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The Aussie Observer, Alma (2026)

31/05/2026

One Nation has done it again.

The latest Financial Review RedBridge Group / Accent Research poll has Pauline Hanson's party surging to 31 per cent of the primary vote, putting it ahead of Labor on 28 per cent and leaving the Coalition stranded on a miserable 20 per cent.

For the first time, the AFR's flagship federal poll has One Nation outright in first place, but the bigger number might be this one: 63 per cent of Australians believe the country is heading in the wrong direction.

Just one year into Labor's second term, nearly two-thirds of voters appear to be looking at Canberra and asking, “Are these nuffies serious?” and the reasons aren't exactly hidden.

Power bills keep climbing. Housing is still cooked. Rents are brutal. Real wages remain under pressure. Migration continues running hot while homes remain scarce. The cost-of-living relief Australians were promised feels about as visible as a cheap power bill.

Even Labor's latest budget landed like a lead balloon, with more Australians saying it would make life harder than easier.

The leadership numbers are just as ugly. Anthony Albanese plunged 10 points in a month to minus 19. Jim Chalmers fell even harder, dropping 13 points to minus 18.

Meanwhile, Pauline Hanson sits on 25 per cent as preferred prime minister and remains the only major federal leader not underwater on favourability.

Then there's the Coalition. At 20 per cent, the Liberals, and Nationals are now more like a historical society dedicated to preserving memories of John Howard and Tony Abbott.

Labor is bleeding support and yet the Coalition still can't capitalise. Why? Because a growing number of Australians no longer see two competing visions for the country. They see a uniparty wearing two different coloured ties.

One promises change and delivers excuses. The other promises opposition and delivers strongly worded disappointment.

Whether it's energy policy, migration, net-zero, housing or government spending, many voters have concluded the gap between Labor and the Coalition is measured in shades rather than substance. The result is that voters are looking elsewhere.

For years, political insiders insisted One Nation had a ceiling. Now the party is leading major national polls while the Coalition edges closer to political irrelevance. It's still only one poll, and elections aren't won in May.

But when One Nation is on 31 per cent, Labor is losing support, the Coalition is stuck in the wilderness and nearly two-thirds of Australians think the country is heading the wrong way, it's becoming increasingly difficult to pretend this is just a protest vote.

The old two-party game is looking shakier by the week. And right now, one side of the uniparty looks nervous while the other looks completely expendable.

27/05/2026

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has met with members of the Australia India Business Council, posing with them for photos.

“It’s hard to imagine modern Australia without the contributions of our Indian community,” stressed Albo.

“Creating jobs. Building businesses. Making our nation stronger and more vibrant,” he added.

“Today we celebrated 40 years of the Australia India Business Council as we build stronger trade ties between our nations.”

13/05/2026

Hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars are being directed toward Israeli-linked programs, Jewish organisations, antisemitism commissions, curriculum projects, lobbying networks and security upgrades.

Meanwhile, ordinary Australians are being told the nation cannot afford meaningful relief for the crises hitting everyday life.

Australian Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers are presenting this budget as responsible and balanced.

But many Australians are looking at the figures and wondering how Labor always seems to find endless public money for politically influential interests.

At the same time, regional communities, outer suburbs and struggling families are left fighting over scraps.

The reported allocations have sparked enormous concern. More than $100 million was reportedly directed toward the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, one of Australia’s most influential pro-Israel advocacy organisations.

Tens of millions more are going toward “antisemitism” programs, school initiatives, curriculum reviews, online “social cohesion” projects, migration enforcement, commissions, and grants tied to Jewish organisations and institutions.

Interestingly, another $22 million is flowing toward upgrades for Sydney’s Jewish Hakoah Club.

Meanwhile, ordinary Australians are facing soaring rents, impossible mortgages, stagnant wages, collapsing bulk billing access, power bill pain, worsening homelessness and declining living standards.

Small businesses are shutting their doors. Young people are abandoning hope of home-ownership altogether. Pensioners are rationing food, heating, and medication.

Yet somehow there is always another giant cheque available when activist groups, commissions or politically connected organisations come knocking in Canberra. 🤔

Nobody decent supports antisemitism. Hatred or discrimination against Jewish Australians is wrong and should always be condemned.

But an increasing number of Australians are becoming deeply uneasy about how the term “antisemitism” itself is now being used in political debate.

Many people believe genuine criticism of Israel, Zionism, lobbying influence, or the conduct of the Israeli Government during the Gaza war is increasingly being blurred together with hatred of Jewish people.

According to critics, antisemitism is becoming a catch-all label. They argue it is now being stretched so broadly that almost any criticism of Israel’s actions can potentially be treated as extremist, hateful or unacceptable.

That distinction matters enormously. There is a clear difference between racial hatred toward Jewish people and criticism of a foreign government, its military operations, its political influence, or alleged war crimes.

Yet many Australians now feel governments, corporations, universities, media outlets and activist organisations are deliberately collapsing those distinctions together.

This is where public concern starts escalating beyond the money itself.

Australians are watching billions spent on wars overseas. They are seeing horrifying images coming out of Gaza and Iran, and hearing allegations of civilian massacres and international law breaches debated globally.

At the same time, many believe criticism of those events is increasingly being policed, censored or socially punished at home.

Many people now feel they can criticise almost any country, religion or political ideology on earth – except Israel. That perception is becoming politically combustible.

The education components in particular are raising alarm bells. Millions are reportedly being spent on teacher retraining, curriculum reviews, school resources and “social cohesion” programs focused heavily around antisemitism.

Critics fear these initiatives may not simply target racism – which most Australians support combating – but could instead institutionalise a particular political worldview throughout schools, universities and public institutions.

Australians are entitled to ask difficult questions.

Who decides what counts as antisemitism? Will criticism of Israel be treated as hate speech? Will students, teachers, and journalists begin self-censoring? At what point does combating racism become policing political opinion?

Labor appears completely tone-deaf to how this looks during a cost-of-living crisis.

The Albanese Government constantly lectures Australians about fairness, inclusion, and equality. Yet many voters increasingly feel there are protected groups and protected political issues sitting above normal democratic scrutiny.

Whether fair or not, the perception forming across large sections of the public is that some communities possess enormous political influence and privileged access to taxpayer money, while ordinary Australians are ignored.

And perhaps the most dangerous part for Labor is this.

The moment anybody raises concerns about these funding priorities, they risk being smeared, shouted down or accused of bigotry instead of having their questions answered honestly.

That approach does not build social cohesion. It destroys trust.

Australians should be able to question government spending, foreign influence, lobbying power and ideological education programs without fear.

In a healthy democracy, scrutiny is not hate. Debate is not extremism. Taxpayers should never be treated like radicals simply for asking where hundreds of millions of their dollars are really going.

13/05/2026

ONE NATION MAKES HISTORY

In a result that has sent shockwaves through the major parties, One Nation has won its first-ever federal lower house seat, decisively taking the long-held Coalition electorate of Farrer.

David Farley didn’t just scrape home, he secured nearly 40% of the primary vote, going on to crush Climate 200-backed teal Michelle Milthorpe 57% to 43% in the 2CP count.

Having controlled the seat for almost 80 years, the once-dominant Coalition was left in ruins, with the uncompetitive Libs and Nats collapsing to a humiliating 12% and 9% respectively.

Labor’s effort was arguably more embarrassing – they didn’t even bother running a candidate. It’s a remarkable surrender for a party that wants to retain government.

The Greens, meanwhile, scraped together a dismal 2%, proving yet again that their brand of inner-city environmentalism has almost zero appeal in regional Australia.

This result is more than just a seat changing hands. It’s a loud, angry message from regional voters who are sick to death of being ignored and lectured.

Skyrocketing cost of living, crushing power prices, chaotic immigration levels, disastrous water policy, and the relentless net-zero agenda have pushed rural and regional Australia to breaking point.

For too long, the major parties have treated these communities as an afterthought.

The Libs are out-of-touch corporate suits, Labor treats regional Victoria like a funding ATM, the Nats have been missing in action, the Greens remain detached, and the Teals push anti-farming agendas.

Farrer is a political earthquake, and Victorian MPs from every major party would be foolish to dismiss it. One Nation is gathering serious momentum right across rural and regional Victoria ahead of the state election.

If the established parties continue with the same tired approach, they shouldn’t be surprised when more seats turn orange. The warning signs are now impossible to ignore.

03/05/2026

Remembering Kumanjayi 💔

Five years old. Just a little girl with big eyes, a cheeky smile, and that peace sign she was so proud to show.

This painting says everything. Innocent. Happy. Safe in that moment. And now she’s gone.

After days of searching, hoping, praying for a miracle… the worst possible outcome hit her family, her community, and honestly, the whole country.

A little life taken far too soon.

Her mum and brother are now left trying to make sense of something that doesn’t make sense. A brother talking about giving her the biggest hug in heaven one day… no kid should have to think like that.

That’s the part that sticks in your throat.

This isn’t just a headline. This is a family shattered. A community grieving. A childhood that never got the chance to be lived.

There’s anger. There’s heartbreak. There’s that sick feeling that doesn’t go away. But above all of that – there’s her.

A little girl who was loved. A little girl who mattered. A little girl who should still be here.

Rest easy, sweetheart. You deserved so much more than this world gave you. 💔

25/04/2026

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his wife Jodie Haydon marked Anzac Day this morning, joining commemorations to honour the service and sacrifice of Australian veterans.

04/04/2026

As we enter the Easter period, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has met with members of the Jewish community to mark the festival of Passover.

“To all Jewish Australians celebrating Passover tonight, Chag Kasher V’Sameach,” posted Albo.

“As you mark the start of these sacred days, I hope you find comfort, strength, and joy together.”

22/03/2026

Anthony Albanese thought he'd pop into a Sydney Mosque for a quick photo op, pander to the Muslim vote ahead of the federal election, and walk out with a halo of multicultural approval.

Instead, he got a chorus of “Allahu Akbar!” screamed in his face, boos, “genocide supporter” chants, “putrid dog” insults, and protesters chasing him out like an unwelcome salesman.

Poor Albo – clearly hoping for a warm “Albo Akbar!” chant in his honour. Nope. Just the classic “Allahu Akbar!” remix, delivered with zero enthusiasm for his leadership.

He looked like he'd just crapped his pants, as he realised the room had finally clocked his endless pandering to everyone while delivering nothing but vague platitudes.

And just to be clear – this was a mosque, not an NDIS provider convention… though, given the recent scandal, you could forgive a bloke for doing a double take. 😏

Albo's turned a blind eye to the US and Israel's actions in the Middle East, yet even after all the grovelling, virtue-signalling, and fence-sitting, the Muslims have turned on him harder than a bad kebab.

The backfire was spectacular. He went in hoping for votes; he came out hoping for clean underwear. Even Pauline Hanson would've gotten a warmer reception.

At least she'd stand her ground without flinching, while Albo's busy checking his exit routes and practicing his “it was mostly positive” spin. Albo Akbar? More like Albo Awkward!

22/03/2026

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has congratulated South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas on his re-election win last night.

“In uncertain times, people look to Labor for the things that matter,” reported Jacinta. “Cost of living. Health. Education. Safety. Jobs.”

“Whether it’s in Canberra, in South Australia, or in Victoria later this year, families with new challenges want Labor’s new solutions - not Liberal cuts.”

03/03/2026

I bought my first place when interest rates were ugly, carpet was worse, and you didn’t need a PhD in crypto-mining to scrape together a deposit.

We complained, sure. But you could still see the ladder. Now? The ladder’s been pulled up, polished, and sold off to the highest bidder.

New data shows foreign investors are still snapping up thousands of Australian homes every year, while young Aussies are stuck refreshing realestate apps like it’s a part-time job.

Nearly 1,000 purchases were approved for overseas buyers in just the first three months of 2025.

Over the first three quarters of the last financial year, there were more than 3,000 foreign residential investments worth a combined $3.7 billion. China topped the list, followed by Taiwan, India, Vietnam, Hong Kong and others.

Before anyone starts shouting, yes – the rules were tightened. From April 2025, foreign buyers are largely limited to new builds, vacant land or redevelopment projects.

On paper, that sounds tough. In reality, demand from overseas hasn’t blinked. One major property portal reported a 40 per cent jump in year-on-year inquiries late last year, with the “typical” Chinese buyer budgeting around $1 million.

Meanwhile, back in the real world, entry-level prices have shot up 68 per cent in five years. Wages? Not even close. Less than a third of that growth.

In some areas, entry-level prices jumped more than 20 per cent in just 12 months. That’s not healthy growth – that’s a housing market on pre-workout.

Experts are now saying this is the worst it’s ever been for first-home buyers. And I believe them. A couple in their late twenties now needs seven years and seven months to save a 20 per cent deposit for an entry-level house in Sydney.

Brisbane? More than six years. Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne – all hovering around five-plus years just to scrape together the deposit. That’s before you even start paying the mortgage.

For solo buyers on the average full-time wage? Forget it. In every capital city, the typical house is out of reach.

In Sydney, you’d need to be earning about $232,000 to afford the median house. The national average wage sits around $104,000. The maths isn’t tight – it’s broken.

Look, I did alright out of the housing boom. I won’t pretend I didn’t. My place doubled, then doubled again. Good for me. But I’ve got kids and grandkids staring at a market that feels rigged.

They’re not lazy. They’re not blowing it all on smashed avo. They’re just up against a system that treats housing like a global asset class instead of a roof over someone’s head.

Foreign buyers aren’t the only reason prices are through the stratosphere. We’ve got tax settings that favour investors, supply bottlenecks, planning chaos, and governments that talk big about affordability while celebrating record prices in the next breath.

But when thousands of homes are still being approved for offshore investment in the middle of the worst affordability crisis we’ve ever seen, it doesn’t exactly scream “Australians first.”

You can feel the frustration building. It’s not xenophobia. It’s exhaustion. Young Aussies are being told to save harder while competing with million-dollar overseas budgets and domestic investors playing Monopoly with negative gearing.

We used to measure success by how many young families could buy in. Now we measure it by auction clearance rates.

Something’s gone off the rails. And if the next generation never gets a fair crack at home ownership, don’t be surprised when they stop believing the system works for them at all.

The Aussie Observer

31/05/2026

27/05/2026

13/05/2026

13/05/2026

03/05/2026

25/04/2026

04/04/2026

22/03/2026

22/03/2026

03/03/2026

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