⚙️ Political Gadgets News | Saturday, 3 October 2026
Today’s Political Gadgets digest covers: Register of Interests: Sue Lines (WA) — interests updated; Federal contracts: $74,499,577 awarded; largest to NGJ COOPERATIVE PROGRAM ($9,939,679); Parliament: not sitting; MP expenses: Marion Scrymgour (Lingiari, Labor) — $1,274,147 over 4 quarters.
Today’s digest includes:
- Register of Interests: Sue Lines (WA) — interests updated
- Federal contracts: $74,499,577 awarded; largest to NGJ COOPERATIVE PROGRAM ($9,939,679)
- Parliament: not sitting
- MP expenses: Marion Scrymgour (Lingiari, Labor) — $1,274,147 over 4 quarters
- Political advertising: Google $150 (YTD $3,659,250)
Bluesky says David Shoebridge’s Greens leadership dominates debate as Labor fractures under pressure from multiple fronts.
BlueSky #auspol · 03 October 2026, 05:29 AEST · 485 posts · AI-generated
Australia’s political landscape shifted sharply in the 24 hours to 3 October, with new Greens leader David Shoebridge’s pledge to replace rather than merely reform Labor capturing sustained attention across the platform. Simultaneously, the Albanese government faces mounting criticism over corporate tax avoidance, AUKUS commitments, and data centre expansion, while One Nation’s electoral momentum reflects broader voter disillusionment with both major parties.
Key issues driving discussion include corporate tax accountability, with News Corp’s decade of zero tax payments and other major companies’ minimal contributions drawing calls for reform; data centre expansion and AI safety, with users questioning environmental costs and government secrecy around locations and impacts; and foreign policy tensions, particularly around AUKUS, Israeli-Palestinian affairs, and the government’s reluctance to use the word “genocide” despite mounting evidence. Housing affordability and cost-of-living pressures consistently frame anger at both Labor and the Coalition as insufficient.
A standout exchange saw criticism of Labor’s apparent double standard: urging Shoebridge to work constructively with government whilst simultaneously launching smear campaigns against him. The overall tone reflects frustration with the political duopoly, cautious optimism about Greens alternatives, and persistent concern that neither major party adequately addresses structural inequality, environmental crisis, or accountability for the wealthy.
Top topics: Greens Leadership Challenge · Corporate Tax Avoidance · AUKUS Foreign Policy · Data Centre Expansion · Housing Affordability Crisis
AI-generated from BlueSky #auspol posts.
Register of Interests Update — Lines, Sue
Western Australia
Australian Labor Party
Additions
| Person | Item | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Self | Sponsored Travel Or Hospitality | Three entry tickets to WA Royal Show Claremont – Gifted Royal Agriculture Society – September 2026 |
Deletions
None
Defence funds Growler jammer sustainment through US–Australia NGJ partnership
Defence has awarded the NGJ Cooperative Program a $9.94 million capability sustainment contract.
The supplier is a government-to-government arrangement, not a company. Australia has cooperated with the US Navy on the Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) since 2017, and the two countries expanded the partnership in 2020. They signed a Low Band project arrangement and a memorandum of agreement covering production, sustainment and follow-on development of the mid-band AN/ALQ-249 pod.
NGJ is meant to replace the ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System on the EA-18G Growler. The ALQ-99 has been in service since the early 1970s. The Royal Australian Air Force is the only foreign Growler operator and is expected to fly the type until 2040. Raytheon said the first mid-band shipsets reached Australia in September 2025, ahead of schedule. Reports say Australia's initial buy is eight shipsets, or 16 pods. The system uses digital, software-based electronically scanned arrays, so it can be updated as threats change.
Industry work continues around the program. On 23 September, the US announced an $876.4 million modification for L3Harris to continue NGJ Low Band development. The notice listed RAAF cooperative funding of $23.04 million obligated at award.
Sources: theaviationist.com; navair.navy.mil; flightglobal.com; migflug.com; militaryaerospace.com; armyrecognition.com [link]
All tenders
Fed govt contracts given today came to $74,499,577. The winner is NGJ COOPERATIVE PROGRAM ($9,939,679) NGJ COOPERATIVE PROGRAM has received $48,761,505 in contracts this year. [link]
Consultant Tenders
$510,505,111 in Federal contracts to the big consultants in 2026. $964,407 yesterday. – EY: $534,736 – Accenture: $429,671 {910} [link]
Flights
The VIP fleet flew at least 2,979 km in the last few days. That’s 3 planes doing 6 flights over 7 hrs and 27 mins and costing around $63,592. [link]
What’s Parliament doing
Parliament… is not sitting today. There are no committees today. {13} [link]
Fed Govt Outsourced labour costs
Government Temporary Staff Tenders in the last day: $22,099,916 [link]
Politician Expenses
Marion Scrymgour (Reps, Lingiari, Labor) claimed $1,274,147 in expenses over the last 4 reported quarters for major categories such as travel, offices and cars. That is $674,024 more than the median. #auspol [link]
Double Donors
Origin Energy donated $11,670 in 2024-25. That was $7,000 to Labor and $4,670 to the Coalition. {9273} [link]
Parliamentary attendance
Madeleine King (Reps, Brand, Australian Labor Party) attended 79% of possible votes. [link]
Political advertising on Google
Political advertising spend with Google in last 24 hours: $150. (YTD: $3,659,250) [link]
Political advertising on Facebook
Political advertising on Facebook on 29 Sep: $167,258 ($31.0m so far in 2026). Top spender: UNICEF Australia ($10,892). Biggest categories: Advocacy $56k, Charity $34k, Party/Candidate $25k. Full breakdown: https://politicalgadgets.com/SocialMedia/facebook_stats/2026-09-29.html [link]
Politicians’ Shareholding Index
End of week amusement – here is our index of politicians’ shareholdings measured against the index. [link]
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