⚙️ Political Gadgets News | Wednesday, 14 October 2026

Bluesky says the day’s #auspol talk was dominated by the Angie Bell “stoned in the square” remark and the firing squad livestream row

BlueSky #auspol  ·  14 October 2026, 04:29 AEST  ·  549 posts  ·  AI-generated

The loudest thread on Tuesday’s #auspol feed was the outrage over Liberal MP Angie Bell’s call in Question Time for the Prime Minister and Small Business Minister Anne Aly to be “stoned in the square”, a remark that drew condemnation from posters across the spectrum. It arrived alongside a second flashpoint: the proposed US livestream of a firing squad execution, which posters said the government was powerless to block. Opposition to Labor’s 30 per cent minimum trust tax, Liberal leadership speculation around Josh Frydenberg, and the Gaza genocide debate also featured heavily.

Key issues included the trust tax, which the Greens are reportedly moving to an inquiry amid business protests, with Labor’s Senate numbers now in question. Migration settings drew fire after the Queensland Hotels Association’s pro-migrant video and One Nation’s policy of temporary net negative migration, which posters argued would hurt small business. Housing affordability, aged care emergency department pressure and a federal focus on gas reservation policy rounded out the discussion. Posters also pressed the government on Gaza, with Senator Mehreen Faruqi’s push to suspend standing orders and expel the Israeli ambassador drawing wide engagement.

The standout exchange was the Angie Bell episode, which posters, including Liberal-aligned commentators, described as irresponsible and possibly incitement. Senator David Shoebridge’s claim that 500 Australians have served in the Israeli military also generated strong reaction. Overall the tone was angry and sardonic, with frequent criticism of both major parties and little sign of a shared political narrative.

Top topics: Angie Bell Remark  ·  Firing Squad Livestream  ·  Trust Tax Opposition  ·  Gaza Debate  ·  Migration Settings

AI-generated from BlueSky #auspol posts.

What they’re talking about

Most used words in parliament on 13 Oct 2026: PEOPLE (206) ALP (196) SOUTH (188) WESTERN (164) … [link]

Jayarndi Pty Ltd wins $7.8m water purchase deal with DCCEEW

Jayarndi Pty Ltd, listed in Moama, NSW, has been awarded a $7.8 million water purchase contract by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Searches turned up no public profile of the company, such as its ownership, history or other clients, so none is given here.

The department says the Australian Government sometimes buys water in regulated markets to meet environmental, economic and social goals under the Murray–Darling Basin Plan. Under the Voluntary Water Purchase Program for the 450 GL, rights bought from private sellers are transferred to the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder, which manages them. The Basin Plan requires 450 GL of additional environmental water by the end of 2027, and the department says less than 1% of the overall gap remains to be recovered. The department's statement that the water is used to protect and restore the environment is the only public signal of purpose found. The tender record does not say which program the contract falls under.

Comparable purchases are large. In June 2026 the ABC reported a deal worth more than $430 million in which a company associated with a superannuation fund sold almost 86 GL to the Commonwealth. The department's strategic purchasing page lists an average volume-weighted price of $2,401 for NSW Murray water. A separate program, the Aboriginal Water Entitlements Program, has been buying water for First Nations people since 2024, but nothing found links it to this contract.

The purchases come as conditions dry. The ABC reported that the NSW Murray general security allocation was 28 per cent in September, and the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder has said purchased entitlements follow the same allocation rules as irrigators' entitlements.

Sources: dcceew.gov.au; abc.net.au; insidewater.com.au [link]

All tenders

$37,339,220 in Fed Govt contracts given today. Top spend was with Jayarndi PTY LTD ($7,803,900) Jayarndi PTY LTD has received $7,803,900 in contracts this year. [link]

Consultant Tenders

$512,928,926 in Federal contracts to the big consultants in 2026. $593,116 yesterday. – Accenture: $593,116 {305} [link]

Flights

The VIP fleet flew at least 1,885 km in the last few days. That’s 2 planes doing 9 flights over 5 hrs and 36 mins and costing around $55,776. [link]

What’s Parliament doing

Parliament is sitting today. There are committees today. {26} [link]

Fed Govt Outsourced labour costs

Government Temporary Staff Tenders in the last day: $7,157,223 [link]

How does the tender money flow…

YTD tenders for Australian National Maritime Museum: $914,148 [link]

Donations

Robert Smith made $33,500 in Federal political donations. [link]

Politician Expenses

Bob Katter (Reps, Kennedy, Katter’s Australian) claimed $1,260,888 in expenses over the last 4 reported quarters for major categories such as travel, offices and cars. That is $613,182 more than the median. #auspol [link]

Double Donors

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu donated $47,497 in 2024-25. That was $25,644 to Labor and $21,853 to the Coalition. {9409} [link]

Parliamentary attendance

Milton Dick (Reps, Oxley, SPK) attended 53% of possible votes. [link]

Political advertising on Google

Political advertising spend with Google in last 24 hours: $18,750. (YTD: $3,824,700) [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]

Votes-Like-Taylor-O-Meter

Tracey Roberts (Reps, Pearce, Lab) is 43.20% Angus Taylor [link]