Stephen McDonald (@mcdonald.link on bsky)

I am so grateful for preferential and compulsory voting as well as an independent electoral commission. @AusElectoralCom do an amazing job and I am privileged to live in a country where democracy is not just practised but respected.

He said that abortion rights were worse than the holocaust. He said a raped 10 year old girl should carry a baby to term. He said that if he sees a black pilot his reaction is to wonder if they're qualified. He told women to reject feminism and to submit to their husbands. He said the Democrats hate America. He said there was a great replacement strategy, to replace white America with something different. He said that Islam is a sword that the left is using to kill America. How would you describe these views?

I'm not an American but this is a disgrace. theguardian.com/us-news/2025/m…

There are news reports today that Australian government officials are concerned that the Trump administration will pressure Australia over its monopsonistic Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme which keeps drug prices in Australia lower than they otherwise would be - the PBS does not make drugs eligible for government subsidy unless the price is agreed. This is not news. big pharma has never liked our PBS. This piece of history from the Obama years and the negotiations over the Trans Pacific Partnership is from my memoir “A Bigger Picture” “I became prime minister just as the negotiation of the TPP was concluding in Atlanta and we came under enormous pressure from the Americans to agree to amendments to patent protection for biologics, a new and increasingly important type of drug created by complex biological, as distinct from chemical, processes. The amendments would benefit the immensely influential US pharma lobby but would inevitably be politically damaging for us as an increase in the cost of some drugs in Australia was a likely outcome. “We were only just getting the China Australia Free Trade Agreement through the parliament in the teeth of furious opposition from the unions and we simply didn’t have the political capital available to have a fight over the TPP too. President Obama called me to press the case and did so with his characteristic quiet charm. But I couldn’t help him; we wouldn’t change our law relating to data protection for biologics. It was political kryptonite for us. Barack said that meant the TPP could fall over and we’d be blamed. I took a deep breath and quietly replied, ‘Well, Mr President, like you, I think the TPP is vital for our region. But you know, nobody is marching in the streets here saying “Sign the TPP”, but they sure will be marching if they think we’re going to put up the price of drugs on our Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Those pharma companies hate our PBS because we use our monopoly buying power to force down prices – but that’s not my problem. Sorry, no can do.’ Barack Obama entirely understood the politics. And he acknowledged he was an unlikely advocate for big pharma. We just moved on to talking about Syria and other security issues. I then gave Andrew Robb (our Trade Minister) authority to stonewall on the issue. ‘Just say “no” to drugs, Andrew,’ I told him. Our ambassador in Washington, Kim Beazley, reported to me on 3 October that, following my call with the president, Obama’s National Security Council trade adviser was trying to elevate the issue to one of national security, and was arguing that our standing our ground wouldn’t just put the whole deal but the alliance at risk. We were warned that the atmospherics with the Americans would likely be poisonous if talks collapsed. Peter Varghese, secretary of DFAT, Julie Bishop our Foreign Minister , Andrew Robb and I talked. We resolved that we would not be spooked by the US pressure and concluded the idea that Australia was standing in the way of the US rebalance in the Asia Pacific was self-serving bunkum. The USA was trying to knock us off one by one on biologics, and Australia was by no means the only TPP party that could not accept eight years. We recognised that if we failed in Atlanta it wouldn’t be because of Australia. So, concluding our position on biologics was both entirely defensible and in our national interest, I instructed our negotiators to hold firm. And we did. The deal was signed in Atlanta – only to be abandoned a year later by President Trump. But it was a reminder that, especially when it comes to trade, nations – particularly big ones – will ruthlessly pursue their own interests. It was important that at our first encounter, Obama saw that I was just as committed to Australia’s interests as he was to America’s.“

I will not be bullied & nor can the science be changed by political pressure. I will continue to be an advocate for the environment & protecting it for future generations. Science has provided a roadmap to do that and I will continue to advocate for it theguardian.com/australia-news…

@DavidPocock Was very pleased to see your line of questioning during estimates today - SMEs (private and NFP) often get crowded out by the ‘big guys’

I've been pushing for procurement reform to create a level playing field for Australian SMEs competing for Govt contracts After my referral of the issue to Senate inquiry, the Govt is about to improve the definition of sovereign capability. A good first step ✍️ Joseph Brookes

Before we get into the election, and before there is a general attack of the vapours if no-one has an overall majority, people should watch this video by leading constitutional expert Professor Emerita Anne Twomey youtube.com/watch?v=UofNtF…

The most extraordinary thing about #Senate #estimates is the ability of those facing questions to tenaciously fight the urge to give a straightforward and unambiguous answer to questions. It is truly a gift.

@StevePHolland I take your point - counter argument would be that reciprocal tariffs should be applied on goods from States that have their own sales taxes too - more importantly I’m concerned we are in a race to the bottom

@sbmcd Sure, but Trump's point is that they're like a tariff, which is true, especially in instances where the rates are not reciprocal. I buy goods/services from US-based companies often, many of them charge me GST on behalf of the Australian government. That's how a tariff works.

Interesting perspective about consumption taxes like VAT and GST. Is Australia still trying to force foreign companies to charge their Australian customers GST? If so, that's effectively a tariff.

@SimonBanksHB There are not many small businesses that can afford to blow 20k per year on business lunches just for a tax benefit

There are approximately 2.5 million small businesses in Australia with a turnover of less than $10 million If this costing is correct, then the LNP have estimated the average benefit to each business is less than $2 a week afr.com/politics/dutto…

You can now find me on #bluesky rather than lurking on here - this platform has become a horror show. Hope to see you there. You can find me using the handle in my bio or clicking on this link bsky.app/profile/mcdona…

🚀 We’re thrilled to announce the start of Future of Aid 2040: Pathways to Transformation! 🌍 In partnership with @InteragencyRAN this two-year project will explore the future of humanitarian aid, with findings to be released in 2025. cfhl.info/3ZOrFct #FutureOfAid2040

Sometimes you just need to tell people when they have dropped the ball @AlboMP @DavidPocock @tanya_plibersek birdlife.org.au/news/languishi… @BirdlifeOz

@DavidPocock @ALeighMP So my kids won’t be able to access social media until they are 16 but can get bombarded with gambling adverts?

Wow @ALeighMP 🤯🤦‍♂️ The Govt has not one but TWO paths to gambling ad reform through Senate. 1) A partial ban (which experts say won’t work) with support of Coalition OR 2) Total ban as recommended by Peta Murphy with support of crossbench

@KosSamaras Lets not forget the number of 'cookers' elected in a number of councils too

The Victorian local government elections are now behind us, with Labor endorsing candidates in several municipalities. As expected, their strongest performance came in the inner urban areas. However, their foray into the outer northern suburbs, endorsing candidates in Whittlesea, was a stark contrast, Labor was comprehensively beaten. Next week, we will have fresh federal polling data that will provide further insights into Labor’s outer urban problem. We did have a real ballot preview at the recent QLD state election where those lessons have been ignored (to date). For Labor, these results should serve as a wake-up call and a cause for serious concern. It should, but it won’t. theage.com.au/national/victo…