⚙️ Political Gadgets News | Wednesday, 28 October 2026
Today’s Political Gadgets digest covers: Federal contracts: $144,383,160 awarded; largest to J Kadowaki Inc ($16,776,906); Parliament: sitting; MP expenses: Jonathon Duniam (TAS, Lib) — $578,534 over 4 quarters; Political advertising: Google $63,900 (YTD $4,250,100).
Today’s digest includes:
- Federal contracts: $144,383,160 awarded; largest to J Kadowaki Inc ($16,776,906)
- Parliament: sitting
- MP expenses: Jonathon Duniam (TAS, Lib) — $578,534 over 4 quarters
- Political advertising: Google $63,900 (YTD $4,250,100)
Bluesky says One Nation cartoon row dominates #auspol as Bluey controversy and welfare cuts draw fire
BlueSky #auspol · 28 October 2026, 04:29 AEST · 613 posts · AI-generated
The day’s conversation was dominated by the ABC’s move to send a cease-and-desist letter to One Nation over a Please Explain cartoon that used the Bluey characters to ram politicians with an SUV, with many posters framing the row as a test of how the national broadcaster and mainstream media treat far-right provocation. The row sat alongside a broader complaint that the Albanese government is hostile to people on low incomes, with the Bluesky conversation fixing on the aged care assessment algorithm, the proposed Jobseeker penalties and the spectre of Robodebt returning.
Key issues included the Bluey cartoon and the wider debate over political hate speech after an alleged attack on Independent MP Helen Haines, which prompted calls for duress alarms and security reviews for MPs. Posters also targeted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese over his admission that his description of a $6 million golf club grant had been “not correct”, with some alleging pork-barrelling. Aged care automation, poverty and welfare rates drew sustained criticism, and AUKUS, Israel and the Gaza war featured heavily in posts from the left and in commentary about the Israeli election.
A standout post came from Senator David Shoebridge’s Greens camp, which previewed his National Press Club address on Wednesday, promising “an alternative vision for Australia”. The overall tone was angry and sceptical, with frequent accusations of hypocrisy against both major parties, and a notable amount of commentary on Victoria’s upcoming state election, which is set for 28 November.
Top topics: Bluey Cartoon Row · Aged Care Automation · Welfare Cuts and Robodebt · Political Hate Speech · AUKUS and Gaza
AI-generated from BlueSky #auspol posts.
Register of Interests Update — Anne Urquhart
Braddon, Tasmania
Australian Labor Party
Additions
| Person | Item | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Self | 13. Memberships | Just Cats Tasmania donation |
Deletions
None
Register of Interests Update — Patrick Gorman
Perth, Western Australia
Australian Labor Party · Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister
Additions
| Person | Item | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Self | 12. Travel Or Hospitality | Room upgrade at the Shangri-La Hotel in Sydney for my stay on 18-20 October 2026. |
Deletions
None
Register of Interests Update — Don Farrell
South Australia
Australian Labor Party · Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
Additions
| Person | Item | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Self | Sponsored Travel Or Hospitality | Clare Valley Festival of the Lamb Dinner courtesy of the Mintaro Progress Association on 24 September 2026. |
| Self | Sponsored Travel Or Hospitality | 2 tickets and hospitality to the AFL Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground courtesy of The Australian Football League on 26 September 2026. |
Deletions
None
See the end of the newsletter for more Interests.
What they’re talking about
Most used words in parliament on 27 Oct 2026: GAS (516) PEOPLE (484) ONLINE (349) SOCIAL (236) … [link]
Honolulu builder J. Kadowaki wins $16.8m DFAT building contract
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has awarded J Kadowaki Inc a building construction and maintenance contract worth about $16.8 million.
J. Kadowaki, Inc. is a general contractor based in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Better Business Bureau lists it as incorporated in 1974 and operating since 1977, with Jay Kadowaki as president. Data aggregator ZoomInfo puts it at roughly 11–50 employees. One principal's profile says the firm specialises in commercial building shells, office, retail and restaurant, healthcare and high-tech work in Hawaii.
Permit records on BuildZoom show mostly commercial renovation work on Oahu, including office fit-outs and fire-sprinkler, electrical and air-conditioning alterations. The records show 33 projects over three years, and the company joined the Procore network in 2024. The firm is not BBB accredited.
The listings I found don't mention previous Australian government work or what this contract covers. I found no public detail on its scope.
Sources: bbb.org; zoominfo.com; buildzoom.com; linkedin.com; procore.com [link]
All tenders
Fed govt contracts given today came to $144,383,160. The winner is J Kadowaki Inc ($16,776,906) J Kadowaki Inc has received $16,776,907 in contracts this year. [link]
Consultant Tenders
$515,477,574 in Federal contracts to the big consultants in 2026. $0 yesterday. {1285} [link]
Fed Govt Outsourced labour costs
Government Temporary Staff Tenders in the last day: $14,846,419 [link]
How does the tender money flow…
YTD tenders for Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority: $16,627,496 [link]
Politician Expenses
Jonathon Duniam (Senate, TAS, Lib) claimed $578,534 in expenses over the last 4 reported quarters for major categories such as travel, offices and cars. That is $69,172 less than the median. #auspol [link]
Double Donors
The Gandel Group donated $20,000 in 2024-25. That was $10,000 to Labor and $10,000 to the Coalition. {1236} [link]
Parliamentary attendance
David Farley (Reps, Farrer, Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party) attended 58% of possible votes. [link]
Political advertising on Google
Political advertising spend with Google in last 24 hours: $63,900. (YTD: $4,250,100) [link]
Political advertising on Facebook
Political advertising on Facebook on 24 Oct: $151,880 ($34.8m so far in 2026). Top spender: Australian Energy Producers ($9,378). Biggest categories: Party/Candidate $44k, Advocacy $29k, Business $25k. Full breakdown: https://politicalgadgets.com/SocialMedia/facebook_stats/2026-10-24.html [link]
Register of Interests Update — Nicolette Boele
Bradfield, New South Wales
Independent
Additions
| Person | Item | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Self | 12. Travel Or Hospitality | Travel Sydney-Gold Coast return and overnight accommodation by Climate 200 for community town hall event. |
Deletions
None
Register of Interests Update — Leon Rebello
McPherson, Queensland
Liberal National Party
Additions
| Person | Item | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Self | 11. Gifts | Framed Gold Coast Titans jersey signed by players, received as a gift from The Lottery Office. Estimated value $1,000. |
Deletions
None
Register of Interests Update — Michelle Rowland
Greenway, New South Wales
Australian Labor Party · Attorney-General
Additions
| Person | Item | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Self | 12. Travel Or Hospitality | Ticket (self) and hospitality from Venues NSW to Bledisloe Cup – Wallabies vs All Blacks at Accor Stadium in Sydney on 17 October 2026 |
Deletions
None
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