Harry Gumboot. It was ANZAC Day when the algorithm suggested I watch an AI generated documentary on Australian troops in Vietnam. It concerned the way Diggers had a far better success rate in the jungle than the Yanks*, due to factors that included moving slowly, using hand signals rather than speech, and failing to use aftershave (sic). Pretty basic stuff if you want to avoid alerting the enemy. The thing that irked me was the diggers appeared to be wearing WWI vintage French helmets.

Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster said she is proud to see the strong theme of Nationals-driven policies in the Coalition’s vision for the budget, including enabling infrastructure for housing and putting an end to destructive ‘Net Zero’ ideology. “After four wasteful and divisive years of Labor government, by contrast the Coalition has demonstrated the competency and experience in Government to serve all Australians."

With bookmakers offering shorter odds for the One Nation and Independent candidates in the Farrer by-election, questions remain for voters following campaign scrutiny and mixed messaging ahead of Saturday’s polling ... As one of Australia’s richest agricultural regions, water has been a key issue for irrigators and towns, and more recently fuel and fertiliser costs; other key issues included health services, housing affordability, and local government funding.

There have been just four coalition MPs in the 77 years of Farrer but all that could be about to change on Saturday. Sussan Ley held the seat for 25 years, and the previous election margins were often 11-20 per cent over the Labor candidate, although in the last election, Michelle Milthorpe got within 6 per cent with preferences, 20 per cent on the primary alone. If you think this Farrer election appears more heated than most, you may be right, 12 candidates are in the running and external forces are pumping money into not only to get a candidate elected but also to undermine others.

The Albanese Labor Government will introduce a domestic gas reservation scheme that will require gas exporters supply a proportion of their total production to the Australian market – equivalent to 20 per cent of exports, from 1 July 2027 – ensuring Australians have the affordable gas they need.

In an historic move, the Finocchiaro CLP Government last year purchased the 30,000 hectare Silkwood property near Litchfield National Park – the single-biggest expansion to the Territory parks estate in a generation.

The decision by the Albanese Labor Government to abandon the Queensland leg of the Inland Rail project is a devastating but not surprising blow to regional Queensland. Mr Littleproud said it was a failure that has its roots in a fundamentally flawed corridor decision made over a decade ago that has given the Albanese government the excuse to cut and run. When then-Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce selected the Queensland corridor, it was routed through flood-prone land that was always going to require hundreds of millions of dollars in additional engineering...

The Albanese and Cook Labor Governments are delivering an historic boost to WA’s energy system with 1.9 gigawatts (GW) of cheaper, cleaner renewable generation and 482 megawatts (MW) of battery storage as part of 10 new projects set to be built across regional WA.

The Nationals are calling for a major shakeup of Australian banks, following revelations that energy-lending policies have been destroying investment in coal, gas and oil. Leader of The Nationals Matt Canavan said The Nats had written to the four major banks, expressing concern that a businessman was denied even a bank account after he tried to build a diesel refinery in Gladstone.