Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Benjamin T. Jones @drbenjaminjones.bsky.social · 22d

Wonderful outcome but this national treasure never should have been under threat.

Australian National Dictionary Centre @ozworders.bsky.social · 22d

We were very pleased to get the news today that the Australian National Dictionary Centre will be saved, thanks to an anonymous donation and the halt on involuntary redundancies under the Renew ANU plan. We thank everyone for their generous support through these difficult times.

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Marija Taflaga @marijataflaga.bsky.social · 22d

a huge day for the ANU and the @nteuact.bsky.social campaign to stop forced redundancies in the college of arts and social sciences and the college of science and medicine. This is genuinely an incredible result!

share.google/ORnkjimiuQiK...

No more involuntary redundancies at ANU as anonymous donation aids university

Anonymous donation helps save much-loved institution.

share.google

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Australian National Dictionary Centre @ozworders.bsky.social · 22d

We were very pleased to get the news today that the Australian National Dictionary Centre will be saved, thanks to an anonymous donation and the halt on involuntary redundancies under the Renew ANU plan. We thank everyone for their generous support through these difficult times.

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Stephen Clarke @stephenclarkenz.bsky.social · 22d

Hear! Hear! Dr Holbrook 👏 theconversation.com/the-australi...

The Australian War Memorial’s prize controversy betrays the institution’s purpose: to tell the messy truth about war

Chris Masters’ book on Ben Roberts-Smith was chosen to win the Australian War Memorial’s Les Carlyon Prize for Military History. But the prize wasn’t awarded. Why?

theconversation.com

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Emily Gallagher @as-ruby.bsky.social · 26d

In Canberra next week? Come along and celebrate the launch of Playtime 🧸

Delighted to have Play School actress & singer Justine Clarke launch the book!

🗓️ 22 September, 6pm
📍 ANU Harry Hartog

Book Launch of Playtime: A History of Australian Childhood by Emily Gallagher

Book Launch of Playtime : A History of Australian Childhood by Emily Gallagher

events.humanitix.com

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Benjamin T. Jones @drbenjaminjones.bsky.social · 29d

"If the ANU is not committed to research that tells the Australian story then well may we ask, what is the point of a national university?"

theconversation.com/the-anu-was-...

The ANU was set up to be a ‘national asset’. Here are 3 ways it can return to its original mission

After months of pressure, Australian National University vice-chancellor Genevieve Bell has resigned. This creates a unique opportunity for the federal government.

theconversation.com

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Guardian Australia @australia.theguardian.com · 29d

Gareth Evans scolds ‘bone-headed’ Meanjin publisher as imminent closure sparks protest

Exclusive: Critics want Melbourne University Publishing to transfer ownership of Meanjin rather than dissolve it. But CEO says ‘the journal is not for sale’ * Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates * Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The former Labor attorney general and foreign affairs minister, Gareth Evans, has sent a scathing email to the chief executive of Melbourne University Publishing, lambasting its decision to scrap the literary journal Meanjin as “bone-headed”. Several hundred protesters gathered outside MUP’s Swanston Street headquarters in Melbourne on Thursday protesting against the imminent closure of one of the cornerstones of Australian literary culture for 85 years. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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Crikey @crikey.com.au · Sep 8

Opinion | Melbourne University Press says it shut down Meanjin for "purely financial reasons". Perhaps the university could have used some of its $273 million surplus to safeguard the seminal journal, @catrionamp.bsky.social‬ writes.

Meanjin's 'financial' shutdown doesn't add up

www.crikey.com.au

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Benjamin T. Jones @drbenjaminjones.bsky.social · Sep 2

I don't fall into the extreme camps that see generative AI as either the end of the humanities or its saviour. That said, I would never use AI in any of my writing and would request my name be taken off any joint paper that uses it. Imperfect, and frequently with typos, my voice is my own.

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Benjamin T. Jones @drbenjaminjones.bsky.social · Aug 25

"Despite my role in authoring a hybrid model, I am increasingly convinced that a direct-election model has the best chance of passing the high bar of a referendum."

A mea culpa of sorts from me and a concise history of the Republic debate in Australia.

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

The Elusive Australian Republic: A Short History of the Debate

For most of the 1990s a clear majority of Australians wanted to change the constitution to replace the British monarch with an Australian head of state. Despite this, the republic referendum of 199...

www.tandfonline.com

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Professional Historians Association (Vic & Tas) @phavictas.bsky.social · Aug 24

ANU School of History invites applications for a PhD scholarship to research the Communist Party of Australia, 1970-91. The project continues the work of the late Prof Stuart Macintyre and is valued at AU$100,000 over a four year period.

programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/program/9520...

#phavictas

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Laura Rademaker @laurarad.bsky.social · Aug 15

Chancel Culture, David Pope

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Jayne Persian @drjpersian.bsky.social · Aug 12

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...

Julie Bishop accused of bullying by ANU staff member, senate inquiry hears

Former member of the Australian National University council Liz Allen has used a Senate inquiry investigating university governance to allege Chancellor Julie Bishop harassed, bullied, and threatened ...

www.abc.net.au

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Michelle Arrow @michellearrow.bsky.social · Aug 12

Help us reach our target of 5000 signatures - please sign and share!

Michelle Arrow @michellearrow.bsky.social · Jul 30

It baffles me that @australianlabor.bsky.social wants to hang this failed, unfair policy around its neck, when they could condemn it as a folly of the unpopular Morrison government and ditch it. Sign our petition to urge them to abolish it now!

www.openpetition.org/au/petition/...

Repeal Job-Ready Graduates Policy Now: Restoring Equity in Higher Education - Online petition

We sign this petition in solidarity with those who signed the Open Letter to the Prime Minister on 28 July 2025 (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/28/open-letter-to-australian-govern...

www.openpetition.org

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Jayne Persian @drjpersian.bsky.social · Aug 1

www.crikey.com.au/2025/07/31/a...

The disastrous dismantling of the humanities in Australia’s universities has begun

A crisis is unfolding for the humanities and social sciences at universities across the country.

www.crikey.com.au

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History Australia @historyaustralia.bsky.social · Jul 31

Your #openaccess ☕📘 coffee read 📘☕ sorted! www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... #historyaustralia
@dranastevenson.bsky.social on ‘Workin’ 9 to 9, 24/7’: political humour about Australian politicians and ministerial staffers during the Rudd-Gillard era

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AHA (Australia) @austhistassoc.bsky.social · Jul 31

Labor's bill to cut HECS debts by 20%, which passed this morning, leaves unchanged the structural inequalities built into tertiary education through Job-Ready Graduates. Sign our petition calling for the repeal of this destructive and unfair policy here: www.openpetition.org/au/petition/...

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Michelle Arrow @michellearrow.bsky.social · Jul 30

It baffles me that @australianlabor.bsky.social wants to hang this failed, unfair policy around its neck, when they could condemn it as a folly of the unpopular Morrison government and ditch it. Sign our petition to urge them to abolish it now!

www.openpetition.org/au/petition/...

Repeal Job-Ready Graduates Policy Now: Restoring Equity in Higher Education - Online petition

We sign this petition in solidarity with those who signed the Open Letter to the Prime Minister on 28 July 2025 (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/28/open-letter-to-australian-govern...

www.openpetition.org

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Michelle Arrow @michellearrow.bsky.social · Jul 28

And it’s not just writers: comedians, business leaders, academics, musicians and chefs have signed our letter:

Michelle Arrow @michellearrow.bsky.social · Jul 28

A great comment piece on @austhistassoc.bsky.social open letter urging the PM to repeal Job-Ready Graduates:

theconversation.com/top-australi...

Top Australian writers urge Albanese to abolish Job-Ready Graduates, calling their humanities degrees life changing

Tim Winton, Helen Garner and Peter Garrett are just a few of the high-profile signatories to an open letter against Job-Ready Graduates – and for the humanities.

theconversation.com

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Michelle Arrow @michellearrow.bsky.social · Jul 28

A great comment piece on @austhistassoc.bsky.social open letter urging the PM to repeal Job-Ready Graduates:

theconversation.com/top-australi...

Top Australian writers urge Albanese to abolish Job-Ready Graduates, calling their humanities degrees life changing

Tim Winton, Helen Garner and Peter Garrett are just a few of the high-profile signatories to an open letter against Job-Ready Graduates – and for the humanities.

theconversation.com

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Deborah Lee-Talbot @colourfulhistories.bsky.social · Jul 28

'The independent member for Kooyong, Dr Monique Ryan, will this week table an amendment to the student debt bill to reverse the JRG package and change the timing of Hecs/Help indexation until after prepayments are made.'

#highered #auspol #academicsky

Young Australians have much higher student debt than generations before them, data shows

The average Hecs/Help debt held by younger Australians increased by a third between 2009 and 2024

www.theguardian.com

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Michelle Arrow @michellearrow.bsky.social · Jul 27

More than 100 high-profile and distinguished Australians -and BA graduates- have signed the @austhistassoc.bsky.social open letter calling for the repeal of Job-Ready Graduates: a policy that punishes humanities students with life-changing debts: www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Tim Winton among 100 high-profile Australians calling for university fees that don’t ‘punish’ arts students

Open letter urges Labor to reverse JRG scheme, introduced by Coalition in 2021, as cost of humanities degrees reaches more than $50,000

www.theguardian.com

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Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · Feb 5

A reminder that the BBC can still do accurate, informative analysis when it wants to.

www.bbc.com/news/article...

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Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · Feb 5

Of course it’s a coup. Miss the obvious, lose your republic.
open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p...

Of course it’s a coup

Miss the obvious, lose your republic

open.substack.com

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Benjamin T. Jones @drbenjaminjones.bsky.social · Jul 24

The problem is ANU leadership applied these strategies like they’re running BHP, not a university.

From the Anu community on Reddit

Explore this post and more from the Anu community

www.reddit.com

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Mike Jones @mikejonesphd.bsky.social · Jul 24

Worried about AI imitating people's voices? They had similar concerns in 1893: "When the Phonograph comes into general use in his country, a new law will be wanted ... There are some excellent mimics, who might do great mischief by imitating one's voice in the Phonograph."

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Dr. Rachel Schine @rachelschine.bsky.social · Jul 22

I’ve learned there are basically only three ultimate truths of university faculty life:
1. No, you did not miss anything important at that meeting
2. You will be told that your successes somehow, paradoxically, complicate your tenure case
3. If you do not take up space, space will be taken from you

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frankbongiorno.bsky.social @frankbongiorno.bsky.social · Jul 22

"Professor Parry has defended the Change Proposals by stating that the ADB could easily have been cut altogether. She appears to regard the ADB as an academic unit within the gift of the dean rather than as a collaborative national institution" inside.org.au/the-jewel-in...

The jewel in the crown of the ANU • Inside Story

Celebrated by previous vice-chancellors, the Australian Dictionary of Biography and its fellow national project, the Australian National Dictionary, are threatened by university cuts

inside.org.au

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Benjamin T. Jones @drbenjaminjones.bsky.social · Jul 15

A few thoughts from me on the Australian Citizenship Test. aristotlesaustralia.substack.com/p/whats-miss...

What's missing from the Australian Citizenship Test?

Two decades on, as confused as ever.

aristotlesaustralia.substack.com

Benjamin T. Jones @drbenjaminjones.bsky.social · Jul 12

This is a national disgrace.

Kristen Alexander @kristenauthor.bsky.social · Jul 12

I can't believe ANU is proposing to disestablish ANDC @ozworders.bsky.social‬. Over the last 20 years of writing I've often consulted staff over the origins of obscure words and phrases. We need the dictionary to record and explain our changing language. www.smh.com.au/national/fro...

From bluey to bogans: Researchers who help define how the nation speaks to lose their jobs

For almost 40 years, the words the nation uses in speech, newspapers and books has been mapped by a small team at the Australian National Dictionary Centre.

www.smh.com.au

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