@farfletched22.bsky.social
Retired print media dinosaur with progressive, community-centred views. Walker, volunteer, sports lover, refugee supporter and LGBTQI+ ally.
Reposted
U.S. military spending is set to hit a record $1 trillion.
Roughly half of defense spending goes to private contractors that routinely price-gouge the government.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon has failed EIGHT straight audits.
This is the military industrial complex on steroids.
Roughly half of defense spending goes to private contractors that routinely price-gouge the government.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon has failed EIGHT straight audits.
This is the military industrial complex on steroids.
December 22, 2025 at 11:01 PM
U.S. military spending is set to hit a record $1 trillion.
Roughly half of defense spending goes to private contractors that routinely price-gouge the government.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon has failed EIGHT straight audits.
This is the military industrial complex on steroids.
Roughly half of defense spending goes to private contractors that routinely price-gouge the government.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon has failed EIGHT straight audits.
This is the military industrial complex on steroids.
Reposted
Welcome to our table of humanity, hope and unity. Every culture and faith from more than 50 countries sharing a meal together at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre today. You can support compassion and welcome for refugees through your donation. Donate here: donate.asrc.org.au/donatetoday
December 22, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Welcome to our table of humanity, hope and unity. Every culture and faith from more than 50 countries sharing a meal together at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre today. You can support compassion and welcome for refugees through your donation. Donate here: donate.asrc.org.au/donatetoday
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Remember: Almost all of us are the descendants of immigrants who fled persecution, or were brought to America under duress, or sought better lives for themselves and their descendants.
Politicians who stoke fear and hatred over immigration want you to forget this.
Do not.
Politicians who stoke fear and hatred over immigration want you to forget this.
Do not.
December 21, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Remember: Almost all of us are the descendants of immigrants who fled persecution, or were brought to America under duress, or sought better lives for themselves and their descendants.
Politicians who stoke fear and hatred over immigration want you to forget this.
Do not.
Politicians who stoke fear and hatred over immigration want you to forget this.
Do not.
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Richard Marles just loves his private jets - so befitting a man of his importance. After a secrecy blanket was wrapped over these taxpayer funded flights, he’s been free to indulge with no scrutiny. Except the ‘security risk’ excuse has failed in the face of #FOI. #auspol
December 21, 2025 at 9:03 PM
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After Bondi terror attack I directed my ASRC team to stop all our fundraising as it didn’t feel morally right as we grieved & mourned as a nation & out of respect for the Jewish Australian community. Tomorrow we need to restart it as our Xmas Appeal is now way behind & we’ve almost run out of time.
December 21, 2025 at 6:12 AM
After Bondi terror attack I directed my ASRC team to stop all our fundraising as it didn’t feel morally right as we grieved & mourned as a nation & out of respect for the Jewish Australian community. Tomorrow we need to restart it as our Xmas Appeal is now way behind & we’ve almost run out of time.
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Australia Institute research shows that nurses pay more tax than gas and oil companies.
Sign our petition calling on the government to fix our gas export problem: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/fix_gas_export_problem
Sign our petition calling on the government to fix our gas export problem: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/fix_gas_export_problem
December 21, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Australia Institute research shows that nurses pay more tax than gas and oil companies.
Sign our petition calling on the government to fix our gas export problem: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/fix_gas_export_problem
Sign our petition calling on the government to fix our gas export problem: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/fix_gas_export_problem
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This didn’t get much coverage at the time, so in case you missed it:
Allegations NSW Premier Chris Minns took thousands of dollars from unnamed donors a decade ago referred to ICAC
Allegations NSW Premier Chris Minns took thousands of dollars from unnamed donors a decade ago referred to ICAC
Allegations surface of NSW premier's decade-old undeclared donations
The allegations are included in an affidavit by a former ALP state organiser, which was tendered during a secret hearing of a parliamentary inquiry.
www.abc.net.au
December 20, 2025 at 4:54 AM
This didn’t get much coverage at the time, so in case you missed it:
Allegations NSW Premier Chris Minns took thousands of dollars from unnamed donors a decade ago referred to ICAC
Allegations NSW Premier Chris Minns took thousands of dollars from unnamed donors a decade ago referred to ICAC
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Bondi paddle-out: surfers, paddle boarders and swimmers pay tribute to victims of mass shooting
Bondi paddle-out: surfers, paddle boarders and swimmers pay tribute to victims of mass shooting
Drone footage shows huge circle of swimmers and surfers in the ocean in latest outpouring of grief
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Victims of Bondi beach shooting
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Ten minutes of terror: how the Bondi mass shooting unfolded in real time – video
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Follow the latest live updates
Hundreds of surfers and beach goers have returned to Bondi’s waters to pay tribute to those killed in Sunday’s mass shooting.
Australia’s most famous beach has gradually reopened after gunmen opened fire on Hanukah celebrations, killing 15 people. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 18, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Bondi paddle-out: surfers, paddle boarders and swimmers pay tribute to victims of mass shooting
Move to Warrnambool. Overcast and 22 here at 8.30 after a top of 31.
December 18, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Move to Warrnambool. Overcast and 22 here at 8.30 after a top of 31.
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Liberal MP Andrew Hastie has just said migrants need to "Live up to Australian values. They need to support our country and our people.”
We just had a Muslim Australian Ahmed All Ahmed from Syria, take two bullets to protect his fellow Australians and save countless lives.
We just had a Muslim Australian Ahmed All Ahmed from Syria, take two bullets to protect his fellow Australians and save countless lives.
December 18, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Liberal MP Andrew Hastie has just said migrants need to "Live up to Australian values. They need to support our country and our people.”
We just had a Muslim Australian Ahmed All Ahmed from Syria, take two bullets to protect his fellow Australians and save countless lives.
We just had a Muslim Australian Ahmed All Ahmed from Syria, take two bullets to protect his fellow Australians and save countless lives.
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Snowy Hydro is 100% taxpayer owned. Its $2B … no $6B … no $12B … no, more … ‘Snowy 2.0’ project is 100% taxpayer funded. But the taxpayer is NOT allowed to see monthly project reports. Serious legal minds are now challenging this secrecy. #FOI #auspol
"Transparency warrior" goes to court over Snowy 2.0 costings
Legal efforts to investigate the cost overruns that have beset the Snowy 2.0 hydro project have been redoubled in federal court.
Former senator and self-styled...
www.energynewsbulletin.net
December 17, 2025 at 9:05 AM
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www.smh.com.au/national/sur.... ,#news #Aus
As hundreds fled Bondi, Jacko the lifeguard ran barefoot from Tamarama towards it
Lifesavers ran straight into the line of fire at Bondi to save those who had been shot, were drowning, as well as a woman in labour.
www.smh.com.au
December 16, 2025 at 3:57 AM
www.smh.com.au/national/sur.... ,#news #Aus
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I must have a very bad memory b/c I cannot for the life me remember any of these self-serving playactors calling for Scott Morrison's resignation after an Australian man groomed by years of blatant Islamophobia from political and media arenas flew to NZ to murder 51 Muslims. 🤷🏻♀️ #auspol #BondiBeach
December 16, 2025 at 3:44 AM
I must have a very bad memory b/c I cannot for the life me remember any of these self-serving playactors calling for Scott Morrison's resignation after an Australian man groomed by years of blatant Islamophobia from political and media arenas flew to NZ to murder 51 Muslims. 🤷🏻♀️ #auspol #BondiBeach
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More and more Aussies are voting independent. The response from the major parties has NOT been to ‘be and do better’, rather to rig electoral laws to favour them. It’s undemocratic! @zoedaniel.bsky.social and I are asking the High Court to strike out those laws. #auspol
Former independents launch high court challenge to electoral laws they say favour Labor and Coalition
Contentious changes to fundraising rules will keep politics a ‘cosy table’ for major parties, Zoe Daniel and Rex Patrick say
www.theguardian.com
December 15, 2025 at 7:46 AM
More and more Aussies are voting independent. The response from the major parties has NOT been to ‘be and do better’, rather to rig electoral laws to favour them. It’s undemocratic! @zoedaniel.bsky.social and I are asking the High Court to strike out those laws. #auspol
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Mass shootings in the US, per Gun Violence Archive:
2015: 332
2016: 383
2017: 347
2018: 335
2019: 414
2020: 611
2021: 689
2022: 644
2023: 659
2024: 503
So far in 2025...392 mass shootings in 349 days.
We do not have to keep living like this.
2015: 332
2016: 383
2017: 347
2018: 335
2019: 414
2020: 611
2021: 689
2022: 644
2023: 659
2024: 503
So far in 2025...392 mass shootings in 349 days.
We do not have to keep living like this.
December 15, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Mass shootings in the US, per Gun Violence Archive:
2015: 332
2016: 383
2017: 347
2018: 335
2019: 414
2020: 611
2021: 689
2022: 644
2023: 659
2024: 503
So far in 2025...392 mass shootings in 349 days.
We do not have to keep living like this.
2015: 332
2016: 383
2017: 347
2018: 335
2019: 414
2020: 611
2021: 689
2022: 644
2023: 659
2024: 503
So far in 2025...392 mass shootings in 349 days.
We do not have to keep living like this.
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As it turns out, the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun *isn’t* a good guy with a gun—it can be a good guy *without* a gun. Just another NRA lie.
December 14, 2025 at 11:19 PM
As it turns out, the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun *isn’t* a good guy with a gun—it can be a good guy *without* a gun. Just another NRA lie.
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An absence of compassion can corrupt the decency of a community, a state, a nation. - Bryan Stevenson
Pic of the day
#photography
Pic of the day
#photography
December 14, 2025 at 11:07 PM
An absence of compassion can corrupt the decency of a community, a state, a nation. - Bryan Stevenson
Pic of the day
#photography
Pic of the day
#photography
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The hero who disarmed one of the Bondi shooters has been named - Ahmed al Ahmed. Ahmed is being hailed as a hero across the world. Incredible bravery to tackle someone with a gun, particularly when the other shooter still had his!
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
'Hero' who wrestled gun from Bondi shooter named as Ahmed al Ahmed
Eleven people were killed in the shooting at Australia's Bondi Beach, as crowds attended an event to celebrate Hanukkah.
www.bbc.com
December 14, 2025 at 9:08 PM
The hero who disarmed one of the Bondi shooters has been named - Ahmed al Ahmed. Ahmed is being hailed as a hero across the world. Incredible bravery to tackle someone with a gun, particularly when the other shooter still had his!
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
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Via Daniel Sinnott on X:
“Shout out to the #bondi beach life guard who, while there was shots being fired and we were all ducking for cover behind their buggy, noticed someone in the water struggling so grabbed a board and went to rescue them.”
“Shout out to the #bondi beach life guard who, while there was shots being fired and we were all ducking for cover behind their buggy, noticed someone in the water struggling so grabbed a board and went to rescue them.”
December 14, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Via Daniel Sinnott on X:
“Shout out to the #bondi beach life guard who, while there was shots being fired and we were all ducking for cover behind their buggy, noticed someone in the water struggling so grabbed a board and went to rescue them.”
“Shout out to the #bondi beach life guard who, while there was shots being fired and we were all ducking for cover behind their buggy, noticed someone in the water struggling so grabbed a board and went to rescue them.”
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Oligarchy (noun):
A government of and by a few at the top, who exercise power for their own benefit. Their power and wealth increase as they make laws that favor themselves, manipulate financial markets, and create monopolies that put more wealth into their pockets.
A government of and by a few at the top, who exercise power for their own benefit. Their power and wealth increase as they make laws that favor themselves, manipulate financial markets, and create monopolies that put more wealth into their pockets.
December 13, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Oligarchy (noun):
A government of and by a few at the top, who exercise power for their own benefit. Their power and wealth increase as they make laws that favor themselves, manipulate financial markets, and create monopolies that put more wealth into their pockets.
A government of and by a few at the top, who exercise power for their own benefit. Their power and wealth increase as they make laws that favor themselves, manipulate financial markets, and create monopolies that put more wealth into their pockets.
Reposted
Stand your ground laws turn innocent mistakes deadly
A coalition of corporate lobbyists, gun rights advocates & conservative lawmakers drafted & promoted the laws. Their goal was to lower the legal & moral barriers to using guns in daily life, to remove the legal consequences of armed self-defense.
A coalition of corporate lobbyists, gun rights advocates & conservative lawmakers drafted & promoted the laws. Their goal was to lower the legal & moral barriers to using guns in daily life, to remove the legal consequences of armed self-defense.
Stand your ground laws turn innocent mistakes deadly | Opinion
Harmless mistakes are common. Mix up house numbers, try the wrong key. Increasingly, the penalty for these everyday mistakes is death.
www.usatoday.com
December 13, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Stand your ground laws turn innocent mistakes deadly
A coalition of corporate lobbyists, gun rights advocates & conservative lawmakers drafted & promoted the laws. Their goal was to lower the legal & moral barriers to using guns in daily life, to remove the legal consequences of armed self-defense.
A coalition of corporate lobbyists, gun rights advocates & conservative lawmakers drafted & promoted the laws. Their goal was to lower the legal & moral barriers to using guns in daily life, to remove the legal consequences of armed self-defense.
Surf lifesaving carnival, Lady Bay, Warrnambool, Australia.
December 13, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Surf lifesaving carnival, Lady Bay, Warrnambool, Australia.
Tonight's sunset: ground zero at Thunder Point, Warrnambool, Australia.
December 12, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Tonight's sunset: ground zero at Thunder Point, Warrnambool, Australia.
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Apparently we’ve established that if the US can seize the largest tanker off Venezuela, it can just as easily seize a small, alleged drug boat without murdering the occupants.
December 12, 2025 at 3:56 AM
Apparently we’ve established that if the US can seize the largest tanker off Venezuela, it can just as easily seize a small, alleged drug boat without murdering the occupants.
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This should be the biggest story in the country right now. The sitting US President was extorting state lawmakers from his own party by threatening to withhold public money if they didn’t gerrymander for him.
I don’t know how else to say it…
I don’t know how else to say it…
December 12, 2025 at 4:21 AM
This should be the biggest story in the country right now. The sitting US President was extorting state lawmakers from his own party by threatening to withhold public money if they didn’t gerrymander for him.
I don’t know how else to say it…
I don’t know how else to say it…