Former president Barack Obama joined Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed at a rally in Detroit, where he joked about the candidate's muscular arms. Obama said the two men share a campaign focus on change and breaking boundaries, and that both have faced racism and questions about their names. Obama also dismissed claims that El-Sayed is radical, asking how wanting universal health care and affordable housing could be considered so. El-Sayed leads recent polls only within the margin of error, and he won just 31 per cent of Black primary voters in Detroit.
Politicians from across the political divide joined a rally of more than 5,000 people in Moore Park on Sunday to oppose the planned divestment of Victoria Barracks. Former prime ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott and Greens leader David Shoebridge were among the speakers. Organisers Marjorie O’Neill and Jess Collins urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to save the site. Shoebridge said public land should stay in public hands. A Defence spokesperson said the department is moving quickly to transition from divestment sites before the end of 2027, including Victoria Barracks Sydney.
More than 2,000 people rallied in Sydney on Sunday to urge Anthony Albanese to stop the proposed sale of Victoria Barracks. Former prime ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott attended the Save Victoria Barracks event at Kippax Lake. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said the site's defence role was at stake. NSW Veterans Minister David Harris said the state would use planning and heritage avenues to slow the move. Brigadier Vince Williams, president of RSL NSW, called the proposal a total failure of leadership.
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The Hay Pony Club has announced a November rally, according to its headline. The accompanying source text contains only website navigation links and no details about the event's date, program or activities.
Former prime minister John Howard has criticised the federal government over its plan to sell Sydney's Victoria Barracks, saying it shows indifference to Australia's military history. Mr Howard has accepted an invitation to speak at a rally opposing the sale, to be held opposite the barracks on Sunday. The government plans to sell 67 defence sites nationally, worth about $3 billion, as part of a cost-cutting exercise. Defence Minister Richard Marles has argued the barracks should be opened to the public, while NSW Premier Chris Minns has backed the Army's claim to the site.
Over 300 Australian Services Union members rallied in Penrith to mark the lodging of a work value claim with the Fair Work Commission. The union wants pay for frontline community workers at charities and not-for-profits reviewed, saying wages have not been reviewed for 15 years. ASU NSW and ACT Secretary Angus McFarland called on the state government to fund any wage increases. The union says one in four community sector workers is looking to quit within a year. Family Support Worker Emma Nicholson said her work has grown more complex while her pay has not kept pace.
Residents plan a Sunday rally in support of the former Old Sydney Town site. The Kariong Progress Association is asking Central Coast councillors to hold off on the current planning proposal for the land until a stronger plan is drawn up.
A new fundraising campaign called NOOSA GIVES BACK has been proposed by New York Minute Noosa to support Country Hope. It will run from October 15 to 31 with an initial target of $10,000. The business plans to match every dollar donated by customers in-store. The effort is linked to the 2027 Riverina Outback Rally, which runs from March 8 to 12 and travels from Goolgowi to Moama. Organisers hope other local businesses and community members will join the effort across the Noosa Junction precinct.
Musicians John Butler and Nicholas Allbrook are set to join a rally outside Western Australia's Parliament House next Tuesday. Organisers expect about 1000 people to call on the State Government to ban fracking in the Kimberley. Campaigners say the gathering will bring together Traditional Owners, environmental advocates and community members. The rally is part of a campaign opposing plans by Black Mountain Energy to develop gas resources in the region. Fracking remains lawful in parts of the Kimberley, and the proposal awaits a decision from the Environment Minister.
Thousands of people are expected in New Farm later this month for the Brisbane Pride Rally and March, which Brisbane Pride organisers say could be the biggest single-day celebration of queer life the city has seen. The march runs along Brunswick Street on Saturday, October 24, and ends at New Farm Park, where Fair Day features a main stage, markets and food vans. Joanne is headlining, with RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under stars Vybe and Coco Jumbo also performing. The festival runs through October 31.
On Friday, a rally was held at Parliament House in Canberra to highlight concerns about regional Victoria's emergency services. Attendees urged political candidates to expedite the renewal of outdated emergency service vehicles. The event aimed to draw attention to the critical need for improved fleet management in rural areas. Participants expressed hope that their voices would influence upcoming policy decisions. This gathering follows a series of similar rallies across the country, reflecting growing community frustration with infrastructure delays.
Pro-Palestinian rallies were held in capital cities and regional areas across Australia for the Global Day for Gaza. Thousands gathered in Sydney's Hyde Park before marching through the CBD. Protesters in Sydney, Hobart, Newcastle and Adelaide criticised the federal government over arms shipments to Israel and called for sanctions. The Department of Defence has denied supplying weapons or ammunition to Israel since the conflict began. Gaza health authorities report more than 74,000 Palestinians killed.
Drive Like a Girl, a documentary featuring racing driver Molly Taylor, has been nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 2026 International Motor Film Awards in Los Angeles. The film follows Taylor's rise to World Rally Champion and her win in the World Extreme E Championship. Taylor and her partner Daniel Gardner welcomed their first child in August, and she plans to return to racing later this year. The film was previously honoured by Motorsport Australia. The awards ceremony will be held on November 14.
A community rally will be held on Sunday 8 November to discuss the Keilor Downs Police Station. The event, organised by the Save Keilor Downs Police Station group, invites state election candidates to address concerns about police station accessibility, resources, and community safety. The rally follows reductions to the station's counter hours in November 2023, which were temporarily cut from 24 hours a day to eight hours a day. The group hopes to keep the issue in the public spotlight ahead of the state election.
