#auspol on Bluesky: Tuesday 3 November 2026

1. TOP TRENDING TOPICS

• Interest rates and cost of living: Posts on the expected rate rise, RBA Governor Michelle Bullock's comments on unemployment, and blame for government spending dominate the feed, often amplified by AAP news reposts.
• Climate and fossil fuels: Criticism of the Albanese government's climate record, including COP31, fuel tax credits for miners, and a Riotinto mention, drew notable engagement.
• AUKUS and defence spending: Calls to "Dump AUKUS" and argue that money should go to homelessness and social services, with Simon Rosenberg's post among the most engaged.
• One Nation and the rise of minor parties: Posts attack One Nation, Pauline Hanson, and "Republicans, Reform, ONE NATION" as a bloc, while others celebrate independents and Serbia's Student List.
• Democratic renewal and trust in institutions: Discussion of secret money, weak disclosure, and calls for a national summit on democratic reform (John Menadue piece) gained traction.
• Gaza artwork censorship and Israel's influence: A NSW council's decision to withhold a Gaza artwork prompted strong reactions about political pressure.

2. NOTABLE POSTS

• @siriusstar3 (24 likes, 15 reposts): "anthony's dear mum, would probably be living in a tent, and denied the DSP, under his prime ministership. The true measure of any person can be found in how they treat the most vulnerable members of society. He has failed." Notable for its high engagement and its direct, personal framing of welfare policy, which captured the day's cost-of-living anxieties.

• @simonrosenberg (49 likes, 19 reposts): Citing John Menadue: "Secret money, privileged access, weak disclosure, politicised appointments and an underpowered Parliament reinforce one another." Notable as the most-engaged post in the set and a clear call for democratic renewal, linking institutional concerns to the wider agenda.

• @michaelwestbiz (20 likes, 10 reposts): The "EPIC Cup – Electricity Projects Incompetently Costed" line, quoting Ted Woodley, skewers the cost blowouts of major energy projects. Notable because it bridges the energy and budget debates with pointed satire that resonated with a mainstream commentator audience.

3. OVERALL SENTIMENT

The mood is frustrated and combative, with a strong left-leaning and progressive skew. Much of the conversation centres on perceived government failures, including rising rates, unemployment, homelessness, AUKUS spending, and climate inaction, with the Albanese government drawing criticism from both sides. Right-wing populism, particularly One Nation and Trump-linked politics, is framed with alarm and ridicule. Scattered positive notes appear around independent candidates, the Serbian student movement, and a Tuesday "good morning" post, but these are minor against a backdrop of anger, distrust of institutions, and calls for reform. The overall tone is pessimistic about the current direction of politics, though it also reflects engaged citizens pushing for change.

Most active: @winkypop.bsky.social (6 posts) · Most engaged: @simonrosenberg.bsky.social (49 likes, 19 reposts, 5 replies)

1. TOP TRENDING TOPICS

• Melbourne Cup / #NupToTheCup: Posts about horse deaths, gambling and animal cruelty drew the highest engagement of the window, led by a post with 50 likes and 15 reposts.
• Israel, Gaza and Jillian Segal: A large cluster of posts attacks Antisemitism Envoy Jillian Segal over alleged lobbying and FOI-revealed funding, and accuses the government and Israel of genocide.
• Shoalhaven Council and Andrew Constance: Local outrage over the council's handling of a genocide-themed artwork and a child-memorial dispute drew strong engagement.
• US alliance and US politics: Posts criticise US access to Australian bases, Albanese's links to Trump, and the US midterms, with AAP news feeds amplifying coverage.
• Cost of living, housing and tax: Posts call for taxing the wealthy, cite petrol price rises and rate hikes to 4.60%, and push housing supply and the aged care rebate.

2. NOTABLE POSTS

• @peterwmurphy1 (50 likes, 15 reposts): "This year, as every year, I'm saying #NupToTheCup. The #MelbourneCup is a celebration of animal cruelty and gambling." It was the most-engaged post in the set, showing animal welfare campaigning is cutting through.
• @mrrexpatrick (27 likes, 10 reposts): A critique of legal costs in an FOI case, listing Senior Counsel, barristers and lawyers for the government and Snowy Hydro, and pointing out that Albanese "wonders why FOI costs a lot." It was one of the few posts focused on transparency and public spending rather than broad partisan attack.
• @chattycathyau (11 likes): "Latest racist trope just dropped," responding to a comment about immigrants in country towns with a rebuttal. It stands out as a counter-narrative against anti-immigration framing, which is a recurring theme.

3. OVERALL SENTIMENT

The tone is predominantly angry, cynical and oppositional. A large share of posts, many of them highly repetitive and hashtag-heavy, is driven by a small number of accounts pushing pro-Palestinian and anti-Segal messaging, often with strongly charged language such as "genocide" and "traitors." Anti-government and anti-US-alignment sentiment runs through the stream, with the Albanese government criticised from the left. Anti-gambling and animal welfare posts show more civil, shared outrage, while economic posts express frustration about cost of living and the wealthy. Few posts engage in genuine debate, and the stream is dominated by advocacy and commentary rather than conversation, with very low engagement on most posts (most have zero to two likes).

Most active: @fernandolongo.bsky.social (18 posts) · Most engaged: @peterwmurphy1.bsky.social (50 likes, 15 reposts, 2 replies)

1. TOP TRENDING TOPICS

• RBA rate hike and cost of living: The cash rate reached an 18-year high, reportedly the fifth rise of 2026, with AAP wire posts and commentary on falling real wages and mortgage pressure dominating the feed.
• Melbourne Cup and horse welfare: Animal-rights groups, MPs and commentators are attacking racing ahead of Cup Day, citing a Guardian poll showing record-low interest and footage of ex-racehorse slaughter.
• Israel, Gaza and Jillian Segal: Posts criticise the Antisemitism Envoy for allegedly targeting Jewish critics of Israel, and several accounts call for boycotts and scrutiny of politicians' ties to pro-Israel lobbies.
• Victorian election and One Nation: Posts discuss the 28 November Victorian election, Pauline Hanson's party, and an alleged assault on a One Nation volunteer in Torquay.
• Bunnings and Wesfarmers boycott: Users are calling for boycotts of Bunnings and its parent Wesfarmers over alleged links to Israel and the Zionist Federation, with the boycott spreading to Kmart and Target.

2. NOTABLE POSTS

• @peterwmurphy1.bsky.social (93 likes, 36 reposts): "Jillian Segal has zero interest in preventing antisemitism. Her sole goal is to advance Israel's control over Australian federal and state govts..." This was the most-engaged post in the window and the centre of the Segal thread, which also drew a repost of an AFP foreign-interference page quoted as saying influence can be used to "silence, monitor, harass, co-opt or coerce."

• @animaljusticeparty.bsky.social (11 likes, 4 reposts): A Georgie Purcell MP message accompanying Farm Transparency Project footage: "Today the racing industry will tell you how much they love their horses. But this footage... shows us otherwise." It is one of several posts that turned Cup Day into a campaign moment.

• @charmainett.bsky.social (7 likes, 4 reposts): "Can someone explain to me why this is being reported as an 18 year peak when interest rates were at 6 point something percent when Labor came to power?" This is a useful example of a sceptical, fact-checking challenge to the framing of the rate story, and it reflects how partisan the economic debate has become.

3. OVERALL SENTIMENT

The mood is largely angry, anxious and cynical. Cost-of-living pressure, rising rates and perceived government failure run through much of the conversation, and many users express distrust of both major parties, with some saying Labor is controlled by lobbies and the Coalition has failed on accountability. Engagement on Gaza and Segal is intensely partisan, with much of it left-leaning and campaigning in tone. Some posts are light or ironic, such as the Joe Hockey "eleventy" correction and the Cup Day jokes, while the feed also contains spam and hashtag-trend posts that add noise. Overall, the discussion is highly engaged, sceptical of institutions, and focused on accountability and the economy.

Most active: @fernandolongo.bsky.social (17 posts) · Most engaged: @peterwmurphy1.bsky.social (93 likes, 36 reposts, 7 replies)

1. TOP TRENDING TOPICS

• RBA rate rise (cash rate to 4.85%, fifth hike this year): Dominant theme, with many posts blaming the RBA, the government, or the wealthy for mortgage pain and cost-of-living stress.
• AI and copyright: A steady stream of posts (often from the same accounts) on AI firms' training on creative work, the Anthropic settlement, and calls to protect Australian copyright.
• Israel, Gaza and Jillian Segal: Sustained criticism of the PM's appointee Segal, the Jess Wilson "globalise the Intifada" comments, and BDS-related calls.
• Melbourne Cup and the Alan Jones trial: Posts mocking the Cup as a distraction from cost of living and criticising Jones for reportedly wanting an adjournment to watch the race.
• Bruce Lehrmann and One Nation: Concern over media coverage asymmetry on Lehrmann and warnings about One Nation's links and Hanson's performance.

2. NOTABLE POSTS

• [qldaah.bsky.social] (73 likes, 30 reposts): "I have to search hard across all media to find updates on Liberal Party staffer Bruce Lehrmann… You can imagine what would be happening… if it were a Labor or Greens staffer." Notable for its engagement and for voicing a partisan media-double-standard argument that drew strong uptake.
• [simonrosenberg.bsky.social] (37 likes, 15 reposts): "The PM who appointed Jilian Segal was not acting in the Australian national interest. But as Oceania regional manager for the Netanyahu regime." Notable as one of the highest-engagement posts, reflecting the Segal controversy's momentum.
• [jeremywalker.bsky.social] (21 likes, 14 reposts): A NZ-focused post urging readers to examine how the Atlas Network has influenced media and government, framed as relevant to Australia. Notable for its reach and its cross-Tasman, think-tank-influence framing.

3. OVERALL SENTIMENT

The mood is predominantly angry, cynical and anxious. Cost-of-living frustration, particularly over the RBA's rate rise, dominates, with posts expressing despair about mortgage stress, inequality and a sense that governments and institutions serve the wealthy. Political distrust runs across the spectrum: Labor is criticised from the left for neoliberal policy and integrity issues, the Coalition and One Nation are attacked, and the media is accused of bias. Foreign policy, particularly Israel and AUKUS, adds a sharp, polarised edge. Engagement is generally low, with most posts receiving few or no likes, and a sizeable share is repetitive AAP news feed or hashtag-heavy content. Lighter moments are rare, mostly sardonic jokes about the Melbourne Cup and interest rates. Overall, the conversation reflects economic pessimism and deep disillusionment with the political class, with calls for wealth taxes and more public power recurring.

Most active: @coupdegraz7.bsky.social (9 posts) · Most engaged: @qldaah.bsky.social (73 likes, 30 reposts, 5 replies)