5lpyi.html
Convicted terrorist Abdul Nacer Benbrika will be under supervision for another seven months after a judge ruled he was still a risk to the community. Justice James Elliott made the order in the Supreme Court on Tuesday following an application from the federal attorney-general’s office.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/mcg-terror-plotter-benbrika-s-supervision-extended-due-to-unacceptable-risk-20250408-p5lq68.html
The proposed stadium at Macquarie Point, a project that has divided opinion in Tasmania, will need to pass a vote in both houses of parliament if it is to proceed.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-08/litmus-test-for-stadium-support-in-tasmanian-parliament-underway/105152594
Grattan Institute program director housing and economic security Brendan Coates said home ownership was still out of reach for many, even families with two incomes. “It’s a very bleak picture even with the rise in dual incomes,” Coates said. He attributed the price rises to the shortfall in homes being built, and the growing wealth of families which enabled some to pay more for property. Not Immigration.
https://www.theage.com.au/property/news/not-a-lot-of-political-will-the-unpopular-fix-for-our-housing-woes-20250407-p5lpv0.html
A grab bag of campaign housing policies. But will they fix the affordability crisis beyond the election?
https://theconversation.com/a-grab-bag-of-campaign-housing-policies-but-will-they-fix-the-affordability-crisis-beyond-the-election-252185
Why did so many people delude themselves about Trump? By Michelle Goldberg
https://www.theage.com.au/national/why-did-so-many-people-delude-themselves-about-trump-20250408-p5lq3m.html
Right-wing media forsakes Australian loyalty to placate Trump. By Callum Seán Murray
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/right-wing-media-forsakes-australian-loyalty-to-placate-trump,19606
Amid calls for peace and an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine, Vladimir Putin is stepping up his offensive campaign and expanding his military might, writes Patrick Drennan.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/russia-plans-for-further-offensives-not-peace,19607
Elon Musk has lashed out at Donald Trump’s trade adviser, Peter Navarro, in a heated public spat over the impact of tariffs on the billionaire’s Tesla manufacturing.
https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/us-news/2025/04/09/elon-musk-tariffs-spat
Will Tesla’s problems crash Australia’s electric dream?
https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/finance/consumer/2025/04/06/tesla-australia
Bringing manufacturing back from overseas isn’t an easy solution to Trump’s trade war
https://theconversation.com/bringing-manufacturing-back-from-overseas-isnt-an-easy-solution-to-trumps-trade-war-253744
EU seeks China’s help to contain Trump’s trade war. Ursula von der Leyen spoke to Chinese Premier Li Qiang in an attempt to stop goods hit by Donald Trump’s tariffs flooding into Europe.
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-pencils-in-china-summit-for-july/
Meloni-Trump relationship to face first post-tariff test at April 17 meeting. As the transatlantic trade war heats up, Europe’s Trump whisperer gets the chance to use her voice.
https://www.politico.eu/article/giorgia-meloni-donald-trump-relationship-post-tariff-test-meeting-april-17/
US pulls presence from key Ukraine arms aid hub in Poland. The U.S. says operations will continue under Polish and NATO leadership.
https://www.politico.eu/article/us-pull-presence-key-ukraine-arms-aid-hub-poland-jasionka/
Ukraine captures 2 Chinese soldiers fighting for Putin, Zelenskyy says. Kyiv summons Chinese envoy to demand an explanation.
https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-capture-chinese-soldier-fighting-vladimir-putin-volorymyr-zelenskyy/
China condemns JD Vance’s ‘peasants’ jibe. Beijing hammers US vice president as lacking “knowledge and respect” in escalating feud.
https://www.politico.eu/article/china-slams-ignorant-impolite-jd-vance-over-chinese-peasants-comment/
Donald Trump Jr. to visit Romania right before contentious election. Will he turn Romanians off?
https://www.politico.eu/article/us-donald-trump-jr-visit-romania-right-before-election/
Americans pan some of Trump’s biggest foreign policy moves in new poll. Data released shows skepticism about foreign policy and tariff strategy.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/08/trump-foreign-policy-polling-032412
‘He’s just not going to change my mind’: Freedom Caucus chair defies Trump on budget
Rep. Andy Harris said he would not attend a White House meeting amid arm-twisting campaign.
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/04/08/congress/andy-harris-freedom-caucus-house-budget-trump-00278061
Cartoon Time!
Alan Moir
Fiona Katauskas Can Peter Dutton’s political gymnastics pay off?
Rebecca Hendin on Trump’s toxification of America
Simon Letch
Cathy Wilcox
Matt Davidson
Meet the Voters Suburban Women
Urban Progressives
Aspirationals
Forgotten People
Battlers
Swinging Voters
From the Internet
Michael De Adder
Enjoy!