Steve Baty (He/him)
@docbaty.bsky.social
Public prosperity through strategic design, policy and advocacy. Public spaces, public infrastructure, public services, and nature. Co-author: Designing Tomorrow
Wangal country
Interests include: policy, cycling, bonsai, Design
Wangal country
Interests include: policy, cycling, bonsai, Design
The problem with having such a weak Opposition is that we are cheated of the opportunity for a real contest of ideas and the policy ambition that might follow. Instead we get farce and policy that's well short of the moment we face.
January 21, 2026 at 10:20 AM
The problem with having such a weak Opposition is that we are cheated of the opportunity for a real contest of ideas and the policy ambition that might follow. Instead we get farce and policy that's well short of the moment we face.
For the past few months I've been avoiding (progressively more stubbornly) the pile of shirts that require ironing. This afternoon I decided to get them done - in no way connected to the book I'm meant to be writing.
Turns out that 7 shirts is my limit before ironing becomes a real, fucking chore.
Turns out that 7 shirts is my limit before ironing becomes a real, fucking chore.
January 21, 2026 at 5:36 AM
For the past few months I've been avoiding (progressively more stubbornly) the pile of shirts that require ironing. This afternoon I decided to get them done - in no way connected to the book I'm meant to be writing.
Turns out that 7 shirts is my limit before ironing becomes a real, fucking chore.
Turns out that 7 shirts is my limit before ironing becomes a real, fucking chore.
January 21, 2026 at 2:18 AM
Re: 'the news' - if it doesn't impact you and you can't do anything about it, it isn't news; it's entertainment, and/or a distraction.
January 20, 2026 at 11:52 PM
Re: 'the news' - if it doesn't impact you and you can't do anything about it, it isn't news; it's entertainment, and/or a distraction.
A crocodile attack in North Queensland adds to the animal-related carnage of the past 48 hours, following four shark attacks in NSW. Seems like the wildlife are fed up with our bullshit.
January 20, 2026 at 2:01 AM
A crocodile attack in North Queensland adds to the animal-related carnage of the past 48 hours, following four shark attacks in NSW. Seems like the wildlife are fed up with our bullshit.
Reposted by Steve Baty (He/him)
Recent high quality #sydneyapartmentbuildings.
Complex of 4 & 8 storey buildings by Smart Design at Arlington on IW light rail line an excellent example of integrated #densitydonewell.
Strong forms, decisive scale, courtyards, robust brickwork, well considered.
If only this quality were the norm!
Complex of 4 & 8 storey buildings by Smart Design at Arlington on IW light rail line an excellent example of integrated #densitydonewell.
Strong forms, decisive scale, courtyards, robust brickwork, well considered.
If only this quality were the norm!
January 18, 2026 at 7:48 PM
Recent high quality #sydneyapartmentbuildings.
Complex of 4 & 8 storey buildings by Smart Design at Arlington on IW light rail line an excellent example of integrated #densitydonewell.
Strong forms, decisive scale, courtyards, robust brickwork, well considered.
If only this quality were the norm!
Complex of 4 & 8 storey buildings by Smart Design at Arlington on IW light rail line an excellent example of integrated #densitydonewell.
Strong forms, decisive scale, courtyards, robust brickwork, well considered.
If only this quality were the norm!
The new Sydney Fish Market officially opens today! It is one of the most significant new pieces of public infrastructure we’ll see this year.
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
What you need to know about new Sydney Fish Market which opens today
It is perhaps the most expensive seafood centre of its kind, but just what can visitors expect from the new $800 million Sydney Fish Market?
www.abc.net.au
January 18, 2026 at 7:53 PM
The new Sydney Fish Market officially opens today! It is one of the most significant new pieces of public infrastructure we’ll see this year.
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
It should be easy enough for Albanese to politely decline, but who the hell knows.
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
Trump asks Australia, Albanese to join Gaza 'Board of Peace'
The US president is pushing for the board to preserve a fragile ceasefire between Hamas and Israel and progress the peace deal to the next phase.
www.abc.net.au
January 18, 2026 at 7:43 PM
It should be easy enough for Albanese to politely decline, but who the hell knows.
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
Happy Monday! It’s a soggy morning here in Sydney although the worst of the rain has passed. Flood hazards are receding, at least locally. The weather continues to be fractious and changeable, however.
January 18, 2026 at 7:41 PM
Happy Monday! It’s a soggy morning here in Sydney although the worst of the rain has passed. Flood hazards are receding, at least locally. The weather continues to be fractious and changeable, however.
Trump sold $500m worth of Venezuelan oil to a large donor and had the money deposited into a Qatari bank account that he personally controls and it didn't even make the top 10 most fascist or corrupt things that happened this week.
January 17, 2026 at 2:19 AM
Trump sold $500m worth of Venezuelan oil to a large donor and had the money deposited into a Qatari bank account that he personally controls and it didn't even make the top 10 most fascist or corrupt things that happened this week.
Reposted by Steve Baty (He/him)
#Densitywithamenity means putting higher numbers of dwellings in best places.
Our project replaces 100 houses with 600-840 apartments, all with park frontage.
6 storeys, levy street & park improvements (underground wires, cycleways, traffic-calming, shaded parking, playgrounds & exercise pods).
Our project replaces 100 houses with 600-840 apartments, all with park frontage.
6 storeys, levy street & park improvements (underground wires, cycleways, traffic-calming, shaded parking, playgrounds & exercise pods).
January 16, 2026 at 9:36 PM
#Densitywithamenity means putting higher numbers of dwellings in best places.
Our project replaces 100 houses with 600-840 apartments, all with park frontage.
6 storeys, levy street & park improvements (underground wires, cycleways, traffic-calming, shaded parking, playgrounds & exercise pods).
Our project replaces 100 houses with 600-840 apartments, all with park frontage.
6 storeys, levy street & park improvements (underground wires, cycleways, traffic-calming, shaded parking, playgrounds & exercise pods).
So many people in the US expect things to get better after the midterms. I don’t think they’re properly concerned that those elections won’t happen in a free and fair manner.
January 16, 2026 at 9:34 PM
So many people in the US expect things to get better after the midterms. I don’t think they’re properly concerned that those elections won’t happen in a free and fair manner.
Worth mentioning that the government's proposed response to the Bondi attack is two-pronged: tightening/extending/confusing existing hate and vilification laws; and tightening gun ownership and registration laws.
These should be separate pieces of legislation. There's no need to combine them.
These should be separate pieces of legislation. There's no need to combine them.
January 16, 2026 at 10:14 AM
Worth mentioning that the government's proposed response to the Bondi attack is two-pronged: tightening/extending/confusing existing hate and vilification laws; and tightening gun ownership and registration laws.
These should be separate pieces of legislation. There's no need to combine them.
These should be separate pieces of legislation. There's no need to combine them.
Schumer really is terrible at this. Democrats would be far better served with leadership changes
January 16, 2026 at 3:10 AM
Schumer really is terrible at this. Democrats would be far better served with leadership changes
Reposted by Steve Baty (He/him)
2025 was a hot one. Maybe show some urgency in preventing new coal/gas mines....? #ThePoint
My post on @thepointau.bsky.social
thepoint.com.au/off-the-char...
My post on @thepointau.bsky.social
thepoint.com.au/off-the-char...
January 15, 2026 at 2:41 AM
2025 was a hot one. Maybe show some urgency in preventing new coal/gas mines....? #ThePoint
My post on @thepointau.bsky.social
thepoint.com.au/off-the-char...
My post on @thepointau.bsky.social
thepoint.com.au/off-the-char...
Just had a really lovely discussion with @philipthalis.bsky.social as part of the research for the new book with @martintomitsch.bsky.social
January 15, 2026 at 4:39 AM
Just had a really lovely discussion with @philipthalis.bsky.social as part of the research for the new book with @martintomitsch.bsky.social
Reposted by Steve Baty (He/him)
“Dire threat of collapse”: southern Australia’s most important river system
"Australia’s longest waterway is under such dire threat of collapse that the entire lower Murray River ecosystem, which stretches nearly 1000 kilometres from western NSW, through Victoria and to the sea in South Australia has been classified as critically endangered."
www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...
www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...
Water wars ahead now Australia’s longest river officially critically endangered
The lower Murray River has been designated critically endangered by the Albanese government as it blasted the environmental management of the former Coalition government.
www.smh.com.au
January 15, 2026 at 1:59 AM
“Dire threat of collapse”: southern Australia’s most important river system
The Hegseth v Kelly episode reminds me of when MMO players experience PVP for the first time and realise just how outclassed they are.
January 15, 2026 at 2:15 AM
The Hegseth v Kelly episode reminds me of when MMO players experience PVP for the first time and realise just how outclassed they are.
Malinauskas will shift to “the Board has apologized and we should all move on” by the end of the day.
January 15, 2026 at 2:13 AM
Malinauskas will shift to “the Board has apologized and we should all move on” by the end of the day.
Quite incredible
🪵How much of the material culture from prehistory was made of wood, that rarely preserves in the archaeological record? Two arrowheads made from wood from 2 different localities-left Mesolithic, right Palaeolithic (tip broken).
#Archaeology #woodensday #Prehistory #Wirral
#Archaeology #woodensday #Prehistory #Wirral
January 14, 2026 at 11:41 PM
Quite incredible