Pseudo Times 716 — The Song of Cygnus atratus?

Yes, the puzzles are definitely getting better and there may be a reason for this if the grapevine re Auntie Dot’s career is correct. If things keep heading in this direction, the competition may even begin to turn into a vaguely fair (Ximenean) one and I shall accordingly have to reconsider my pre-emptive strikes in the name of cruciverbal justice. One option will be to delay the blog until the comp’s closed on the following Friday. For now, however, just a few hints — except where egregious and diabolical liberties remain and Zorro is called to slash a great Z across the page.

Across
1. Double def, one cryptic; and a shockingly wrong part of speech. NB: we call them “duffers”.
10. There’s only one five-letter star that ends in EL. It’s in Orion.
11. CENT,RALLY. Here’s a classic instance of the compiler knowing nought about this country. In fact from 1926 to 1931, there was an officially designated territory called Central Australia.
12. Seriously poor cryptic definition. But then you’d have to know the basics of marsupial reproduction.
13. Another double def.
14. Anagram (error,T). The construction of the clue unfairly makes it look like you’re looking for a nemesis, but that’s just added as padding to make the surface slightly more coherent. By contrast, the inclusion of “this” points you to the actual definition and solution.
16. Anagram (a,decent,E).
18. Mixed charade. But “can be” ≠ ABLE.
20. Cryptic def. Plain as the nose on your face.
23. A pun and the source of many a bad joke about addicted nuns getting their kit off.
24. Homophonic charade.
26. Straight anagram.
27. Anagram (a,pup,I); froggy word for “support”, not necessarily military. There’s also a more horsey meaning.
28. I SEE included in A N(ew) BALL. A hideous pommy confection that can, in suitable numbers, also be used as buckshot.

Down
2&8. As noted in the earlier post, I think there’s a typo here and the clue should read “to GET fish for food” for this is indeed an edible fish, Neoplatycephalus richardsoni. Note that there’s nothing to tell us to include the E for “energy”.
3. Perhaps the best clue in the puzzle. You have to remember the term used in old business letters for “last month”. Easy to get fooled into thinking DEC or H.
4. Anagram (Scot) + …
5. Straight charade apart from the “of”. Heather is nearly always this or ERICA.
6. Anagram.
7. Anagram (D,in,most,horrid). It helps to know your Greek, dromaios (“swift-running”) and ornis (“bird”). Includes the giant emu.
8. See 2dn.
9. Extended double definition where you have to read “finds” as a pointer (instruction to find) the more literal of the two.
15. Straight charade (RA for “Rear Admiral”) …. The def includes some cuckoos, but also my old friend the Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike. So, definition by example.
17. Another abbrev. from old letters written on paper. Remember those?
19. ANT,LION. An insect much beloved of crossword setters. Usually two words.
21. Not quite fair, as there’s only an indication for three of the seven letters (HUB) and where not to stick them. Jim’s nemesis in the Royle Family Christmas Special.
22. TU for “union” ….
25. Now here’s a gripe: part of the anagram is concealed. You have to convert “ten” to X before sorting the letters. This is simply not on in today’s world of crossword etiquette.