Rachel Withers
@rachelwithers.bsky.social
Freelance writer with an unfortunate penchant for Australian politics. clippings.me/rachelwithers/
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Rachel Withers
@rachelwithers.bsky.social
· Nov 13
Forget the Frontbench • A Crikey column by Rachel Withers
Who are the players shaking up our two (and a half) party system? Rachel Withers probes and profiles those who wield power beyond the major parties.
www.crikey.com.au
A thread of my favourite moments from Forget the Frontbench, my weekly Crikey column profiling those who wield power outside the major parties 🧵
www.crikey.com.au/topic/forget...
www.crikey.com.au/topic/forget...
Some thoughts on One Nation, middle-aged men, and Barnaby, that only had to be *slightly* reviewed by legal:
What’s going on with Gen X men and One Nation? I'm sick of being told to feel sorry for them
One Nation is not going to help rural Australians nor furious Gen X men, both unable to see an end to their housing, financial or energy strife. But hey, neither were the Nationals.
www.crikey.com.au
December 9, 2025 at 2:53 AM
Some thoughts on One Nation, middle-aged men, and Barnaby, that only had to be *slightly* reviewed by legal:
Reposted by Rachel Withers
Australian government genuinely just did the meme
December 8, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Australian government genuinely just did the meme
Reposted by Rachel Withers
What the everloving fuck is this
They wonder why people think government is a sick joke
Nah, we won't stop funding fossil fuels, or stop gambling ads, or regulate AI. We'll do an unworkable and idiotic social media ban for kids...
Oh and here's a pile of cash for private equity because Tim Tams.
They wonder why people think government is a sick joke
Nah, we won't stop funding fossil fuels, or stop gambling ads, or regulate AI. We'll do an unworkable and idiotic social media ban for kids...
Oh and here's a pile of cash for private equity because Tim Tams.
December 8, 2025 at 2:13 AM
What the everloving fuck is this
They wonder why people think government is a sick joke
Nah, we won't stop funding fossil fuels, or stop gambling ads, or regulate AI. We'll do an unworkable and idiotic social media ban for kids...
Oh and here's a pile of cash for private equity because Tim Tams.
They wonder why people think government is a sick joke
Nah, we won't stop funding fossil fuels, or stop gambling ads, or regulate AI. We'll do an unworkable and idiotic social media ban for kids...
Oh and here's a pile of cash for private equity because Tim Tams.
Reposted by Rachel Withers
🚨Antisemitism Envoy has misled the Senate over her response to last month's neo-Nazi rally.
Segal says she denounced it to the media that "did contact my office".
That is false.
We have the receipts...
theklaxon.com.au/xoqo
Segal says she denounced it to the media that "did contact my office".
That is false.
We have the receipts...
theklaxon.com.au/xoqo
Jillian Segal misleads Senate over neo-Nazis - The Klaxon
Antisemitism Envoy Jillian Segal has given misleading evidence to the Senate over her response to last month's neo-Nazi rally.
theklaxon.com.au
December 8, 2025 at 4:08 AM
🚨Antisemitism Envoy has misled the Senate over her response to last month's neo-Nazi rally.
Segal says she denounced it to the media that "did contact my office".
That is false.
We have the receipts...
theklaxon.com.au/xoqo
Segal says she denounced it to the media that "did contact my office".
That is false.
We have the receipts...
theklaxon.com.au/xoqo
Bit late sharing, but the fact someone can win an election this way is both blood boiling and chilling.
Daniel volunteers were shouted at, spat on and stalked. They were told by police to travel in groups. I couldn't get it all in here.
And Wilson shows no remorse
www.crikey.com.au/2025/12/04/a...
Daniel volunteers were shouted at, spat on and stalked. They were told by police to travel in groups. I couldn't get it all in here.
And Wilson shows no remorse
www.crikey.com.au/2025/12/04/a...
'There are still people recovering from the trauma': The Goldstein campaign was worse than we thought
While the 2025 federal election inquiry has shown there was a clear rise in hostility at election booths around the country, Tim Wilson's electorate of Goldstein seems to have reached another level.
www.crikey.com.au
December 8, 2025 at 5:22 AM
Bit late sharing, but the fact someone can win an election this way is both blood boiling and chilling.
Daniel volunteers were shouted at, spat on and stalked. They were told by police to travel in groups. I couldn't get it all in here.
And Wilson shows no remorse
www.crikey.com.au/2025/12/04/a...
Daniel volunteers were shouted at, spat on and stalked. They were told by police to travel in groups. I couldn't get it all in here.
And Wilson shows no remorse
www.crikey.com.au/2025/12/04/a...
Reposted by Rachel Withers
The devastating, lyrical "One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This" is as good a book about our current moment as I've read, and @jessielilley.bsky.social @rachelwithers.bsky.social and I are so lucky to have Omar El Akkad on Spin Cycle tonight.
Join us from 7pm on @3rrrfm.bsky.social
Join us from 7pm on @3rrrfm.bsky.social
October 23, 2025 at 1:08 AM
The devastating, lyrical "One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This" is as good a book about our current moment as I've read, and @jessielilley.bsky.social @rachelwithers.bsky.social and I are so lucky to have Omar El Akkad on Spin Cycle tonight.
Join us from 7pm on @3rrrfm.bsky.social
Join us from 7pm on @3rrrfm.bsky.social
Reposted by Rachel Withers
Tonight on Spin Cycle on @3rrrfm.bsky.social we are talking to Omar El Akkad about his incredible book, One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This. Tune in 7pm with @rachelwithers.bsky.social and @theshufflediary.bsky.social - on air, on the app, online or on catch up rrr.org.au
October 23, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Tonight on Spin Cycle on @3rrrfm.bsky.social we are talking to Omar El Akkad about his incredible book, One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This. Tune in 7pm with @rachelwithers.bsky.social and @theshufflediary.bsky.social - on air, on the app, online or on catch up rrr.org.au
Reposted by Rachel Withers
Here's the thing, the whole point of 'sponsoring' these things is you don't have to directly lobby or strong-arm, the appeasement becomes tacit - see also the National Press Club quietly slurping cash from multiple weapons companies and fossil fuel climate crims
October 10, 2025 at 4:03 AM
Here's the thing, the whole point of 'sponsoring' these things is you don't have to directly lobby or strong-arm, the appeasement becomes tacit - see also the National Press Club quietly slurping cash from multiple weapons companies and fossil fuel climate crims
Imagine kicking the former national rugby captain out of your sports club instead of the gambling lobby.
To paraphrase Groucho Marx, who'd want to belong to a club that would accept Responsible Wagering Australia as one of its sponsors?
To paraphrase Groucho Marx, who'd want to belong to a club that would accept Responsible Wagering Australia as one of its sponsors?
Making his point for him -- just asking about the power of the gambling lobby gets Senator David Pocock booted from sports club the Prime Minister heads. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Former Wallabies star David Pocock booted from parliamentary sports club
Exclusive: Senator accused of bringing social club into disrepute after raising concerns about its association with betting lobby
www.theguardian.com
October 10, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Imagine kicking the former national rugby captain out of your sports club instead of the gambling lobby.
To paraphrase Groucho Marx, who'd want to belong to a club that would accept Responsible Wagering Australia as one of its sponsors?
To paraphrase Groucho Marx, who'd want to belong to a club that would accept Responsible Wagering Australia as one of its sponsors?
Reposted by Rachel Withers
I don’t know about you, but I’m a bit scared of any new ‘environment laws’ that Labor can get Matt Canavan and Andrew Hastie to vote for…I think they will be better described as ‘ how to build more mines faster laws’ www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...
Watt nears deal with Coalition to finally overhaul environment laws
Environment Minister Murray Watt will sit down with his Liberal counterpart Angie Bell today, with quiet optimism in both parties that a deal might soon be struck to finally rewrite Australia's "broke...
www.abc.net.au
October 8, 2025 at 10:20 PM
I don’t know about you, but I’m a bit scared of any new ‘environment laws’ that Labor can get Matt Canavan and Andrew Hastie to vote for…I think they will be better described as ‘ how to build more mines faster laws’ www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...
Reposted by Rachel Withers
Reminder: Australia's only emissions reduction legislation - the safeguard mechanism - allows for unlimited use of offsets instead of requiring genuine cuts from polluters
News that shocks no one: Carbon offsets do nothing for climate.
Carbon offsets fail to cut global heating due to ‘intractable’ systemic problems, study says
Analysis of 25 years of evidence shows most schemes are poor quality and fail to lower emissions
www.theguardian.com
October 8, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Reminder: Australia's only emissions reduction legislation - the safeguard mechanism - allows for unlimited use of offsets instead of requiring genuine cuts from polluters
Reposted by Rachel Withers
David Pocock asks Don Farrell some serious questions about why the govt has not implemented an important recommendation from the #RobodebtRC.
Farrell caught playing on his phone, not even paying attention.🙄 Pocock hasn’t the patience to try again & moves on. #Estimates
Farrell caught playing on his phone, not even paying attention.🙄 Pocock hasn’t the patience to try again & moves on. #Estimates
October 8, 2025 at 12:40 AM
David Pocock asks Don Farrell some serious questions about why the govt has not implemented an important recommendation from the #RobodebtRC.
Farrell caught playing on his phone, not even paying attention.🙄 Pocock hasn’t the patience to try again & moves on. #Estimates
Farrell caught playing on his phone, not even paying attention.🙄 Pocock hasn’t the patience to try again & moves on. #Estimates
"I wish I had told you, before our dinners grew cold, that one day I would speak loudly. Not to wound, but because not speaking would betray everything I was taught... I have spoken not in spite of my Jewishness but because of it – in solidarity with Palestinians, but also out of love for you."
A letter to those who taught me my Jewishness, and who now sit on the other side of a deep chasm.
When you first heard me speak against this genocide, you heard my words as betrayal. But they were meant as love
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
When you first heard me speak against this genocide, you heard my words as betrayal. But they were meant as love
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
When you first heard me speak against this genocide, you heard my words as betrayal. But they were meant as love | Sarah Schwartz
Not speaking would go against everything I was taught to honour: the righteous among the nations – those who refused to be bystanders to injustice
www.theguardian.com
October 8, 2025 at 4:47 AM
"I wish I had told you, before our dinners grew cold, that one day I would speak loudly. Not to wound, but because not speaking would betray everything I was taught... I have spoken not in spite of my Jewishness but because of it – in solidarity with Palestinians, but also out of love for you."
Reposted by Rachel Withers
A letter to those who taught me my Jewishness, and who now sit on the other side of a deep chasm.
When you first heard me speak against this genocide, you heard my words as betrayal. But they were meant as love
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
When you first heard me speak against this genocide, you heard my words as betrayal. But they were meant as love
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
When you first heard me speak against this genocide, you heard my words as betrayal. But they were meant as love | Sarah Schwartz
Not speaking would go against everything I was taught to honour: the righteous among the nations – those who refused to be bystanders to injustice
www.theguardian.com
October 8, 2025 at 4:28 AM
A letter to those who taught me my Jewishness, and who now sit on the other side of a deep chasm.
When you first heard me speak against this genocide, you heard my words as betrayal. But they were meant as love
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
When you first heard me speak against this genocide, you heard my words as betrayal. But they were meant as love
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The fact Wong thinks she can just snark her way out of this is a sign of how normalised the relationships between politicians and lobbyists have become.
Like, of course the PM shouldn't be president of a registered lobby group that sells corporate members access to politicians? No shit??
Like, of course the PM shouldn't be president of a registered lobby group that sells corporate members access to politicians? No shit??
Independent Senator David Pocock and Labor's Penny Wong clashed in Senate estimates yesterday over whether the Parliamentary Sports Club could be considered a lobby group, as reported in Crikey last week. The club is registered as such, and lists Responsible Wagering Australia as one of its clients.
October 8, 2025 at 4:31 AM
The fact Wong thinks she can just snark her way out of this is a sign of how normalised the relationships between politicians and lobbyists have become.
Like, of course the PM shouldn't be president of a registered lobby group that sells corporate members access to politicians? No shit??
Like, of course the PM shouldn't be president of a registered lobby group that sells corporate members access to politicians? No shit??
Reposted by Rachel Withers
Tonight 7pm on Spin Cycle @3rrrfm.bsky.social we wrap up Radiothon. The rad @nataliesqrl.bsky.social joins us to look at the last week, and hasn't it shown us how vital independent news media is? So pls throw us your coin. With @rachelwithers.bsky.social @theshufflediary.bsky.social
SUBSCRIBE!
SUBSCRIBE!
Triple R 102.7FM, Melbourne Independent Radio
Community media on 102.7FM, 3RRR Digital in Melbourne & worldwide via RRR Apps
www.rrr.org.au
September 18, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Tonight 7pm on Spin Cycle @3rrrfm.bsky.social we wrap up Radiothon. The rad @nataliesqrl.bsky.social joins us to look at the last week, and hasn't it shown us how vital independent news media is? So pls throw us your coin. With @rachelwithers.bsky.social @theshufflediary.bsky.social
SUBSCRIBE!
SUBSCRIBE!
Reposted by Rachel Withers
A good little chart from the Parliamentary Library showing how almost all social spending by the Commonwealth is already means-tested #auspol
September 17, 2025 at 2:19 AM
A good little chart from the Parliamentary Library showing how almost all social spending by the Commonwealth is already means-tested #auspol
Something weird about these early 40s white men insisting we ditch net zero and fuck the consequences.
The pig-headed, nihilistic disregard almost made sense for Abbott (67), Joyce (58), Morrison (57).
But Hastie/Duniam are 42. Millennials who might've led the Coalition into the 21st century...
The pig-headed, nihilistic disregard almost made sense for Abbott (67), Joyce (58), Morrison (57).
But Hastie/Duniam are 42. Millennials who might've led the Coalition into the 21st century...
#BREAKING 🚨 Andrew Hastie has threatened to quit the opposition frontbench if the Coalition does not end its support for net zero
Speaking to the ABC, Hastie says he would think about quitting – or be sacked by Sussan Ley – because he wants the climate target scrapped
Speaking to the ABC, Hastie says he would think about quitting – or be sacked by Sussan Ley – because he wants the climate target scrapped
September 16, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Something weird about these early 40s white men insisting we ditch net zero and fuck the consequences.
The pig-headed, nihilistic disregard almost made sense for Abbott (67), Joyce (58), Morrison (57).
But Hastie/Duniam are 42. Millennials who might've led the Coalition into the 21st century...
The pig-headed, nihilistic disregard almost made sense for Abbott (67), Joyce (58), Morrison (57).
But Hastie/Duniam are 42. Millennials who might've led the Coalition into the 21st century...
"Kirk represented everything we should be pushing back against. And if you are worried that saying so will trigger more violence, and a further slide into authoritarianism, then you have already ceded the space."
@amyremeikis.bsky.social bang on as always:
amyremeikis.substack.com/p/charlie-ki...
@amyremeikis.bsky.social bang on as always:
amyremeikis.substack.com/p/charlie-ki...
Charlie Kirk died in the America he wanted
I mourn the loss of human life. I feel compassion, empathy and grief at an inexcusable killing. But I find nothing to lionise in his legacy.
amyremeikis.substack.com
September 15, 2025 at 2:29 AM
"Kirk represented everything we should be pushing back against. And if you are worried that saying so will trigger more violence, and a further slide into authoritarianism, then you have already ceded the space."
@amyremeikis.bsky.social bang on as always:
amyremeikis.substack.com/p/charlie-ki...
@amyremeikis.bsky.social bang on as always:
amyremeikis.substack.com/p/charlie-ki...
Reposted by Rachel Withers
Following today's rally, we are going on Spin Cycle by the wonderful @evelynaraluen.bsky.social to discuss the closure of Meanjin, Australia's shrinking public square and much more after a monstrous week of news.
Join @jessielilley.bsky.social @rachelwithers.bsky.social and I on RRR from 7pm!
Join @jessielilley.bsky.social @rachelwithers.bsky.social and I on RRR from 7pm!
September 11, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Following today's rally, we are going on Spin Cycle by the wonderful @evelynaraluen.bsky.social to discuss the closure of Meanjin, Australia's shrinking public square and much more after a monstrous week of news.
Join @jessielilley.bsky.social @rachelwithers.bsky.social and I on RRR from 7pm!
Join @jessielilley.bsky.social @rachelwithers.bsky.social and I on RRR from 7pm!
Feels like only a matter of time before the word "Palestinian" is deemed antisemitic by the people who put together this list
www.deepcutnews.com/p/watermelon...
www.deepcutnews.com/p/watermelon...
Watermelons deemed an antisemitic symbol at pro-Israel mayoral summit
A leaflet shared at Gold Coast summit includes a bizarre list of 'antisemitic' items
www.deepcutnews.com
September 4, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Feels like only a matter of time before the word "Palestinian" is deemed antisemitic by the people who put together this list
www.deepcutnews.com/p/watermelon...
www.deepcutnews.com/p/watermelon...
Sounds like she should be calling for her own funding to be cut
September 4, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Sounds like she should be calling for her own funding to be cut
Reposted by Rachel Withers
Weirdly specific denial in this Guardian article that Melbourne Uni’s board didn’t play any role in killing Meanjin
in which the chair of MUP denies that UMelb Council, chaired by Mark Leibler, had any formal role in the MUP decision to close down Meanjin.
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/s...
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/s...
Decision to close Meanjin criticised as act of ‘utter cultural vandalism’
Shutting long-running literary journal, which published emerging writers as well as the cream of Australia’s literary talent, described as ‘enormous loss’
www.theguardian.com
September 4, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Weirdly specific denial in this Guardian article that Melbourne Uni’s board didn’t play any role in killing Meanjin
Reposted by Rachel Withers
The little Meanjin collection that I helped bring into the world as editor. Just a fragment of its 85-year catalogue. What an act of bone-stupid arrogance to kill it.
September 4, 2025 at 11:01 PM
The little Meanjin collection that I helped bring into the world as editor. Just a fragment of its 85-year catalogue. What an act of bone-stupid arrogance to kill it.