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According to new figures from Resolve Political Monitor for Nine newspapers, Hanson's likeability among voters jumped from -13 at the end of 2024 to +3 by the end of 2025.

While still on the lower scale of likeability ratings for federal politicians, it puts the Queensland senator in close to the most-liked position of her career, mirroring a surge in primary support for her party this year.

Hanson also recorded the second-highest "familiarity" score of 93 per cent, behind only Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at 97 per cent.

Her newest follower, New England MP Barnaby Joyce, also saw his popularity rocket by 18 points – though he still remains one of just two politicians surveyed with a net unlikeable rating, having shifted from -22 to -4.

While Albanese was rated at +9 likeability (up from -17 at the end of 2024), the pollsters noted these figures were compiled before the Bondi Beach terror attack on December 14.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has extended his sympathy to the families of the Bondi Beach terrorist attack victims, while knocking back their demand for a royal commission.

Albanese has been attacked by political opponents and members of the community, including victims' families, in the aftermath, and his government has been blamed for not doing enough to stem rising antisemitism in Australia.

A smaller Resolve poll, with a greater margin of error, conducted after the attack, saw Albanese's likeability drop from +9 to -5, while opposition leader Sussan Ley went from +8 in the pre-attack poll to +1.

The pre-attack poll showed Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie retain her crown as Australia's most-liked politician with a rating of +15, though she was joined by fellow Independent David Pocock.

Senator Jacqui Lambie speaks to the media at Parliament House in Canberra on May 13, 2024.

Small Business Minister Dr Anne Aly, Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King were the most-liked members of the government, at +12, +11, and +11 respectively.

Goldstein MP Tim Wilson is the most-liked member of the opposition, also on +11.

Aside from Joyce, the only surveyed politician to earn a net disliked rating was independent Senator Lidia Thorpe, at -12.

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Queensland floods turn deadly as rain continues to pour

2025-12-31 FreeNews

A man has died in Queensland floodwaters as the state braces for another day of heavy rain.

Police were called to Gulf Development Road at Normanton, in the state's north-west, at about 3pm yesterday.

They found a car submerged in floodwaters, where the body of a man aged in his 70s was located inside.

Queensland floods

The death is not being treated as suspicious and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

It comes as the state's north faces record rainfall for the fourth day in a row, with landslides, widespread flooding and more than 30 roads cut off yesterday afternoon.

Rainfall is expected to ease today, but the Bureau of Meteorology has warned totals could still reach up to 220mm in Townsville and 100mm in the state's west in the next 24 hours.

Queensland floods

Premier David Crisafulli yesterday announced disaster relief for the affected areas.

"We have two main concerns and that is roads and the impact on agriculture," he said.

"There could be some significant stock loss. We stand ready to be able to provide fodder if that is required."

Queensland floods.

Further north, between Cairns and Townsville, South Mission Beach has now recorded 850mm of rain from the current monsoon storm system.

That's expected to exceed a metre before the system moves on.

Multiple severe weather and flood warnings are in place for the state's north and north-west, including for the Norman, Flinders, Gilbert, Cloncurry, Georgina, Nicholson, Leichhardt, Bohle, Western, Diamantina, Herbert, Mulgrave, Russell, and Tully rivers.

North Queensland floods

"A tropical low embedded in the monsoon trough across the northwest will linger for the next few days whilst slowly weakening," the bureau said.

"The position of the trough will fluctuate over coming days whilst it slowly weakens, and will most likely be located between Cooktown and Townsville."

Queensland Police Minister Daniel Purdie said yesterday authorities were already in position to help with the response to the weather event.

QLD Premier David Crisafulli has said that Queensland is in good standing ahead of the wild weather conditions set to rock the state.

"We've put senior police into Richmond, Mount Isa and Ingham with some support staff to help the coordination of this response," he said.

"With the fire department, we've 37 expert swift water rescue crews have been pre-positioned, coupled with air assets from the fire department ready to help."

Crisafulli also said he was confident the state was in a good position to handle the disaster and recovery.

North Queensland rain radar

"I want to give people assurance that we've done a lot of work to pre-prepare for the disaster season," he said.

"That really puts us in good stead and I am very confident about the way that we can handle events, both this one and in the future."

People are urged to stay up to date on the BoM website and the Queensland government's disaster website.

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Cath restocks her pantry once a year. She’s already planned her meals for 2026

2025-12-31 FreeNews

Cath Armstrong is not a fan of grocery shopping, so the Victorian mum uses a method that allows her to do it as little as possible.

Each year between December 27 and 30, the founder of the popular Cheapskates Club dedicates a few days to a yearly shop to save her "time, grey hairs, frustration and stress".

"I loathe grocery shopping," Armstrong said.

The bulk of Cath Armstrong's grocery shopping for the entire year is done in just three days.

"People wander up and down, they park their trolleys, they stop in the middle of the aisles, it nearly sends me spare."

Armstrong switched from a weekly shop to a monthly shop years ago to avoid the chore but had to rethink her approach when life became busier with work and family.

"I stretched it out to three months, then I thought, 'Well, I can do this for six months'," she said.

"When I hit shopping once every six months, it was just bliss.

"It took a full day but then it was just one day and for six months I didn't have to go back.

"Then I thought 'I'm going to try this for a whole year'."

Cath Armstrong, pictured on A Current Affair in 2015, has shared her tips with Australians for decades.

Armstrong now does a yearly pantry re-stock and smaller fresh food shops every few weeks.

The annual shop costs about $1200 and consists of enough staples for her family for the year.

"All I simply did was look back over what I'd been buying and multiplied everything so it equaled a year's worth," she said.

Armstrong finds her calculations are "pretty accurate", which helps her avoid food waste.

During the yearly shop, she buys mostly generic brands from Aldi, Coles and Woolworths.

"It doesn't take up a lot of space, I've got one shelf unit in my laundry and that's about it," she said.

Armstrong's grocery shopping method allows her to cut down on trips to the supermarket.

Armstrong also comes up with an annual meal plan, which follows a similar pattern every week.

During a typical week, the family will have a roast dinner on Sunday, meat and vegetables on Monday, pasta on Tuesday, meat and vegetables on Wednesday, homemade pizza on Thursday, fish on Friday and Mexican food on Saturday.

She then shares dinner ideas with thousands of Cheapskates Club followers to help them slash their grocery bills and navigate meal times with ease.

Food is one of the biggest household expenses for Australian families but making small changes to the way you shop can have a big impact on your budget in the new year.

But Armstrong emphasises people don't necessarily need to go shopping once a year to reap the benefits.

"I try to tell people just because I do something doesn't mean it's right for you," she said.

"Pick the things that work for you and keep doing them."

Australian grocery shopping habits have changed

When you enter a supermarket, every product is competing for your hard-earned cash.

From the essentials to the treats on the end-of-aisle displays, shop layouts are designed to get you to spend more, according to University of Sydney retail expert Lisa Asher.

"All of these key ingredients that we would normally buy, they're all so far apart that you have to cross the store often," Asher said.

"That causes you to go down the back aisle or go down the front aisle.

"You're seeing these end displays, which prompt impulse purchases.

"They're designed to make you buy and they're very effective."

Supermarket layouts are designed to maximise customer spend.

Another factor that contributes to impulse spending is the current economic climate.

"The use of promotions has become more prevalent and people, through the cost-of-living crisis, have become more deal-prone," Asher said.

"We've shifted from everyday low pricing, although there are everyday low products, but you've really got to look for them.

"This shift to half price, it hasn't always been like this."

Grocery shopping habits have also changed in Australia, which has increased the likelihood of impulse buying.

"It used to be that people might do one big shop a week or once a fortnight," Asher said.

"The more frequently people are going now, the more there's temptation."

Simple ways to save

Armstrong has shared her money-saving tips with thousands of Australians for decades to help them live "debt-free, cashed up and laughing".

For Australians who want to reset their budgets in the new year, she offers a few simple suggestions to kick-start the journey.

Her first tip is to take a look at your utility bills and see if there is a better deal.

"Don't be afraid to swap, it's really easy, it's painless," she said.

Her second tip is to adjust your grocery shopping habits as necessary.

"If you shop weekly, think about moving to fortnightly or monthly," Armstrong said.

"If you don't try it, you'll never know."

Her third tip is to write a shopping list, take it to the supermarket and stick to it.

"If you've forgotten something, add it to the list for next time and make do," she said.

"The less money you spend in the shops, the more money you're going to keep in your purse."

The information provided on this website is general in nature only and does not constitute personal financial advice. The information has been prepared without taking into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any information on this website you should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs.

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200kgs worth of shark heads left outside MP’s office

2025-12-31 FreeNews

Three people have been charged over a stinky stunt that saw about 200 kilograms of dead shark heads dumped at the electoral office of WA Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis.

The trio face charges of trespass and depositing litter after the find in Margaret River, about 270 kilometres south of Perth.

Their alleged actions are believed to have been a silent protest over the State Government's controversial fishing ban.

Outside Jackie Jarvis, WA Fisheries Minister's office

The minister announced an 18-month ban on recreational fishing and an indefinite ban on commercial fishing of all demersal species, also known as groundfish, in early December.

The strict restrictions were announced in an effort to save under-threat species including the popular pink snapper, red emperor and dhufish.

"They're tough and people are upset but this is the right thing to do sustain the industry and to sustain recreational fisheries," WA Police Minister Reece Whitby said.

They're all due to appear in Bunbury Magistrates Court on January 22.