31 years later, after dinner at Mar-a-Lago, #JeffBezos agreed to finance a promotional film about #MelaniaTrump that will reportedly put $28M directly in her pocket—280 times the Clinton lucre & in this case from a person with a vested interest in #policies set by her husband’s govt. Scandal? Furor? Washington moved on while barely taking notice.

Day 31 cont

A reminder, the seat of Aston was the seat of a former (discraced) Liberal MP, #AlanTudge #TudgyFudge.

“#PeterDutton (#Liberal) continues his campaign swing through #Melbourne’s #suburbs, and you’ll never guess where the bus has stopped now.

That’s right, we’re now at Dutton’s 15th PETROL STATION PHOTO-OP of the #campaign – that’s 15 – at a truck stop in #Aston. Dutton’s plan to cut the fuel excise by 25 cents per litre is getting a major airing in his campaign material, the backdrops of his #PressConferences, and his #photo #opportunities.”

Slogans, propaganda and stunts…

OR

Policies?

#AusPol / #propaganda / #slogans / #policies / #policy / #LNP / #Nationals / #Coalition <https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/apr/30/australia-election-2025-live-housing-crisis-anthony-albanese-peter-dutton-campaign-final-week-labor-coalition-cpi-inflation-ntwnfb?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-6811b11f8f08f0938cf49225#block-6811b11f8f08f0938cf49225> / “Education Minister Alan Tudge stands aside amid abuse allegations, PM tells parliament” <https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-02/alan-tudge-stands-aside-amid-abuse-allegations/100669592>

Day 31 cont

“#Young #voters in #Australia's most expensive #towns slam #housing #policies ahead of federal #election”

Australia eats it’s young.

#AusPol / #cities / #land / #LandUse <https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-30/young-voters-slam-housing-policies-federal-election-2025/105223452>

Day 30 cont

“The #Opposition still has not released its #costings, despite being four days out until #election day. Asked about it on the campaign trail, #PeterDutton (#Liberal) says the costings will be provided “IN DUE COURSE”, adding the costings would “#demonstrate that the #BottomLine will always be better under a Liberal #government”.

Wouldn’t have been easier to work on POLICIES?

#AusPol / #LNP / #Nationals / #Coalition / #Costings / #policies <PM takes aim at Max Chandler-Mather while campaigning in Brisbane – as it happened https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/apr/29/australia-election-2025-live-peter-dutton-anthony-albanese-campaign-polls-economy-costing-credit-labor-coalition-ntwnfb?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-681048ee8f08c96900e5368a#block-681048ee8f08c96900e5368a>

Day 29

“It’s the election billed as the battle between #Boomers and #Zoomers. By most estimates, it’s the first time #GenZ s and #Millennials outnumber their parents and grandparents as a voting bloc.

The parties have attempted to tailor their #SocialMedia pitches accordingly on issues that disproportionately affect #YoungPeople: the cost of living, HECS debts and housing. A tide of social media #memes, AI ads and several diss tracks have been met with varying levels of enthusiasm from their target audience.”

#AusPol / #Policies / #LNP / #Liberal / #Labor / #Greens / #Coalition / #Independents <https://archive.md/kx6gL> / <https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/not-so-pitch-perfect-young-voice-concerns-and-it-s-not-just-the-cost-of-living-20250421-p5lt4n.html> (paywall)

Day 28 cont

“When she (#BridgetMcKenzie) was asked directly by host David Speers whether the #Coalition had any #policies to reduce the emissions responsible for #GlobalHeating, McKenzie appeared to laugh before moving on to talk about the Coalition’s #Nuclear proposal.

This appears to be the first time a Coalition MP has been asked this question directly during the campaign.”

#AusPol / #LNP / #Liberal / #Coalition / #ClimateEmergency / #EmissionsReduction / #emissions <https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/apr/27/australia-election-2025-live-updates-anthony-albanese-peter-dutton-debate-labor-liberal-cost-of-living-medicare-telehealth-nsw-vic-ntwnfb?page=with%3Ablock-680d85d68f08082b6071e9fb#block-680d85d68f08082b6071e9fb>

Day 28 cont

“Look past all the flip-flopping, all the reversals, all the contradictions and you see a very clear pattern: a risky and expensive #NuclearPolicy that he doesn’t want to talk about and he certainly doesn’t want to #visit any of the #sites. A defence policy that is little more than a media release and handouts that disappear after just 12 months.

These are #policies with huge price tags but the last thing #PeterDutton ever wanted to talk about is where he’s going to get the money from. You won’t be surprised that I don’t share his reluctance. He’s going to get it by ripping into health, education and childcare.” — #AnthonyAlbanese

#AusPol / #LNP / #Liberal / #Coalition / #propaganda <https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/apr/27/australia-election-2025-live-updates-anthony-albanese-peter-dutton-debate-labor-liberal-cost-of-living-medicare-telehealth-nsw-vic-ntwnfb?page=with%3Ablock-680d8f648f0848f875064a3e#block-680d8f648f0848f875064a3e>

Day 23 cont

“I have no wish to help #promote Russia’s #propaganda messages and I would suggest that that is not in #Australia’s national interest either.” — PM

#Labor responding to #LNP, #Liberal & #Nationals on Indonesia.

#AusPol / #slogans / #policies <https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/apr/21/coalition-sex-offender-register-peter-dutton-labor-early-voting-election-easter-monday-ntwnfb?page=with%3Ablock-6805848d8f08195611b6bc62#block-6805848d8f08195611b6bc62>

Day 23

“Blocking the #GamblingAdReforms is the fourth known example of Albanese’s willingness to #overrule senior ministers such as #EnvironmentMinister Tanya Plibersek, #AttorneyGeneral Mark Dreyfus and assistant minister Andrew Leigh when they were tackling #controversial and #sensitive #policies.

The #PrimeMinister can always use the authority of his position to make the final call on all matters of policy. This masthead has already revealed that #Albanese has come over the top of Plibersek on #EnvironmentalProtection laws, Dreyfus on mandatory jail terms for hate crimes and antisemitism, and Leigh on sex and gender census questions.”

I’m going to be re-elected.

#AusPol / #Labor / #PM / #Leadership <https://archive.md/PfMXe> / <https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/albanese-used-captain-s-call-to-avoid-messy-brawl-over-gambling-ads-20250420-p5lsyi.html>

Day 22 cont

“The #Coalition (#LNP, #Liberal, #Nationals) is refusing to say if it will introduce any #policies to cut #Australia’s #greenhouse #gas #emissions in the next decade as it pledges to #unwind most #ClimateMeasures introduced under #Labor.

#PeterDutton’s position on the #ClimateCrisis came under scrutiny last week after he gave contradictory answers on whether he accepted mainstream climate science. Asked during a leaders’ debate on the #ABCAustralia whether #ExtremeWeather events were worsening, the opposition leader said: “I don’t know because I’m not a #scientist”.”

Say IT AS IT IS.

The #LNP under the leadership of the #PeterDutton has no policies. Policy changes are random.

#AusPol / #ClimateEmergency <https://theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/20/bordering-on-incredible-coalition-under-fire-for-planning-to-scrap-labor-climate-policies-and-offering-none-of-its-own>

Day 22 cont

“Nearly half of all #renters sit in the bottom 40% of income levels, compared with just one-fifth of first home buyers.

“If you’re in the bottom two #quintiles of income, you’re probably not really going to have enough #income to be servicing a #mortgage, whichever way you go,” Phillips says.

“There’s not a lot that we’ve seen in the election #campaign to really help those people, and they’re the people who really are #struggling.”

That leaves nearly half the renting population, or four million #Australians, beyond the reach of homebuyer help even before the new #policies arrive.”

If you don’t own or cannot afford a home, Australian politicians are not interested in you.

#AusPol / #LNP / #Liberal / #Labor / #Nationals <https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/20/who-actually-benefits-from-the-coalition-and-labors-housing-policies>

Day 18 cont

“#Labor and the Coalition (#LNP / #Liberal / #Nationals) are engaging in the most reckless election campaign in living memory, according to #economists who warn the major parties’ #policies will *inflate house prices*, damage the #budget and make the #TaxSystem worse.”

Worth reposting this observation.

A reminder this election a job interview and the winner(s) get(s) to do what they want. You pay for it.

#AusPol / #housing / #HousingEmergency <https://archive.md/LjcH0> / <https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/reckless-election-on-housing-tax-and-spending-20250411-p5lr5o> (paywall)

Day 16 cont

“Leaders brush off warnings from #economists that duelling #housing #policies will drive up prices in #Australia”

When the #Political lass tell you their existence matters more than other Australians.

#AusPol / #Liberal / #LNP / #Nationals / #Labor / #HousingCrisis <https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/14/economists-criticise-labor-coalition-housing-policies-anthony-albanese-peter-dutton-property-prices>