⚙️ Political Gadgets News | Tuesday, 13 October 2026
Today’s Political Gadgets digest covers: Parliament: sitting; MP expenses: Alison Penfold (Lyne, Nat) — $611,946 over 4 quarters; Political advertising: Google $45,600 (YTD $3,805,950).
Today’s digest includes:
- Parliament: sitting
- MP expenses: Alison Penfold (Lyne, Nat) — $611,946 over 4 quarters
- Political advertising: Google $45,600 (YTD $3,805,950)
Bluesky says Gaza, Penny Wong and Labor’s foreign policy dominate #auspol as opposition and minor-party voices fuel a cost-of-living debate
BlueSky #auspol · 13 October 2026, 04:29 AEST · 555 posts · AI-generated
The day’s loudest tension centred on Foreign Minister Penny Wong and the Albanese government’s handling of Israel, Palestine and the International Criminal Court. Posts questioning Wong’s comments on whether Palestinian elections could be held, and criticism of the government’s decision not to back the “Red Lines” package, drew some of the highest engagement of the day, with several posts calling for an end to AUKUS and an end to ties with Israel. The posts were framed largely by left-leaning and Greens-aligned accounts, while others pressed the government on the cost of living.
Key issues included Gaza and foreign policy, with users urging Labor to sanction Israel and accusing ministers of complicity in a genocide. Cost-of-living concerns featured heavily, with renewed calls for the Raise the Rate campaign on welfare, complaints about fuel prices and the Iran war, and attacks on the government’s fossil fuel approvals and windfall-tax stance. Political funding and transparency also surfaced, including criticism of Labor’s FOI court strategy and data-centre donations, alongside pressure for deepfake bans in political advertising. One Nation’s poll performance, including a Resolve survey showing it at 25 per cent and a DemosAU mega-poll, prompted debate over whether the party’s rise is slowing.
A standout post, shared 118 times, argued that the Red Lines package was being ignored by Australia’s political and media establishment, with the author pointing to the word “genocide” as the reason. The tone across the feed was combative and sceptical of both major parties, with a notable undercurrent of anger at the duopoly and calls to vote Greens or independent. Many posts were reposts or automated hashtag feeds, so the sample reflects the activist fringe more than the broader electorate.
Top topics: Gaza and Foreign Policy · Cost of Living · Penny Wong and Israel · Political Funding and Transparency · One Nation Polling
AI-generated from BlueSky #auspol posts.
Register of Interests Update — Mary Aldred
Monash, Victoria
Liberal Party
Additions
| Person | Item | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Self | 12. Travel Or Hospitality | Member of a bipartisan Australian Parliamentary delegation to Taiwan between 20 September – 27 September 2026 including sponsored international travel, accommodation and meals organised by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Australia. |
Deletions
None
Register of Interests Update — Mary Aldred
Monash, Victoria
Liberal Party
Additions
| Person | Item | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Self | 11. Gifts | Complimentary 12 month subscription to Communications Day. |
Deletions
None
Register of Interests Update — Monique Ryan
Kooyong, Victoria
Independent
Additions
| Person | Item | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Self | 11. Gifts | 2 tickets to performance of The Spare Room from The Board of Victorian Opera |
Deletions
None
What they’re talking about
Most used words in parliament on 12 Oct 2026: PEOPLE (633) TOBACCO (566) HEALTH (558) SUPPORT (371) … [link]
ANU Retains Pacific Security College Under Phase II
The Australian National University won a $22.44 million Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade contract for Pacific Security College Phase II.
The college began at ANU as the Australia Pacific Security College. It was launched in Canberra in 2019 and led by ANU associate professor Meg Keen. It was described as part of the government's Pacific Step-up. Its advisory board was chaired by former Defence Force chief Mark Binskin. It was funded by DFAT and designed in consultation with Pacific Island nations.
DFAT's tender notice says the college offers fully funded strategic training to Pacific security officials. It also gives technical assistance for national and regional security strategies and supports dialogue on regional security priorities. Phase II focus areas include training linked to the Boe Declaration on Regional Security, an annual Pacific Peace and Security Dialogue, technical assistance to Pacific Islands Forum members, and management of the advisory board.
The market approach sought a managing contractor, with a single lead organisation signing the contract. Consortia and subcontracting were permitted. A 2025 independent review by Strategic Development Group preceded the tender. A listing for the tender gave a budget of AUD 20.4 million. ANU has also led other DFAT-funded Pacific work, including the Pacific Research Program, delivered with the Lowy Institute.
Sources: dfat.gov.au; developmentaid.org; themandarin.com.au; defenceconnect.com.au [link]
All tenders
$66,167,456 in Fed Govt contracts given today. Top spend was with THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY ($22,440,000) THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY has received $47,377,028 in contracts this year. [link]
Consultant Tenders
$512,335,810 in Federal contracts to the big consultants in 2026. $804,598 yesterday. – PWC: $365,404 – Deloitte: $439,194 {563} [link]
Flights
The VIP fleet flew at least 936 km in the last few days. That’s 2 planes doing 2 flights over 1 hrs and 44 mins and costing around $13,359. [link]
Fed Govt Outsourced labour costs
Government Temporary Staff Tenders in the last day: $4,399,866 [link]
Donations
Australian Automotive Dealer Association made $834,290 in Federal political donations. [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
Sportsbet donated $163,000 in 2024-25. That was $88,000 to Labor and $75,000 to the Coalition. {9541} [link]
Parliamentary attendance
Glenn Sterle (Sen, WA, Australian Labor Party) attended 78% of possible votes. [link]
Political advertising on Google
Political advertising spend with Google in last 24 hours: $45,600. (YTD: $3,805,950) [link]
Political advertising on Facebook
Political advertising on Facebook on 9 Oct: $152,497 ($32.4m so far in 2026). Top spender: Queensland Government ($9,151). Biggest categories: Party/Candidate $33k, Charity $31k, Business $27k. Full breakdown: https://politicalgadgets.com/SocialMedia/facebook_stats/2026-10-09.html [link]
© Copyright PoliticalGadgets.com