What did I miss? Australia’s political week in fast-forward

The rolling fuel apocalypse is nothing to worry about, insisted the Minister for Panic Buying. 

This week turned out to be an Albanese Method™ masterclass. If there’s one superpower our Prime Minister possesses, it’s the god-like ability to set the house on fire, then burst through the smoke wearing a cape, yelling: ‘I’m here to save you!’

Meanwhile, the rest of us cough up billions in taxes to fund his superhero cape and the Uber that dropped him there.

Staff at the taxpayer-funded outrage factory known the AlBo fan Club went on strike. They’re demanding 10 per cent more of other people’s money to write feel-good propaganda for their comrades. ABC staff were spotted in uptown Ultimo wearing union t-shirts.

Dressing down for the drive from Mosman in their EVs must have been emotionally tough during a fuel crisis…

My latest in The Spectator Australia, What did I miss? Australia’s political week in fast-forward.

At least Aussie pubs 🍻 still have a sense of humour - they're raffling jerry cans instead of meat trays!!!

What did you miss this week?

International flights are being cancelled to save fuel, but we have been assured that the Toto Express is still ferrying ministers from… pic.twitter.com/tTh0nLkGyI

— The Spectator Australia (@SpectatorOz) March 28, 2026

ABC staff chuck a tantrum while taxpayers foot the bill

The ABC should remember that when you’re bankrolled by the punters, it’s not a strike, it’s a tantrum.

From Hong Kong: While the rest of Australia is doing it tough under Labor’s cost-of-living catastrophe, state-owned media, the ABC, has staged its first strike in 20 years.

People forget that unions love striking when Labor is in power. Other governments are reluctant to give in to their selfish demands. But demanding more of your hard-earned cash to keep pumping out one-sided political sludge is, to quote my country mates, bull.

Apparently, the ABC even called in the BBC to fill in for them. Talk about a WOFTAM.

My latest in The Spectator Australia, ABC staff chuck a tantrum while taxpayers foot the bill.

The ABC should remember that when you’re bankrolled by the punters, it’s not a strike, it’s a tantrum.

These staffers aren’t exactly flipping burgers.

If ABC staff want to play union hardball, fine. But the rest of us should start asking, why are we still paying for this?… pic.twitter.com/qtPpeFmUug

— The Spectator Australia (@SpectatorOz) March 27, 2026

The old parties had their turn, and failed

Something remarkable is unfolding… One Nation has turned out the Liberals’ lights. 

The numbers from the pre-election polling, now being borne out in the count, are eye-watering. One Nation is on track to receive a substantial taxpayer-funded election windfall under the Malinauskas government’s new public-funding regime.

The formula is straightforward. In One Nation’s case, $6 for every vote up to the first 10 per cent, then $5.50 thereafter, capped only by actual campaign spend. Assuming the turnout and vote share hold, millions in public money might be heading One Nation’s way, replacing the political donations the Malinauskas Labor government just banned.

But the windfall does not stop on election night. Depending on how many One Nation members are elected, the party is also in line for ongoing administrative funding to cover offices, staff, training, and operations. That funding, plus the potential for policy-development support and other streams, gives One Nation the resources to build serious, professional policy machinery.

My latest in The Spectator Australia, The old parties had their turn, and failed.

This is not the One Nation of the 1990s that Tony Abbott tried to bury.

Hanson survived and the establishment’s contempt for her voters only hardened.

After his win, re-elected SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said the quiet part out loud, reported as ‘winning voters back from One… pic.twitter.com/qunyJhmTYr

— The Spectator Australia (@SpectatorOz) March 24, 2026