Alice Grundy

Parents are 'following the money' in rush to private schools, experts warn The latest schools data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows a tinderbox of problems that experts warn could explode with growing pressure on household budgets.

Gee, I wonder what people mean when they give this as a reason for sending their kids to private school
"this is very important where our children are going and what sort of friends they have"

If you win most literary prizes, you pay tax. If you win The Block, you don’t. How is this fair? Australia’s laws are inconsistent when it comes to taxing winnings – and most artists and writers are the losers.

@evelynaraluen.bsky.social was on the money when she called for tax free prizes.

The PM's lit award is tax free, time to bring other prizes in line.

Excellent work by @skyelark.bsky.social on how many guns are stockpiled in each postcode of Sydney
live.thepoint.com.au/2026/03/the-...

Byron Writers' Festival headed into town this year! Really looking forward to seeing the program when it comes out
www.byronwritersfestival.com/festival

It's not a good sign

Yes, that's an egregious typo but anytime you read first editions you find typos - even from so-called golden ages.

Thanks Gavin! And good to see your q in the webinar yesterday!

Was the Adelaide University merger really worth $185 million in consultants? The first full academic year for Adelaide University – the product of a merger between the University of Adelaide and University of South Australia – is about to start. The merger cost a total of $500...

"Was the Adelaide University merger really worth $185 million in consultants?" @alicektg.bsky.social

The merger cost a total of $500m & Deloitte won the contract worth $185m to manage the merger.
thepoint.com.au/news/260219-...

Policy School Join The Australia Institute's Policy School to learn from experts about key public policy issues and gain tools to effectively advocate for change.

Or if you prefer a webinar, join @australiainstitute.org.au @alicektg.bsky.social and I tomorrow at 11am AEDT to cover submissions and hearings, with a Q&A afterwards. australiainstitute.org.au/events/polic...

Green and golden bell frog clutches a blue fingered glove

Canberra's very own Jurassic Park moment

New Inquiry boosting arts philanthropy New Inquiry boosting arts philanthropy

Philanthropy is a nice to have in arts funding BUT it can only ever be a fraction of what we really need, which is a BIG increase in government funding.

Where's the inquiry on making sustainable, serious funding for for the arts in this country?
www.aph.gov.au/About_Parlia...

@abistephenson.bsky.social on The Point about why tax policy is far sexier than you think

QUT - Meanjin QUT will be the new custodian of Meanjin, Australia's most eminent literary journal, bringing the publication back to Brisbane for the first time in 80 years.

I'm as glad as the next person that Meanjin will get a new home, but can we please stop with the knee-jerk cancellations and just have some continuity please?

Thinking reinstatement of Sabsabi, re-issuing of the invite for Abdel-Fattah and now this.

www.qut.edu.au/about/meanjin

To be clear: if protests didn't work, governments wouldn't try to ban them Today we will find out the ruling from the NSW Supreme Court on whether the planned protest in Sydney’s CBD against Israeli President Isaac Herzog can go ahead legally.

If protests didn't work, then governments wouldn't try to ban them.

thepoint.com.au/news/260209-...

Let's get this straight.

Adani donates $600k the Qld LNP before election.

After the election, Qld LNP ends legal action over $400 MILLION in unpaid royalties.

Dodgy, dodgy, dodgy. Thread.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Newcastle Writers Festival is not in the business of cancelling; it celebrates writing, discussion and debate.

Oh yeah, need to do this!

Thanks to editor extraordinaire @jocaseau.bsky.social as usual!

What is the future of Australia’s embattled writers festivals? Australia’s literary festivals are under threat from culture wars, climate risks, new hate speech laws and ongoing funding scarcity.

With threats from culture wars, climate disaster and insecure funding, Australia's thriving writers' festivals face an uncertain future. Read more in @theconversation.com
theconversation.com/what-is-the-...

Bowen set for COP31 as Australia hits coal export record The latest update from the department of industry shows that the September quarter in 2025 saw Australia’s highest volume of thermal coal exports, ever. it is a remarkable comeback for thermal coal af...

Just in case you thought that we were transitioning away from coal ... @ketanjoshi.co sets the record straight on @thepointau.bsky.social

Thanks Gavin! Great question from you too, glad you're enjoying The Point

In his new essay in A Time for Bravery, Archibald Prize-winning artist Ben Quilty asks what courage looks like in the arts, and how Australia can be braver.

Get your copy of A Time for Bravery today! 📖📖📖 #auspol

This is the kind of graph crime @grogsgamut.bsky.social might be able to get behind

Triple J Hottest 100 out tomorrow!

Last year just 27 Aus songs made it. Lowest since 1994!!

Why? – Streaming favours the USA

Thankfully, DJ Albo is in the house and can turn this around! Thread on how.

The Point Live: Liberals to pass government hate speech laws, Greens warn of impact on democracy Anthony Albanese and Sussan Ley are negotiating once again on what is left of the hate speech laws, in a parliamentary day dedicated to the passage of just two bills. All the day's events, as it happe...

if you're trying to get a handle on last night's happenings at parliament, you need to read @amyremeikis.bsky.social coverage on @thepointau.bsky.social - she was there till the bitter end (aka 11pm)
live.thepoint.com.au

The Creative Workplaces Survey is now open.

Artists and arts workers are invited to share their experiences of working in the creative industries.

🗓 Open until 23 February 2026
🔗 buff.ly/iwI87Hz

There are six book covers: Seduction Theory by Emily Adrian, Dust by Michael Brissenden, A Time for Bravery edited by Anna Chang and Alice Grundy, Ours As We Play It by Kate Flaherty, The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, and Fruits of Exile by Maggie Shapley. There are blue stripes at the top and bottom of the image. Text reads: Focus On January. The MARION and ACT Government logos appear at the bottom of the image.

Our January Focus On features books by Emily Adrian, Michael Brissenden, editors Anna Chang & Alice Grundy, Kate Flaherty, Anna North, and Maggie Shapley! marion.ink/focus-on #FocusOn
@annachang.bsky.social @alicektg.bsky.social @affirmpress.bsky.social @hachetteaus.bsky.social

Miners exaggerating tax. Again.

What's new is that this is so demonstrably false.

Will they take down false ads? If you see this ad after today, please let me know.

Debunked on @thepointau.bsky.social here, more below: thepoint.com.au/factchecks/2...

FOI docs reveal Meanjin axing never debated by Melbourne Uni. And why were all bids to save it rejected? The University of Melbourne's finance committee didn't invite members to question the closure of the 85-year-old literary journal, instead only waving it through. Meanwhile, all external offers to sav...

This is the way #Meanjin ends — not with a bang but a whimper.

New FOI story from me for @crikey.com.au:

www.crikey.com.au/2025/12/17/m...

Gun-law loopholes to take months to close in national firearm crackdown Coalition leaders are sceptical about the proposed reforms, calling for further detail before offering their support.

It's nearly a year since @australiainstitute.org.au report on the state of firearm ownership in Australia came out. Horrified at the reason it's getting attention, but perhaps there will be some movement to make our community safer in the coming weeks and months