{"id":515,"date":"2026-07-17T07:49:35","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T21:49:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/politicalgadgets.com\/words\/2026\/07\/17\/political-gadgets-news-2026-07-17\/"},"modified":"2026-07-17T07:49:35","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T21:49:35","slug":"political-gadgets-news-2026-07-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/politicalgadgets.com\/words\/2026\/07\/17\/political-gadgets-news-2026-07-17\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2699\ufe0f Political Gadgets News | Friday, 17 July 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"NewsArticle\",\n  \"headline\": \"\u2699\ufe0f Political Gadgets News | Friday, 17 July 2026\",\n  \"datePublished\": \"2026-07-17T07:48:59.591685+10:00\",\n  \"dateModified\": \"2026-07-17T07:48:59.591685+10:00\",\n  \"author\": {\n    \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n    \"name\": \"Political Gadgets\",\n    \"url\": \"https:\/\/politicalgadgets.com\"\n  },\n  \"publisher\": {\n    \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n    \"name\": \"Political Gadgets\",\n    \"logo\": {\n      \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n      \"url\": \"https:\/\/politicalgadgets.com\/words\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/pignew-1.png\"\n    }\n  },\n  \"description\": \"Daily Australian political transparency digest for Friday, 17 July 2026: Parliament: not sitting. Includes contracts, donations, expenses, parliamentary ac...\",\n  \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\n    \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n    \"@id\": \"https:\/\/politicalgadgets.com\/words\/2026\/07\/17\/political-gadgets-news-2026-07-17\/\"\n  },\n  \"about\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n      \"name\": \"Australian Federal Politics\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n      \"name\": \"Parliamentary Expenses\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n      \"name\": \"Political Donations\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n      \"name\": \"Government Contracts\"\n    }\n  ],\n  \"keywords\": \"$77, Million Federal Cloud, Licensing Deal, Consultant Tenders, Fed Govt Outsourced, Politician Expenses, Double Donors\",\n  \"image\": \"https:\/\/politicalgadgets.com\/words\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/pignew-1.png\"\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:15px;line-height:1.6;margin:0 0 16px;\">Today&#8217;s Political Gadgets digest covers: Parliament: not sitting; MP expenses: Jason Clare (Blaxland, Lab) \u2014 $1,479,395 over 4 quarters; Political advertising: Google $8,550 (YTD $2,952,300); Facebook $72,130 (YTD $1,506,807).<\/p>\n<div style=\"background:#f0f4f8;border:1px solid #ccc;border-radius:10px;padding:16px 20px;margin-bottom:20px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.6;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-weight:bold;\">Today&#8217;s digest includes:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"margin:0;padding-left:20px;\">\n<li>Parliament: not sitting<\/li>\n<li>MP expenses: Jason Clare (Blaxland, Lab) \u2014 $1,479,395 over 4 quarters<\/li>\n<li>Political advertising: Google $8,550 (YTD $2,952,300); Facebook $72,130 (YTD $1,506,807)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- Preview Text --><\/p>\n<div style=\"display:none; max-height:0px; overflow:hidden; opacity:0; color:transparent;\">\n  Today\u2019s snapshot of money, votes, donations and more.\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"max-width:640px; margin:0 auto; padding:16px;\">\n <!-- Masthead --><\/p>\n<div style=\"background:#fff; border:1px solid #ccc; border-radius:10px; padding:16px 18px; margin-bottom:18px;\">\n<div style=\"font-size:12px; letter-spacing:1px; text-transform:uppercase; color:#444; text-align:center;\">\n    Machinery for democracy\n  <\/div>\n<div style=\"border-top:2px solid #111; margin:10px 0 8px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size:38px; line-height:1.05; font-weight:700; color:#111; text-align:center;\">\n    Political Gadgets News\n  <\/div>\n<div style=\"border-top:1px solid #111; margin:8px 0 10px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"font-size:12px; color:#444; text-align:center;\">\n    Sydney \u2022 Friday, 17 July 2026 \u2022 Daily Edition \u2022 politicalgadgets.com\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"background:#ffffff; border:1px solid #ccc; border-radius:10px; padding:20px; margin-bottom:25px;\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:22px; margin:0 0 6px; color:#333;\">Bluesky says Middle East tensions and domestic policy failures dominate Australian political discourse as parliament enters recess.<\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:12px; color:#888; margin:0 0 14px;\">BlueSky #auspol &nbsp;\u00b7&nbsp; 17 July 2026, 05:29 AEST &nbsp;\u00b7&nbsp; 461 posts &nbsp;\u00b7&nbsp; AI-generated<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#444; margin:0 0 12px;\">The past 24 hours saw fractious debate across Australian politics centred on three interconnected crises: escalating Middle East conflicts, the government&#8217;s AI and data centre strategy, and fractures within Labor over foreign policy alignment. Posts numbered in the hundreds, yet reflected a deeply divided electorate where Gaza, AUKUS military partnerships, and tech regulation vie for attention alongside persistent criticisms of cost-of-living pressures and governance failures.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#444; margin:0 0 12px;\">Key Issues<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#444; margin:0 0 12px;\">The Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Islamophobia continues generating backlash, with users contending that restrictions on speech critical of Israel constitute censorship rather than protection. Separately, Prime Minister Albanese&#8217;s push to fast-track AI data centres\u2014and his broken promise to attend Garma\u2014drew sustained criticism from left-wing voices questioning whether the government prioritises corporate interests over Indigenous reconciliation and climate concerns. Finally, One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts faced renewed calls for resignation over conspiracy theories and antisemitic rhetoric, amid broader anxiety about far-right extremism and the influence of billionaire Gina Rinehart over Pauline Hanson&#8217;s political trajectory.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#444; margin:0 0 12px;\">The overall tone remained combative and polarised. While some users praised the government&#8217;s stated commitment to protecting Australian artists from uncompensated AI training, the dominant thread questioned whether Albanese has ceded Australia&#8217;s sovereignty to US military and tech interests. A standout exchange involved former Defence Minister Christopher Pyne&#8217;s appearance at the AUKUS Public Inquiry, prompting accusations that he profits from perpetual warfare. Critics invoked the phrase &#8220;same shit, different bucket&#8221; repeatedly\u2014a rallying cry capturing voters&#8217; fatigue with revolving-door corporate capture of government policy.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:13px; color:#555; border-top:1px solid #eee; padding-top:10px; margin:14px 0 0;\">Top topics: <strong style=\"color:#333;\">Middle East Tensions<\/strong> &nbsp;\u00b7&nbsp; <strong style=\"color:#333;\">AI Data Centre Strategy<\/strong> &nbsp;\u00b7&nbsp; <strong style=\"color:#333;\">AUKUS Military Partnerships<\/strong> &nbsp;\u00b7&nbsp; <strong style=\"color:#333;\">Cost-of-Living Pressures<\/strong> &nbsp;\u00b7&nbsp; <strong style=\"color:#333;\">Far-Right Extremism<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:11px; color:#999; font-style:italic; margin:12px 0 0;\">AI-generated from BlueSky #auspol posts.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"background:#ffffff; border:1px solid #ccc; border-radius:10px; padding:20px; margin-bottom:25px;\">\n<div style=\"max-width:100%; margin:0;\">\n<h2 style=\"margin: 0 0 6px 0;\">Register of Interests Update \u2014 Kara Cook<\/h2>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 4px 0;\">Bonner, Queensland<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 12px 0; color: #555; font-size: 14px;\">Australian Labor Party<\/p>\n<h3 style='margin:16px 0 8px 0;'>Additions<\/h3>\n<table style='border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;'>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th style='text-align:left;padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd;'>Person<\/th>\n<th style='text-align:left;padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd;'>Item<\/th>\n<th style='text-align:left;padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd;'>Details<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style='padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd;vertical-align:top;white-space:nowrap;'><b>Spouse\/Partner<\/b><\/td>\n<td style='padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd;vertical-align:top;white-space:nowrap;'>4. Directorships Of Companies<\/td>\n<td style='padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd;vertical-align:top;'>Muru Procurement Pty Ltd<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style='padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd;vertical-align:top;white-space:nowrap;'><b>Spouse\/Partner<\/b><\/td>\n<td style='padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd;vertical-align:top;white-space:nowrap;'>1. Shareholdings<\/td>\n<td style='padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd;vertical-align:top;'>Muru Holdings Pty Ltd<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3 style='margin:16px 0 8px 0;'>Deletions<\/h3>\n<p style='margin:0;'>None<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"background:#ffffff; border:1px solid #ccc; border-radius:10px; padding:20px; margin-bottom:25px;\">\n<div style=\"max-width:100%; margin:0;\">\n<h2 style=\"margin: 0 0 6px 0;\">Register of Interests Update \u2014 O&#x27;Neill, Deborah<\/h2>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 4px 0;\">New South Wales<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 12px 0; color: #555; font-size: 14px;\">Australian Labor Party<\/p>\n<h3 style='margin:16px 0 8px 0;'>Additions<\/h3>\n<table style='border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;'>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th style='text-align:left;padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd;'>Person<\/th>\n<th style='text-align:left;padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd;'>Item<\/th>\n<th style='text-align:left;padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd;'>Details<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style='padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd;vertical-align:top;white-space:nowrap;'><b>Self<\/b><\/td>\n<td style='padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd;vertical-align:top;white-space:nowrap;'>Sponsored Travel Or Hospitality<\/td>\n<td style='padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd;vertical-align:top;'>2026 Press Gallery Midwinter Ball ticket &#8211; sponsored by Westpac<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3 style='margin:16px 0 8px 0;'>Deletions<\/h3>\n<p style='margin:0;'>None<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"background:#ffffff; border:1px solid #ccc; border-radius:10px; padding:20px; margin-bottom:25px;\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:22px; margin:0 0 12px; color:#333;\">\n                Data#3 Secures $77 Million Federal Cloud and Licensing Deal<br \/>\n            <\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#444; margin:0 0 15px;\">\n                Brisbane-based technology services provider Data#3 has been awarded a five-year contract worth over $77 million to supply Microsoft licensing and Azure cloud services to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts. The contract, running from June 2026 to June 2031, covers the sixth volume sourcing agreement between the Australian Government and Microsoft.<\/p>\n<p>Data#3 is an ASX-listed information and communications technology company founded in 1977, with approximately 1,400 employees operating across 12 locations in Australia and Fiji. The company reported gross sales of $3 billion in the 2025 financial year and serves business and government markets with solutions spanning cloud, modern workplace, security, data analytics and connectivity. Data#3 was named Microsoft Country Partner of the Year for Australia in 2025 and holds the position of Microsoft&#x27;s largest Australian partner.<\/p>\n<p>In March 2026, Data#3 was appointed by the Digital Transformation Agency as the sole provider on a new panel to facilitate Microsoft product procurement under VSA6, which covers Microsoft Copilot, Microsoft 365, Azure cloud services, Dynamics 365 and security services for federal agencies. The five-year whole-of-government agreement includes capped price increases and a standardised contracting framework. Data#3 has served as the federal government&#x27;s exclusive Microsoft licensing solution provider since 2008 and also holds similar positions with the Victorian, Western Australian and New South Wales governments.<\/p>\n<p>Sources: data3.com; itnews.com.au; dta.gov.au; ibisworld.com; wikipedia.org <a href='https:\/\/politicalgadgets.com\/page.html?search=tsum' target='_blank'>[link]<\/a>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"background:#ffffff; border:1px solid #ccc; border-radius:10px; padding:20px; margin-bottom:25px;\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:22px; margin:0 0 12px; color:#333;\">\n                All tenders<br \/>\n            <\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#444; margin:0 0 15px;\">\n                The Fed Govt announced  $90,053,467 in contracts. Top of the list was DATA#3 LTD ($77,049,839) <a href='https:\/\/politicalgadgets.com\/page.html?search=tenderTotal' target='_blank'>[link]<\/a>\n            <\/p>\n<p>            <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/politicalgadgets.com\/images\/tendersTotal2.png?w=800&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:100%; border-radius:10px; margin-top:10px;\"><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"background:#ffffff; border:1px solid #ccc; border-radius:10px; padding:20px; margin-bottom:25px;\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:22px; margin:0 0 12px; color:#333;\">\n                Consultant Tenders<br \/>\n            <\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#444; margin:0 0 15px;\">\n                $248,906,648 in Federal contracts to the big consultants in 2026. $0 yesterday. {226} <a href='https:\/\/politicalgadgets.com\/page.html?search=tenders_pi' target='_blank'>[link]<\/a>\n            <\/p>\n<p>            <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/politicalgadgets.com\/images\/tendersbig4.png?w=800&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:100%; border-radius:10px; margin-top:10px;\"><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"background:#ffffff; border:1px solid #ccc; border-radius:10px; padding:20px; margin-bottom:25px;\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:22px; margin:0 0 12px; color:#333;\">\n                What&#8217;s Parliament doing<br \/>\n            <\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#444; margin:0 0 15px;\">\n                Parliament&#8230; is not sitting today. There are committees today. {32} <a href='https:\/\/politicalgadgets.com\/page.html?search=sitting2' target='_blank'>[link]<\/a>\n            <\/p>\n<p>            <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/politicalgadgets.com\/images\/new_parl_dates.png?w=800&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:100%; border-radius:10px; margin-top:10px;\"><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"background:#ffffff; border:1px solid #ccc; border-radius:10px; padding:20px; margin-bottom:25px;\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:22px; margin:0 0 12px; color:#333;\">\n                Flights<br \/>\n            <\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#444; margin:0 0 15px;\">\n                The VIP fleet flew at least 0 km in the last few days. That&#8217;s 1 plane doing 1 flight over 6 hrs and 25 mins and costing around $29,328.  <a href='https:\/\/politicalgadgets.com\/page.html?search=vipflights' target='_blank'>[link]<\/a>\n            <\/p>\n<p>            <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/politicalgadgets.com\/images\/flights.png?w=800&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:100%; border-radius:10px; margin-top:10px;\"><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"background:#ffffff; border:1px solid #ccc; border-radius:10px; padding:20px; margin-bottom:25px;\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:22px; margin:0 0 12px; color:#333;\">\n                Fed Govt Outsourced labour costs<br \/>\n            <\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#444; margin:0 0 15px;\">\n                Government Temporary Staff Tenders in the last day: $4,626,396 <a href='https:\/\/politicalgadgets.com\/page.html?search=outsource_tot' target='_blank'>[link]<\/a>\n            <\/p>\n<p>            <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/politicalgadgets.com\/images\/outsource_totals.png?w=800&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:100%; border-radius:10px; margin-top:10px;\"><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"background:#ffffff; border:1px solid #ccc; border-radius:10px; padding:20px; margin-bottom:25px;\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:22px; margin:0 0 12px; color:#333;\">\n                How does the tender money flow&#8230;<br \/>\n            <\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#444; margin:0 0 15px;\">\n                YTD tenders for Workplace Gender Equality Agency: $900,001 {513} <a href='https:\/\/politicalgadgets.com\/page.html?search=outsource_flow' target='_blank'>[link]<\/a>\n            <\/p>\n<p>            <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/politicalgadgets.com\/images\/outsource_flows.png?w=800&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:100%; border-radius:10px; margin-top:10px;\"><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"background:#ffffff; border:1px solid #ccc; border-radius:10px; padding:20px; margin-bottom:25px;\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:22px; margin:0 0 12px; color:#333;\">\n                Donations<br \/>\n            <\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#444; margin:0 0 15px;\">\n                Mills, Julie A declared $35,000 in political donations. {351} <a href='https:\/\/politicalgadgets.com\/page.html?search=donations' target='_blank'>[link]<\/a>\n            <\/p>\n<p>            <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/politicalgadgets.com\/images\/donations.png?w=800&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:100%; border-radius:10px; margin-top:10px;\"><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"background:#ffffff; border:1px solid #ccc; border-radius:10px; padding:20px; margin-bottom:25px;\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:22px; margin:0 0 12px; color:#333;\">\n                Politician Expenses<br \/>\n            <\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#444; margin:0 0 15px;\">\n                Jason Clare  (Reps, Blaxland, Lab) claimed $1,479,395 in expenses over the last 4 reported quarters for major categories such as travel, offices and cars. That is $699,683 more than the average. #auspol <a href='https:\/\/politicalgadgets.com\/page.html?search=expense' target='_blank'>[link]<\/a>\n            <\/p>\n<p>            <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/politicalgadgets.com\/images\/expenses_ind.png?w=800&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:100%; border-radius:10px; margin-top:10px;\"><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"background:#ffffff; border:1px solid #ccc; border-radius:10px; padding:20px; margin-bottom:25px;\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:22px; margin:0 0 12px; color:#333;\">\n                Double Donors<br \/>\n            <\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#444; margin:0 0 15px;\">\n                Australian Hotels Association &#8211; Federal Office donated $245,778 in 2023-24. That was $135,907 to Labor and $109,871 to the Coalition. {5973} #auspol <a href='https:\/\/politicalgadgets.com\/page.html?search=double_donors' target='_blank'>[link]<\/a>\n            <\/p>\n<p>            <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/politicalgadgets.com\/images\/double_donors.png?w=800&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:100%; border-radius:10px; margin-top:10px;\"><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"background:#ffffff; border:1px solid #ccc; border-radius:10px; padding:20px; margin-bottom:25px;\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:22px; margin:0 0 12px; color:#333;\">\n                Parliamentary attendance<br \/>\n            <\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#444; margin:0 0 15px;\">\n                Dan Repacholi (representatives, Hunter, Australian Labor Party) attended 92.0% of possible votes. <a href='https:\/\/politicalgadgets.com\/page.html?search=attend' target='_blank'>[link]<\/a>\n            <\/p>\n<p>            <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/politicalgadgets.com\/images\/attend.png?w=800&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:100%; border-radius:10px; margin-top:10px;\"><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"background:#ffffff; border:1px solid #ccc; border-radius:10px; padding:20px; margin-bottom:25px;\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:22px; margin:0 0 12px; color:#333;\">\n                Political advertising on Google<br \/>\n            <\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#444; margin:0 0 15px;\">\n                Political advertising spend with Google in last 24 hours: $8,550. (YTD: $2,952,300) <a href='https:\/\/politicalgadgets.com\/page.html?search=google_spend' target='_blank'>[link]<\/a>\n            <\/p>\n<p>            <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/politicalgadgets.com\/images\/google_spend.png?w=800&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:100%; border-radius:10px; margin-top:10px;\"><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"background:#ffffff; border:1px solid #ccc; border-radius:10px; padding:20px; margin-bottom:25px;\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:22px; margin:0 0 12px; color:#333;\">\n                Political advertising on Facebook<br \/>\n            <\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#444; margin:0 0 15px;\">\n                Political advertising on Facebook yesterday: $72,130. (YTD: $1,506,807) <a href='https:\/\/politicalgadgets.com\/page.html?search=fbook_spend' target='_blank'>[link]<\/a>\n            <\/p>\n<p>            <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/politicalgadgets.com\/images\/fbook_day.png?w=800&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:100%; border-radius:10px; margin-top:10px;\"><\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"font-size:11px; color:#666; margin-top:40px; text-align:center;\">\n    \u00a9 Copyright PoliticalGadgets.com\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Today&#8217;s Political Gadgets digest covers: Parliament: not sitting; MP expenses: Jason Clare (Blaxland, Lab) \u2014 $1,479,395 over 4 quarters; Political<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-515","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>\u2699\ufe0f Political Gadgets News | Friday, 17 July 2026 - Political Gadgets - Articles<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Daily Australian political transparency digest for Friday, 17 July 2026: Parliament: not sitting. 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