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.
asserted
him → ask → book
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.
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Sales → kick → people
On the substantive issue, Frydenberg (again) said he hasn’t decided on a feverishly speculated upon return to federal politics.
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he → say → 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.
“
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view → say → home
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.
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you → split → cent
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.
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Frydenberg → go → country
“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.”
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election → ’ → mind
The former treasurer also offered up some thoughts on the upcoming Victorian election, and how he expects One Nation to fare.
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Nation → offer → election
The party is stronger federally – and in NSW – than it is in Victoria, he supposed.
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he → suppose → Victoria
But he still expects the right-wingers to pick up seats when Victorians head to the polls later this year.
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Victorians → expect → polls
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.
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appearance → mark → 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.
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treasurer → join → release
Howard gave a 20-minute speech, according to The Australian, and said those expecting Frydenberg to declare his political intentions “crazy”.
uncertain
Frydenberg → give → intentions
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.
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Stokes → photograph → Lee
Sadly, though, we’re told there was no space in the room for us!
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we → tell → us
Either that or News Corp wanted to keep it in the family.
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Corp → want → 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.
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we → advise → night
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.
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what → schedule → 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.
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which → rake → duties
The platform will also wheel out a gaggle of creators – Elle Ray and Dr Karl among them – for the sales pitch.
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platform → wheel → pitch
(Here’s hoping the appearance fees were generous.)
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fees → hop → ?
Still, our guess is Wells won’t be sad to miss it.
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Wells → 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.
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Labor → address → which
It introduces new obligations for social media platforms – including Instagram and TikTok – to take steps to screen out harmful content.
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platforms → introduce → content
The framework would also legislate an option for Australians to opt out of social media algorithms.
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Australians → legislate → 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.
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Coalition → stand → 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.
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they → want → compensation
And it’s safe to say the platforms aren’t pleased, either.
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platforms → ’ → ?
Wells will need to get one of the Coalition or the Greens on board to push the bill through the Senate.
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Wells → need → Senate
The minister’s office has briefed Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young on the proposal, we’re told.
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we → brief → proposal
Coalition Senator Sarah Henderson also got a rundown from both the minister’s office and the office of the eSafety Commissioner.
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Henderson → get → 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.
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what → back → internet
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.
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who → take → adviser
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.
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she → reach → contractor
She’s previously done similar work as a contractor for the Nationals, she told us.
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she → do → us
But the publication of an “exclusive” story on her new role in the Tele on Tuesday afternoon raised our eyebrows.
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publication → raise → eyebrows
It went live just hours after we asked Campion our questions.
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we → go → questions
PM holds court
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PM → hold → court
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.
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Albanese → follow → 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.
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summit → bring → officials
…and 7 more, not listed.
The Aporia
