Day 33 cont

“Foreign Minister #PennyWong (#Labor) is telling voters on #Chinese #SocialMedia apps that the #Liberals are questioning their #loyalty as both sides seek to exploit perceived links to #Beijing while continuing to court the #diaspora vote.

Key marginal seats in #NSW and #Victoria will likely be decided on the Chinese Australian vote, including the north Sydney seat of #Bennelong, where a man who held a senior role in a Chinese government-linked influence association (#CCP) is leading a volunteer group for the Liberal candidate.

Both claims show the difficulty political parties face as they try to win over Chinese Australian voters with a wide array of priorities, manage Australia’s #ComplexRelationship with its largest trading partner, and attack the other side over #NationalSecurity.”

Diversity in action.

#AusPol / #LNP / #Coalition / #Nationals / #LiberalNationals <https://archive.md/bglBZ> / <https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/wong-weaponises-liberal-chinese-spies-gaffe-in-battle-for-vote-20250430-p5lvic.html> (paywall)

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 25 cont ️

“The #Labor MP #JeromeLaxale has expressed his “disappointment” in the #Albanese government’s #failure to restrict #gambling #ads and called on the party to “honour the legacy” of the late #PetaMurphy if re-elected.

Laxale, a left-faction MP who is trying to hold on to the ultra-marginal New South Wales seat of #Bennelong, said he was “sick of seeing betting odds linked to live sport” and told #voters in his #electorate there was “a strong #reform package coming”.

The Albanese government has not taken changes to #gambling #regulation to this election and has faced sustained criticism from #PublicHealth experts and political pressure for shelving plans to restrict gambling ads, in the face of opposition from #sporting codes and #broadcasters.”

#AusPol <https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/22/labor-mp-jerome-laxale-albanese-gambling-ads>

Day 12 cont

The #Liberals have a candidate problem continued:

“Liberal #candidate #ScottYung and party officials have declined to answer detailed #questions about whether his use of #Chinese celebrities and a public relations firm in the 2019 #StateElection complied with official #guidelines, as the Liberal party confirms an #audit of campaign disclosures.

A private dinner at a “luxurious venue” in #Sydney to raise #CampaignFunds for Yung, featuring the former Liberal prime minister #TonyAbbott, has also been cancelled without explanation.”

…

“Wishing the talented young Chinese Mr #RongSicheng [Scott Yung] has great success ahead and a boundless future! All the best! I’m #ZhangTielin from #Beijing, #China.”

The cursed Liberal Christian name “Scott” strikes again.

#AusPol / #LNP / #Bennelong / #Kogarah <https://theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/10/nsw-electoral-commission-rules-disclosing-celebrity-endorsements-liberal-candidate-scott-yung-ntwnfb>

Day five: Multi-cultural bullshit

“Chinese language #influencers who mostly post lifestyle content are interviewing election candidates on the social media app #Rednote, allowing politicians to bypass an apparent “shadow ban” on #campaigning by the app and reach a disengaged but vital audience.

The interviews with influencers who usually post about food, real estate and shopping have been published on a platform that is not actively monitored by the Australian Electoral Commission due to Rednote’s scale and the commission’s resources.

#ScottYung, the #Liberal candidate for the ultra-marginal Sydney seat of #Bennelong, where almost one-third of residents have #Chinese ancestry, has featured in multiple interviews shared by #Mandarin speaking influencers on Rednote in recent weeks.”

I note Scotty (another Scotty) highlighted himself due to State campaigning irregularities in 2019. Johhny (War crimes) Howard is all over the #Bennelong campaign. Howard, one step away from #CCP influence campaign. Handy Andy Hastings will be in fits.

This isn’t a “Chinese thing”, this is a “Politics thing” where a multicultural background is weaponised for candidates against the rest of Australian #voters.

#Spruiking / #campaigning <https://theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/02/candidates-using-influencers-to-bypass-shadow-ban-on-campaigning-by-chinese-social-media-app-rednote> / <https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/liberal-candidate-faces-more-questions-over-undisclosed-campaign-spending-20250331-p5lnxb.html>