⚙️ Political Gadgets News | Thursday, 24 September 2026
Today’s Political Gadgets digest covers: Parliament: not sitting; MP expenses: Terry Young (Longman, Lib Nat) — $556,598 over 4 quarters; Political advertising: Google $11,850 (YTD $3,570,600).
Today’s digest includes:
- Parliament: not sitting
- MP expenses: Terry Young (Longman, Lib Nat) — $556,598 over 4 quarters
- Political advertising: Google $11,850 (YTD $3,570,600)
Bluesky says Australia’s PM draws fire over Trump selfie amid competing pressures on climate, tech policy and foreign relations.
BlueSky #auspol · 24 September 2026, 05:29 AEST · 565 posts · AI-generated
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dominated Australian political conversation over 24 hours ending 24 September, with a photograph of him posing with Donald Trump at the UN generating sustained criticism from the left. Users expressed dismay at the optics of smiling alongside a figure widely described as a rapist and fascist, with one post receiving 148 likes and 32 reposts declaring: “I can’t vote for a party led by a man who takes cheery selfies with a rapist who just threatened to annihilate a nation.” The image encapsulated broader frustrations about Labor’s perceived capitulation to US interests, particularly on artificial intelligence regulation and social media algorithm controls, where the Trump administration publicly pressured Australia to exempt American tech firms.
Key Issues: The Coalition’s climate ambitions face internal discord, with Angus Taylor announcing plans to “take a chainsaw” to renewable energy laws and the safeguard mechanism, prompting ridicule from both the left and moderate Liberals who see the stance as electoral poison. One Nation’s polling surge to 30 percent—ahead of both Labor and the Coalition—reflects voter fury over cost-of-living pressures and housing unaffordability, with an intergenerational report warning young Australians face reduced wealth prospects. The US-Australia dispute over social media algorithm regulation revealed fundamental disagreement: Albanese frames the opt-out as consumer choice protecting digital autonomy, while Washington calls it censorship targeting American companies.
A standout exchange featured security leaders publicly questioning whether Albanese’s UN climate rhetoric matched domestic policy substance, noting his administration has approved 37 fossil fuel projects. The overall tone remains corrosive: users express exhaustion with Labor’s perceived spinelessness, despair over climate inaction, and deepening cynicism that neither major party represents ordinary Australians’ interests—driving unprecedented support for fringe alternatives.
Top topics: Trump Selfie Controversy · Climate Policy Inaction · Tech Regulation Dispute · Cost-of-Living Crisis · US-Australia Relations
AI-generated from BlueSky #auspol posts.
Register of Interests Update — ANTHONY ALBANESE
GRAYNDLER, NSW
Australian Labor Party · Prime Minister
Additions
| Person | Item | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Self | 11. Gifts | Benjarong Coffee Set from His Excellency Mr Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand -surrendered (to be donated to National Collections), Portrait from the Country Mayors Association of NSW, NorthConnex memento from Transurban, Commemorative 50c coin for the 70th Anniversary of Australia's First Television Broadcast from the Royal Australian Mint, Hawthorn FC Guernsey from Superhero |
| Self | 12. Sponsored travel or hospitality | Guest of South Sydney Rabbitohs Football Club at various games during 2026 season |
Deletions
None
Been working on upgrading our Lobbyist database with added details – Interest update
Been working on upgrading our Lobbyist database with added details, links and explanations. Shiny, new version is here: [link]
Defence Awards Teekay Shipping $24 Million Maritime Support Contract
The Department of Defence has awarded Teekay Shipping Australia a one-year contract valued at $24.1 million for maritime support services, continuing a relationship that dates back to 2003. The Sydney-based company manages a fleet of six vessels and specialises in operations support, supply and maintenance support, engineering support, and Australian crewing and training.
Teekay Shipping Australia currently operates several vessels for the Royal Australian Navy's National Support Squadron, including ADV Reliant, ADV Guidance, ADV Ocean Protector, MV Sycamore, and training vessels. The company provides civilian crews and technical management for these auxiliary ships, which support operational training, humanitarian relief, search and rescue operations, and undersea support services. Teekay's parent organisation was founded in 1973 and has grown into one of the world's largest marine energy transportation companies.
Maritime support services for defence forces typically encompass vessel operations, maintenance, crewing, fuel and water replenishment, dive support, and logistical management. The Defence Marine Support Services Program delivers both in-port capabilities such as harbour towing and passenger transfer, and out-of-port capabilities through large ocean-going vessels that provide operational support across Australian waters and the Pacific region.
Sources: linkedin.com; magicport.ai; bloomberg.com; teekay.com; wikipedia.org; naval-technology.com; navy.gov.au [link]
All tenders
$106,343,812 in Fed Govt contracts given today. Top spend was with TEEKAY SHIPPING (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD ($24,089,147) TEEKAY SHIPPING (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD has received $301,225,217 in contracts this year. [link]
Consultant Tenders
$503,511,390 in Federal contracts to the big consultants in 2026. $1,572,624 yesterday. – PWC: $823,437 – EY: $429,087 – Deloitte: $320,100 {1752} [link]
Flights
The VIP fleet flew at least 2,016 km in the last few days. That’s 2 planes doing 3 flights over 3 hrs and 01 mins and costing around $13,938. [link]
Fed Govt Outsourced labour costs
Government Temporary Staff Tenders in the last day: $9,212,690 [link]
How does the tender money flow…
YTD tenders for Australian Institute of Family Studies: $6,571,375 [link]
Politician Expenses
Terry Young (Reps, Longman, Lib Nat) claimed $556,598 in expenses over the last 4 reported quarters for major categories such as travel, offices and cars. That is $43,525 less than the median. #auspol [link]
Double Donors
Endeavour Group donated $161,226 in 2024-25. That was $86,500 to Labor and $74,726 to the Coalition. {451} [link]
Parliamentary attendance
Kara Cook (Reps, Bonner, Australian Labor Party) attended 98% of possible votes. [link]
Political advertising on Google
Political advertising spend with Google in last 24 hours: $11,850. (YTD: $3,570,600) [link]
Political advertising on Facebook
Political advertising on Facebook in the latest day: $105,297 ($26,718,952 YTD) [link]
Votes-Like-Taylor-O-Meter
Larissa Waters (Sen, Queensland, Australian Greens) is 10.35% Angus Taylor [link]
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