Forget the Frontbench • A Crikey column by Rachel Withers

Riding in cars with Bob

Rachel Withers — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 01:24:43 +0000

One car ride, one question: what drives Bob Katter?

The post Riding in cars with Bob appeared first on Crikey.

‘Purplepingers’ wants a ‘cheeky revolution’. But does he have a real plan for the Senate?

Rachel Withers — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 01:32:46 +0000

Maybe the revolution will be televised after all (on TikTok).

The post ‘Purplepingers’ wants a ‘cheeky revolution’. But does he have a real plan for the Senate? appeared first on Crikey.

Zali Steggall stands by telling Dutton to ‘stop being racist’, yet is no Green on Gaza

Rachel Withers — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 01:20:05 +0000

Independent MP Zali Steggall tells Crikey she wasn’t planning to call the opposition racist but did so after heckling.

The post Zali Steggall stands by telling Dutton to ‘stop being racist’, yet is no Green on Gaza appeared first on Crikey.

Against the odds: Chaney believes the government could still change its mind on gambling

Rachel Withers — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 01:59:55 +0000

How does the member for Curtin maintain her optimism when the government won’t even pass gambling reforms backed by a Labor-chaired committee?

The post Against the odds: Chaney believes the government could still change its mind on gambling appeared first on Crikey.

Jacq Jacq Jacqui: Who will Senator Lambie parachute into politics next?

Rachel Withers — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 02:17:52 +0000

The Jacqui Lambie Network is running candidates in Queensland, NSW and SA at the next election. What does it mean to be a JLN rep, beyond having vague Lambie-esque values? And who is she lending her name to?

The post Jacq Jacq Jacqui: Who will Senator Lambie parachute into politics next? appeared first on Crikey.

‘Demonic and deranged’: Should we be worried about our MAGA-pilled Victorian senator?

Rachel Withers — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 21:48:08 +0000

UAP Senator Ralph Babet was always quite weird. But lately he seems to be heading further down the MAGA-hole.

The post ‘Demonic and deranged’: Should we be worried about our MAGA-pilled Victorian senator? appeared first on Crikey.

Lidia Thorpe sees her Senate spot as the Greens ‘paying the rent’

Rachel Withers — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 02:08:13 +0000

The independent senator won’t try to stay in Parliament when her six-year term comes to an end. But she hopes to pass her Senate seat onto another proud Blak activist

The post Lidia Thorpe sees her Senate spot as the Greens ‘paying the rent’ appeared first on Crikey.

Dutton panics over ‘Muslim candidates’. But our parliaments are designed to be hung

Rachel Withers — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 00:45:19 +0000

Power-sharing is a standard part of parliamentary democracy. It’s time the major parties started acting like it.

The post Dutton panics over ‘Muslim candidates’. But our parliaments are designed to be hung appeared first on Crikey.

Hard Solo and human rights: Why Kylea Tink won’t go quietly

Rachel Withers — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 00:56:40 +0000

The teal MP says she's 'gutted' that her seat is set to be abolished, but is determined to make the most of every single minute she has left.

The post Hard Solo and human rights: Why Kylea Tink won’t go quietly appeared first on Crikey.

‘Like being king hit’: How Andrew Wilkie weaponises whistleblowing

Rachel Withers — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 01:03:33 +0000

The veteran crossbencher says he won’t enter any formal deals in future hung Parliaments. But he’s found a powerful way to use parliamentary privilege.

The post ‘Like being king hit’: How Andrew Wilkie weaponises whistleblowing appeared first on Crikey.