⚙️ Political Gadgets News | Thursday, 12 November 2026
Today’s Political Gadgets digest covers: Federal contracts: $3,242,956,611 awarded; largest to Air Travel Panel Providers ($3,000,000,000); Parliament: not sitting; MP expenses: Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Labor) — $1,595,293 over 4 quarters; Political advertising: Google $1,200 (YTD $5,528,100).
Today’s digest includes:
- Federal contracts: $3,242,956,611 awarded; largest to Air Travel Panel Providers ($3,000,000,000)
- Parliament: not sitting
- MP expenses: Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Labor) — $1,595,293 over 4 quarters
- Political advertising: Google $1,200 (YTD $5,528,100)
Bluesky says Segal schools push and Victorian preference deals dominate #auspol as Labor faces mounting pressure
BlueSky #auspol · 12 November 2026, 04:29 AEST · 687 posts · AI-generated
The day’s conversation was driven by a clash over Jillian Segal’s push to teach “Jewish history” in schools, with many posts accusing the government of bowing to an unelected envoy, while others framed the debate around silencing criticism of Israel. Simultaneously, Victoria’s looming state election dominated feeds, with Labor’s decision to preference One Nation-friendly tickets in Prahran and Liberal and Nationals preference decisions drawing sharp reaction from the Greens and independents.
Key issues included AUKUS, with a petition for a royal commission and renewed calls to scrap the submarine plan; aged care fees, particularly Bupa charging $42 a day for cooked breakfasts; and the cost of living, with posts linking inflation, rate rises and housing affordability to government policy. Corporate accountability also featured heavily, as Qantas executive pay, David Jones store closures and bank job cuts were cited as evidence of profit-driven decision-making. Protest rights drew attention after Newcastle council moved to bar Rising Tide events from council land, a move several users described as an attack on democratic expression.
The most widely shared post was a Simon Rosenberg item calling Dutton’s appointment to the War Memorial “the triumph of jobs for mates,” while a Qantas-related post on taxpayer support drew strong engagement. Overall tone was angry and cynical, with frequent references to a “duopoly” and calls for voters to put minor parties first on Victorian ballots.
Top topics: Segal Jewish History Schools · Victorian State Election · AUKUS Submarine Plan · Cost of Living · Corporate Accountability
AI-generated from BlueSky #auspol posts.
Printing and communications expenses
One of the great advantages of being an elected politician is that you get to advertise yourself to voters. It’s an enormous bonus for the next election… Federal Politician Spend on Printing and Communications in Q3 2026: $13,556,097 [link]
New Expenses data
The politician Expenses databases have been updated with the latest data (Q3 2026). This is the highest quarter in the data we track.
Interesting there always seems to be a jump in office admin 5 quarters after an election. [link]
Register of Interests Update — Alex Antic
South Australia
Liberal Party
Additions
| Person | Item | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Self | Registered Directorships Of Companies | Liberal Club Limited |
| Self | Trusts | Trustee of the Liberal Party of Australia (SA Division) |
| Self | Sponsored Travel Or Hospitality | Return economy class airfare from Adelaide to Brisbane from Liberal Party of Australia (SA Division) |
| Self | Gifts | Concessions from Jones and Partners |
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 | 2 tickets to The Australian Ballet on Tour at Adelaide Festival Theatre on 8 August 2026, courtesy of The Australian Ballet. |
Deletions
None
Register of Interests Update — Bridget McKenzie
Victoria
National Party · Leader of the Nationals in the Senate
Additions
| Person | Item | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Self | Sponsored Travel Or Hospitality | Return Airfares, Accommodation (3 Nights) and Conference Pass (including Meals) – Gifted by Centre for Independent Studies |
| Self | Gifts | Bunch of Fresh Native Flowers – Gifted by Lvly |
| Self | Gifts | Box of assorted chocolates – Gifted by Mars Australia |
| Self | Gifts | Apple Strudel – Gifted by Austrian Embassy |
Deletions
None
See the end of the newsletter for more Interests.
Whole-of-government air travel panel recorded at $3 billion
Air Travel Panel Providers, a group label for the airlines on the whole-of-government air travel arrangements, has a $3 billion contract notice with the Commonwealth of Australia.
The name does not refer to one company. The Department of Finance says the arrangements began on 1 October 2026 and include three domestic and 10 international airlines. It says the panel gives access to discounted fares across a wide route network. Jetstar takes part under Qantas' deed with the government. The panel is not exclusive, so entities can book non-panel airlines, although panel fares often offer the best value.
Finance describes air travel as the "Fly" component of a wider programme. That programme covers about 150 participating entities and over 20 suppliers. CTM provides travel management and accommodation, Hertz provides vehicle rental, and NAB provides payments. Panel airlines have previously included Qantas, Virgin Australia and Regional Express. Past panels, from 2010 and 2016, used a two-tier structure based on discounts and route alignment. A 2024 review noted concerns that Qantas and Virgin lounge access could influence travel patterns. The Canberra Times reported that Virgin said it received only 23 per cent of government bookings.
Tender aggregator listings show a similar notice for about $4.5 billion in August 2026. Both notices say the value may include charter flights and travel with providers outside the panel.
Sources: finance.gov.au; australianaviation.com.au; canberratimes.com.au; tendertracker.com.au [link]
All tenders
Fed govt contracts given today came to $3,242,956,611. The winner is Air Travel Panel Providers ($3,000,000,000) Air Travel Panel Providers has received $3,000,000,000 in contracts this year. [link]
Consultant Tenders
$562,997,438 in Federal contracts to the big consultants in 2026. $0 yesterday. {1583} [link]
Flights
The VIP fleet flew at least 2,353 km in the last few days. That’s 3 planes doing 5 flights over 5 hrs and 05 mins and costing around $39,237. [link]
Fed Govt Outsourced labour costs
Government Temporary Staff Tenders in the last day: $10,726,578 [link]
Politician Expenses
Tanya Plibersek (Reps, Sydney, Labor) claimed $1,595,293 in expenses over the last 4 reported quarters for major categories such as travel, offices and cars. That is $947,587 more than the median. #auspol [link]
Double Donors
Visa AP (Australia) donated $123,000 in 2024-25. That was $75,500 to Labor and $47,500 to the Coalition. {3519} [link]
Parliamentary attendance
Benjamin Small (Reps, Forrest, Liberal Party) attended 79% of possible votes. [link]
Political advertising on Google
Political advertising spend with Google in last 24 hours: $1,200. (YTD: $5,528,100) [link]
Political advertising on Facebook
Political advertising on Facebook on 8 Nov: $170,196 ($37.2m so far in 2026). Top spender: Victorian Labor ($20,843). Biggest categories: Party/Candidate $64k, Advocacy $43k, Business $19k. Full breakdown: https://politicalgadgets.com/SocialMedia/facebook_stats/2026-11-08.html [link]
Register of Interests Update — Andrew Bragg
New South Wales
Liberal Party
Additions
| Person | Item | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Self | Liabilities | Loan on property – ANZ Bank |
| Self | Sponsored Travel Or Hospitality | Tickets to AFL finals – Australian Football League |
Deletions
| Person | Item | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Self | Liabilities | Loan on property – National Australia Bank |
Register of Interests Update — Bridget McKenzie
Victoria
National Party · Leader of the Nationals in the Senate
Additions
| Person | Item | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Self | Gifts | Child size cap, Little Ace Match Set and Puzzle – Gifted by Tennis Australia |
| Self | Sponsored Travel Or Hospitality | Lunch Tickets x 2 – Shadow Cabinet Luncheon – Gifted by Melbourne Royal |
| Self | Sponsored Travel Or Hospitality | Ticket x 1 for Conference & Dinners plus Accommodation (2 Nights) – Gifted by CPAC |
Deletions
None
Register of Interests Update — David Pocock
Australian Capital Territory
Independent · Independent ACT Whip
Additions
| Person | Item | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Self | Gifts | Singlet and 2 x t-shirts from Basketball Australia |
| Self | Gifts | Polo shirt from Cricket ACT |
| Self | Sponsored Travel Or Hospitality | Dinner at ACT Farmers Association Centenary Dinner |
| Self | Gifts | Various books sent to my office |
Deletions
None
Register of Interests Update — Glenn Sterle
Western Australia
Australian Labor Party
Additions
| Person | Item | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Self | Sponsored Travel Or Hospitality | Accommodation and hospitality supplied by TWU NSW to attend their 2026 Delegates Conference on 26-28 August 2026 at Rooty Hill NSW |
Deletions
None
Register of Interests Update — Penny Allman-Payne
Queensland
Australian Greens
Additions
| Person | Item | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Self | Gifts | Book: "The Weight of Witness: The experiences of Australian & New Zealand medics in Gaza", received by post from P. Conder on behalf of the authors. |
Deletions
None
Register of Interests Update — Pauline Hanson
Queensland
Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party · Leader of One Nation
Additions
| Person | Item | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Self | Sponsored Travel Or Hospitality | 7 November 2026. Flight return trip Brisbane to Regional Victoria. Courtesy of TBM 700C21 PTY LTD. |
| Self | Sponsored Travel Or Hospitality | Flight from Brisbane to Canberra. 12 October 2026. Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd. |
Deletions
None
Register of Interests Update — Kara Cook
Bonner, Queensland
Australian Labor Party
Additions
| Person | Item | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse/Partner | 14. Other Interests | Chair of the Board of Inquiry into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander deaths in custody in the Alexander Maconochie Centre |
Deletions
None
Register of Interests Update — Daniel Repacholi
Hunter, New South Wales
Australian Labor Party
Additions
| Person | Item | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Self | 11. Gifts | Received a bottle of 2024 Black Shiraz from Garth Eather at Meerea Park Vineyard valued at $350 |
Deletions
None
Federal Grants – Last 24 Hours
In the last 24 hours the Australian Government awarded $43,217,179 across 2,053 grants. Biggest: Estia Investments Pty. Ltd. ($5,500,000). Full electorate breakdown: https://politicalgadgets.com/grants/map/ [link]
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