Australian Politics

The Prime Minister is physically okay but mentally shaken after falling off a stage at an event in Cessnock, only to see Barnaby Joyce taking a phone call on the ground below.

Albanese, who was giving a speech on ‘Same Job Same Pay’ laws, said the episode had taken him by surprise. “One minute I’m walking backwards off a stage after giving a speech, the next thing you know I’m face to face with the member for New England, who’s prone on the ground yelling ‘dead fucking cunt’ into his phone with his feet up on a planter box. It was quite terrifying actually,” Albanese explained.

Context:

• ABC News: VIDEO: Anthony Albanese trips and falls off stage
• ABC News: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Barnaby Joyce must explain himself, after Nationals MP was filmed lying on Canberra footpath

Any opinions on the chances of Legalise Cannabis to gain a seat this election? They came very close to beating One Nation to a QLD senate seat in 2022.

Archive/non-paywall link.

Public servant Peter Dutton has announced an exception to his new rules demanding all public servants work from offices in Canberra, the exception of course being himself.

Context: ABC News: Albanese says PM should live in Canberra as Dutton opts for Kirribilli [in Sydney]

See also: The Betoota Advocate: Dutton tells voters he will show strong leadership in Canberra by working from home in Sydney

[Everyone disliked that.]

Treasury was projecting a decade of deficits in then-treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s budget before the last federal election in 2022. So why don’t I remember the people who profess to be so worried now, expressing much concern then? Surely not because debt and deficits only matter when you’ve got a Labor government?

In short:

MP Andrew Gee's Facebook account has been caught impersonating a voter heaping praise on the politician but posted by "Andrew Gee MP".

A spokesperson said the comment was made without Mr Gee's knowledge by a new member of his campaign team

What's next:

The staff member is being provided with "care and support" after the incident.

Dutton said that cutting the excise on petrol was, on the other hand, strong and tough and manly.

You can listen to the song here: https://kelleegreen.bandcamp.com/track/river-to-sea

Treasurer Jim Chalmers delivered the 2025 federal budget on Tuesday night. Some Australians say they have been overlooked.

In an embarrassing blunder ahead of the Coalition’s budget reply speech, shadow treasurer Angus Taylor has accidentally added an ABC journalist to the party’s Signal group chat, divulging a huge blank screen of secret policy detail.

The chat, which also includes Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and deputy leader Sussan Ley, reveals the extent of in-depth planning and sophisticated policy discussion that has taken place in the lead up to this year’s election.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-26/federal-politics-live-blog-march-26-budget/105095958

Edit: ABC News: DiCaprio intervention, Greens' theatrics in attempt to derail Labor's salmon farming laws in Senate

Shadow treasurer responds barely 20 minutes after Jim Chalmers’ budget speech, calling Labor’s policy ‘cruel hoax tax changes’

See also accidental megathread in !australia: https://aussie.zone/post/18796790

The Labor Party have announced a groundbreaking new election promise to establish an EPA if they win the election, following 3 years of being in government after taking that exact promise to the last election.

A Labor spokesperson announced the policy has the party’s full support, unless of course word gets out that the Environment Minister organised a deal with The Greens and the Teals but the Prime Minister would prefer break the election promise than actually work with the cross-bench… again.

“You can trust our word,” said the spokesperson while updating the year on the old documents, “we swear we will think about not axing the policy this time.”

Defence spending is currently at about 2% of gross domestic product (GDP), or around A$56 billion per year. The Coalition is reportedly eyeing an increase to 2.5% of GDP by 2029.

The Albanese government’s current spending plan is expected to reach 2.33% of GDP by 2034. And in this week’s budget, it is expected to bring forward some of its already announced $50 billion increase in defence spending.

Why do these percentages matter? US President Donald Trump has made it very clear he expects America’s allies to pay more on defence, at least 3% of GDP.

We asked five experts if defence spending should be increased, and if so, by how much. They agreed more money is needed, albeit with caveats.

A deeply divided Australia has found common ground in a shared feeling of complete exhaustion brought on by the federal election, before its even been fucking called.

In short:

Australian industry would receive $4 billion to manufacture drones and missiles under a new Greens party policy.

Funding for the "self-defence" weapons would come from scrapping billions of dollars in American contracts, including M1A2 tanks, Black Hawks and AUKUS submarines.

What's next?

Greens Senator David Shoebridge says his party's policy is only a "beginning", acknowledging more would need to be done to protect the continent.