George

Adelaide festival dumps prominent academic Randa Abdel-Fattah over ‘cultural sensitivity’ concerns after Bondi attack Abdel-Fattah accuses the board of ‘blatant and shameless’ anti-Palestinian racism and censorship, as other authors pull out in solidarity

#auspol #adelaidefestival #Abdel-Fattah

She is repeatedly challenged and found not at fault.

‘We’re not saying anything’s wrong but it’s insensitive’ is not good enough.

With luck the Royal Commission will help us get past handwringing re. public debate.

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

A good sentiment on almost any day

Be active not passive- even in choosing not to act.

Some examples from the current exhibitions at the National Art Glass Gallery in #WaggaWagga

A great way to spend a summer afternoon #studioglass

Outskirts of Australian cities at risk of catastrophic fires on scale of deadly LA blazes, study finds At least 6.9 million residents on Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart fringes exposed as dry summer follows years of vegetation growth

Not exactly surprising, but interesting parallels

#auspol #climate #bushfires

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

These mysteries are both moving and somehow reassuring.

Who knows, we will all die, but perhaps these final moments can be more widely experienced if we learn from this research what is going on.

'Shocking at every level': Watchdog deleted quotes after Sportsbet pressure Gambling giant Sportsbet pressured the Australian Communications and Media Authority into "watering down" enforcement announcement, the ABC can reveal.

#AUSPOL #REGULATION #ACMA

Regulatory pyramids are common.

But our history of being too cosy for the pointy enforcement tip is rich, deep & (for now) unending.

Lessons stay unlearnt, & Regulatory Framework risks unreviewed.

We need rigour not mateship.

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12...

New science points to 4 distinct types of autism Scientists are redefining autism as a complex condition with multiple forms, challenging traditional notions.

Fascinating summary of emerging understanding of #autism and related conditions

#science

www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

ABC radio host Sabra Lane farewells AM after nine years Sabra Lane is farewelling the ABC's AM after nine years of hosting the current affairs radio program.

I’ll be looking forward to Sabra’s next adventure.

Her approach is notable for attention to substance over the latest breathless rendition of “but will the sky fall?

Hear’s hoping for an emulator heading to the AM seat

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12...

#auspol #sabralane

Looks about right. Those ginormous pavs are actually a bit boring

I’m not sure it’s #auspol but I find the incongruence of our participation in #Eurovision 2026 unconscionable.

It is past the point where the defacto & expressed policy intent of the Israeli government can be put to one side.

You can complain to sbs here

help.sbs.com.au/hc/en-au/req...

It’s poor political judgement. But it’s also a cheap shot not motivated by self interest.

Fixed travel allowances (not costs only) which funds the housing investments of politicians. That’s a rort which needs fixing.

A once a year reunion entitlement for those away from family so often is OK.

Harper Lee’s most treasured Christmas gift In an article collected in the new book “The Land of Sweet Forever,” Lee recounts the present that allowed her to write “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

A sweet #Christmas story, and not one of which I was previously aware.

Moments like this- at any time of year- are so important.

www.washingtonpost.com/books/2025/1...

One question jumps to the front as Albanese ties the knot The two months preceding a wedding are notoriously hazardous. But consider the two months Anthony Albanese has just had.

It’s been a wild week in #australia. We’ve had wind gust of 50-100km/h all week &. Insurers declaring another catastrophe.

#auspol has been just as blowy: here’s a great summary from Annabel Crabb.

The PM has paraglided over the top. But can he land?

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...

“I told you so” can be the sourest cordial, but who can blame him for uncorking it.

The whole world economy has experienced taint from this drink.

A few times in history the US embraced real change on the brink of social crisis.

Looking in, today’s view is bleak, but let’s drink to hope.

Our politics of public order legitimates policing that would never result from the suspected offences’ sentences (even if proven and repeated ).

The test for police conduct cannot be so grossly distorted- even acknowledging the challenges and difficulty of police officers task.

Hopes NSW court verdict might 'change the course of police accountability' For the family of Dunghutti teen Jai Wright, the guilty finding against police officer Benedict Bryant for dangerous driving occasioning Jai's death lifts a "weight off their shoulders". Legal experts...

#auspol. #policing

The principle here is a big step forward. It’s been obvious for years that proportionality in policing is as important as in the rest of the justice system.

And just as obvious that it is often missing.

Politics too will need to change

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...

Unique rehabilitation program offers alternative to overcrowded prison system As the NT's prison population soars to new highs, Anindilyakwa elders on Groote Eylandt are delivering a unique rehabilitation program that provides participants with physical and psycho-educational p...

#AUSPOL. #CRIMEPREVENTION

I get so frustrated by these reports. We’ve known for more than a generation what works to reduce the risk of criminal progression and reduce recidivism.

It’s also cheaper, so it really comes down to populism over leadership & ethics.

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...

Just charming. And somehow very Japanese

Price of poverty hurts us all, yet research reveals an easy fix In 2020, Australia massively increased welfare payments and conducted a live experiment in ending poverty, but when the subsidy was removed, many were thrown back into hardship. Leaving aside the mora...

I wish this piece by the ABC’s Gareth Hutchens and Daniel Zimmer was clearer . It seems to be saying spend $300m per for a social and economic return of $74m.

Hard to see this argument winning over governments. I so wish it looked stronger

#auspol #jobstart.

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...

Spooky eucy! Let’s celebrate the haunting beauty of Australia’s gum trees this Halloween | Jess Harwood From skeletal spectres to portals to the underworld, eucalypts have the power to thrill and chill

Some Australian hallowe’en thoughts from the Guardian

Quite good

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Actually it’s not. It’s a literary award open to published LGBT authors. It’s not an award for community mindedness, inclusivity, being a good ally or being an exemplary person. You can be a good writer and a thoroughly unpleasant person. Patrick White (Nobel Laureate) is a great example.

It did seem a bit like a bubble war. A lot of speculation founded on nothing much and Barnaby just talking off the top of his head - as he always has.

@michellegrattan.bsky.social

Tough lesson for Libs in proverb about dogs and vomit, fools and folly The Liberals have faced an existential crisis over climate and energy twice in recent memory. The damage must live in the memory of today's parliamentarians, who face the prospect of another episode.

Thanks Michelle Grattan. A great reminder of the history and consequences.

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...

#auspol #liberals #climatepolicy

In Australia solar farms are often elevated to minimise disruption of the ground cover and habitat. In sheep country grazing can continue. It’s still a big visual impact but not wholesale industrialisation of rural land

How this is meant to work as we get close to 2050 - which in major project terms is damn close- needs to be explained. And what about after?

Given the difficulty this time in modernising the EPBC Act, whatever is proposed now needs to include workable measures for and after 2050

Australia news live: Ley challenges Albanese over Trump meeting; storm warning for Sydney Follow live

#auspol

An issue we need to support

As an employer, the need become pretty obvious, and unless people can access good advice it becomes very challenging for everyone

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Why Santos is behind your soaring electricity and mortgage costs It was a primary force behind Australia’s inflationary surge, it’s forced businesses either to the wall or to shift offshore, undermined national industry policy and resulted in the loss of countless ...

#auspol #energypolicy

A good piece on East Coast gas.

And as well as what’s mentioned here there is the energy impact on housing construction costs.

Steel, drying wood, baking bricks, making lime for cement- it’s everything

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...

I suddenly feel about 8yo.

Careers in limbo after graduates discover university courses were never accredited Students have been left with HECS debts and careers that are "non-existent" after completing degrees that were not accredited. Class actions have been launched against two Australian universities.

This will be one to watch. Yet another example of not quite fit for purpose governance in the tertiary sector.

TEQSA is about academic comparability/recognition not the professions.

But did no-one @ UWS or Newcastle see this coming??

#auspol #highered #teqsa

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...