Finn McHugh

Finn McHugh

@finnmchugh.bsky.social

Federal political reporter at @capitalbrief. Views my own. Reposts ≠ endorsements. finn.mchugh@capitalbrief.com

427 Followers 203 Following 14 Posts Joined Nov 2024
8 months ago
Preview
Playing loose with virtue leaves questions for Arsenal to answer over Thomas Partey | Jonathan Liew The club trumpet their moral creed but the lengths to which they were willing to champion one of their own demands answers

www.theguardian.com/football/202...

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10 months ago
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She once said Palestinians are 'airbrushed'. Now she says calls for restraint are 'disgraceful' Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley has labelled Penny Wong's call for restraint in Israel and Gaza as "disgraceful".

Liberal MP Andrew Wallace, wearing an Israeli flag pin, says: “I think [Ley] has seen the light on Israel in recent years".

Ley has a history of pro-Palestinian comments, but has shifted her rhetoric since entering Lib leadership team👇

#auspol

www.sbs.com.au/news/article...

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10 months ago
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'Sick to death': Former Liberal minister blasts influence of Sky News on party Scott Ryan, who served as a minister under Tony Abbott, warns the Liberal Party is being driven away from mainstream voters by hardline voices.

Strong comments from a fmr Lib minister on Sky After Dark’s impact — attacking “puritanical litmus test Liberals”.

On Sunday, Sky host Rita Panahi demanded the party “address the bedwetters, quislings, the enemy within”.

Full story via Capital Brief 👇
www.capitalbrief.com/article/sick...

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10 months ago
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Voters have brought Peter Dutton’s time in public life to a shuddering halt. A devastating night for the Liberal Party, and no clear sense of the path out #auspol

Full story in @CapitalBrief 👇

#auspol25 #AusVotes2025

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11 months ago
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Inside the circus: a week on Albanese’s campaign roadshow Capital Brief spent the first week on Anthony Albanese’s campaign — where every selfie, stumble and stage-managed stop tells a bigger story.

Early in the campaign, one reporter opened his phone to a Find My Friends request from a Liberal staffer, eager to track the prime minister in real time. He politely declined.

Inside the circus, via @capitalbrief.com 👇

#auspol #australiavotes

www.capitalbrief.com/article/insi...

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11 months ago
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Labor, Liberals agree to election leaders' debate on ABC Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton are set to square off in the first debate hosted by the public broadcaster in two election cycles.

News: Labor, Liberals agree to election leaders' debate on ABC via @capitalbrief.com #auspol www.capitalbrief.com/article/labo...

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11 months ago

Prime minister Anthony Albanese has landed in Brisbane for his first stop of the federal election campaign. Means he, OL Peter Dutton and Adam Bandt will all be in the same city on day one of the campaign #2025election #auspol

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1 year ago
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From a fictional alter ego to attacks on Australia, meet Trump's trade advisor Peter Navarro Whenever US tariffs are discussed, Peter Navarro’s name isn’t far behind. Here’s what Australians need to know about their new antagonist in the White House.

Read our full story on Peter Navarro by Jennifer Duke and @finnmchugh.bsky.social 👇

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1 year ago

Retiring MP Graham Perrett kicked out of Question Time in what is likely to be his last appearance. He’s applauded out by Labor colleagues. “That’s his valedictory,” one says. #auspol

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1 year ago
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The two faces of Syria’s interim government The regional responses will matter far more than Western influence.

“In the background is the reality al-Sharaa must answer to – a militant base of fighters who are unlikely to have fought a war to establish a progressive…” Read David Livingstone in The Interpreter.
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/two-faces-syria-s-interim-government

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1 year ago
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'The bastards have done it': Australia's response to Jakarta embassy bombing revealed Newly released cabinet documents shed light on the government's response to the deadly bombing attack on Australia's embassy in Indonesia in September 2004.

Terror group JI had targeted partygoers. Now, its guns were turned on the Australian government.

“At each step, we were behind the game … We found it difficult to get ahead of the terrorists,” Brigadier Ken Brownrigg says.

Full interview in @capitalbrief.com👇
www.capitalbrief.com/article/the-...

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1 year ago
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ANU chancellor Julie Bishop faces 'likely' no confidence vote as union ramps up criticism The National Tertiary Education Union warns a proposed no confidence vote in the leadership of ANU's vice chancellor may be expanded to include Bishop after further damaging revelations.

Australia’s peak education union says it's "likely" to move a vote of no confidence in ANU chancellor Julie Bishop’s leadership, after she revealed she approved all details of vice chancellor Genevieve Bell’s paid role with a tech giant. In @capitalbrief.com

www.capitalbrief.com/article/anu-...

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1 year ago

in his first hour of international test cricket sam konstas has ramped bumrah thrice, gotten siraj jawing at him, and stirred up kohli enough to have the man bodily shoulder him. now he's scored 18 off a bumrah over and is actively revving the crowd. god this rules #AUSvIND

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1 year ago
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'It's a content business': Hugh Marks plans to shake up ABC after Nine flameout The former CEO of legacy media operator Nine has signalled plans to boost the ABC's commercial focus as he takes over as managing director of the public broadcaster.

New: Incoming ABC boss and former Nine CEO Hugh Marks insists he has learned from the findings of a damning third-party review of his former employer’s workplace culture, and signalled plans to ramp up the broadcaster's commercial activities www.capitalbrief.com/article/its-...

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1 year ago

To my 🇦🇺 followers just waking up who want to know what's happening in 🇨🇦 today:
-The Deputy PM/Finance Minister (treasurer equivalent) resigned on the day she was due to table the Fall Economic Statement (like a MYEFO)
-she said she was ‘at odds' with Trudeau on 'the best path forward for 🇨🇦’ (1/8)

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1 year ago
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Middle East crisis live: Israeli government approves plans to extend occupation of Golan Heights Government says it acted ‘in light of the war and new front facing Syria’ and has desire to double Israeli population in area Hello and welcome to the Middle East crisis live blog. A war monitor group said early on Monday that Israeli strikes had…

Middle East crisis live: Israeli government approves plans to extend occupation of Golan Heights

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1 year ago
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Israel plans to expand settlements in occupied Golan Heights following fall of Assad Israel's occupation of the strategic plateau is considered illegal under international law.

“We will continue to hold onto it, cause it to blossom and settle in it," Netanyahu said in a statement.

Israel seizing in fall of Assad regime to expand its settlements in the occupied Golan Heights

www.sbs.com.au/news/article...

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1 year ago
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Death feels imminent for 96% of children in Gaza, study finds Needs assessment by NGO reveals the huge psychological impact of the war with Israel on young people

96% of children in Gaza feel that their death is imminent and almost half want to die as a result of trauma. 92% of the children in the survey were “not accepting of reality”, 79% suffer from nightmares and 73% exhibit symptoms of aggression.

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1 year ago
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Sack vice chancellor Genevieve Bell or face no confidence vote, union tells ANU The unions are ramping up pressure on embattled ANU vice chancellor Genevieve Bell as the university struggles to cut costs after years of financial mismanagement.

Scoop: Embattled #ANU vice chancellor Genevieve Bell faces a union no confidence motion in February if the university keeps her in place. Full details in @capitalbrief.com 👇

www.capitalbrief.com/article/sack...

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1 year ago
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Live: Syrian rebels say they have 'freed Damascus' as president reportedly flees Syrian rebels, in a televised address, say they have "freed" the country's capital. While President Bashar al-Assad has reportedly fled. Follow live.

Syrian rebels say they have 'freed Damascus' as President Bashar al-Assad reportedly flees www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12...

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1 year ago
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Best of frenemies: Tracing the Plibersek-Albanese rivalry Tanya Plibersek and Anthony Albanese are from the same state and faction. They share a world view. So why don’t they get along?

Best of frenemies: Tracing the Plibersek-Albanese rivalry. My column today: www.theage.com.au/politics/fed...

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1 year ago
Australia – case study 1
The Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) investigated
a minor (who was 16 years at the time of offending)
following initial reporting they were mobilising to commit
an act of ideologically motivated violent extremism (IMVE).
JCTTs exist in all states and territories of Australia
and consist of the Australian Federal Police (AFP),
the relevant State or Territory Police, the Australian
Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and, in
New South Wales (NSW), the NSW Crime Commission.
The minor was part of a loosely connected online
network involving hundreds of local and international
participants, some of whom shared similar IMVE
ideologies. The minor was sharing IMVE documents,
images and videos, and advocating for attacks
on persons of non-Caucasian appearance, and urged
others to prepare for an upcoming race war to
‘defend the white race’. This included discussing carrying
out a mass killing offshore, posting about live-streaming
a shooting on Facebook, requesting assistance in
bomb-making, praising mass shooters, and suggesting
the targeting of ‘high profile enemies’.
During the JCTT investigation, the minor was observed
to have very few real-world relationships which consisted
primarily of work colleagues and family members.
He did not participate in any extra-curricular activities
and appeared to spend limited time socialising offline.
The risk of the minor undertaking some form of physical
attack was assessed as too great, so the AFP moved
to overt resolution. The minor was charged with
advocating terrorism and urging violence against
members or groups. The arrest of the minor and
dissemination of intelligence to international partners
also led to the arrest of a person of interest offshore
who had links to the minor’s Telegram posting.
The minor was sentenced to an 18-month term
of imprisonment with a non-parole period of
14 months. Upon sentence expiry, the minor was
an adult and was released into the community on
an Interim Control Or…

The two Australian case studies in the Five Eyes release today about youth radicalisation are both white supremacist/far right radicalisation examples... The spy agencies tend to be a bit reluctant to call this out in isolation because of the politics around it. www.asio.gov.au/system/files...

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1 year ago
Preview
ANU axes tech policy centre as financial troubles bite The university is making cuts as it faces a $250 million deficit in its operating budget.

Scoop: #ANU to axe its technology policy centre as the beleaguered institution attempts to dig itself out of a financial hole. Full details in @capitalbrief.com 👇

www.capitalbrief.com/article/anu-...

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1 year ago
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Raygun walked so Kylian Mbappe could run 😆

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1 year ago
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Labor stranded again as electoral reform talks break down Labor is stranded on electoral reforms after talks with the Coalition stalled, with angry crossbenchers insisting the bill is too far gone to support.

Labor has again been left stranded after seemingly positive talks with the Coalition abruptly turned sour. This time, it's on electoral reforms. And it seems to have nowhere to go after its approach for months alienated crossbenchers it could now need #auspol

www.capitalbrief.com/article/labo...

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1 year ago

Coalition boasts it’s ‘running the immigration system’ after deal to pass all three of Labor’s migration bills
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

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1 year ago
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Labor and Coalition close to deal on controversial electoral reforms For months, Labor has been seeking a deal with the opposition and cutting out the crossbench.

The major parties are edging closer to a deal on Labor’s controversial electoral reforms, which independents claim is designed to stack the deck against them www.capitalbrief.com/article/labo...

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1 year ago
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Independent anger as Labor adds 50 high-paid staffer positions Crossbenchers want the decision on how many staffers they can hire to be taken out of the prime minister's hands.

“Imagine being in a situation where your competitor controls the resources you need to do your job. That’s exactly what’s happening here.”

Govt adds over 50 high-paid senior staffing positions, as Indies complain their own staff are being overworked. #auspol

www.capitalbrief.com/article/inde...

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1 year ago
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Urging occupation, Smotrich says ‘voluntary migration’ could halve Gaza’s population in 2 years * * *

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says Israel “can and must occupy the Gaza Strip”.

“It’s possible to create a situation in which Gaza will have less than half its current population within two years.”
www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_ent...

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1 year ago
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Independent anger as Labor adds 50 high-paid staffer positions Crossbenchers want the decision on how many staffers they can hire to be taken out of the prime minister's hands.

The Albanese government has added more than 50 high-paid senior staffing positions since mid-last year, while independents complain their own threadbare staff are being overworked.

More from @finnmchugh.bsky.social 👇

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