Thomas-M. Stein
@tmsstein.com
About science, research, nature, and IT. Exploring politics, human rights, and social justice. Thought seeker. Dr.-Ing, MSc, BSc.
Wiradjuri Country, NSW, Australia.
https://tmsstein.com
Wiradjuri Country, NSW, Australia.
https://tmsstein.com
Reposted by Thomas-M. Stein
Something is wrong when the government doesn’t sufficiently fund the CSIRO, yet continues to increase subsidies for fossil fuel producers.
Annie Wilson, Inverloch
The Age, letters
Annie Wilson, Inverloch
The Age, letters
November 19, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Something is wrong when the government doesn’t sufficiently fund the CSIRO, yet continues to increase subsidies for fossil fuel producers.
Annie Wilson, Inverloch
The Age, letters
Annie Wilson, Inverloch
The Age, letters
Reposted by Thomas-M. Stein
Forget even the expectation of results part: it cannot be cranked up overnight, period. Scientists of that caliber are hard to train and attract and if (once) they leave, it will take years to rebuild that capacity. This is damaging Australia in the short-, mid- and long-term, utterly irresponsible.
November 18, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Forget even the expectation of results part: it cannot be cranked up overnight, period. Scientists of that caliber are hard to train and attract and if (once) they leave, it will take years to rebuild that capacity. This is damaging Australia in the short-, mid- and long-term, utterly irresponsible.
Reposted by Thomas-M. Stein
"Australian workers are being shortchanged $95.8 billion a year in unpaid overtime" #ThePoint #GoHomeOnTimeDay
thepoint.com.au/news/251119-...
thepoint.com.au/news/251119-...
Australian workers are being shortchanged $95.8 billion a year in unpaid overtime
According to new research, if Australian workers were paid for the hours of overtime they currently do for free, they would be more than $300 a fortnight better off
thepoint.com.au
November 18, 2025 at 9:48 PM
"Australian workers are being shortchanged $95.8 billion a year in unpaid overtime" #ThePoint #GoHomeOnTimeDay
thepoint.com.au/news/251119-...
thepoint.com.au/news/251119-...
Reposted by Thomas-M. Stein
“CSIRO has announced it will slash up to 350 jobs as the national science agency grapples with long-term financial challenges … with current funding failing to keep pace with the rising costs of running a modern science agency.”
Not “challenges”. They’re choices. 😡
Not “challenges”. They’re choices. 😡
CSIRO to cut up to 350 research jobs in major overhaul
After 440 positions were slashed last year, the CSIRO has announced more staff cuts across the country in a bid to remain financially viable.
www.abc.net.au
November 18, 2025 at 6:15 AM
“CSIRO has announced it will slash up to 350 jobs as the national science agency grapples with long-term financial challenges … with current funding failing to keep pace with the rising costs of running a modern science agency.”
Not “challenges”. They’re choices. 😡
Not “challenges”. They’re choices. 😡
Reposted by Thomas-M. Stein
And this is of course compounded by the fact that many universities in Australia aren't hiring at the moment. Leaving two options to many of these researchers: leaving the country, or leaving research.
These are incredibly competent, specialized experts we're losing, not overpaid consultants. 🤦♂️
These are incredibly competent, specialized experts we're losing, not overpaid consultants. 🤦♂️
November 18, 2025 at 10:08 PM
And this is of course compounded by the fact that many universities in Australia aren't hiring at the moment. Leaving two options to many of these researchers: leaving the country, or leaving research.
These are incredibly competent, specialized experts we're losing, not overpaid consultants. 🤦♂️
These are incredibly competent, specialized experts we're losing, not overpaid consultants. 🤦♂️
The CSIRO has announced it will slash up to 350 jobs. It is the latest in a string of cuts at the organisation, with more than 800 positions eliminated in the past 18 months. What a sad and shortsighted move — we need more research, not less, and we need it delivered by more full-time professionals.
CSIRO to cut up to 350 research jobs in major overhaul
After 440 positions were slashed last year, the CSIRO has announced more staff cuts across the country in a bid to remain financially viable.
www.abc.net.au
November 18, 2025 at 12:47 PM
The CSIRO has announced it will slash up to 350 jobs. It is the latest in a string of cuts at the organisation, with more than 800 positions eliminated in the past 18 months. What a sad and shortsighted move — we need more research, not less, and we need it delivered by more full-time professionals.
What about AI in our Australian laws? Robodebt comes to mind... How are decisions made in public administration — say, at Centrelink or the ATO? How much human oversight over AI-driven decision-making is still there? And what safeguards have been put in place?
Employment law: MEPs are against dismissal by AI
According to a decision of EU parliamentarians, workers should be protected from automated decisions, and human supervision should be guaranteed.
According to a decision of EU parliamentarians, workers should be protected from automated decisions, and human supervision should be guaranteed.
Arbeitnehmer sollen laut einem Beschluss von EU-Parlamentariern vor automatisierten Entscheidungen geschützt, die menschliche Aufsicht soll garantiert werden. #Arbeitswelt
November 12, 2025 at 9:37 PM
What about AI in our Australian laws? Robodebt comes to mind... How are decisions made in public administration — say, at Centrelink or the ATO? How much human oversight over AI-driven decision-making is still there? And what safeguards have been put in place?
Employment law: MEPs are against dismissal by AI
According to a decision of EU parliamentarians, workers should be protected from automated decisions, and human supervision should be guaranteed.
According to a decision of EU parliamentarians, workers should be protected from automated decisions, and human supervision should be guaranteed.
Arbeitnehmer sollen laut einem Beschluss von EU-Parlamentariern vor automatisierten Entscheidungen geschützt, die menschliche Aufsicht soll garantiert werden. #Arbeitswelt
Arbeitsrecht: EU-Abgeordnete sind gegen Kündigung durch KI
Arbeitnehmer sollen laut einem Beschluss von EU-Parlamentariern vor automatisierten Entscheidungen geschützt, die menschliche Aufsicht soll garantiert werden.
www.heise.de
November 12, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Employment law: MEPs are against dismissal by AI
According to a decision of EU parliamentarians, workers should be protected from automated decisions, and human supervision should be guaranteed.
According to a decision of EU parliamentarians, workers should be protected from automated decisions, and human supervision should be guaranteed.
Alan Kohler looks at what’s happening in the market and how immigration policies have left Australia with rising demand for housing and not enough tradies to construct them.
youtu.be/y2FxYKA2BhE?...
youtu.be/y2FxYKA2BhE?...
Alan Kohler on why we need 117,000 more tradies | ABC News Daily podcast
YouTube video by ABC News (Australia)
youtu.be
November 5, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Alan Kohler looks at what’s happening in the market and how immigration policies have left Australia with rising demand for housing and not enough tradies to construct them.
youtu.be/y2FxYKA2BhE?...
youtu.be/y2FxYKA2BhE?...
Reposted by Thomas-M. Stein
No hurry.
My @smh @theage cartoon.
My @smh @theage cartoon.
November 3, 2025 at 8:46 PM
No hurry.
My @smh @theage cartoon.
My @smh @theage cartoon.
Reposted by Thomas-M. Stein
Halloween in Australia
November 1, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Halloween in Australia
Reposted by Thomas-M. Stein
Injunctions on data leaked on the dark web only serve to try to limit media coverage and harms consumers more than help - scammers are still going to access it anyway and people deserve to know what's out there. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Knee-jerk corporate responses to data leaks protect brands like Qantas — but consumers are getting screwed
When courts ban people from accessing leaked data – as happened after the recent Qantas data breach – only hackers and scammers win
www.theguardian.com
November 1, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Injunctions on data leaked on the dark web only serve to try to limit media coverage and harms consumers more than help - scammers are still going to access it anyway and people deserve to know what's out there. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
You guys look sad. #wealth #economy #money
YouTube video by Chris Kohler
youtu.be
October 24, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Reposted by Thomas-M. Stein
Hackers leak Qantas data containing 5 million customer records after ransom deadline passes
Hackers leak Qantas data containing 5 million customer records after ransom deadline passes
Hacker collective Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters demanded payment in return for preventing the stolen data of nearly 40 companies from being shared
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Hackers say they have leaked the personal records of 5 million Qantas customers on the dark web, after a ransom deadline set by the cybercriminals passed.
The airline is one of more than 40 firms globally caught up in the hack, reported to contain up to 1 billion customer records. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
October 11, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Hackers leak Qantas data containing 5 million customer records after ransom deadline passes
Injunctions like these ultimately don’t protect the real victims — Qantas customers — they protect the company. They hide the breach, evade responsibility, and shut down public discussion and accountability.
As the clock counts down to the deadline the Qantas hackers have threatened to publish their data on, how much will the court injunction actually help the breach victims (which includes me)? www.troyhunt.com/court-injunc...
Court Injunctions are the Thoughts and Prayers of Data Breach Response
You see it all the time after a tragedy occurs somewhere, and people flock to offer their sympathies via the "thoughts and prayers" line. Sympathy is great, and we should all express that sentiment…
www.troyhunt.com
October 9, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Injunctions like these ultimately don’t protect the real victims — Qantas customers — they protect the company. They hide the breach, evade responsibility, and shut down public discussion and accountability.
Beautiful morning and clean air - After some light overnight rain
October 8, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Beautiful morning and clean air - After some light overnight rain
Housing supply without controlling demand suggests National Housing Accord won't fix affordability
By Alan Kohler
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...
By Alan Kohler
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...
Australia has a $127,000 housing affordability question
The national project to fix housing affordability is off to a slow start but, from deposit schemes and negative gearing to immigration and construction delays, the reasons are complex.
www.abc.net.au
October 6, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Housing supply without controlling demand suggests National Housing Accord won't fix affordability
By Alan Kohler
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...
By Alan Kohler
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...
Reposted by Thomas-M. Stein
The BlueSky butterfly has received a lot of accolades lately, and I love it!
It has grown significantly and has become an increasingly important player. So far, it feels like a real alternative—at least for me.
(... a thread 🧵)
[1/x]
It has grown significantly and has become an increasingly important player. So far, it feels like a real alternative—at least for me.
(... a thread 🧵)
[1/x]
November 23, 2024 at 1:37 AM
The BlueSky butterfly has received a lot of accolades lately, and I love it!
It has grown significantly and has become an increasingly important player. So far, it feels like a real alternative—at least for me.
(... a thread 🧵)
[1/x]
It has grown significantly and has become an increasingly important player. So far, it feels like a real alternative—at least for me.
(... a thread 🧵)
[1/x]
It’s about time the UN Headquarters were moved to a truly sovereign UN territory - free from host state influence, interference, or restriction- ensuring unimpeded access and guaranteed protection by the international community.
September 26, 2025 at 9:08 PM
It’s about time the UN Headquarters were moved to a truly sovereign UN territory - free from host state influence, interference, or restriction- ensuring unimpeded access and guaranteed protection by the international community.
Some fact checking on US President Trump's UN speech. A speech full of false claims.
www.tagesschau.de/faktenfinder...
www.tagesschau.de/faktenfinder...
Trumps Rede voller Falschbehauptungen bei UN-Vollversammlung
US-Präsident Trump hat seine Redezeit bei der UN-Vollversammlung deutlich überzogen - und dabei viele Falschbehauptungen aufgestellt. So sprach er mit Blick auf den Klimawandel unter anderem von "Schw...
www.tagesschau.de
September 24, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Some fact checking on US President Trump's UN speech. A speech full of false claims.
www.tagesschau.de/faktenfinder...
www.tagesschau.de/faktenfinder...
Adequate housing was recognized as part of the right to an adequate standard of living in article 25 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights ...
www.ohchr.org/en/special-p...
www.ohchr.org/en/special-p...
The human right to adequate housing
Housing is the basis of stability and security for an individual or family. The centre of our social, emotional and sometimes economic lives, a home should be a sanctuary—a place to live in peace, sec...
www.ohchr.org
September 21, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Adequate housing was recognized as part of the right to an adequate standard of living in article 25 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights ...
www.ohchr.org/en/special-p...
www.ohchr.org/en/special-p...
Report of the Age Assurance Technology Trial. Conclusions and detailed analyses of a range of age assurance technologies assessed. Commissioned and funded by the Australian Government, published by Age Check Certification Scheme, 2025, 10 vols., 1150 pp. (free online).
ageassurance.com.au/report/
ageassurance.com.au/report/
Report - Age Assurance Technology Trial
Report Report volumes Key findings Datasets Case Studies Part A – Main Report Part A – Main Report This document presents the official report of the Age Assurance Technology Trial, offering a comprehe...
ageassurance.com.au
September 7, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Report of the Age Assurance Technology Trial. Conclusions and detailed analyses of a range of age assurance technologies assessed. Commissioned and funded by the Australian Government, published by Age Check Certification Scheme, 2025, 10 vols., 1150 pp. (free online).
ageassurance.com.au/report/
ageassurance.com.au/report/
Enshittification, products services decline in quality over time (German)
c’t uplink - der IT-Podcast aus Nerdistan: Enshittification: wenn gute Produkte und Webdienste verhunzt werden | c’t uplink
Webpage: ct-uplink.podigee.io/608-enshitti...
Media file: audio.podigee-cdn.net/2030657-m-fe...
c’t uplink - der IT-Podcast aus Nerdistan: Enshittification: wenn gute Produkte und Webdienste verhunzt werden | c’t uplink
Webpage: ct-uplink.podigee.io/608-enshitti...
Media file: audio.podigee-cdn.net/2030657-m-fe...
Enshittification: wenn gute Produkte und Webdienste verhunzt werden | c’t uplink
Die Google Suche lieferte mal treffgenaue Ergebnisse und dezente Werbung, Facebook vernetzte Freunde und Familie und Streaming-Dienste wie Netflix und Amazon Prime erlaubten unkompliziert legal Filme ...
ct-uplink.podigee.io
September 3, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Enshittification, products services decline in quality over time (German)
c’t uplink - der IT-Podcast aus Nerdistan: Enshittification: wenn gute Produkte und Webdienste verhunzt werden | c’t uplink
Webpage: ct-uplink.podigee.io/608-enshitti...
Media file: audio.podigee-cdn.net/2030657-m-fe...
c’t uplink - der IT-Podcast aus Nerdistan: Enshittification: wenn gute Produkte und Webdienste verhunzt werden | c’t uplink
Webpage: ct-uplink.podigee.io/608-enshitti...
Media file: audio.podigee-cdn.net/2030657-m-fe...
Key stakeholders in Australia’s social media age assurance trial frozen out amid media leaks and resignations
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/a...
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/a...
Key stakeholders in Australia’s social media age assurance trial frozen out amid media leaks and resignations
Trial’s advisory board may not see the final report until communications minister releases it in the coming weeks
www.theguardian.com
August 31, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Key stakeholders in Australia’s social media age assurance trial frozen out amid media leaks and resignations
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/a...
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/a...
Reposted by Thomas-M. Stein
“Those excuses, to me, are exactly that, excuses. It is my opinion that that motion wasn’t voted on because, at the time, it would have passed … there was a deliberate attempt by the Chancellor to obfuscate, to distract and to deflect from that motion.”
Will Burfoot
region.com.au/chancellor-j...
Will Burfoot
region.com.au/chancellor-j...
UPDATED: Chancellor Julie Bishop allegedly stopped university council from holding vote to pause Renew ANU | Region Canberra
CONTENT WARNING: This story mentions suicide and pregnancy loss. Story updated to include response from ANU Chancellor Julie Bishop. Australian…
region.com.au
August 12, 2025 at 6:39 AM
“Those excuses, to me, are exactly that, excuses. It is my opinion that that motion wasn’t voted on because, at the time, it would have passed … there was a deliberate attempt by the Chancellor to obfuscate, to distract and to deflect from that motion.”
Will Burfoot
region.com.au/chancellor-j...
Will Burfoot
region.com.au/chancellor-j...