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bspiesbutcher.bsky.social
Ben Spies-Butcher
@bspiesbutcher.bsky.social
2.6K followers 2K following 69 posts
Political economist and sociologist @mqsociology.bsky.social Public finance, social policy, climate and inequality. Co-Director, Australian Basic Income Lab @ausbasicincome.bsky.social own views.
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bspiesbutcher.bsky.social
Ben Spies-Butcher @bspiesbutcher.bsky.social · Feb 1
How has neoliberalism changed the politics of inequality and social policy? Blog previewing my new book Politics, Inequality and the Australian Welfare State after Liberalisation.

www.ppesydney.net/politics-ine...
Politics, Inequality and the Australian Welfare State After Liberalisation - Part I: Contesting Neol...
Neoliberalism changed many things in Australia. Unions are weaker. Inequality is higher. But exactly what changed is often surprising. The state did not shrink. Social spending did not decrease, nor d...
www.ppesydney.net
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
grogsgamut.bsky.social
The latest corrective services data is out today, and it points a horrific picture of the systemic racism in our judicial system #PointLive
live.thepoint.com.au
Males (Average daily number) Indigenous Non-indigenous 2022 3,881.7 270.8021887 2023 4,119.4 266.419147 Sep-24 4,454.5 263.0404971 Dec-24 4,518.3 259.3942345 Mar-25 4,652.8 265.7101833 Jun-25 4,715.1 269.4114629 Sep-25 4,717.3 267.8862789
November 27, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
grogsgamut.bsky.social
"Poverty is not evidence, the presumption of innocence must apply to everyone" Smashing column by @kristin8x.antipovertycentre.org & @maiyazize.bsky.social #ThePoint
thepoint.com.au/opinions/251...
Poverty is not evidence, the presumption of innocence must apply to everyone
In the final days of October, the Federal Government quietly inserted a last-minute amendment into an unrelated bill. It has been trying to rush through a change that would allow police and the Home A...
thepoint.com.au
November 23, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
electionmaps.uk
Macclesfield Central (Cheshire East) Council By-Election Result:

🌍 GRN: 41.8% (+19.7)
🌹 LAB: 28.6% (-25.7)
➡️ RFM: 15.8% (New)
🌳 CON: 9.1% (-4.5)
⚖️ EQU: 2.5% (New)
🔶 LDM: 2.2% (-7.7)

Green GAIN from Labour.
Changes w/ 2023.
November 20, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
josiahmortimer.bsky.social
The Young Greens of England and Wales is officially the largest youth and student wing of any British political party.

Greens: "With overall Green Party membership now at over 150,000, the Young Greens have over 40,000 members – making them larger than Young Labour."
November 18, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
ausbasicincome.bsky.social
Our co-director @bspiesbutcher.bsky.social will be speaking to the Economic Society of Australia tomorrow in Sydney (and online). He'll be discussing AI, #BasicIncome and much more.

Registration details below.
bspiesbutcher.bsky.social Ben Spies-Butcher @bspiesbutcher.bsky.social · 10d
I'm speaking to the Economic Society of Australia (Central) in Sydney (and Webinar) on Wednesday about the future of jobs, money and the economy after AI, discussing hashtag #BasicIncome, Fully Automated Luxury Communism, Techno-feudalism and more.

esansw.org.au/event/64812/...
If AI takes most of our jobs, money as we know it will be over. What then?
If AI takes most of our jobs, money as we know it will be over. What then? ESA - NSW Branch
esansw.org.au
November 18, 2025 at 3:35 AM
bspiesbutcher.bsky.social
I'm speaking to the Economic Society of Australia (Central) in Sydney (and Webinar) on Wednesday about the future of jobs, money and the economy after AI, discussing hashtag #BasicIncome, Fully Automated Luxury Communism, Techno-feudalism and more.

esansw.org.au/event/64812/...
If AI takes most of our jobs, money as we know it will be over. What then?
If AI takes most of our jobs, money as we know it will be over. What then? ESA - NSW Branch
esansw.org.au
November 17, 2025 at 5:32 AM
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
ausbasicincome.bsky.social
The Australian Basic Income Lab is proud to endorse Basic Income for a Just Transition, a bold proposal from @equalrightorg.bsky.social @give-directly.bsky.social BIEN and Project Deep.

bsky.app/profile/did:...
equalrightorg.bsky.social Equal Right @equalrightorg.bsky.social · 29d
Ahead of #COP30, we are launching “Basic Income for a Just Transition” Paper, showing how unconditional cash can drive #ClimateJustice across 5 key #UNFCCC workstreams.
💡 Read the paper here: www.equalright.org/publications
#JustTransition #LossAndDamage #ClimateFinance
October 29, 2025 at 11:02 PM
bspiesbutcher.bsky.social
Great piece from my colleague @alistairsisson.bsky.social exploring the implications of our voter data on the ##HousingCrisis
johnmenadue.com/post/2025/10...
As the home ownership dream fades, Australians may be open to a frank conversation about house prices
One of the most basic axioms in Australian politics is that voters support rising house prices. John Howard expressed this axiom when he infamously remarked that no one had ever told him “I'm angry wi...
johnmenadue.com
October 28, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
shaunratcliff.bsky.social
The 1st publication from the 2025 Cooperative Election survey was launched yesterday

prepared by the Macquarie Housing & Urban Research Centre, this report explores perceptions of housing affordability and perceived solutions

(thread)
October 23, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
pandanuspetter.bsky.social
Fascinating stuff from @bspiesbutcher.bsky.social and the gang - check it out!
October 23, 2025 at 2:16 AM
bspiesbutcher.bsky.social
What do voters think about the housing crisis? Just out in @aunz.theconversation.com our piece (w @shaunwilson.bsky.social @alistairsisson.bsky.social Kristian Ruming and Adam Stebbing) for MQ's Housing and Urban Research Centre exploring #Housing attitudes
theconversation.com/most-austral...
Most Australians agree there’s a housing crisis. But they differ on what’s causing it – and how to fix it
New research shows older voters believe immigration is crunching housing supply, while young voters blame high interest rates and low wage growth.
theconversation.com
October 22, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
shaunratcliff.bsky.social
Join us for a free webinar hosted by Macquarie University where researchers will present the fascinating insights they have drawn from data collected by Accent Research at the 2025 federal election showing how voters' demographics, backgrounds and economic interests shape housing politics
October 15, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
melissasweetdr.bsky.social
Palestinian bodies returned by Israel show signs of torture and execution, say doctors

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Palestinian bodies returned by Israel show signs of torture and execution, say doctors
Almost all had been blindfolded and had gunshot wounds between the eyes, says medic at Nasser hospital in Gaza
www.theguardian.com
October 15, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
lbogner.bsky.social
Now out with New Political Economy: What's going on in the legal back-end of 'innovative' climate finance constructs? I provide some additional clues to why it's so hard to de-risk private climate finance by public means. Open access, too! www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
January 17, 2025 at 2:18 PM
bspiesbutcher.bsky.social
How did #Housing shape the 2025 #auspol Election? Come to our free webinar.

We analyse new data to see how generation, tenure and voting shape housing politics

With @emmabaker.bsky.social @shaunratcliff.bsky.social and @everybodyshome.bsky.social Maiy Azize

events.humanitix.com/webinar-on-h...
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.
events.humanitix.com
October 14, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
groundedclt.bsky.social
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
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.
sbee.link
October 1, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
lizhumphrys.bsky.social
This event is going to be wonderful! A chance to discuss the past and future of political economy in Sydney
👏💖🎈
garethbryant.bsky.social Gareth Bryant @garethbryant.bsky.social · Sep 30
Celebrating 50 Years of Political Economy at the University of Sydney ppesydney.net/celebrating-...
Poster for event celebrating 50 years of Political Economy at the University of Sydney featuring a photo of a woman protesting outside Merewether Building on top of a map of Sydney. Poster credit: Cemal Burak Tansel
September 30, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
kevinbonham.bsky.social
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
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…
www.tallyroom.com.au
September 30, 2025 at 12:05 AM
bspiesbutcher.bsky.social
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...
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.
www.smh.com.au
September 29, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
morton.bsky.social
JOB!
Permanent Lecturer / Senior Lecturer position (education focused) in Political Economy at the University of Sydney.
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...
www.ppesydney.net
September 25, 2025 at 2:08 AM
bspiesbutcher.bsky.social
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...
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.
events.humanitix.com
September 26, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
70sbachchan.bsky.social
What did i just read.
Cass Sunstein on Henry Kissinger the great Star Wars admirer
nycsouthpaw.bsky.social southpaw @nycsouthpaw.bsky.social · Sep 23
Isaac Chotiner interviews Cass Sunstein. www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a...
= THE NEW YORKER ICO In terms of human rights, I've always found it a little bit puzzling, given what you write, and given who your wife is, that you two were so close to Henry Kissinger. Of all the pre-Trump political figures in America, he is the one I think of as in some ways the opposite of liberal, given his behavior toward the rest of the world. I'll tell you a story. I wrote a book a few years ago on Star Wars. We invited Dr. Kissinger to my Star Wars book party, and he said, "You wrote a book about Star Wars? Why'd you write a book about Star Wars?" He was puzzled and courteous, but really confused. And then he came to the book party, which was quite generous. He was a busy person. But, despite his busyness, he came to the book party. Yeah, and then I gave a talk on Star Wars, and he came up to me afterward and he said, "Oh, I see why you wrote a book on Star Wars. There's a lot there. It's, like, about families and it's about governments and freedom." The amount of curiosity and generosity that he showed was incomparable. I don't know anyone who showed that level of curiosity and generosity. And we really got into Star Wars. He just wanted to think about it. I know there are strong views about his career, and I'm hardly an expert on his career. But your wife is one of the great human-rights experts in the world. I asked you about him being anti-liberal, and your response was that he was very nice to you about your book. About Star Wars. It is certainly a touching story. But that's not totally an answer to the question. Yeah. Well, I don't know. What he would think of this book I'd love to know. But no second thoughts about being friends with him or anything? I feel generally very grateful for friendship, and he was, when I knew him, a person of immense kindness. Those who think of him as someone who was something horrible or worse, 1 don't know what to say about that. But you could have an opinion on it. You have an opinion on all kinds of things, right? Well, on him and his role in government, that's not something I've particularly studied, so I don't know. I know some people who think he was a horrible historic figure. They would say, "Would you be friends with Genghis Khan? Would you be friends with Stalin?" And I wouldn't be friends with Stalin, so I concede that. Well, the next time someone brings up a terrible anecdote about Cambodia or Vietnam, I will definitely drop the Star Wars story to show that people have two sides. Yeah. And I get those who think you shouldn't be friends with someone who did terrible things. I hear that. I can just say that he was, as a very large number of people would say, though many fewer would say it publicly, an extraordinarily generous friend. Professor, thank you so much for doing this. Great, thanks. If we go light on the Kissinger part, I wouldn't complain, because it could dwarf everything else. *
September 23, 2025 at 6:42 PM
bspiesbutcher.bsky.social
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...
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
events.humanitix.com
September 21, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
jessgifkins.bsky.social
Really interesting article on the history of engagement with women and gender norms in the Liberal Party.
Thanks @blairwilliams26.bsky.social for your research!
August 24, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
australiainstitute.org.au
"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
August 21, 2025 at 5:08 AM