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QW: Blaming Albanese for the Coalition Split Is Political Delusion
The Nationals blaming Anthony Albanese today for the Coalition split is not analysis — it’s farce.
The Prime Minister didn’t walk into the Coalition party room. He didn’t force Nationals senators to defy their own shadow cabinet. He didn’t tell them to torch collective responsibility and then act surprised when the roof collapsed.
They did that themselves.
This wasn’t Labor dividing the Coalition. It was the Nationals once again choosing tantrum over discipline, spectacle over substance.
After a bruising election defeat, the Coalition needed seriousness. Instead, the Nationals delivered a public meltdown — and now blames Labor for the mess they created.
That doesn’t demonstrate strength. It demonstrates a party that is no longer serious about governing.
And a party that cannot manage itself, cannot honour its own decisions, and cannot tell the truth about its own behaviour does not deserve the automatic support of the bush.
Regional Australia deserves representation that fights for outcomes — not one that mistakes chaos for conviction and blame-shifting for leadership.
Anthony Albanese didn’t break the Coalition.
The Nationals did.
And pretending otherwise only confirms just how far they’ve drifted from being a serious political party at all.
Denise McHugh is an experienced educator in Tamworth. She is Chair of the NSW ALP Education and Skills Committee and Deputy President of the Independent Education Union (IEU).
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QW: Barnaby’s not doing his job
Barnaby Joyce is touring Victoria’s bushfire-affected regions campaigning for One Nation candidates in a state election. Not his state. Not his electorate. Not his job.
New England elected him to represent them — not to act as a roaming campaign manager for Pauline Hanson. Yet here he is, inserting himself into Victorian politics while the community that returned him to Parliament is effectively sidelined.
This is not a harmless side hustle. It is a clear statement of priorities. Mr Joyce is no longer behaving like the Member for New England. He is behaving like a One Nation operative.
At some point, voters are entitled to ask the obvious question: who does Barnaby Joyce actually represent?
QW: When will real estate’s learn?
12 months ago after a change in fortunes I went from being a home owner to renting again. On one level it was great – didn’t have the stress of a mortgage, had space to reorganise my affairs, and we rented a much nicer house than the one we previously owned!
But I have been truly shocked at how badly real estate agents still treat renters. No, it’s absolutely not ok to leave people with no hot water or with airconditioning not working for days on end, just show up when it’s convenient for you, or all of the other things agents do to make people feel subhuman and vulnerable.
Renters become buyers. As will I again as soon as possible. And the agent that has treated us so badly for the last year, on learning we are looking at buying again, suddenly pivots to sales mode and thinks we would consider any property on their books? You’ve got to be joking.
When will real estate agents learn that they can’t treat renters like crap and expect it not to affect the sales side of the business?
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QW: Sad to see Tara go
It is sad to hear that Tara will be leaving 2AD later in the year we have got used to having her there to listen to in the mornings she is going to be sorely missed.
Kind regards Clayton and Vicki Gilmour
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QW: Un answered questions editorial
I believe a large section of the NE community totally congratulate the NET for asking very serious questions about the Rail Trail funding from the REZ proponents, ARC and Tf NSW.
There is simply no way the region’s economy, lifestyle and future can exist without a quality freight and passenger rail service.
The region has as many as 100.000 kms of bike trails and tracks that are largely documented. https://www.newenglandhighcountry.com.au/cycling-in-armidale shows the tip of the iceberg.
The concept of Rail Trails in Armidale, Regions and State is fundamentally unsound, based on questionable statistics and absence of KPI’s to report outcomes.
I encourage the NETimes to expose the true facts.
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QW: The sad closure of Ben Lomond school
The closure of the Ben Lomond Public School is a sad event that indicates a reduction in working class families living locally. This trend in regional Australia is also found in other centres where government investment in infrastructure projects is absent.
Still, it indicated that Sydney government desk jockeys have the power to make and break regional communities. No public services means no future attraction for possible residents.
This bodes ill for the ”bike path to nowhere to see nothing” proposal supported by ARC Mayor and General Manager against the wishes of ARC ratepayers. The Mayor believes that city people will visit the panoramic vistas of Ben Lomond, the closed railway station, the closed school, the non-existent shop, the War Memorial Hall and pay premium prices for absent Ben Lomond accommodation and limited availability in near-by Guyra that has not increased since the proposal was first raised about a decade ago.
Local entrepreneurs have voted with their closed wallets.
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QW: Bondi massacre
As a woman of Irish/Cornish heritage, I am deeply aware of the shadows of generational ambiguous grief, and how this act will impact the future for our next generations.
To the brave Jewish people and others I know as friends: I bend my knees and ask, from the heart of my soul, to know how I can help.
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QW: Barnaby’s senate move
Barnaby has jumped ship to do better for Australia. He knows he can do more when he gets into the senate rather than sitting on the back bench. He has been true to himself and the Australian people.
If he hadn’t spoke up about nett zero the Nationals would have done nothing, then Barnaby speaks up, then they take all the credit. He is outspoken to bring benefits to Australia.
This government and past governments have given too many of Australia’s assets away for the rest of the world to profit from our gas and iron ore let alone our farms being sold off to foreign owners.
Barnaby has his heart in the right place and try’s his best to make Australia the great country it has been in the past and is taking it through to the future.
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QW: trains
The ARA report shows the rail industry’s contribution to the economy has increased 30 per cent in the last five years alone, rising to $38.8 billion BUT as I see it, in the Armidale Regional Council area it remains at almost Zero! Can our economy afford not to totally embrace both freight and passenger trains.
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QW: Maybe just shush
Sounds like Chaffey (Chaffey’s Corner Labor-Greens environmental deal) should stay in his own corner and at least contemplate the old addage…”It maybe better to say nothing and be considered a fool than speak out and leave no doubt.”
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