Day 30 cont ️

“A separatist #ChristianSect which tells its members to hate the world and which objects to voting is campaigning for the #Liberal and #Nationals parties ahead of Saturday’s federal election. The #PlymouthBrethrenChristianChurch, formerly known as the #ExclusiveBrethren, has dispatched hundreds of its members to pre-polling booths in #MarginalSeats while instructing them to keep secret that they are members of the controversial #religion.

Workers in five marginal seats in Victoria and NSW told this masthead they had encountered 20 or more Brethren members wearing #Liberal or #National campaign T-shirts handing out how-to-vote cards, some of whom identified themselves as members of the sect. The seats – #Kooyong, #Gorton, #Hawke, #Gilmore and #Calare – are held by #Labor or #independents.

The accounts were backed by #LaborParty campaign sources, speaking anonymously because they were not authorised to speak publicly, who claimed the Brethren members were active in seats in #NSW, #Victoria, #Queensland and #Tasmania, including #Bennelong, #Parramatta, #Whitlam, #Macquarie, #Paterson, #Lyons, #Reid and #Blair.”

#AusPol / #extremism / #RightWing / #LNP / #Coalition / #voting <https://archive.md/osEeV> / <https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/exclusive-brethren-don-t-vote-but-are-secretly-campaigning-for-the-coalition-20250428-p5luny.html> (paywall).

Day 24 cont

“Just $16.5m of #Labor’s promised $1bn mental health package – or 1.65% – is due to be spent in the next financial year, according to official policy costings that reveal some new care centres might not open until 2029.

Anthony Albanese this month unveiled a major suite of policies to make it easier for the public – in particular young Australians – to access free mental health treatment.
…
The bulk of the #funding – roughly $878m – is #NotAllocated until the 2027-28 and 2028-29 financial years, as the services are progressively built and upgraded.”

The fine print.

#AusPol / #MentalHealth / #LaborParty / #Medicare / #access / #PatrickMcGorry <https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/22/just-16-million-labor-mental-health-package-spent-next-financial-year>

Day 16 cont

“#TanyaPlibersek and #AnthonyAlbanese have brushed off an awkward moment at Sunday’s #Labor #FederalElection #campaign launch when the prime minister appeared to block a hug from the #environment minister, insisting that the pair are good friends.”

Labor Environmental policy release day.

#AusPol / #LaborParty / #EnvironmentalPolicy / #trees / #koalas <https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/14/i-shouldve-done-the-elbow-bump-plibersek-and-albanese-brush-off-awkward-greeting-at-labor-election-campaign-launch>

Day 15 cont #Labor

“A re-elected #Albanese government would allow all Australian first home buyers to purchase with a 5 per cent deposit, avoiding lenders mortgage insurance, in an expansion of an existing scheme.

The government will also commit $10 billion to build 100,000 new #homes exclusively for #FirstHomeBuyers, and will introduce a $1,000 instant #TaxDeduction from 2026-27

Last minute policy. Details? Cant we address the existing problems?

#AusPol / #LaborParty / #housing / #HousingCrisis / #Financialisation / #NegativeGearing
<https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-12/election-2025-labor-five-per-cent-deposits-first-homebuyers/105169984>

Day 15 cont

“I want to help #YoungPeople and #FirstHomeBuyers achieve the dream of #HomeOwnership,” — #AnthonyAlbanese said.

#PeterDutton (#LNP / #Liberal) has announced a $10bn tax cut measure, which would give #Australians who earn up to $144,000 relief of up to $1,200 in the upcoming financial year.”

What a load of horse. Where is the strategy to industrialise the housing Industry to drive down costs and increase quality? <https://www.youtube.com/watchv=36I6jCrWTvQ>

Does #Labor want people to #buy or #rent? Where is this discussion? If not where is the plan to rollback (middle class #welfare) house investment & #NegativeGearing? Where is the talk of #EducationalDebt? Free TAFE for Tradies won’t solve these problems.

Dream on Labor.
Libs, $1200 dollars

#AusPol / #Labor / #LaborParty / #housing / #HousingCrisis / #Financialisation / #NegativeGearing <https://theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/12/albanese-to-pledge-10bn-to-help-build-100000-homes-for-first-time-buyers>