Opinion
Updated ,first published
Leigh Sales wasn’t the first person to ask former federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg about whether Australian voters can expect him to throw his hat in at the next federal election, in the lead up to the publication of his new book. And the ABC stalwart is unlikely to be the last.
In the auditorium of the NSW State Library on Tuesday evening, Sales kicked off Frydenberg’s book roadshow in earnest, but kept the question of his political plans in her back pocket for the closing minutes, after walking Frydenberg through the themes of his book in front of an audience of 300 or so people.
On the substantive issue, Frydenberg (again) said he hasn’t decided on a feverishly speculated upon return to federal politics. The former deputy Liberal Party leader said the prospect has been the subject of chat around “the kitchen cabinet” at home, and, as things stand, the view is split.
“And they’re split around our kitchen cabinet because they know that if you go back into politics, you’re not going back at 50 per cent or 90 per cent because you won’t succeed. You’re going in at 110 per cent, and it’s a bloody hard life, traipsing up to Canberra for weeks on end, or if you’re holding a senior position, travelling around the country,” Frydenberg said.
“But it’s all part and parcel of what is required to succeed in politics, and so we’ll take that decision next year, bearing in mind that the election is 18 months away.”
The former treasurer also offered up some thoughts on the upcoming Victorian election, and how he expects One Nation to fare. The party is stronger federally – and in NSW – than it is in Victoria, he supposed. But he still expects the right-wingers to pick up seats when Victorians head to the polls later this year.
Frydenberg’s appearance alongside Sales marked the first public event scheduled around the Tuesday release of his new book, A Grateful Son, published by News Corp’s HarperCollins. Earlier that day, the former treasurer was joined by former prime minister John Howard at the publisher’s Sydney offices for a private get-together to toast the release.
Howard gave a 20-minute speech, according to The Australian, and said those expecting Frydenberg to declare his political intentions “crazy”. Among those photographed at the get-together were Seven Group Holdings chief Ryan Stokes and wife Claire, along with Justice Michael Lee and former Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe. Sadly, though, we’re told there was no space in the room for us! Either that or News Corp wanted to keep it in the family.
Wells’ skirmish
Anika Wells′ senior staffers will advise the communications minister to have a good dinner on Wednesday night – preferably a steak, we’re told – before having an early night. After all, Thursday will be a big one.
Wells would be the highest-profile absentee from a TikTok event scheduled at Canberra’s Kingston Hotel on Wednesday evening – assuming she was invited – for what appears to be the first public lobbying effort by TikTok to oppose Labor’s controversial Digital Duty of Care bill.
TikTok, which raked in $883.7 million in revenue from Australia in 2025 while offshoring $458 million to the Cayman Islands, has roped in former ABC presenter Jan Fran for hosting duties. The platform will also wheel out a gaggle of creators – Elle Ray and Dr Karl among them – for the sales pitch. (Here’s hoping the appearance fees were generous.)
Still, our guess is Wells won’t be sad to miss it. On Thursday, the minister will address the National Press Club to peddle Labor’s Digital Duty of Care bill, which Labor is expected to introduce that day. It introduces new obligations for social media platforms – including Instagram and TikTok – to take steps to screen out harmful content. The framework would also legislate an option for Australians to opt out of social media algorithms.
As things stand, the framework doesn’t have many friends in the capital and has set off a political and lobbying whirlwind that doesn’t show any sign of letting up.
The Coalition and One Nation have branded the proposal a form of censorship. The Greens want to get a provision into the bill that would allow Australians to sue tech companies for compensation if they are harmed online. And it’s safe to say the platforms aren’t pleased, either.
Wells will need to get one of the Coalition or the Greens on board to push the bill through the Senate. The minister’s office has briefed Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young on the proposal, we’re told. Coalition Senator Sarah Henderson also got a rundown from both the minister’s office and the office of the eSafety Commissioner.
Word is the government has already backed down on a controversial provision that would give the minister extraordinary powers to determine what constitutes “serious harm” on the internet. But our guess is that provision won’t be the only change once negotiations are through.
Campion’s spin
Vikki Campion is back. The former Coalition staffer, who is married to One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce, has taken up a new gig helping out One Nation as a media adviser, starting this week.
Word of Campion’s new role reached us after she was listed as the media contact for the party’s NSW leader Mike Newman on Monday, sparking intrigue on Macquarie Street over who she was working for and what it would mean for her weekly column at the Daily Telegraph.
In answer to our questions, Campion said she’d be working for the One Nation NSW executive, led by president Rebecca Thompson, as a contractor. She’s previously done similar work as a contractor for the Nationals, she told us.
But the publication of an “exclusive” story on her new role in the Tele on Tuesday afternoon raised our eyebrows. It went live just hours after we asked Campion our questions. Fortuitous timing, no doubt.
PM holds court
The appearance of One Nation leader Pauline Hanson on the program of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (ACCI) business leaders’ summit on Tuesday was most intriguing.
But if that wasn’t enough, the senator was also one of the highest profile names on the guest list for the gala dinner that would follow, where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was billed as the guest of honour, with a string of government ministers in tow.
The summit brings together the heads of the nation’s various business lobbies and promises them a night to rub shoulders with the nation’s elected officials. The gala, as you’d expect, follows a similar blueprint.
Given Monday’s welcome drinks were sponsored by Amazon, we weren’t surprised to see the $US2.8 trillion ($4 trillion) tech giant well represented on the guest list for the Tuesday night get-together. Among them was the company’s global affairs and legal officer, David Zapolsky, along with the firm’s Australian country manager and director Matt Benham, and the company’s local public policy boss Matt Levey.
Business lobbyists including Minerals Council of Australia chief executive Tania Constable were promised decent company. Chinese ambassador Liu Jinsong was among dignitaries set to sit down for dinner. Then there were bureaucrats, including Treasury Secretary Jenny Wilkinson, who was set to be joined by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Secretary Jan Adams and Department of Industry, Science and Resources Secretary Simon Draper.
The parliamentary contingent also filled out the guest list. Teal MP Allegra Spender was set to go along, as was Environment Minister Murray Watt and Deputy Opposition Leader Jane Hume. Assistant Science Minister Andrew Charlton, who was on the summit program, was also on the list, as was Industry Minister Tim Ayres.
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