The Australian reports the latest Newspoll has Labor’s two-party lead at 58-42, out from 57-43 three weeks ago. The primary votes are Labor 36% (steady), Coalition 24% (steady), Greens 13% (up two) and One Nation 15% (steady). Anthony Albanese is up one on approval to 47% and down four on disapproval to 47%, while Sussan Ley is up one to 26% and down three to 55%. Albanese’s lead on preferred prime minister is unchanged at 54-27. Also included is a question on preferred Liberal leader, which has Sussan Ley at 21%, Andrew Hastie at 15%, Angus Taylor at 9%, Tim Wilson at 6% and Ted O’Brien 3%, the balance being “don’t know”. Among Coalition voters, the respective numbers are 28%, 20%, 12%, 7% and 2%. The poll was conducted Monday to Thursday from a sample of 1245.
A hat trick:
https://reg.bom.gov.au/products/IDR663.loop.shtml
Mavis @ #1251 Wednesday, November 26th, 2025 – 11:33 pm
Oh yikes, that’s a nasty storm front there.
I wonder what the new BoM website has to say about it? A light drizzle perhaps?
Fastwheels @ #1253 Wednesday, November 26th, 2025 – 11:47 pm
Poor Pauline, the Backdoor Man.
Kirsdarke:
Wednesday, November 26, 2025 at 11:38 pm
Mavis @ #1251 Wednesday, November 26th, 2025 – 11:33 pm
A hat trick:
https://reg.bom.gov.au/products/IDR663.loop.shtml
[‘Oh yikes, that’s a nasty storm front there.’]
Yeah. We spent the day clearing up after the night before, and we’ll have to start again tomorrow. We might be better off just leaving the mess, as there seems to be no end to it. Good night.
One for the road. The rumour is that Joyce might defect to One Nation on Friday.
Does anyone know what this is about?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flOpwisr0Zk&t=203s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2e7Vey-zsU
They both suggest the supreme court has ruled against Trump Tariffs. I would have thought it would be big news. Perhaps it is AI slop.
It appears choosing a female leader hasn’t been that great for the Libs federally.
Federal voting intention (women)
ALP: 35% (+3)
L/NP: 23% (-3)
PHON: 14% (-)
GRN: 14% (+1)
TOP: 1% (-)
⬛️ OTH: 5% (-2)
Two-party-preferred
ALP: 52% (+3)
L/NP: 39% (-5)
(Undecided: 9%)
Essential | Nov 2025 | n=490 | +/- 22-27 Oct
davidwh says Wednesday, November 26, 2025 at 10:01 pm
All the best.
Does that mean less nocturnal visits to pee?
Upnorth says Wednesday, November 26, 2025 at 9:45 pm
is this the guy who claimed to be ex British SAS, but is now saying that he “trained with them”?
Parliamentary sledge of the day goes to British Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who in her budget speech announced that she was freezing known Russian assets “but I don’t mean the member for Clacton”.
Robert Irwin has done well considering his dad got close to feeding him to a crocodile
shellbell says:
Thursday, November 27, 2025 at 6:03 am
Robert Irwin has done well considering his dad got close to feeding him to a crocodile
Crikey! 🙂
Can I just say, using bamboo for scaffolding on high rise apartment buildings is a very bad idea.
Farmers gearing up for fight
Australia’s largest state farming organisation has engaged senior legal counsel as it ramps up opposition to the controversial Narrabri Gas Project.
NSW Farmers Acting CEO Mike Guerin – who led a successful legal challenge against the federal government and mining giant Glencore in Queensland – said he was “getting the band back together” to fight Santos’ Narrabri Gas Project.
“NSW Farmers has engaged the same senior legal counsel we used to defeat the federal government and Glencore a couple of years ago, and we are actively exploring the best way to defend Australia’s precious groundwater from mining giants,” Mr Guerin said.
“The people who depend on the Great Artesian Basin for their water are living in fear that this project will go ahead and go wrong, like many of them do, creating tens of thousands of water refugees and forcing farmers to abandon half the continent because it’s been contaminated forever.
“I’m happy to be getting the band back together on this one, because the risks with the Narrabri Gas Project are simply far too great to let it proceed.”
https://www.nswfarmers.org.au/NSWFA/Posts/Media_Releases/mr.115.25.aspx
So will we see Littleproud, Canavan, Joyce and others stepping up to support these farmers in their fight against Santos?
Labors spending is at record levels for a fed government.
Peanuts!
@pied piper
Tony Abbott was running this crap when in opposition. By the end of the Liberals’ tenure in government, they left 9 deficits, and a debt five times more than that of Labor in office, and pushed the national debt to almost a trillion.
A fourth Liberal Party leadership change is being flagged, with Ashton Hurn emerging as a possible replacement for South Australian opposition leader Vincent Tarzia
Polls for next year’s SA state election have shown the Liberals with a primary vote as low as 21%
Ashton Hurn would be wise to stay away from this and force the state SA Liberals to work it out themselves. This has Zak Kirkup written all over it. The state election is in March, and there isn’t enough time. She would be a sacrificial lamb, and the people patting her on the back are the same ones who will abandon her when it goes pear-shaped.
New thread.
Good Morning! Here’s Your Thursday News and Views Roundup
Australia records biggest annual drop in emissions outside pandemic
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australia-records-biggest-annual-drop-in-emissions-outside-pandemic-20251126-p5niok.html
Australia’s emissions from fossil fuels down as electricity from renewables passes 40%
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/nov/26/australia-greenhouse-gas-emissions-from-fossil-fuels-down
TagEnergy wants to build a 600-megawatt-hour battery near Naracoorte.
The local council is concerned it will take up prime agricultural land.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-27/tagenergy-naracoorte-big-battery-project-concerns-farm-land-sa/106053784
John Kerry urges Australia to take ‘hard-nosed’ approach with world’s biggest fossil fuel-producing countries at Cop31 Exclusive: Former US secretary of state calls for more demanding steps from Australia as it takes over presidency of next year’s UN climate summit
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/26/john-kerry-australia-carbon-emitters-cop31-climate-summit
To defeat the global Goliaths devastating our planet, we must raise an army of Davids. Peter Lewis
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/2025/nov/26/climate-disasters-devastating-planet-collective-action-against-corporations
Kevin ’07 and Bob Hawke are Australia’s most popular leaders in 40 years. Peter Dutton is dead last
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/peter-dutton-was-the-least-popular-leader-at-a-federal-election-in-four-decades-20251125-p5nibo.html
Should Albanese ‘fight Tories’ harder? Or is blandness a safe bet in a fearful, populist world?
https://theconversation.com/should-albanese-fight-tories-harder-or-is-blandness-a-safe-bet-in-a-fearful-populist-world-270454
Nationals leadership contender Matt Canavan has vowed to take the fight to One Nation as his former ally Barnaby Joyce prepares to defect to Pauline Hanson’s party, while Nationals elder statesman Michael McCormack made a last-ditch plea to his former rival to stay.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/joyce-s-old-ally-canavan-ready-to-attack-him-as-new-enemy-when-he-defects-to-one-nation-20251126-p5niml.html
Inflation jump wipes out chances of rate cut – and puts rate hike back on the table
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/inflation-jump-wipes-out-chances-of-rate-cut-and-puts-rate-hike-back-on-the-table-20251126-p5nihc.html
Labor is celebrating a successful year but tough budget choices lie ahead. David Speers
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-27/albanese-government-budget-repair-tax-reform-inflation-figures/106045644
The latest inflation figures offer no joy – except to the gas producers whose windfall profits remain largely untouched. The boom in world gas prices due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine has led to energy companies making out like bandits. Greg Jericho
https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2025/nov/26/the-latest-inflation-figures-offer-no-joy-except-to-the-gas-producers-whose-windfall-profits-remain-largely-untouched
The Albanese government wants to make it harder for perpetrators of financial abuse to appoint directors without consent and to saddle victims with tax debts.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-26/economic-abuse-coercive-control-government-crackdown-announced/106054094
Wong’s world: Diplomacy under the shadow of America. By Mark Beeson
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/wongs-world-diplomacy-under-the-shadow-of-america,20422
Albanese and Ley to decide members of ‘secret’ new committee set to scrutinise Aukus – but Greens excluded. No more than seven government MPs will be appointed but Greens and independents will not be included.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/26/albanese-and-ley-to-decide-members-of-secret-new-committee-set-to-scrutinise-aukus-but-greens-excluded
NACC chief executive apologises to parliament for inaccurate evidence
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-26/nacc-ceo-apologises-for-inaccurate-evidence/106056840
Labor’s nature laws risk collapse with deal yet to be struck on eve of parliament’s final sitting day
If Labor cannot reach deal on Thursday, it will mark second time in 12 months that it has failed to secure planned EPBC Act reforms
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/nov/26/labor-nature-laws-greens-parliament-final-sitting-day
Housing Minister Clare O’Neil read the riot act to bureaucrats failing to deliver Labor’s agenda with speed, according to fresh documents that shed new light on the bumpy rollout of big-spending policies designed to alleviate the nation’s housing shortage.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/o-neil-reads-riot-act-to-agency-as-labor-seeks-to-keep-housing-probe-secret-20251126-p5nikc.html
Guardian Essential report: climate doom and AI anxiety – Australian Politics podcast
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/audio/2025/nov/26/guardian-essential-report-climate-ai-australian-politics-podcast
‘Progress is happening’: gender pay gap narrows but Australian women still earn $28,000 less than men. Western Australian employers reported the biggest pay gap and Tasmanian employers the smallest, but all states reported an improvement, study finds
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/nov/26/progress-is-happening-gender-pay-gap-narrows-but-australian-women-still-earn-28000-less-than-men
New Zealand’s grip on the Bledisloe Cup looks permanent. But in the great economic game they play in heaven, Australia is utterly dominating the Kiwis with mounting evidence the financial gap between the trans-Tasman nations is widening.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/in-the-game-that-really-matters-australia-is-smashing-nz-20251126-p5nih0.html
Australia was alerted to millions in suspicious payments to Nauru politicians. Then it signed a $2.5b deal
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australia-was-alerted-to-millions-in-suspicious-payments-to-nauru-politicians-then-it-signed-a-2-5b-deal-20251126-p5nik7.html
A booming private Australian security firm that has won contracts with federal law enforcement agencies, the nation’s corruption watchdog, federal departments and AFL clubs is secretly running a security immigration operation on Nauru with a bikie gang-linked contractor and the country’s allegedly corrupt president.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/watchdogs-spent-millions-with-security-firm-linked-to-finks-bikie-gang-20251126-p5niie.html
‘Premium prices for a downgrade’: $96.5 million BoM website savaged
https://www.smh.com.au/technology/premium-prices-for-a-downgrade-96-5-million-bom-website-savaged-20251126-p5niis.html
Israel’s top diplomat in Australia is preparing to leave the country after a posting dominated by the October 7 attacks, acrimony over the war in Gaza and bursts of outright hostility between the Netanyahu and Albanese governments.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/israel-s-top-diplomat-prepares-to-depart-after-acrimonious-posting-20251125-p5nibz.html
Australia’s most notorious fugitive: where is Dezi Freeman? – Full Story podcast
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/audio/2025/nov/26/australias-most-notorious-fugitive-where-is-dezi-freeman-full-story-podcast
The Sloane effect: Why we can’t stop watching the Liberals. The new NSW Liberal leader will have to perform miracles to hang on to 10 marginal seats, let alone beat a first-term government. But for now, her appeal is she is not Speakman.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/the-sloane-effect-why-we-can-t-stop-watching-the-liberals-20251126-p5niju.html
‘Release it all’: NSW Premier fumes at resurfacing of donation allegations
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/release-it-all-premier-fumes-at-resurfacing-of-donation-allegations-20251125-p5nid7.html
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli faces a political test on his home turf in Hinchinbrook by-election
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-27/crisafulli-kap-hitchinbrook-by-election-north-queensland/106054982
Jeremy Rockliff’s premiership tied to proposed stadium, but his is not the first to push a contentious project
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-27/hobart-stadium-contentious-projects-not-new-for-tasmania/106031950
Harveen’s daily trips will be 40 minutes shorter. Here’s how the Melbourne Metro Tunnel will change your commute
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/victoria/harveen-s-daily-trips-will-be-40-minutes-shorter-here-s-how-the-metro-tunnel-will-change-your-commute-20251119-p5ngs5.html
The number of homes sitting empty across Melbourne surged by 16 per cent last year, despite a housing crisis and the government increasing taxes on unused properties.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/victoria/number-of-empty-homes-surging-in-three-key-areas-of-melbourne-20251121-p5nhgn.html
ABM. Anywhere But Melbourne. Apparently, this salty little acronym is now a thing among big money property investors when they’re talking about where to put their dough.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/victoria/i-m-hearing-a-salty-little-whisper-about-melbourne-it-s-more-than-a-sydney-wind-up-20251125-p5nifi.html
Trump push for new congressional maps meets resistance – from both parties
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/26/us-politics-redistricting-trump-maps
‘Traitor’: US representatives call for Trump envoy Witkoff to be fired after leaked Kremlin call
Republicans and Democrats warn Witkoff ‘cannot be trusted’ after reportedly advising officials on peace plan
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/26/republicans-steve-witkoff-leaked-call-russia-ukraine
Analysis: Who leaked Witkoff’s call advising Kremlin on how to get Trump on side?
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/26/who-leaked-steve-witkoff-call-kremlin-trump-analysis
Americans helping Ukrainian war effort decry US peace plan as a ‘betrayal by Trump’ US volunteers who have poured into Ukraine to help amid war are dismayed by Trump’s continuing pressures on Kyiv
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/26/us-ukrainian-war-effort-trump-peace-plan
Von der Leyen warns against ‘carving up’ of Ukraine amid crunch US-led talks. Commission president says undermining of sovereign European nation would ‘open the doors for more wars’
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/26/von-der-leyen-warns-against-carving-up-of-sovereign-european-nation-amid-crunch-ukraine-talks
Von der Leyen: ‘We now have a starting point’ on Ukraine peace deal. European Commission president says “I cannot see any scenario in which European taxpayers alone pay the bill.”
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-ursula-von-der-leyen-starting-point-on-ukraine-peace-deal-us-donald-trump/
Rachel Reeves has many problems. She’s realising that her Brexit bind may be the biggest of all
Rafael Behr
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/nov/26/rachel-reeves-budget-economic-policy-brexit
A leaked budget shows British politics is still living hand-to-mouth. Embattled Chancellor Rachel Reeves wants to finally end the economic doom loop — but it could still swallow her whole.
https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-budget-tax-rises-leak-rachel-reeves-debt/
Taiwan announces $61 billion defence budget to defend itself against China
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-26/taiwanese-president-announces-billion-dollar-defence-budget/106056074
Jakarta overtakes Tokyo as world’s largest city, according to UN
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-25/jakarta-overtakes-tokyo-as-worlds-largest-city/106049122
Sea level doesn’t rise at the same rate everywhere – we mapped where Antarctica’s ice melt would have the biggest impact
https://theconversation.com/sea-level-doesnt-rise-at-the-same-rate-everywhere-we-mapped-where-antarcticas-ice-melt-would-have-the-biggest-impact-269788
Online ‘ghost stores’ capitalising on Christmas and Black Friday sales to lure shoppers, ACCC warns
Consumers advised to be sceptical about sales season discounts as AI makes it even harder to detect scams
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/nov/26/online-ghost-stores-accc-warning-christmas-black-friday-sales
To paraphrase a line from Little Britain on Ssusss meeting Albo about the enviromental reforms:
“Gina says no.”
@8.26am
https://www.smh.com.au/national/australia-news-live-death-toll-climbs-as-hundreds-missing-in-hong-kong-apartment-blaze-australia-records-biggest-annual-drop-in-emissions-outside-of-pandemic-20251127-p5nisz.html#p59l0n
I wonder how long it will take for them to quickly and quietly release Bruna?
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/26/karoline-leavitt-nephew-mother-detained-ice
Douglas and Milko,
The looks of joy, the feelings of freedom to do what they feel is right for them, the empowerment that the martyrdom of Mahsa Amini created for them, I am so glad that they refused to be subjugated.
Did the nation collapse in a heap? No.
So I have decided, as a result of seeing those inspiring photos of Iranian Women choosing to no longer wear the hijab (and doesn’t that give the lie to Pauline Hanson’s burqa = lack of female empowerment stunt?), to post over December, AP’s top 100 photos of 2025. So that we can see our world as it was this year.
I’ll start today with the first 4.
A protester, wearing a flak jacket and carrying a shield snatched from a policeman, shouts outside the Singha Durbar, the seat of Nepal’s government, during a protest against corruption and a ban on social media in Kathmandu, on Sept. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Yu Xiaofeng leaps into a pool carved from ice on the frozen Songhua River in Harbin, China, on Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
A polar bear rests on the stairs of an abandoned research station on Koluchin Island off of Chukotka, Russia, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Vadim Makhorov)
Smoke rises from an Israeli strike in Gaza City on June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)