Ben Spies-Butcher

Submission: Help to Buy Regulations 2025 - Grounded Grounded has made a submission on the proposed Help to Buy regulations. While we welcome stronger consumer protections, the scheme risks inflating housing prices, obscuring real costs, and missing the chance to deliver permanent affordability.

Our submission on Help to Buy is in. Biggest concerns? *Inflated prices *Hidden fiscal costs *No perpetual affordability 💡 Shared equity could work better. Tie it to Community Land Trusts → permanent affordability, real public benefit: sbee.link/6phagtynb8 #HousingCrisis #HelpToBuy

This event is going to be wonderful! A chance to discuss the past and future of political economy in Sydney
👏💖🎈

Who would benefit from an expanded parliament? Today’s blog post is inspired by a strange opinion piece in the Nine papers yesterday by former federal Liberal Attorney-General George Brandis. Brandis’ piece (in addition to incorrect…

I hadn't seen George Brandis' op ed about expanding parliament but it is indeed completely false and @benraue.com has kindly saved me the trouble of debunking it www.tallyroom.com.au/62130

As Chinese cars flood the market, Australia backs global crackdown on price war Australia’s trade minister is pushing for reform of the WTO amid rising alarm that China’s manufacturing boom will hand Beijing coercive power in key sectors.

I suppose they've given up on abundance...?

"We think the WTO needs to focus on oversupply issues … There’s plenty of products that I think people would say there’s an oversupply."

www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...

Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Political Economy (Education Focused) - University of Sydney - Progress in Political Economy (PPE) The Discipline of Political Economy at the University of Sydney is advertising a continuing education focused position, to be appointed at either Lecturer or Senior Lecturer level. This position is pa...

JOB!
Permanent Lecturer / Senior Lecturer position (education focused) in Political Economy at the University of Sydney.

Housing and the 2025 Federal Election: Between Crisis and Inertia Join our free webinar for key insights into housing and politics—ideal for researchers, students, and policymakers tackling Australia's housing crisis.

How did #housing shape the #auspol election? Come and hear new data and analysis from our MQ Housing and Urban Research Centre unpacking how generation, tenure and partisanship shape how we see the problem and the solutions.

Zoom event, Oct 22, 12pm

events.humanitix.com/webinar-on-h...

What did i just read.
Cass Sunstein on Henry Kissinger the great Star Wars admirer

We're hoping they'll be a podcast recording available. Stay tuned...

A New Australian Politics: Rupture or Realignment We explore the outcomes of the 2025 Australian federal election and consider whether it signals a fundamental rupture or realignment in the political landscape

Join us on Tuesday night at UTS to discuss: A New Australian Politics?

George Megalogenis @frankbongiorno.bsky.social @lizhumphrys.bsky.social Emily Foley and I discuss how the last two elections have changed Australian politics and what it means for the future

events.humanitix.com/a-new-austra...

Really interesting article on the history of engagement with women and gender norms in the Liberal Party.
Thanks @blairwilliams26.bsky.social for your research!

"In Australia we tax wealth really badly.

"And because we tax wealth really badly, we need to have higher taxes on, for example, income."

- Senior Economist Matt Grudnoff on 3AW Radio Mornings #auspol @mattgrudnoff.bsky.social

Thanks Bron :)

Check out our co-director @bspiesbutcher.bsky.social discussing #BasicIncome #AI and #Inequality in The Conversation this morning.

If AI takes most of our jobs, money as we know it will be over. What then? AI’s evangelists are promising a future of almost unimaginable prosperity. There’s good reason to be sceptical.

Just out in @aunz.theconversation.com: #AI #Abundance and money. My reflections on #BasicIncome #BasicServices and why we need more than technical solutions to the political challenges of #poverty and #inequality
theconversation.com/if-ai-takes-...

Thank you Matt :) Means a lot coming from you

🚨 PhD Scholarship 🚨

Thinking about a PhD on the political economy of climate change? Want to work with some of the kindest and best scholars in the field? Do this.

Tbh, I'm jealous of whoever gets this!!!

Solidarity with colleagues at Macquarie University opposing catastrophic cuts to Sociology.
You can make a difference by adding your name to the petition here: www.megaphone.org.au/petitions/sa...

Marching through Macquarie

Ben with Damien

Mehreen Faruqi speaks to rally

Proud to stand with my Sociology colleagues, joined by @mehreenfaruqi.bsky.social @damiencahill.bsky.social and the mighty @nteunion.bsky.social against the devastating cuts proposed at Macquarie University

From a supporter email Climate 200 sent today - a good example of how the organisation exhibits 'party-like' behaviour, as @phoebehayman.bsky.social, @bspiesbutcher.bsky.social and I wrote about @ausjpolsci.bsky.social in 2024: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

A New Australian Politics: Rupture or Realignment Please join us on at the University of Technology Sydney on Tuesday 23 September 2025, for a public event on the future of Australian democracy. Is Australia entering a new political era? With a record majority off a near record low primary vote, the new parliament continues the rise of new electoral coalitions, unsettling our assumptions about class, gender, race, and power. Our stellar panellists George Megalogenis, Frank Bongiorno, Elizabeth Humphrys, Ben Spies-Butcher, and Emily Foley will be engaged in a wide-ranging discussion exploring whether we’re witnessing a rupture or a realignment in Australian politics, and what it means for political life today. The conversation will explore how the traditional party duopoly is being eroded under pressure from shifting demographics, growing economic inequality, and increasing political disillusionment. What happens when the working class no longer feels represented, and when younger, more diverse voters no longer see themselves in the major parties? Tuesday 23 September — UTS Green Lecture Theatre Building 7 — Room 025 (full location details below) Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/a-new-australian-politics-rupture-or-realignment Speakers George Megalogenis is an author and journalist with over thirty years’ experience in the media, including over a decade in the federal parliamentary press gallery. His latest Quarterly Essay, Minority Report, explores the strategies and secret understandings of a political culture under pressure. Frank Bongiorno is based at the Australian National University and author of several works of Australian history, including The Eighties: The Decade That Transformed Australia (2015) and Dreamers and Schemers: A Political History of Australia (2022). He is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia and the Australian Academy of Humanities. Elizabeth Humphrys is the Head of Discipline of Social and Political Scie…

Hello Sydneysiders! On Tuesday 23rd Sep join Frank Bongiorno, George Megalogenis, @bspiesbutcher.bsky.social, @lizhumphrys.bsky.social & me for our public event A New Australian Politics: Rupture or Realignment. Registration is free & we'd love to see you there! events.humanitix.com/a-new-austra...

A New Australian Politics: Rupture or Realignment We explore the outcomes of the 2025 Australian federal election and consider whether it signals a fundamental rupture or realignment in the political landscape

On the evening of Tue 23rd Sep join George Megalogenis, @frankbongiorno.bsky.social, @bspiesbutcher.bsky.social, @emilyrosefoley.bsky.social & I for our public event at UTS.

Registration is free & we'd love to see you there!

events.humanitix.com/a-new-austra...

A bright yellow poster with black text announces "auwu advocacy training" on "July 12 and 19." Below the dates, various Australian time zones are listed for the event: "3:30PM WA", "5:00PM SA, NT", and "5:30PM NSW, Qld, Vic, Tas, ACT". The training will be "Online via Zoom". For more details, attendees are instructed to "email us at advocacyteam@auwu.org.au". In the bottom right corner, a circular black and white logo for the "AUSTRALIAN UNEMPLOYED WORKERS' UNION" (AUWU) is visible, with the text "Join the AUWU" and their website "auwu.org.au" underneath it.

JOIN US: AUWU Advocacy Training on July 12th or 19th!

We'll help you become better informed about the regulations around Centrelink and Workforce Australia, so you can be an effective advocate.

If you're interested, just send us an email at advocacyteam@auwu.org.au

@ausunemployment.auwu.org.au

Involvement in US strikes on Iran could make Australia a target, experts warn as government tight-lipped on Pine Gap Calls for more transparency on potential use of US-Australian surveillance base at Pine Gap and Tindal airbase * Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Australian assistance in US airstrikes on Iran could make Australia a target for retaliation, nuclear experts say, as Australian government ministers decline to comment on the potential involvement of the secretive US-Australian surveillance base at Pine Gap in Sunday’s bombardment. The International Coalition Against Nuclear Weapons (ICan), an Australian-founded organisation that won the 2017 Nobel peace prize, has warned Australia should not facilitate the attacks, “directly or indirectly”, and that “by assisting the US we risk becoming a target”. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Involvement in US strikes on Iran could make Australia a target, experts warn as government tight-lipped on Pine Gap

David Pocock blasts ANU leadership for ‘trashing’ institution The independent senator believes urgent action is needed and has written to education minister Jason Clare about management of the national university.

www.afr.com/work-and-car...

Planet Wreckers: Top Global North Countries Responsible for nearly 70% of projected new oil and gas expansion to 2035 - Oil Change International Four Global North countries are responsible for nearly 70% of projected new oil and gas expansion from 2025 to 2035.

"Planet Wreckers… Four Global North countries – the #UnitedStates, #Canada, #Norway, and #Australia – are responsible for nearly 70% of projected new #oil and #gas expansion from 2025 to 2035"
Architects of an unliveable nightmare future...
#ClimateCrisis #ClimateChaos
oilchange.org/blogs/planet...

Ethno-nationalism and Universities Australia A gravely mistaken claim

Great piece by @johnquiggin.bsky.social on University Australia's recent commitments around anti-semitism

open.substack.com/pub/johnquig...

Is regulation really to blame for the housing affordability crisis? The government wants to cut red tape to improve housing supply. But homes will only become more affordable if other changes are also adopted, including tax reform.

‘Calling for zoning and planning reform is a popular technique for seeming concerned about housing while avoiding the systemic change that would deliver additional supply.’ Systemic change like public investment in affordable homes, & rent & tax reform. theconversation.com/is-regulatio...

‘Mind-boggling stupidity’: The consultancy that captured universities Nous Group has slowly taken over the university sector, filling VCs’ offices with ex-staff and buying ‘incredibly sensitive’ data that is sold back for benchmarking.

Universities are in trouble. But is Nous Group the answer? The business model of the consultant is sharp and sophisticated. They bought the sector 'benchmarking' data and use it to sell services. Griffith Uni even hired 4 exec staff from them. www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/educati...

Sydney morning herald front page. The headline above a photo of a bombed apartment building says ISRAEL STRIKES IRAN NUCLEAR FACILITIES

that’s a residential apartment building, Bevan.

Why we need to question the salaries of university VCs - News | InDaily, Inside South Australia For a healthy society and trust in the university sector, the senior management takeover of universities can’t be allowed to continue.

Good read from NTEU Adelaide University Branch President Kit MacFarlane on how Australia’s public universities have become stacked with unelected members brought in from big business.

Join our campaign to end bad governance for good: betterunis.nteu.au

www.indailysa.com.au/news/opinion...