⚙️ Political Gadgets News | Wednesday, 26 August 2026
Today’s Political Gadgets digest covers: Parliament: not sitting; MP expenses: Wendy Askew (Tasmania, Lib) — $595,767 over 4 quarters; Political advertising: Google $7,950 (YTD $3,340,800); Facebook $89,372 (YTD $5,439,000).
Today’s digest includes:
- Parliament: not sitting
- MP expenses: Wendy Askew (Tasmania, Lib) — $595,767 over 4 quarters
- Political advertising: Google $7,950 (YTD $3,340,800); Facebook $89,372 (YTD $5,439,000)
Bluesky says Australian politics consumed by lobbying scandal as corporate capture dominates campaign.
BlueSky #auspol · 26 August 2026, 05:44 AEST · 542 posts · AI-generated
Four Corners’ investigation into political lobbying has dominated Australian political discourse on Bluesky, with users expressing alarm at the revolving door between politicians and industry interests. The 24-hour conversation reflects deep concern about whose interests government actually serves, alongside ongoing disputes over migration policy, cost-of-living pressures, and Israel-Palestine tensions.
Key issues driving discussion: Corporate influence in politics, with particular focus on fossil fuel and defence industry lobbying of Labor and Coalition alike; the government’s handling of AI data centres amid energy and climate concerns; and the NDIS, with reports of potential Palantir involvement and political absences during parliamentary votes prompting accusations of another “Robodebt” scenario. Secondary tensions include Peter Dutton’s property dealings, One Nation’s confused migration targets, and mounting frustration with both major parties’ failure to act on cost-of-living issues.
A standout exchange saw Greens Senator Nick McKim deliver a blunt rebuke to comedian Dave Hughes over his comments on NDIS cuts, garnering 78 likes and 30 reposts—a rare moment of direct parliamentary accountability resonating with users fatigued by political evasion. Overall tone: angry and despairing, with voters expressing loss of faith in the major parties and increasing calls to vote independent, as traditional party divisions erode under the weight of perceived systemic corruption.
Top topics: Corporate Lobbying Scandal · NDIS Reform Concerns · Cost-of-Living Crisis · AI Data Centres · Migration Policy
AI-generated from BlueSky #auspol posts.
Register of Interests Update — Joanna Briskey
Maribyrnong, Victoria
Australian Labor Party
Additions
| Person | Item | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Self | 11. Gifts | Essendon vs Collingwood Anzac Day Game: Hospitality (lunch & drinks) & ticket to match on 25/04/26 provided by Essendon Football Club |
| Self | 12. Travel Or Hospitality | Hospitality paid for by Banksia Strategic Partners for an event held on 23/04/26 |
| Self | 11. Gifts | Geelong vs Hawthorn AFL Game: 4 tickets provided by Telstra on 06/04/26 |
| Spouse/Partner | 11. Gifts | Essendon vs Collingwood Anzac Day Game: Hospitality (lunch & drinks) & ticket to match on 25/04/26 provided by Essendon Football Club |
Deletions
None
Register of Interests Update — Marion Alice Jordan-Baird
Gorton, Victoria
Australian Labor Party
Additions
| Person | Item | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Self | 11. Gifts | Qantas Club Chairman's Lounge Membership |
Deletions
None
Leidos Australia Secures $90.9 Million Health Department Computing Contract
Leidos Australia has been awarded a three-year contract worth $90.9 million to deliver enterprise computing services for the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. The contract, signed on 25 August 2026, runs until August 2029 and represents one of the largest recent IT infrastructure procurements by the health portfolio.
Leidos Australia is a subsidiary of US-based Fortune 500 company Leidos Holdings, which reported global revenues of $16.6 billion in 2024. The Australian operation employs approximately 2,000 staff and delivers technology solutions across defence, intelligence, government, aviation, border protection and health markets. The company has secured over $6.4 billion in Australian government contracts across more than 1,600 engagements, with clients including the Australian Taxation Office, Department of Home Affairs, and Department of Defence.
Enterprise computing services typically encompass data centre infrastructure, cloud computing platforms, server management, storage systems, and network resources that underpin large-scale government IT operations. The Department of Health released a tender in early 2026 seeking to modernise its enterprise computing infrastructure, citing aging platforms approaching end-of-life, limited cloud modernisation resources, and security patching gaps requiring uplift. The department's current services are delivered through a whole-of-ICT outsourcing arrangement with two data centres housing 135 physical servers supporting approximately 45 key business services. Leidos has previously delivered health IT projects for Australian government agencies, including a $329 million health knowledge management system for the Australian Defence Force.
Sources: leidos.com; awardedtenders.au; health.gov.au; techpartner.news; ibisworld.com [link]
All tenders
The Fed Govt announced $127,376,201 in contracts. Top of the list was LEIDOS AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED ($90,859,290) [link]
Consultant Tenders
$298,482,307 in Federal contracts to the big consultants in 2026. $797,438 yesterday. – Deloitte: $797,438 {1815} [link]
Flights
The VIP fleet flew at least 843 km in the last few days. That’s 1 plane doing 3 flights over 1 hrs and 38 mins and costing around $7,522. [link]
How does the tender money flow…
YTD tenders for National Portrait Gallery of Australia: $8,970,636 {674} [link]
Politician Expenses
Wendy Askew (Sen, Tasmania, Lib) claimed $595,767 in expenses over the last 4 reported quarters for major categories such as travel, offices and cars. That is $68,142 more than the median. #auspol [link]
Double Donors
Satterley Property Group donated $83,450 in 2023-24. That was $79,780 to Labor and $3,670 to the Coalition. {8403} #auspol [link]
Parliamentary attendance
Sarah Henderson (senate, Victoria, Liberal Party) attended 75.3% of possible votes. [link]
Political advertising on Google
Political advertising spend with Google in last 24 hours: $7,950. (YTD: $3,340,800) [link]
Political advertising on Facebook
Political advertising on Facebook yesterday: $89,372. (YTD: $5,439,000) [link]
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