The Financial Review has the first RedBridge Group/Accent Research federal poll since immediately before the Bondi shootings, and it shades last week’s YouGov in recording the highest One Nation vote and the lowest “former Coalition parties“ vote of any poll so far. Labor is at 34%, which is down one on the previous poll but still their best result in any poll since that time. One Nation is up fully nine points to 26%, while the Coalition is down seven to 19%, with the Greens down two to 11%. The increasingly speculative two-party preferred measure has Labor back in the territory of its landslide win last May with a lead of 56-44 over the former Coalition parties. Contrary to a consensus that the One Nation surge will likely prove ephemeral, the poll in fact finds slightly more of the party’s supporters saying their choice is “solid” than for other parties with meaningful sample sizes.
The full release for the poll has helpfully presented favourability ratings for various politicians, which bring together the equally important considerations of net favourability and name recognition. Andrew Hastie shades his erstwhile leadership rival Angus Taylor on net favourability, but both have roughly a third saying they have never heard of them, with many of those who have on the fence about them. Both Anthony Albanese and Sussan Ley have taken a knock over the past month, with the latter doing less well than both Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce. Donald Trump scores 16% favourable and 67% unfavourable.
A preferred prime minister question has 37% favouring Albanese, down four on last month; 9% favouring Ley, down three; 8% opting for about the same, down one; and 34% opting for neither, with 12% unsure. A particularly soft 29% reckon the country “generally headed in the right direction”, compared with 55% for wrong direction, and 44% responded to a question on “Australian federal politics right now” with a view that the system needs “major changes”, on top of 15% for the more radical version that “the system needs to be burned down so we can start over”. Twenty-nine per cent held that the system needed minor changes, with only 5% holding that the system is fine as it is. Issue salience questions find an increase in concern about the rate of immigration and national security. The poll was conducted January 22 to 29 from a sample of 1003.
I am to understand that GenX is a primary driver of the ON surge.
Figures. I’m GenX and I had an epiphany over 30 years ago after watching that gobshite Bill Stiller movie “Reality Bites” that we were going to be the most feckless post WW2 generation of all.
Latest news from Snowy 2.0:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-02/snowy-hydro-project-timeline-defend-machine-cost-blowout/106231224
– They’ve got their 4th tunnel boring machine, she’s called Monica.
– It’s on track to be finished (they say) by the end of 2028.
> People need to stop obsessing over the cost blowout. Clearly, the planning for projects like these should not involve beer coasters, but what do you expect from the Tories? Regardless, Snowy 2.0 when completed, will be invaluable.
Edit: There’s also this 3:14 promo video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6NOg5eV190
> I think it was made just to antagonise the likes of LL, JJ and pp.
Love it! Deserves repeating from the previous thread:
citizen says:
Sunday, February 1, 2026 at 9:40 pm
Only three more days to see Melania at Hoyts cinemas. Only a six day run, only once a day and only some cinemas. Was told there were eight people on Friday at the only cinema in Canberra (Belconnen) showing it.
– – – – – – – – – – –
DPR of CBR says:
Monday, February 2, 2026 at 3:05 am
Just in case anyone in Canberra wants to see it tomorrow, better book early. Ticket sales are going gangbusters.
Two sessions tomorrow, three tickets sold for each session so far – get in quick!
🙂
My contribution to the Melania critique is around the soundtrack to the movie. I really don’t know why they left out the most appropriate song for the soundtrack: ‘You’re So Vain’.
26% for One Nation is bloody scary. Hopefully they can stop being a one trick pony and learn to become a decent opposition. I know, I’m a dreamer. The push against antisemitism was a start, just unfortunate it was to push Islamophobia.
There was a bit of confusion around rare earths at the end of last week:
The problem was the White House had never established floor prices for anyone except Californian company MP Materials:
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/trump-taps-australia-to-help-break-china-s-rare-earths-grip/ar-AA1Vra8v
Which brings to mind the quote, “the market can stay irrational longer than you can stay solvent”.
Err umm ahhhhh,2 billion now 12 billion and more blowouts coming.Snowy mountains disaster.
Stupid lib moderate aka Malcolm idea but labor as usual cannot manage money and blown it out even more.
$10 billion blowout and in Perth people who cannot access NDIS for their kids are topping themselves.
2% prop value rise in a month in Perth and total return 23% over past year.
Rents through roof ,homeless still everywhere and still labor gov piles people in and refuses to get serious on removals.
Crazy nutty first home buyers scheme a failure driving values through roof at expense of first home buyers.
As for building supply labor state and fed have failed to deliver for years now.
C@tmomma @ 7.47pm (Sunday).
C@t, I was extremely disappointed that in your comments disparaging One Nation voters you suggested that they are all on Welfare and send their children to “Public Education”.
As one, who was fully educated in the Public School system and spent my career as a Public School teacher I found that remark quite senseless, insulting and stupid.
That remark suggests that Public Education is only for those who can’t afford the Private system and is of a second class standard.
70% of ALL Australian children receive their education, both Primary and Secondary, through the Public Education system.
The fight for equal funding between education systems still continues.
It was unfortunate the Gillard Government didn’t support the full implementation of the Gonski Review report.
Surely, you don’t want to become the Hilary Clinton of Poll Bludger by attacking One Nation voters, rather than the empty rhetoric they support.
Oh I get my chance to copy the boomers and say
Not all Gen X…
Using averages to dictate conclusions about a generation, or most groups, doesn’t make a lot of sense.
I think a lot of scapegoat politics is about looking for excuses when life isn’t as perfect as hoped for. Some of Gen X are stuck in the middle, elderly parents to look after and kids stuck at home because they can’t afford to move out. It’s an easy out to blame immigration for pushing up costs rather than addressing the real drivers
I think it was Arky on the previous thread who effectively said we need to learn from the US and the mistake Hillary Clinton made with her basket of deplorables line. You don’t win people back by insulting them.
Big week coming up in Parliament, where will everything land?
Good morning, all.
The beauty of the populist right is that once they get in they tend to wreck the joint and then, if they haven’t actually set up a dictatorship, they get the boot.
You can see the problem.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/while-the-coalition-tears-itself-apart-labor-prepares-for-a-big-2026-20260201-p5nymp.html
Today is the day Nationals can opt to choose a new leader, assuming there is someone to run against Littleproud.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-02/littleproud-to-survive-but-leys-future-uncertain/106292926
SL @ #13 Monday, February 2nd, 2026 – 7:33 am
“As early as next week”? Seriously, Nationals? More like “tomorrow”.
Again, I’m wondering why these communications were via email and not over the phone?
C@tmomma @ 6.38am
As a Democrat supporter, I doubt whether Carly Simon would have consented to her song being used for this film
Although. I had a good chuckle regarding your selection of a theme song.
Fergie wanted to marry Epstein even offered to…
https://metro.co.uk/2026/02/01/sarah-ferguson-told-jeffrey-epstein-marry-me-months-release-prison-26646194/?ITO=msn
Buckingham palace will be hitting the piss today!
Ps Musk never, unlike Clinton jumped in Epsteins spa or had his arm around unlike Bill a female victim of Epsteins.
Not as if Bill did not have form with young Monica!
@Confessions 7:39am
Because this is Elon Musk we’re talking about. He’s exactly the sort of person that would make an e-mail being like “Hi Jeffrey, I’m a cool rich person too, can I come along to one of your famous parties and have a sexy time with your harem of girls please?”
The most extraordinary sets of polling predictions in my boomer lifetime.
The Redbridge Group/Accent Research poll displays the extent of the changes in voter intentions that I’d never have imagined.
I’m reminded of the extraordinary day when it was announced that Gough had been sacked!
I’m also reminded me of a particular Political Science assessment piece in the early seventies where the students were asked to evaluate if the election of Gough in 1972 was the start of end of the Liberal Party!!
It’s taken a while to happen.
If the polls are proven to be accurate at the next Federal election, we are led to believe that enough voters are prepared to support Pauline and Barnaby as potential leaders of a newish political party, with next to no representation in the current parliament.
Extraordinary isn’t the word.
My feeling in the present political environment is that Labor is the government with the media, a combination of the new and old media, performing the role as the opposition!
Everything political that is not Labor is an absolute shambles.
The main thrust of the media at the moment is to “scare ” voters with the horrors of interest rates, housing, trade or religion.
The behaviour of the media in all its current guises towards the Albanese Federal government is a repeat of the scare campaign continuing in Victoria depicting “the evils of Dan” and therefore the new premier Jacinta Allan.
The conga line of ex Liberal leaders, all of whom have popped their collective heads above the parapet recently, are looking somewhat foolish as Pauline and Barnaby display their ability to gather so much support,with far fewer resources than the Liberals have had over the years.
The ON renaissance will be judged “by taste testing” of the “pudding” after the next election.
Both the Liberals and the Nationals, both incorrectly named, find themselves “snookered”, after each attempt by each other to play “one upsmanship”
Imagine the political fighting if the “lucky country” weren’t so lucky, and the voters of all persuasion were complaining about being really hungry as distinct from how much “takeaway” and coffee they could consume in any given week!
And this miserably “rich” nation couldn’t and wouldn’t allow the “first Australians to have a”Voice”.
God save our racist, bigoted, religious extremist Queen Pauline and her consort Prince Barnaby.
Australians love a good parody!
Pauline is “Jeannie Little” to Barnaby’s “Con the Fruiterer” no less!
Pakistan will sensationally boycott its group match against India at this month’s Twenty20 World Cup.
A post to the official X account of The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan was made as Pakistan completed a series sweep of Australia.
Question of the week has Joyce managed behind the scenes to get other Nats to join one nation if they are not happy with this weeks Nat leadership vote?
Kirs:
It’s beyond crazy that so many people were happy to be associated with a convicted sex trafficker of teens.
Barnaby Joyce has delivered a warning at least one National Party member will likely defect to One Nation in less than 24 hours. Grilled by Seven’s Sunrise host Nat Barr on a “big announcement” first teased by One Nation chief of staff James Ashby and linked to rumours of a recruitment drive, Mr Joyce remained tight-lipped at first.
The other thing the Elon Musk emails suggest is he doesn’t take a hint. Epstein seems to imply stuff and Musk doesn’t get it.
I reckon it’s Ms Price who will be the next defection to Gina’s party.
I guess we’ll find out shortly if Colin Boyce was a stalking horse for someone else or not
Dan Tehan on RN Breakfast sounding very keen to get the coalition back together, reviewing the rules in the process
Even united they’re sub 20 and have a lot of work to do
Good to see suggestions Labor will be looking at major reform in the May budget, if you can’t do it now the chances are you never will
Have a great day All
#28in26
Re Confessions @7:27.
”The fact that Labor’s heavy hitters are willing to say such things three and a half months out from budget day suggests some confidence in the significance of what is to come. It sounds as though the budget will be more than a steady-as-she-goes effort, despite new worries about inflation.”
Good to see.
An important part of any significant reform effort will be a strategy to counter the screams of outrage from the vested interests that will be disadvantaged by any genuine reforms, supported by the remains of the Opposition, a surging One Nation, 99% of Money and most of the media. This will include torrents of disinformation and outright lies. The Voice Referendum would be just a foretaste of what Labor could expect. Unlike the case with the Voice, Labor needs to have a plan to deal with all this. Just being sure that they’re right won’t hack it.
I saw a clip of Michael McCormack on Sky last night and he seems very bitter still about Barnaby.
I reckon the Nats are going to target him directly at the next election, since they no longer have a reason to cover up for his 20+ years of being a repulsive pig.
Yeah, sure. (cough cough)
“Senior right member, Senator Jonno Duniam, on Sunday defended his decision to appear with Mr Hastie for a secret meeting of the right faction to settle a leadership challenger.
“I support Sussan Ley,” Mr Duniam said.
“I did what I did to support one of my closest friends in life, Andrew Hastie.”
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-02/littleproud-to-survive-but-leys-future-uncertain/106292926
Re Goll @7:48. ”Both the Liberals and the Nationals, both incorrectly named…”
The Country Party, then correctly named, changed its name to the National Country Party in 1975, then the National Party of Australia in 1982, in an unsuccessful attempt to broaden its appeal and move into urban areas.
It should now be called the National Miners’ Party.
This seems significant…
World News & Politics Patrol:
Musk steps in – SpaceX blocks Starlink use on Russian drones: https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/musk-steps-in-spacex-blocks-starlink-use-1769940889.html
Slovakia PM’s national security adviser resigns over Epstein links: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnvgljj1dygo
More than 120 dead after multiple suicide and gun attacks in Pakistan, officials say: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/01/dozens-killed-multiple-attacks-pakistan
Likud accuses ‘deep state’ of trying to topple Netanyahu: https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/likud-accuses-deep-state-of-trying-to-topple-netanyahu/
Milan protesters call for U.S. ICE agents to leave Italy as Winter Games approach: https://www.npr.org/2026/01/31/nx-s1-5695197/as-winter-olympics-milan-protesters-call-for-ice-agents-to-leave-italy
Labour urged to expel Mandelson from party after fresh Epstein links: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/epstein-peter-mandelson-labour-b2911492.html
Epstein files ‘absolve me’, Trump claims: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/01/trump-claims-epstein-files-absolve-him/
Democrat Taylor Rehmet wins solidly red Texas Senate seat in stunning special election upset: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/01/30/texas-senate-district-9-runoff-rehmet-wambsganss-special-election/
‘Going home’: Liam Conejo Ramos, 5, and father arrive in Minneapolis after release from detention center: https://abcnews.go.com/US/5-year-liam-conejo-ramos-father-board-plane/story?id=129749784
Todd Blanche says review of Jeffrey Epstein sex-trafficking case ‘is over’: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/01/epstein-files-todd-blanche-deputy-ag
Haitian TPS ends on Tuesday. No economy will be hit harder than Greater Miami’s: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article314473355.html#storylink=cpy
Democrat Christian Menefee wins election for U.S. House, narrowing GOP’s slim majority: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/01/christian-menefee-wins-election-for-us-house.html
Melania director Brett Ratner pictured cuddling woman in Epstein files: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0mk3v2k3r0o
Leftist and liberal gun groups are seeing a rush of new members: https://edition.cnn.com/2026/02/01/us/gun-rights-politics-alex-pretti-killing-cec
Federal officers use crowd control munitions as demonstrators protest outside Portland ICE building: https://www.opb.org/article/2026/01/31/labor-against-ice-portland-oregon-immigration-protest/
On those numbers Labor would get well over 100 seats. The right well and truly is cooked now.
Kirsdarke says:
Monday, February 2, 2026 at 8:07 am
I saw a clip of Michael McCormack on Sky last night and he seems very bitter still about Barnaby.
I reckon the Nats are going to target him directly at the next election, since they no longer have a reason to cover up for his 20+ years of being a repulsive pig.
—————————————————
Going to be interesting to see how the federal national party members act on the cross benches , when they sit along with Barnaby.
KASH PATEL: “There’s no credible information that Jeffrey Epstein trafficked minors.”
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/2/1/2366596/-KASH-PATEL-There-s-no-credible-information-that-Jeffrey-Epstein-trafficked-minors?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=trending&pm_medium=web
One Nation’s leader has delivered a scathing verdict of the South Australian Liberals as residents prepare to head to the polls in a few weeks. As popularity for the conservative party surges nationwide, Senator Pauline Hanson is hoping that translates into a firm foothold in the South Australian parliament following March’s election, as she labels the current opposition “lazy”.
For the first time in South Australia, One Nation will contest every lower house seat and the legislative council. Senator Hanson told The Advertiser that One Nation was no longer a “minor party”, but she wasn’t “going to put great expectations” on success at March’s poll. “Even if we were only to get one seat, it’s a foot in the door to actually start having a voice in South Australia,” she said.
Senator Hanson said she wasn’t sure if SA would even have an opposition following March’s poll. “The LNP have just fallen to the wayside,” she said. “They’re not representative of the people, they don’t stick to the conservative values, they are lazy, they don’t speak up on issues. “What I’ve heard is in South Australia, they’re only expecting the Libs maybe to hold on to three lower house seats. That’s no opposition, and I intend to fill that void.”
https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/state-election/pauline-hanson-slams-lazy-sa-liberals-as-one-nation-vows-to-contest-every-seat/news-story/d1992bc1377f661a95caafcb55899a34?amp
New polling out of SA with the State election next month. It’s an Advertiser seat poll, so take it with a big grain of salt. But if it is even reasonably close to correct, the Libs are in dire trouble everywhere. The independent candidate, a staffer to the now jailed former Liberal-turned-independent MP Troy Bell, is leading the Libs on a 2PP of 61.7% to 38.3%. This does assume he can stay ahead of Labor which may be a big ask.
Mali is preferred Premier 49.6% to 13.8% for Ashton Hurn. This is in a seat the Liberals won 57.2% to 42.8% over an independent when Troy Bell won in 2014.
Hard Being Green says:
Monday, February 2, 2026 at 8:00 am
Good to see suggestions Labor will be looking at major reform in the May budget, if you can’t do it now the chances are you never will
————————————————-
It is pretty much a given Labor once again will go after those that have little political capital and go full jackboot on their heads.
Capital gains tax will be one of the first but it will not be applying CGT to the family home, that will remain quite safe, it will be go after farmers and small business owners first and foremost.
Maybe an inheritance tax as well. But it will be designed like in the UK that it will not apply to the family home but rather attack and destroy the family farm and small businesses.
Corporates will love it all as it will open new opportunities for them to become larger, which is from the book of fascism where government and corporates are intertwined.
Australia is certainly in for some dark times under successive labor/liberal governments.
@Fess – yeah I posted that last night, great news – but also another reason for Trump to try and suppress the midterm elections. The flashpoint approaches.
@pp “Question of the week has Joyce managed behind the scenes to get other Nats to join one nation if they are not happy with this weeks Nat leadership vote?”
A salient post from pp! I assume you are not feeling well, so get well soon. Yes, this IS an interesting question as there are some hints that Boyce’s motion is just setting the stage….
I personally think that it would be awesome if the Nats conducted a backdoor takeover of ON, surely there is no way they would then be seen as just the staid old 2% of Australia Nats wearing a different hat?
It seems like right/wrong direction polling is starting to get more and more useless because all of the polls right up until the election suggested that it was heading in the wrong direction yet the incumbent Labor government won by a landslide.
– A Perth family found dead in a suspected murder-suicide had been “failed” by the National Disability Scheme, a support worker involved with one of the two boys has claimed.
https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/mosman-park-suspected-murdersuicide-family-failed-by-ndis-former-carer-claims/news-story/dcf219807c3cd92a4e53a69160060aa1
__________________
This is a terribly sad story.
It’s not the first story we’ve heard about people experiencing difficulties re NDIS cuts.
Good Morning! Here’s Your Daily News and Views Roundup
While the Coalition tears itself apart, Labor prepares for a big 2026. Sean Kelly
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/while-the-coalition-tears-itself-apart-labor-prepares-for-a-big-2026-20260201-p5nymp.html
On Friday night, images splashed across websites of the prime minister at the Australian Open with his son told a bigger story about how dramatically the government’s fortunes had shifted following the almost comical implosion of the Coalition. By Patricia Karvelas
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-02/parliament-sitting-week-opposition-leadership-albanese/106292656
‘Frustrated’ by slow pace of gambling ads reform, Labor caucus wants Wells to act. Documents released under FoI show Wells’ department worried about how gambling reforms would affect sporting codes and media companies.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/feb/02/government-gambling-ads-reform-labor-wells
Analysis: Spotlight remains on a Coalition in chaos as parliament returns, with splits and spills looming over policy. Labor set to take advantage of shambles with blistering attacks in question time as Sussan Ley presides over barest opposition benches since 1943. Josh Butler
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/feb/01/spotlight-remains-on-a-coalition-in-chaos-as-parliament-returns-with-splits-and-spills-looming-over-policy
David Littleproud to survive spill, but Sussan Ley’s future uncertain.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-02/littleproud-to-survive-but-leys-future-uncertain/106292926
Supporters of Angus Taylor pressured Liberal leadership rival Andrew Hastie to park his leadership ambitions, creating friction in the party’s conservative wing and complicating its push to oust Opposition Leader Sussan Ley.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/taylor-s-supporters-pushed-hastie-to-drop-leadership-bid-20260201-p5nymw.html
Flash juries and Bible verses: How sovereign citizens clog up Australian courts.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/flash-juries-and-bible-verses-how-sovereign-citizens-clog-up-australian-courts-20251127-p5nizw.html
In a message sent to an account that appeared to belong to Jeffrey Epstein on May 20, 2019 – two days after Labor’s shock election loss – Steve Bannon told the convicted paedophile: “I had Clive Palmer do the $60m anti China and anti climate change ads” as part of a wider plan to disrupt global democracy.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/i-had-clive-palmer-do-the-ads-trump-lieutenant-s-australian-election-claim-revealed-in-epstein-files-20260201-p5nyl3.html
Trump invited Albanese to join his Board of Peace. He may be disappointed.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/trump-invited-albanese-to-join-his-board-of-peace-he-may-be-disappointed-20260201-p5nylz.html
The federal government is vying to position Australia as a major supplier of rare earths – a set of 17 metals used in an array of products such as electric motors, wind turbines and missiles – amid growing alarm over China’s willingness to use its market dominance as leverage in diplomatic disputes.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/trump-taps-australia-to-help-break-china-s-rare-earths-grip-20260130-p5nydx.html
Rare earths mine at centre of Trump-Albanese deal yet to materialise after years in the making
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-30/trump-albanese-arafura-rare-earths-mine-facing-further-delays/106285164
Australia needs to get real about Trump’s changing America.
https://theconversation.com/australia-needs-to-get-real-about-trumps-changing-america-274424
Snowy 2.0 defends timeline as it launches new $75 million machine amid cost blowout review
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-02/snowy-hydro-project-timeline-defend-machine-cost-blowout/106231224
Why the Voice referendum failed – and what the government hasn’t learned from it
https://theconversation.com/why-the-voice-referendum-failed-and-what-the-government-hasnt-learned-from-it-255969
NSW Greens to move bill to let councils better regulate berry industry as it continues rapid expansion
Residents and local authorities are worried about environmental hazards and land devaluation as minister says excess regulations may hinder modern farming practices
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jan/31/australia-berry-industry-bill-nsw-greens
Prime minister and SA premier announce $800 million deal for 17,000 new homes. The prime minister says the deal could serve as a model for other states.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-31/prime-minister-and-sa-premier-announce-800m-housing-deal/106290888
A former director of the ACT Liberal Party and a past Queensland Young Liberals president are among recent appointments to state government roles, amid further changes to the TAFE Queensland board.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/queensland/lnp-linked-figures-land-top-treasury-and-tafe-jobs-amid-board-refresh-20260129-p5ny4t.html
Targets not met as waste growth outpaces increase in population across Queensland.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-02/qld-waste-targets-not-met-government-pushes-for-more-recycling/106289290
One thing this week made clear is this NT government’s increased interest in hot-button culture war issues beyond the standard territory terrain of tough-on-crime campaigning. A pattern is emerging: a controversial announcement is made that catapults the chief minister and her government into national headlines, which gloss over policy details that make the change more limited or ambiguous than it first appears.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-01/national-anthem-mandate-nt-schools-analysis-culture-wars/106290008
The distribution of wealth in Australia is being reshaped as members of the Baby Boomer generation shift financial resources into liquid assets and provide financial assistance to their children.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/boomers-are-reshaping-the-way-wealth-is-distributed-these-charts-show-how-20260130-p5nycb.html
Efforts to house all Australians make slow but steady progress
By Alan Austin
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/efforts-to-house-all-australians-make-slow-but-steady-progress,20628
Unnecessary interest rate cuts derailed the national housing affordability project. By Alan Kohler
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-02/rba-interest-rate-hikes-housing-affordability-inflation/106292572
A cult-survivor support network is calling for stricter criteria for what “religious” organisations can claim tax breaks and protections.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-02/ex-shincheonji-member-says-religion-cult-recruiting-pastors/106257352
A US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) employee was recently arrested amid the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota after state troopers reportedly found him “covered in vomit” and unconscious in a car.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/31/cbp-border-agent-charged-drunk-driving
‘We’re fighting for the soul of the country’: how Minnesota residents came together to face ICE
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/01/minnesota-twin-cities-ice-protests
America’s contract to protect white women has always been tenuous. ICE’s killing of Renee Good has revealed how the state will only defend those who uphold a white racial order. A 1915 film points to the origins of this social pact.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/feb/01/white-supremacy-women-renee-good-ice-killing
Pho, handwarmers, grief and loss: a week on the block where Alex Pretti was killed
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/31/a-week-on-the-block-where-alex-pretti-was-killed
Resistance to Trump 2.0 is getting more confrontational. In Trump’s first term, activists focused on lobbying and voting. Now tactics are shifting to nonviolent civil disobedience. Dana R Fisher
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/feb/01/trump-resistance-protests
Donald Trump’s political war chest grew dramatically in the second half of 2025, according to new campaign finance disclosures submitted late Saturday, giving him an unprecedented amount of money for a term-limited president to influence the midterms and beyond.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/01/donald-trump-fundraising-midterms-00759005
Michigan’s 3-car pileup of a primary has Senate Democrats worried. The race is a crucial test for what the next generation of Democrats will look like — and whether they can prevail in a must-win race for their Senate chances.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/01/michigan-senate-mcmorrow-stevens-el-sayed-00758408?utm_content=politico/magazine/Politics&utm_source=flipboard
The FBI’s seizure of 2020 ballots in Georgia is a signal of what’s to come. The administration’s efforts show the lengths to which Trump is willing to go to lay the groundwork for 2026. Austin Sarat
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/feb/01/fbi-raid-georgia-2020-election-ballots
Democrat flips reliably red Texas district in victory that stuns Republican party
Taylor Rehmet’s win adds to Democrats’ record of overperforming in special elections so far this cycle
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/01/democrat-wins-red-texas-district-taylor-rehmet
‘Lust for unbridled power’: Judge blasts Trump administration over boy, 5, seized by ICE
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/judge-orders-5-year-old-used-as-bait-by-ice-to-be-freed-from-detention-20260201-p5nykw.html
Who is Stephen Miller? Donald Trump’s powerful right hand and immigration policy architect
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-01/stephen-miller-donald-trumps-immigration-policy-architect/106272938
The only remaining US-Russia nuclear treaty expires this week. Could a new arms race soon accelerate?
https://theconversation.com/the-only-remaining-us-russia-nuclear-treaty-expires-this-week-could-a-new-arms-race-soon-accelerate-269508
‘It’s really sad’: US TikTok users rethink app over concerns about privacy and censorship. Many social media users have voiced concern over language in the app’s terms and conditions, which specifically point out the types of data that TikTok may collect on its users, including “racial and ethnic origin” and “sexual life or sexual orientation, status as transgender or nonbinary, citizenship or immigration status, or financial information”.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/01/tiktok-users-app-privacy-terms-conditions
Donald Trump sold a $US500 million ($717 million) stake in his crypto empire, World Liberty Financial, to an Abu Dhabi, UAE royal known as the “spy sheikh” just days before the US presidential inauguration.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/trump-sold-spy-sheikh-a-us500-million-stake-in-family-empire-20260202-p5nyp7.html
Keir Starmer among those suggesting Mountbatten-Windsor should appear before Congress following allegations of sexual encounter at Royal Lodge
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/feb/01/second-woman-alleges-epstein-sent-her-to-uk-to-have-sex-with-andrew-mountbatten-windsor
C of E bishops criticise UK inaction over Israel’s ‘West Bank de facto annexation’. Three bishops accuse British government of contributing to ‘culture of impunity’ in the occupied territory.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/01/bishops-criticise-uk-inaction-israel-west-bank-de-facto-annexation
Analysis: Keir Starmer hopes his China trip will begin the thaw after recent ice age. PM flies out after courting world’s second biggest economy aware of difficult balance of risks and potential rewards
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/31/starmer-hopes-his-china-trip-will-begin-the-thaw-after-recent-ice-age
‘You can tell the mood has changed’: How Plaid Cymru led the Welsh fightback against Reform
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/feb/01/wales-independence-plaid-cymru-green-coalition-reform-cardiff-caerphilly-byelection
Calls grow in Iran for independent inquiry into protest death toll. Pressure mounts after government said it would publish names of those killed during recent unrest.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/01/calls-grow-in-iran-for-independent-inquiry-into-protest-death-toll
Pakistan targets Balochistan separatists after ‘unprecedented’ assaults. Officials say calm restored to province day after dozens killed in suicide and gun attacks in at least 10 cities.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/01/pakistan-targets-balochistan-separatists-after-unprecedented-assaults
Russian drone attack on bus carrying mine workers in Ukraine kills at least 12
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/01/russian-drone-attack-on-bus-carrying-mine-workers-ukraine-kills
Cuba on the brink as Trump turns up the pressure: ‘There is going to be a real blockade’. Country is already suffering acute fuel shortage; experts say complete cutoff will be ‘catastrophic’ to its infrastructure.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/01/cuba-fuel-shortage-trump-tariffs
Costa Rica heads to polls amid fears of authoritarian turn. Voters to choose president and 57 members of congress, with current president’s hardline pick Laura Fernández expected to win first round
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/01/costa-rica-polls-fears-authoritarian-turn-laura-fernandez
The Guardian view on risks from biodiversity collapse: warnings must be heeded before it’s too late.
Inadequate food supplies and collapsing rainforests must be recognised as national security threats – not pigeonholed as green issues.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/feb/01/the-guardian-view-on-risks-from-biodiversity-collapse-warnings-must-be-heeded-before-its-too-late
Food delivery riders brave ‘brutal’ 40C heat so we don’t have to – but who’s protecting them?
Australia’s gig workers should not be forced to choose between their health and a paycheck when temperatures soar, experts say
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jan/31/food-delivery-riders-australia-heatwave-hot-weather-protection
In the first part of our series on digital politics, we look at how centrists have lost ground fighting disinformation – when the real battle is over emotion and attention.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/ng-interactive/2026/jan/30/digital-politics-liberals-internet-disinformation
In the second part of our series on digital politics, we look at how online provocateurs have advanced extreme political ideas – and watched them seep into the mainstream
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/ng-interactive/2026/jan/31/digital-politics-the-right-internet-digital-politics-extreme-political-ideas
How the left can win back the internet – and rise again. In the final part of this series, we look at how infighting has ripped the left apart online while the right has flourished – and how some progressives are turning the tide.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/ng-interactive/2026/feb/01/digital-politics-progressives-internet-the-left-online-world
Rex Douglas says:
Monday, February 2, 2026 at 8:53 am
– A Perth family found dead in a suspected murder-suicide had been “failed” by the National Disability Scheme, a support worker involved with one of the two boys has claimed.
https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/mosman-park-suspected-murdersuicide-family-failed-by-ndis-former-carer-claims/news-story/dcf219807c3cd92a4e53a69160060aa1
__________________
This is a terribly sad story.
It’s not the first story we’ve heard about people experiencing difficulties re NDIS cuts.
You know what the saddest part of this story is? That it has been reported that the family didn’t reach out for extra support as their 2 teenage Autistic boys became harder to handle, because they thought they could do the incredibly stressful job themselves. It finally broke them and instead of seeking help they’re now all dead.
So, 6 weeks after Bondi and the largest media pile on onto one side of politics that I can remember in my 40 years following politics, and Labor’s primary vote is down 1 to 34%. Was it all just noise? (Sure, the Greens are down 2% but I haven’t heard that much direct critic of their actions or positions). Or was it a media frenzy induced change from the small portion of voters who’s voting intentions are still impacted by horse race coverage, that when Albo neutralised the Royal Commission demands and the commentary eventually turned to something else, intentions simply reverted back to the pre- existing views?
Or will a media narrative build – led by Phil Coorey and the like – that Ley and the Liberals played a blinder over Christmas and New Year but it’s simply unexplainable how the Coalition primary vote has fallen another 3 – 7% from already very depressed mid 20%’s. Malcolm Turnbull and a few brave media souls have started pointing out that Ley over egged her response and the lack of bipartisan response went down like a bucket of cold sick with many in the community, regardless of the underlying issues. It was also strategically stupid to demand an immediate parliamentary response when you didn’t know what you’d be able to get your rag tag coalition to support.
At the end of the day, a Labor + Green primary of 45 – 46%, in a world where the Liberal’s have lost upto 5 – 8% to more centrist Independents who preference Labor 3-1, provides Labor about a 53-47 margin. Add to this even a moderately elevated One Nation vote and the preference leakage make is 55-45. Total chaos on the right as we have now and it’s at least 56-44 (probably more) against whatever group of parties a 2PP is calculated against.
BMann
The Libs have had some problematic candidates in Mt Gambier. One is in jail and the replacement is on home detention for spousal abuse.
High Street @ 9.03am,
Well said. The other thing that gets me about the spruikers of a Grand Coalition of the Right like Jolly Jumbuck, is that they airily say that the Conservative Liberals, Nats and ON will all hold hands and join together and let Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce boss them around, when it’s my contention that I doubt whether the Liberals and the Nats would want to do anything or go anywhere with the party that destroyed theirs. Meek capitulation to the Aussie Trump in Heels is not on their menu as far as I can see.
NDIS workers are being stalked, harassed and assaulted while ‘urgent’ safety reforms take three years to enact
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jan/31/ndis-workers-are-being-stalked-harassed-and-assaulted-while-urgent-safety-reforms-take-three-years-to-enact
“The review made 36 urgent recommendations to improve the safety and security of frontline NDIA staff.
Guardian Australia can reveal that despite this review being presented to NDIA management in May 2024, it took the government 15 months before it shared it with staff and the union.
The Guardian has also seen documentation from the NDIA that shows that the agency does not plan to fully implement some of the recommendations – including basic physical security measures like ensuring service centres have CCTV, lockable barriers, and opaque glass barriers – until February 2027, nearly three years after the government received the report.”
Morning all. In the sober light of morning the Redbridge poll result still looks like a shocker for the Libs and even more so the Nationals. The implied 2PP suggests Labor is dominant over a fractured set of RW parties.
Despite the media momentum, past history suggests Pauline Hanson is no uniter of factions. She has made her career out of causing factional divisions.
Albo will never have a better chance to introduce reforms. The one that is crying out is over tax rules that damage housing affordability
. The tax benefits flowing to property investors need to be rebalanced with first home owners, or the latter group will continue to struggle.
High Street
It was indeed the biggest pile on since the Gilliard prime ministership.
Having said that, thr media were absolutely feral here in Victoria during covid.
The pandemic was all Daniel Andrews fault. You know it makes sense.
@Hard Being Green
“I think it was Arky on the previous thread who effectively said we need to learn from the US and the mistake Hillary Clinton made with her basket of deplorables line. You don’t win people back by insulting them.”
Yes, that was the point I was trying to make to Ghost of Whitlam. I entirely agree about going hard against One Nation and their batshit ideas, but you do it going against the party and the politicians not the voters. Going hard against the voters just cements them where they are, and they are hardly lost causes when most have never even voted for ON yet.
And I persist that they have to be primarily approached from the economics angle, not the racism angle. Labor IS going to need set a very careful immigration policy, which was true anyway and I said it months ago, but that’s not the whole of it. The right wing populists sell predominantly working class and less educated people on superficial solutions they claim will make them better off, and it is up to progressive politicians and progressives in the community to persuade these voters that that’s crap and that progressive politics will actually be better for them. It doesn’t work to just point at them and say “you racist!”