Rachel Withers
@rachelwithers.bsky.social
š¤ 9772
š„ 534
š 392
Freelance writer with an unfortunate penchant for Australian politics. clippings.me/rachelwithers/
pinned post!
Also get offline and go do something nice for your community. We're all wasting our time here x
4 months ago
1
45
6
Just looking at the week's frontpages for a "headline of the week" choice, and um, what the fuck is this?
7 days ago
23
78
22
reposted by
Rachel Withers
Charlie Lewis
8 days ago
Tonight on Spin Cycle we're delighted to welcome Walkley award-winning journalist, social commentator and co-host of We Used to be Journos
@janfran.bsky.social
. Plus, the first ABC strikes in two decades and much more. On
@3rrrfm.bsky.social
from 7 with me and
@rachelwithers.bsky.social
0
10
3
Spin Cycle ft Jan Fran* starting 7pm/now:
www.rrr.org.au
*Jan not pictured, but she was here for a pre-record and it was excellent
8 days ago
2
22
3
reposted by
Rachel Withers
Crikey
9 days ago
Ed Husic was unceremoniously dumped from Laborās frontbench last year ā and he did not go quietly. His anger has faded, but he still wonāt be shutting up any time soon,
@rachelwithers.bsky.social
writes.
www.crikey.com.au/2026/03/25/e...
loading . . .
āYou canāt always make niceā: Ed Husic unshackled
The former industry minister says heās been vocal in caucus, in cabinet, and now from the backbench. Just donāt expect him to cross the floor.
https://www.crikey.com.au/2026/03/25/ed-husic-labor-mp-interview/
3
48
19
Everytime I read this headline (which I did propose) I hear āNot Ready to Make Niceā by The Chicks. Anywhere here's my chat with Ed Husic.
loading . . .
āYou canāt always make niceā: Ed Husic unshackled
The former industry minister says heās been vocal in caucus, in cabinet, and now from the backbench. Just donāt expect him to cross the floor.
https://www.crikey.com.au/2026/03/25/ed-husic-labor-mp-interview/
9 days ago
0
31
6
Is this anything
19 days ago
4
49
3
reposted by
Rachel Withers
Josh Taylor
29 days ago
We love to see it. ā°ļø
1
41
11
reposted by
Rachel Withers
Crikey
about 1 month ago
Will Anthony Albanese muster the courage to take on the capital gains tax discount? He'll have to go through these four influential groups first,
@rachelwithers.bsky.social
writes.
www.crikey.com.au/2026/03/03/c...
loading . . .
Whoās afraid of changes to the Capital Gains Tax discount?
A loud minority have made submissions claiming changes to the CGT would see the sky fall in, as we wait to see whether Anthony Albanese can find the courage to stand up to them.
https://www.crikey.com.au/2026/03/03/capital-gains-tax-discount-reform-opponents/
1
15
4
A loud minority made submissions to the CGT Senate inquiry claiming changes would see the sky fall in. Economists, think tanks, housing groups, unions, and even the Mathias Cormann-led OECD say otherwise, arguing the regressive tax discount entrenches inequality, rewarding wealth over work.
loading . . .
Whoās afraid of changes to the Capital Gains Tax discount?
A loud minority have made submissions claiming changes to the CGT would see the sky fall in, as we wait to see whether Anthony Albanese can find the courage to stand up to them.
https://www.crikey.com.au/2026/03/03/capital-gains-tax-discount-reform-opponents/
about 1 month ago
2
41
13
reposted by
Rachel Withers
Scott Mitchell
about 1 month ago
Itās not just an illegal war. That would be bad enough. Today, the Albanese government clearly admitted they gave our support to a war, without even knowing why it was launched. From us:
www.lamestream.com.au/albanese-sup...
loading . . .
Albanese Supported An Illegal War With No Clear Objective or End. It's A Grim New Low
the Albanese government didnāt even know the reason for the war, let alone whether it was unlawful ā but they supported it anyway.
https://www.lamestream.com.au/albanese-supported-an-illegal-war-with-no-clear-objective-or-end-its-a-grim-new-low/
23
299
107
reposted by
Rachel Withers
Simon Rosenberg
about 2 months ago
"the Liberalsā women problem can be traced to the Howard govtās neoliberal agenda, which sidelined moderates and 'ignored the social conditions & structural origins that create inequalities' ā including those faced by, you know, *women*."
@rachelwithers.bsky.social
www.crikey.com.au/2026/02/16/a...
loading . . .
What will Angus Taylor mean for the Liberalsā seemingly never-ending women problem?
The Liberal Party needs to win back all sorts of voters, but especially urban women. Instead it seems intent on chasing right-wing voters off a right-wing cliff.
https://www.crikey.com.au/2026/02/16/angus-taylor-liberal-party-women-problem/?utm_content=buffer87f7f&utm_medium=social&utm_source=bluesky&utm_campaign=buffer
1
18
6
The Liberal Party is chasing right-wing voters off a right-wing cliff, failing to even try to win back the urban, educated women who have locked them out of the cities until further notice.
add a skeleton here at some point
about 2 months ago
7
92
25
reposted by
Rachel Withers
Crikey
about 2 months ago
Opinion | The Liberals need to win back all sorts of voters. But they especially needs to win back professional, urban women ā and Angus Taylor is unlikely to help there,
@rachelwithers.bsky.social
writes.
loading . . .
What will Angus Taylor mean for the Liberalsā seemingly never-ending women problem?
The Liberal Party needs to win back all sorts of voters, but especially urban women. Instead it seems intent on chasing right-wing voters off a right-wing cliff.
https://buff.ly/KauwQjR
4
26
8
The Liberals have an ongoing, existential issue with women ā one that far predates the recent rise of One Nation, and which has seen the share of Coalition-voting women reach increasingly new lows.
loading . . .
What will Angus Taylor mean for the Liberalsā seemingly never-ending women problem?
The Liberal Party needs to win back all sorts of voters, but especially urban women. Instead it seems intent on chasing right-wing voters off a right-wing cliff.
https://www.crikey.com.au/2026/02/16/angus-taylor-liberal-party-women-problem/
about 2 months ago
7
49
14
reposted by
Rachel Withers
The Chaser
about 2 months ago
"Our focus is on reducing women in the House of Reps, but we're on track also reduce our female vote to zero too."
chaser.com.au/national/ang...
13
479
131
Jane Hume using her opening remarks as deputy to attack Labor for only being focused on politics. Irony is as dead as the Liberal Party.
about 2 months ago
15
198
34
reposted by
Rachel Withers
Jo Dyer
about 2 months ago
They've only gone and done it. š¤£
youtu.be/vAiT5MXlitA?...
loading . . .
Angus Taylor Swift
YouTube video by Soft Tread
https://youtu.be/vAiT5MXlitA?si=ciiJepsbOhpSHtJy
9
201
71
reposted by
Rachel Withers
Simon Rosenberg
about 2 months ago
Kiss of death.
#auspol
www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5Nh...
loading . . .
āHe can win the electionā: Tony Abbott backs Angus Taylor as Liberal Leader
YouTube video by Sky News Australia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5NhPzVKYgQ
11
78
10
Dan Tehan on ABC incapable of articulating why he backed a change in leader this morning. Keeps saying "we'll hear from Angus soon", unable to say what "values" or "vision" he was backing. A little glimpse into how incoherent a Taylor-Tehan leadership team would have been.
about 2 months ago
6
70
5
reposted by
Rachel Withers
The Cathy Wilcox
about 2 months ago
If the cap fits. My @smh @theage cartoon.
46
742
309
"I have no interest in the Deputy Leadership." Do not discount the chances of this man coming out of this as leader.
about 2 months ago
10
31
4
reposted by
Rachel Withers
Nick Feik
about 2 months ago
Maybe next they could do a video analysis of Gaza footage to see whether its population has been impacted by the genocide.
add a skeleton here at some point
4
188
74
reposted by
Rachel Withers
Jessie L
about 2 months ago
Tonight on Spin Cycle on
@3rrrfm.bsky.social
we are joined by
@daanysaeed.bsky.social
to describe what he saw at the Herzog protests in Sydney and the media response. Plus Libs keep holding each otherās beer and more. With
@rachelwithers.bsky.social
and
@theshufflediary.bsky.social
at 7pm
0
19
9
What in the numerology is going on in Sussan Ley's comms team rn? All of these have been posted in the last 5 hours - on Facebook, insta, x and LinkedIn š
about 2 months ago
4
28
2
reposted by
Rachel Withers
Charlie Lewis
about 2 months ago
Fabulous opening from
@rachelwithers.bsky.social
: "The Coalitionās achingly slow drip feed of a spill finally started flowing overnight, with Angus Taylor resigning from whatever role it was he held in shadow cabinet to spend more time counting the numbers."
www.crikey.com.au/2026/02/12/f...
loading . . .
Fantastic. Great move. Well done Angus.
Angus Taylor makes his move against Sussan Ley while Jane Hume jostles for deputy, but never underestimate the ambition of Tim Wilson.
https://www.crikey.com.au/2026/02/12/fantastic-great-move-well-done-angus-spill-sussan-ley/
2
27
11
How's the social cohesion
add a skeleton here at some point
about 2 months ago
4
123
30
reposted by
Rachel Withers
Naveen Razik
about 2 months ago
#EXCLUSIVE
: The brother of an Australian aid worker who was killed in an Israeli drone strike in Gaza is urging the prime minister to press for more action on her case during the Israeli President Isaac Herzog's state visit.
#auspol
www.sbs.com.au/news/article...
loading . . .
Zomi Frankcom's brother seeks answers from Israel's president after she was killed in Gaza
Mal Frankcom says "missing puzzle pieces" remain in the investigation into the killing of his sister, aid worker Zomi Frankcom.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/zomi-frankcoms-brother-seeks-answers-from-israels-president-over-her-death-in-gaza/qglvohe2h
4
124
81
I truly doubt Albanese is going to tackle our broken tax system ā at least not without mollifying the changes to the point of uselessness. I'd love to be wrong though!!!!
add a skeleton here at some point
about 2 months ago
6
59
11
reposted by
Rachel Withers
Crikey
about 2 months ago
Opinion | There's never been a better time for Anthony Albanese to address the inequality caused by capital gains. But
@rachelwithers.bsky.social
isn't holding her breath.
loading . . .
Capital Pains: Iāll eat humble pie if the PM actually does something substantive on our tilted tax system
Thereās never been a better time for Labor to scale back the capital gains tax discount. Could this actually be the start of a new era for Albanese?
https://buff.ly/by9TC2J
1
27
12
reposted by
Rachel Withers
Nick Feik
about 2 months ago
No notes.
5
138
71
reposted by
Rachel Withers
marque lawyers
about 2 months ago
If the NSW government has any interest in maintaining faith with its own public, it will ask the DPP to investigate police actions on Monday night without NSW Police involvement, with a view to prosecuting the cops who committed assaults. Or it can carry on blaming the victims; Minns' choice.
18
391
147
Iād lost faith in Anthony Albaneseās willingness to meaningfully address intergenerational inequality. Iām prepared to eat my words ā assuming he follows through.
loading . . .
Capital Pains: Iāll eat humble pie if the PM actually does something substantive on our tilted tax system
Thereās never been a better time for Labor to scale back the capital gains tax discount. Could this actually be the start of a new era for Albanese?
https://www.crikey.com.au/2026/02/11/capital-gains-tax-reform-anthony-albanese-housing-inequality/
about 2 months ago
10
90
8
"Social cohesion is a scam, a strategy employed by the powerful to delegitimise and suppress the voices of the less powerful... If you are othered by powerful groups, you become the victim of cohesion, not the beneficiary; what you get from social cohesion is a punch from an armed official."
loading . . .
Nothing says cohesion like a punch in the head: Violence of Minns' goons exposes the lie of 'social cohesion'
NSW Police's actions against protesters in in Sydney was about the powerful dictating the terms of free speech ā through state-sanctioned violence if necessary.
https://www.crikey.com.au/2026/02/10/sydney-protest-israeli-president-isaac-herzog-visit-police-brutality-social-cohesion/
about 2 months ago
16
295
147
Yes yes, but did you hear Sydneysiders attempted to protest?? After the government asked them kindly *not to*???
add a skeleton here at some point
about 2 months ago
2
83
27
reposted by
Rachel Withers
Andy Fleming
about 2 months ago
6/ 'The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said he was ādevastatedā by the scenes but said they had āunderminedā the protestersā cause and the Israeli presidentās visit was appropriate.' If it wasn't already obvious, both Minns & AbL0 are products of the Sussex Street sausage-making machine.
5
71
24
Illustrative, from a very smart friend:
about 2 months ago
22
132
22
Huh. Almost like absolutely everyone saw this coming from the minute the government invited the Israeli head of state and told Sydneysiders they couldn't protest about it. Another win for Social Cohesionā¢
about 2 months ago
12
219
57
reposted by
Rachel Withers
Jessie L
about 2 months ago
There is something weird and disturbing about how many NSW police in the footage of abuse of protesters have the Thomas Sewell facial hair.
13
145
32
reposted by
Rachel Withers
Elly
about 2 months ago
Right, so the police and Premier are running a line that you can't look at single clips of police assaulting peaceful protesters. You have to understand the context. Hmmm where have I heard that before?
8
158
45
Ah yes, social cohesion in action
add a skeleton here at some point
about 2 months ago
7
144
49
-Cop grabs guy with his hands up by the shirt -Cop trips over his own bike, dragging guy with him by his bag -Other cops start viciously *punching* guy as the unco bike cop drags him along? Would almost be funny if it wasn't so disgusting. Psychos.
add a skeleton here at some point
about 2 months ago
12
243
77
reposted by
Rachel Withers
Liam Hogan
about 2 months ago
Youāll hear it said that Jon Kudelka was a genuinely wonderful and generous man, this was undeniable, and the interactions I had with him bore that out, he was also a fucking punisher of hypocrites, he adored fighting bad people, and he had picked some quality enemies
4
323
57
Helicopters, metal detectors, snipers on roofs in Bondi?? Australia feeling really socially cohesive right now, so glad the government decided to make that a priority š«
about 2 months ago
19
388
114
reposted by
Rachel Withers
Fiona Katauskas
about 2 months ago
Here's a threat of Kudelka Gold
10
554
139
reposted by
Rachel Withers
Ben Peake
about 2 months ago
Vale, Jon Kudelka. And as always, Fuck Cancer.
5
459
152
Utterly devastating. Jon Kudelka was so good and so compassionate and so funny. *Nobody* skewered the Albanese government better. Rest easy, Jon š
add a skeleton here at some point
about 2 months ago
2
322
78
reposted by
Rachel Withers
Ben Eltham
about 2 months ago
Here, on the ABC, is an entire article on Victorian bushfires ... with not a single mention of climate change
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...
loading . . .
Why Victoria is prone to 'some of the scariest fires' in the world
Some of the world's most destructive bushfires take place in the southern state. Its unique mix of fierce winds, high fuel loads and rugged terrain are to blame.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-09/why-does-victoria-have-so-many-bushfires/106274422
13
186
76
Interesting to hear Jane Hume complain about the Liberals not having introduced any policies this term. Is this not the same Jane Hume who told Insiders, as a frontbencher, āwe don't have policies, we are in opposition, not in governmentā?
about 2 months ago
10
92
16
Brilliant from Matt Golding
@goldingcartoons.bsky.social
about 2 months ago
3
124
49
Ummmm?? This is unexpected from the AFR. The times they are a-changin'?
about 2 months ago
10
85
20
Load more
feeds!
log in