{"id":585,"date":"2026-09-16T07:49:38","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T21:49:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/politicalgadgets.com\/words\/2026\/09\/16\/political-gadgets-news-2026-09-16\/"},"modified":"2026-09-16T07:49:38","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T21:49:38","slug":"political-gadgets-news-2026-09-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/politicalgadgets.com\/words\/2026\/09\/16\/political-gadgets-news-2026-09-16\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2699\ufe0f Political Gadgets News | Wednesday, 16 September 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 | Wednesday, 16 September 2026\",\n  \"datePublished\": \"2026-09-16T07:48:57.389266+10:00\",\n  \"dateModified\": \"2026-09-16T07:48:57.389266+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 Wednesday, 16 September 2026: Federal contracts: $194,061,273 awarded; largest to COWATER INTERNATIONAL ...\",\n  \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\n    \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n    \"@id\": \"https:\/\/politicalgadgets.com\/words\/2026\/09\/16\/political-gadgets-news-2026-09-16\/\"\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\": \"$110m, Canadian Firm Wins, Leste Health, Education Contract, 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: Federal contracts: $194,061,273 awarded; largest to COWATER INTERNATIONAL INC ($110,000,000); Parliament: sitting; MP expenses: Catherine King (Ballarat, Lab) \u2014 $1,024,837 over 4 quarters; Political advertising: Google $9,000 (YTD $3,499,650); Facebook $90,638 (YTD $25,706,060).<\/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>Federal contracts: $194,061,273 awarded; largest to COWATER INTERNATIONAL INC ($110,000,000)<\/li>\n<li>Parliament: sitting<\/li>\n<li>MP expenses: Catherine King (Ballarat, Lab) \u2014 $1,024,837 over 4 quarters<\/li>\n<li>Political advertising: Google $9,000 (YTD $3,499,650); Facebook $90,638 (YTD $25,706,060)<\/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 Wednesday, 16 September 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 Australian politics dominated by Hanson racism row, migration policy chaos, and AUKUS tensions.<\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:12px; color:#888; margin:0 0 14px;\">BlueSky #auspol &nbsp;\u00b7&nbsp; 16 September 2026, 05:29 AEST &nbsp;\u00b7&nbsp; 534 posts &nbsp;\u00b7&nbsp; AI-generated<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#444; margin:0 0 12px;\">Pauline Hanson&#8217;s description of Indigenous Australians as &#8220;the most primitive race on Earth&#8221; dominated the 24-hour conversation, with her qualified apology\u2014&#8221;if I&#8217;ve offended people&#8221;\u2014drawing widespread criticism for sidestepping genuine contrition. The non-apology exposed fractures in how political leadership addresses racism, with observers noting her deflection mirrored tactics used by predecessors. Simultaneously, One Nation&#8217;s costed migration policy unraveled under scrutiny when Barnaby Joyce admitted the party bypassed costings bodies because voters are &#8220;tired of facts,&#8221; crystallising concerns about policy substance across the political spectrum.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#444; margin:0 0 12px;\">Key Issues: Three overlapping tensions defined the day&#8217;s discourse. First, Hanson and One Nation&#8217;s rising polling (matching Labor at 25 percent in one Roy Morgan poll) reflects alienation among voters facing cost-of-living pressures, though economists warn One Nation&#8217;s net-negative migration pledge risks Depression-era economic damage to aged care, construction, and agriculture. Second, the Albanese government faced multiple integrity challenges\u2014Catherine King&#8217;s lifetime Qantas platinum membership, Whyalla steelworks spending secrecy, and broader questions about corporate capture\u2014fuelling perceptions of a government tired in office. Third, AUKUS commitments and AI regulation dominated defence and tech policy, with crossbench members and analysts questioning whether Australia serves U.S. interests over its own sovereignty.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#444; margin:0 0 12px;\">A standout exchange involved Andrew Wilkie urging the government to adopt the crossbench&#8217;s Red Lines package\u2014ending Australian funding, arming, or investment in illegal settlements and war crimes\u2014without seeking credit, simply wanting outcomes. The overall tone remained one of institutional frustration: citizens demanding competent governance, media struggling to investigate systematically, and a political class perceived as captured by competing oligarchic and foreign interests.<\/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;\">Indigenous racism controversy<\/strong> &nbsp;\u00b7&nbsp; <strong style=\"color:#333;\">Migration policy costings<\/strong> &nbsp;\u00b7&nbsp; <strong style=\"color:#333;\">Government integrity challenges<\/strong> &nbsp;\u00b7&nbsp; <strong style=\"color:#333;\">AUKUS and sovereignty<\/strong> &nbsp;\u00b7&nbsp; <strong style=\"color:#333;\">Crossbench Red Lines package<\/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 Julian Leeser<\/h2>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 4px 0;\">Berowra, New South Wales<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 12px 0; color: #555; font-size: 14px;\">Liberal Party \u00b7 Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians<\/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;'>12. Travel Or Hospitality<\/td>\n<td style='padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd;vertical-align:top;'>August 20,2026 &#8211; Stravinsky, Mills &amp; Shostakovich &#8211; Guests of Australian World Orchestra<\/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 Patrick Gorman<\/h2>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 4px 0;\">Perth, Western Australia<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 12px 0; color: #555; font-size: 14px;\">Australian Labor Party \u00b7 Assistant Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations<\/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;'>12. Travel Or Hospitality<\/td>\n<td style='padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd;vertical-align:top;'>Room upgrade at the Shangri La Sydney Hotel on Saturday 12 September.<\/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 Madeleine King<\/h2>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 4px 0;\">Brand, Western Australia<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 12px 0; color: #555; font-size: 14px;\">Australian Labor Party \u00b7 Minister for Northern Australia<\/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;'>11. Gifts<\/td>\n<td style='padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd;vertical-align:top;'>Gift: Enamelled box containing a silk scarf Provided by: His excellency Mr Le M.nh Hung, Vietnamese Minister for Industry and Trade. Value: Unknown Date provided: 11\/08\/26 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\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;'>12. Travel Or Hospitality<\/td>\n<td style='padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd;vertical-align:top;'>2 x tickets and hospitality at the Fremantle v Adelaide AFL Game courtesy of 7 West media. Value: Unknown Date provided: 14\/08\/26 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\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;'>12. Travel Or Hospitality<\/td>\n<td style='padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd;vertical-align:top;'>Correction to a 7th of August Date alteration: 14\/07\/2026 &#8211; 4 tickets to Fremantle v GWS AFL game Hosted by Woodside Value: Unknown This was on the 04\/07\/26 <\/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<p style=\"font-size:14px; color:#555; text-align:center; font-style:italic; margin:0 0 20px;\">\n            See the end of the newsletter for more Interests.\n        <\/p>\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 they&#8217;re talking about<br \/>\n            <\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#444; margin:0 0 15px;\">\n                Most used words in parliament on 15 Sep 2026: LABOR (277) SOUTH (263) PEOPLE (243) NEW (211)  &#8230;  <a href='https:\/\/politicalgadgets.com\/page.html?search=hans_wordc' target='_blank'>[link]<\/a>\n            <\/p>\n<p>            <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/politicalgadgets.com\/images\/hans_word_c.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                Canadian Firm Wins $110m Timor-Leste Health and Education Contract<br \/>\n            <\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#444; margin:0 0 15px;\">\n                Cowater International Inc, a Canadian development consulting firm, has been awarded a $110 million contract to manage the first phase of Australia&#x27;s Human Development Initiative in Timor-Leste. The five-year contract, which commenced in August 2026 and runs until 2031, forms part of a broader $220 million, ten-year program announced by the Prime Minister in January 2026 to strengthen health, education, and disability services across the Southeast Asian nation.<\/p>\n<p>Founded in 1985 and headquartered in Ottawa, Cowater International describes itself as Canada&#x27;s largest international development consulting company, having delivered over 2,500 projects in more than 95 countries. The firm operates through corporate hubs in Auckland, Berlin, Brussels, Canberra, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Nairobi, Singapore, and Stockholm. Its clients include bilateral development agencies, multilateral institutions, and governments, with Australia&#x27;s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade identified as a key client. In May 2025, Cowater acquired Australian consultancy Equity Economics to strengthen its Asia-Pacific footprint.<\/p>\n<p>The Human Development Initiative aims to strengthen Timorese government systems to deliver quality inclusive health and education services and support disability rights through three pillars: health, education, and disability. The program builds on Australia&#x27;s decade-long Partnership for Human Development, which was previously managed by Abt Associates and focused on improving literacy, primary healthcare, teacher mentoring systems, and budget management capacity within Timor-Leste&#x27;s health and education ministries.<\/p>\n<p>Sources: cowater.com; pm.gov.au; dfat.gov.au; tenders.gov.au; equityeconomics.com.au <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                Fed govt contracts given today came to  $194,061,273. The winner is COWATER INTERNATIONAL INC ($110,000,000) <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                $501,025,690 in Federal contracts to the big consultants in 2026. $32,993 yesterday. &#8211; PWC: $32,993 {1602} <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 is sitting today. There are committees today. {65} <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 4,998 km in the last few days. That&#8217;s 2 planes doing 3 flights over 6 hrs and 07 mins and costing around $27,959.  <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: $0 <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 Digital Transformation Agency: $140,236,633 {311} <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                The Pharmacy Guild of Australia declared $6,124,769 in political donations. {794} <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                Catherine King  (Reps, Ballarat, Lab) claimed $1,024,837 in expenses over the last 4 reported quarters for major categories such as travel, offices and cars. That is $416,211 more than the median. #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                Gray, Ben donated $60,500 in 2023-24. That was $43,000 to Labor and $17,500 to the Coalition. {6965} #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                Melissa Price (representatives, Durack, Liberal Party) attended 85.0% 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: $9,000. (YTD: $3,499,650) <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: $90,638. (YTD: $25,706,060) <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<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 Richard Marles<\/h2>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 4px 0;\">Corio<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 12px 0; color: #555; font-size: 14px;\">Australian Labor Party \u00b7 Minister for Defence<\/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;'>12. Travel Or Hospitality<\/td>\n<td style='padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd;vertical-align:top;'>2 ticket to NFL San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams game in a corporate suite at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Friday 11 September 2026. Tickets provided by Netflix.<\/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 Carol Berry<\/h2>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 4px 0;\">Whitlam, 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<p style='margin:0;'>None<\/p>\n<h3 style='margin:16px 0 8px 0;'>Deletions<\/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;'>14. Other Interests<\/td>\n<td style='padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd;vertical-align:top;'>No longer Patron of Shellharbour U3A.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/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: Federal contracts: $194,061,273 awarded; largest to COWATER INTERNATIONAL INC ($110,000,000); Parliament: sitting; MP expenses: Catherine<\/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-585","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>\u2699\ufe0f Political Gadgets News | Wednesday, 16 September 2026 - Political Gadgets - Articles<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Daily Australian political transparency digest for Wednesday, 16 September 2026: Federal contracts: $194,061,273 awarded; 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