⚙️ Political Gadgets News | Wednesday, 4 November 2026
Today’s Political Gadgets digest covers: Parliament: not sitting; MP expenses: Alison Penfold (Lyne, Nat) — $611,946 over 4 quarters; Political advertising: Google $0 (YTD $4,743,750).
Today’s digest includes:
- Parliament: not sitting
- MP expenses: Alison Penfold (Lyne, Nat) — $611,946 over 4 quarters
- Political advertising: Google $0 (YTD $4,743,750)
Bluesky says the RBA’s fifth rate rise of 2026 has dominated #auspol, with anger over cost of living and Labor’s economic management
BlueSky #auspol · 04 November 2026, 04:29 AEST · 610 posts · AI-generated
The Reserve Bank’s decision to lift the cash rate to 4.85 per cent, an 18-year high, drove the day’s conversation, with many posters blaming government spending, others pointing to corporate profits and the Middle East war, and some attacking the central bank itself. The timing alongside the Melbourne Cup and the Victorian election campaign sharpened the mood, with posters framing the rise as a blow to mortgage holders.
Key issues included Israel and Gaza, which generated the highest volume of posts, centred on calls to sack antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal and on AUKUS and US alliance concerns. Discussion of the under-16s social media ban, now before the High Court, and the US midterm elections also featured heavily. Animal welfare and gambling drew strong engagement ahead of the Melbourne Cup, while One Nation remained a target after reports of violence against a party volunteer in Victoria.
The most-engaged post was a call to boycott the Melbourne Cup, a view echoed across dozens of posts, while a widely shared critique accused the Prime Minister of letting lobbyists shape policy. Overall tone was angry and cynical, with frustration at both major parties and the rising interest in minor and independent candidates.
Top topics: Interest Rate Rise · Israel and Gaza · Cost of Living · Under-16s Social Media Ban · Melbourne Cup Boycott
AI-generated from BlueSky #auspol posts.
Who politicians bank with
Who politicians bank with and owe money to…
Big banks get the lion’s share of politicians’ business, with the Commonwealth the winner.
Interestingly, NAB, with the reputation of being for the big end of town, is more popular with Coalition MPs.
Full details with drill-down at: [link]
Register of Interests Update — Alex Antic
South Australia
Liberal Party
Additions
None
Deletions
| Person | Item | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Self | Registered Directorships Of Companies | Liberal Club Limited |
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 | Ground transport for the G20 Trade Ministers Meeting, courtesy of the United States Trade Representative from 29th September to 1st October 2026. |
Deletions
None
Register of Interests Update — Malarndirri McCarthy
Northern Territory
Australian Labor Party · Minister for Indigenous Australians
Additions
| Person | Item | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Self | Real Estate | Location: Russell Lea, NSW 2046 Purpose for which owned: Inheritance |
Deletions
None
See the end of the newsletter for more Interests.
Hansen Yuncken wins Southern Ocean Research Aquarium works
Hansen Yuncken Pty Ltd has been awarded the $17.22 million main works package for the Southern Ocean Research Aquarium by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, for the Australian Antarctic Division.
Hansen Yuncken is a privately owned, family-led construction company. It was founded in Melbourne in 1918 by Lauritz Hansen and Otto Yuncken, and opened Hobart and Adelaide branches in 1937 and 1939. It reports annual turnover above $1.4 billion and has 501-1,000 employees on LinkedIn. Its projects include Hobart's MONA, the HOTA Gallery and the Victorian Pride Centre. It is also building Flinders University's Health & Medical Research Building, which has many level 2 physical containment laboratories. A company profile describes its work as ranging from about $15 million to $1 billion.
The company has worked for the Antarctic Division before. A 2002 AAD announcement named Hansen Yuncken as contractor for a $6.2 million upgrade at the Kingston headquarters. That upgrade included refurbished laboratories and a dedicated krill aquarium.
The AAD says it operates the only research facility for captive Antarctic krill in the world. Its scientists use the cold-water aquarium at Kingston to study krill biology. Krill are described as the cornerstone of the Antarctic ecosystem, and the research feeds into sustainable management of the krill resource. A published study reported that the Kingston aquarium induced krill to breed and school for over a year. It credited water quality, feeding, temperature and natural light conditions.
Sources: antarctica.gov.au; linkedin.com; propertycouncil.com.au; en.wikipedia.org; tharawat-magazine.com; squareholes.com; sciencedirect.com; pittwateronlinenews.com [link]
All tenders
The Fed Govt announced $73,542,202 in contracts. Top of the list was HANSEN YUNCKEN PTY LTD [118] ($17,220,000) HANSEN YUNCKEN PTY LTD [118] has received $17,358,516 in contracts this year. [link]
Consultant Tenders
$559,184,343 in Federal contracts to the big consultants in 2026. $0 yesterday. {43} [link]
Flights
The VIP fleet flew at least 2,058 km in the last few days. That’s 2 planes doing 6 flights over 3 hrs and 58 mins and costing around $18,271. [link]
Fed Govt Outsourced labour costs
Government Temporary Staff Tenders in the last day: $6,698,640 [link]
Politician Expenses
Alison Penfold (Reps, Lyne, Nat) claimed $611,946 in expenses over the last 4 reported quarters for major categories such as travel, offices and cars. That is $35,760 less than the median. #auspol [link]
Double Donors
Woodside Energy Group donated $79,550 in 2024-25. That was $37,300 to Labor and $42,250 to the Coalition. {9463} [link]
Parliamentary attendance
Helen Haines (Reps, Indi, Independent) attended 92% of possible votes. [link]
Political advertising on Google
Political advertising spend with Google in last 24 hours: $0. (YTD: $4,743,750) [link]
Political advertising on Facebook
Political advertising on Facebook on 31 Oct: $174,768 ($35.9m so far in 2026). Top spender: Victorian Labor ($21,349). Biggest categories: Party/Candidate $76k, Advocacy $32k, Business $19k. Full breakdown: https://politicalgadgets.com/SocialMedia/facebook_stats/2026-10-31.html [link]
Register of Interests Update — Vanessa Bleyer
Tasmania
Australian Greens
Additions
| Person | Item | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Self | Office Holder Donating | Donor – Just Cats |
Deletions
None
Register of Interests Update — Patrick Conroy
Shortland, New South Wales
Australian Labor Party · Minister for Pacific Island Affairs
Additions
| Person | Item | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Self | 12. Travel Or Hospitality | Accepted tickets from the ARLC for myself and guests to attend the NRLW and NRL Grand Finals in Sydney on 4 October, meeting with the ARLC on the Pacific Pathways program, and meeting with the visiting PNG delegation including Trade Minister Maru. |
| Self | 12. Travel Or Hospitality | Accepted tickets from the Australian Rugby Union for myself and a guest to attend the Wallabies vs All Blacks game (Bledisloe Cup) in Sydney on 17 October. |
| Dependent Children | 12. Travel Or Hospitality | Tickets for 4 October events, as noted against "Self". |
| Dependent Children | 12. Travel Or Hospitality | Ticket for 17 October event, as noted against "Self". |
Deletions
None
Register of Interests Update — Slade Brockman
Western Australia
Liberal Party · Deputy President and Chair of Committees
Additions
| Person | Item | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Self | Sponsored Travel Or Hospitality | September 20 – 27, 2026 Taipei Economic & Cultural Office in Australia – flights, accommodation & hospitality in Taiwan |
Deletions
None
Federal Grants – Last 24 Hours
In the last 24 hours the Australian Government awarded $5,800 across 1 grant. Biggest: n/a ($5,800). Full electorate breakdown: https://politicalgadgets.com/grants/map/ [link]
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