#auspol on Bluesky: Monday 12 October 2026

1. TOP 3–5 TRENDING TOPICS

• Gaza, genocide and AUKUS: Posts calling for an end to AUKUS and criticising Labor's stance on Israel, including the "Red Lines" package, drew some of the highest engagement in the set.
• Poverty and the Rate Rise: Calls to raise income support payments during Anti-Poverty Week, framed as government policy failure, were among the most-liked posts.
• Fossil fuels, gas and climate lobbying: Discussion centred on the gas reservation loopholes, a gas export tax, and think tanks such as the IPA and Atlas Network allegedly pushing fossil-fuel-aligned agendas.
• Coalition and One Nation politics: Angus Taylor's polling, the Coalition's proposed humanitarian intake cuts, and One Nation's rent-saving plan were discussed critically.
• ABC and media bias: Commentary on the departure of Alan Kohler and claims of pro-Israel bias at the ABC drew mixed reactions, with some lamenting the loss of trust in the national broadcaster.

2. NOTABLE POSTS

• [simonrosenberg.bsky.social] (39 likes, 19 reposts): "Your regular reminder that #poverty, #homelessness and food insecurity are failures of government policy. The Albanese govt has made the choice to not #RaiseTheRate..." This was the highest-engagement post in the set, showing how strongly the welfare debate resonates.
• [jeremywalker.bsky.social] (12 likes, 13 reposts): Reports $40 million reallocated from US human rights funding to Hillsdale College, framed as part of a global far-right push. It was among the most-shared posts and connects to the broader theme of foreign-funded political influence.
• [simonrosenberg.bsky.social] (20 likes, 5 reposts): "Hard agree. And while we are reviewing just how much we have 'shared values'™️ with this Christo-fascist regime, let's also #EndAUKUS." It links the US alliance debate to AUKUS and reflects a growing push within the left to challenge the alliance.

3. OVERALL SENTIMENT

The overall tone is highly critical and polarised, with most posts directed at the Albanese Labor government from the left, accusing it of complicity in Gaza, failing on poverty, and being too close to US foreign policy and fossil fuel interests. Right-leaning voices, including Angus Taylor and the Coalition, are attacked as authoritarian or irrelevant, while One Nation and the Trump administration are portrayed as fascist threats. There is also a strong anti-media-establishment sentiment, particularly towards News Corp and perceived ABC bias. Engagement is concentrated in a small number of high-profile left-leaning accounts, while many posts are low-engagement hashtag-only or spam-like posts, so the sample likely overstates the intensity of this view. Mood is angry, frustrated and pessimistic about the direction of Australian politics, with a few lighter moments such as jokes about political figures.

Most active: @winkypop.bsky.social (7 posts) · Most engaged: @simonrosenberg.bsky.social (39 likes, 19 reposts, 1 replies)

1. TOP TRENDING TOPICS

• Greens social media and big tech push: Greens proposals to lift platform penalties to a share of global revenue and let Australians sue big tech dominated engagement, with several high-like posts amplifying Hanson-Young and Shoebridge.
• Data centres and political donations: Scrutiny of Amazon's membership payments to Labor and fast-tracked data centre approvals drew strong community criticism.
• US foreign policy, Trump and AUKUS: Posts attacked US conduct (Trump ads ruling, Hegseth, Hormuz claims) and called for Australia to distance itself from AUKUS and US alliances.
• Gaza and Israel: Calls for BDS, protest coverage and criticism of the government's stance on Israel recurred throughout the feed.
• Cost of living and supermarkets: Discussion of a poll showing 84% support for public supermarkets, specialist fee caps, and housing affordability reflected economic grievances.

2. NOTABLE POSTS

• @michaelwestbiz.bsky.social (27 likes, 12 reposts): Commentary on the Snowy Mountains brumby cull ("No lethal control program is pleasant to contemplate") was the most-engaged post in the set, showing that animal welfare and rural policy drew wider attention than the political horse race.
• @leroylynch.bsky.social (4 likes): Shared a #DemosAU federal MRP poll showing ALP 27%, ONP 26%, LNP 22%, Greens 13%, with ALP projected at 73–85 seats. It is the most concrete electoral signal in the feed and points to a fragmented result with One Nation rising.
• @phantom-rooster.bsky.social (10 likes, 9 reposts): "The oil sector are taking us all for mugs" paired with Ampol's 376% profit rise amid the Iran war was the most-shared political post, capturing a populist anti-corporate mood.

3. OVERALL SENTIMENT

The mood is predominantly critical and distrustful, with posters across the spectrum aiming their anger at the major parties, big tech, corporate profiteering and US foreign policy. Left-leaning and Greens-aligned voices dominate, framing the "Duopoly" of Labor and the Coalition as complicit in corporate influence, while calls for "electoral baseball bats" and voting Green or Independent recur. Right-leaning and populist voices, including One Nation, are criticised as fascist-adjacent, and some posts allege bot activity. Engagement is modest overall, with most posts receiving few likes, and a notable undercurrent of cynicism about whether politicians act in the public interest runs through the conversation.

Most active: @peggysanders.bsky.social (8 posts) · Most engaged: @michaelwestbiz.bsky.social (27 likes, 12 reposts, 2 replies)

1. TOP TRENDING TOPICS

• Gaza, genocide and Israel-related politics: Heavy criticism of Albanese and Wong over human rights and the ICC/Nobel Peace Prize (Navi Pillay) episode, plus Angus Taylor's Oct 7 remarks and the Coalition's and Labor's votes against a trade-restriction bill.
• Anti-Poverty Week and the Newstart/JobSeeker rate: Calls to #RaiseTheRate, with criticism of Labor's welfare record and Plibersek's response.
• Frydenberg's comeback and the Murdoch media: Mockery of Josh Frydenberg's return to public commentary and claims of favourable treatment from Sky/News outlets.
• Hanson, One Nation and the Coalition's immigration and right-wing shift: Concern about One Nation's rise (including polling in Grey, SA) and the Coalition's policy direction.
• Housing, AUKUS and corporate influence: Critiques of housing policy, AUKUS spending, tech billionaires and political donations reform, with Greens and minor-party messaging amplified.

2. NOTABLE POSTS

• [simonrosenberg.bsky.social]: "Charities represent government policy failure. Plibersek's insulting tokenism represents cruel hypocrisy." This was among the most-engaged posts (15 likes, 10 reposts), tying the Anti-Poverty Week push to a direct attack on the government's welfare record.
• [jessicaperthwa.bsky.social]: "Remember One Nation want to copy MAGA and the Coalition have MPs that hate women's rights." Also highly engaged (15 likes, 10 reposts), it reflects a broader framing of One Nation and the Coalition as aligned with US-style politics.
• [miree.bsky.social]: "Well Julian Leeser. You can fuck right off. Get these Zionists out of our govt." This post drew 19 likes and 15 reposts. It is one of the most heated posts in the set and shows how Israel-related debate is spilling into abusive rhetoric about specific MPs.

3. OVERALL SENTIMENT

The mood is overwhelmingly hostile and cynical, with the dominant tone aimed at the major parties. Labor is criticised from the left over Gaza, welfare, AUKUS and corporate influence, and the Coalition is attacked from both the left and the anti-racism angle. One Nation draws particular contempt, while the Greens are promoted as the main alternative. Much of the conversation is driven by a small number of very active accounts, with heavy repetition of hashtags and some abusive or dehumanising language, particularly in the Question Time and Gaza threads. Less contentious content (solar, housing policy, a few factual news links) appears but gets little engagement. The overall impression is a left-leaning, distrustful audience frustrated with the major parties and focused on moral and human rights grievances.

Most active: @winkypop.bsky.social (12 posts) · Most engaged: @qldaah.bsky.social (31 likes, 13 reposts, 4 replies)

1. TOP TRENDING TOPICS

• Israel/Gaza and foreign policy: Heavy volume of posts criticising Albanese and Wong over Israel ties, calls for BDS and AUKUS to end, and debate over Navi Pillay's Nobel Prize and ICC attacks.
• Fuel crisis and the Iran war: Posts link Australia's fuel shortages to Trump's conflict with Iran, with the RSL criticising leaders for poor preparedness.
• Deepfakes and AI in political advertising: A coordinated push (GetUp petitions, Parliament's electoral committee reporting in November) calling for a ban on deepfakes in political ads.
• Liberal Party turmoil: Frydenberg's memoir, Coalition primary vote at 20%, and Jess Wilson's comments on US-style healthcare keep the opposition in the spotlight.
• Housing, healthcare and fossil fuels: Ongoing criticism of Labor's new fossil fuel approvals, housing affordability and calls for universal or reformed private healthcare.

2. NOTABLE POSTS

• [mrrexpatrick.bsky.social] (34 likes, 17 reposts): Quotes barrister Geoffrey Watson SC calling the government's tactic of taking FOI winners to court a "bully-boy tactic." This was the most-engaged post in the set and raises transparency concerns over legal costs for FOI applicants.
• [twangmaker.bsky.social] (12 likes, 5 reposts): "The resale value of diesel cars collapses," mocking Scott Morrison's claim that EVs would "end the weekend." Notable for its high engagement and its jab at a former PM.
• [andrewwilkiemp.bsky.social] (21 likes, 5 reposts): Calls for an independent Private Health System Authority to oversee private healthcare. It is a policy-focused post from a crossbench MP, and it stood out against the more partisan or polemical content around it.

3. OVERALL SENTIMENT

The mood is largely hostile and adversarial, with critical, polarised language aimed at both major parties. Left-leaning and activist accounts dominate, focusing on Israel, fossil fuels, US influence and capitalism, and often using harsh language toward Labor and the Coalition alike. Engagement is generally low, with most posts receiving few or no likes, though a handful of MP and journalist posts drew more attention. Several posts are repetitive or automated (AAP feed reposts, trending-hashtag bots, duplicated Kilmore Bypass press releases), and the set includes some spam and off-topic hashtag use. Overall the conversation is more frustrated and oppositional than constructive.

Most active: @kimwingerei.bsky.social (8 posts) · Most engaged: @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social (34 likes, 17 reposts, 3 replies)