🔵 Pokies out of St Ives
Plus: How political media teams control the narrative, algorithms taking over, the fate of the SBS building.
Huw Bradshaw
February 13, 2026
⏱️ The 80th edition of our newsletter is a five-minute read.
🌅 Morning all,
I got an interesting reply to a story earlier this week about e-bikes. A reader has insisted that I stop calling them e-bikes, instead using the term “un-registered, un-insured, non-compliant motor bikes”.
While I think for ease I might stick with e-bikes, they do raise a good point: much of the language we use when talking about these issues does come from convenience.
Take, for example, the moniker of “fat-bikes” employed by the NSW government as a catch-all for any e-bike it doesn’t fancy.
There are, in fact, many street-legal e-bikes with the signature “fat” tires the name is derived from that may be unfairly targeted.
Fat bikes, however, happens to be a really great name and, despite my best intentions, it is hugely difficult to leave Fat-Bikes out of copy.
In other news, I’ll give a quick plug to Archie’s latest episode of the National Account podcast. In it he talks to former Rudd and Gillard press secretary Sean Kelly about how the media teams behind politicians work to influence the news. Watch the full interview below.
Anyway, let’s get into the news for this week.
HEARD THIS WEEK👂
🎰 Nicolette Boele pushes back on St Ives Shopping Village pokies proposal
A controversial plan to redevelop the St Ives Shopping Village made it all the way to Canberra today, with Bradfield MP Nicolette Boele speaking out against the proposal to introduce a gaming room of more than 200 square metres.
What happened: Boele told Federal Parliament today that bringing poker machines to a “family-friendly shopping precinct” was “socially irresponsible”.
She said more than 50 local residents had contacted her about the plan, some of whom shared personal testimony about the damaging effects of gambling.
Read the full story below.
👾 Should Australians get the choice to opt-out of the algorithm?
Is it too late to save ourselves from social media algorithms that push bigotry, division and outrage?
No, advocates argue — but the government must act swiftly to do something about it.
Who is asking?: The Fix our Feeds campaign wants an opt-in feature for social media algorithms.
What does that mean?: Currently, when you install a social media app in Australia, you automatically opt-in to an algorithm that tracks what you watch, like and share, to curate a feed of content specifically designed for you.
According to eSafety Australia, the purpose of an algorithm is to “maximise engagement — often at the expense of the user’s wellbeing”.
Fix our Feeds wants the opposite: for social media companies to ask for users' consent — effectively, an opt-in — before an algorithm is developed for them.
Read the full story here.
🏢 Is time up for the SBS building?
With an application lodged for the buildings demolition, this figure of the North Sydney skyline could be not long for this world.
Watch the full video below.
LOOKING NATIONALLY 👀
⚔️ Sussan Ley Vs Angus Taylor
The Liberal Party is set to vote on the future of its leadership on Friday. Here’s what MPs are saying from across the political spectrum.
That’s all from me.
Got a story tip? An unsolved mystery? A notable local? Hit reply or reach out at [email protected].
Cheers,
Huw
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