Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Steve Baty (He/him)

@docbaty.bsky.social

1.8K followers 1.1K following 4.3K posts

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

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Reposted by Steve Baty (He/him)

The Cathy Wilcox @cathywilcox.bsky.social · 2h

Astute work by @fionakatauskas.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Has finding an affordable home in Australia just gotten harder? | Fiona Katauskas

Thanks climate change

www.theguardian.com

4 24 60

Steve Baty (He/him) @docbaty.bsky.social · 1h

This is a great case study in systems design and thoughtful interventions.

Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 18h

“When streets became calmer & safer, more people felt comfortable trying a bike commute for the first time. Families began pedaling to the park…Local businesses saw new life…And cycling stopped feeling like a niche activity—it became part of everyday Parisian life.”

Via @momentummag.bsky.social

New Study Shows How Paris Pedaled Its Way to a Cycling Revolution

Cycling through central Paris meant weaving between buses and scooters—a bold choice reserved for the fearless few.

momentummag.com

6 32

Steve Baty (He/him) @docbaty.bsky.social · 4h

Hold off. It’ll be $2.99 come Christmas.

Steve Baty (He/him) @docbaty.bsky.social · 5h

I can pinpoint several key turning points in my life that came about directly or indirectly thanks to social media. Personal and professional.

Steve Baty (He/him) @docbaty.bsky.social · 6h

Having already had one book stolen by an AI company, I'm cool with this too.

Steve Baty (He/him) @docbaty.bsky.social · 7h

I think this is slightly different. External reviews of government systems, processes, and policies - to provide expert, independent review - makes a lot of sense. That's not the same thing as replacing APS fundamentals with consultants.

Still has to be done with expertise and care.

Reposted by Steve Baty (He/him)

Dr Richard Denniss @richarddenniss.bsky.social · 7h

I don’t know about you, but I’m a bit scared of any new ‘environment laws’ that Labor can get Matt Canavan and Andrew Hastie to vote for…I think they will be better described as ‘ how to build more mines faster laws’ www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...

Watt nears deal with Coalition to finally overhaul environment laws

Environment Minister Murray Watt will sit down with his Liberal counterpart Angie Bell today, with quiet optimism in both parties that a deal might soon be struck to finally rewrite Australia's "broke...

www.abc.net.au

18 92 240

Reposted by Steve Baty (He/him)

Peter Gardner @peterdgardner.bsky.social · 8h

ACT went first and fastest to 100 per cent renewables: It now looks like the smartest policy of all reneweconomy.com.au/act-went-fir...

reneweconomy.com.au

6 4

Steve Baty (He/him) @docbaty.bsky.social · 9h

Thanks for sharing that!

Steve Baty (He/him) @docbaty.bsky.social · 9h

Two totally different incidents - same priest though. I hope more priests show up.

Reposted by Steve Baty (He/him)

Kimberley Crofts 🍉 @ktcita.bsky.social · 23h

Just putting this out into the world. Come March next year I’ll be looking for #PostDoc research assistant work in Sydney (or remote). Please keep me in mind and send any ideas my way. Looking for projects in one or any of #EnergyTransitions #Decarbonisation #EnvironmentalPlanning #HumanGeography

1 5 3

Steve Baty (He/him) @docbaty.bsky.social · 20h

Well, most of what he says is lies so the overlap with the accordion hands is going to be high.

Reposted by Steve Baty (He/him)

Steve Portigal @steveportigal.bsky.social · 1d

You couldn't have a podcast with me and @sladner.bsky.social without talking about...interviewing. Here's Sam talking about talking about interviewing --- or interviewing about talking? We don't know! 🤪 Episodes of "Off the Path with Sam and Steve" come out **this Friday** so find out for yourself!

2 2 6

Reposted by Steve Baty (He/him)

Philip Thalis @philipthalis.bsky.social · 1d

Look up
reductionroadmap.au

1 4

Reposted by Steve Baty (He/him)

Dr Blair Williams @blairwilliams26.bsky.social · 22h

I'm excited to officially share that I'll be joining UNSW Canberra as a Lecturer in International and Political Studies in January 2026!

#AcademicLife #Academia #NewJob

Wattle with the Black Mountain tower in tje background

16 9 130

Steve Baty (He/him) @docbaty.bsky.social · 1d

Senator Price was quoted on 2GB this morning saying 'people are starting to say we're a clown show'.

Steve Baty (He/him) @docbaty.bsky.social · 1d

I think we're way past the point where you'd call this a clown show. Barnum would be jealous.

2 7

Steve Baty (He/him) @docbaty.bsky.social · 1d

Just to be clear: any argument along the lines of 'We can't change course now' is a process failure and a failure of decision-making.

If the cost of continuing outweighs the benefits of continuing: stop.

Steve Baty (He/him) @docbaty.bsky.social · 1d

File this under "Failures in government policy-making" for future reference. And, for the record, restating my opinion that this stadium will cost at least $1.5bn and not have a roof. Certainly not the roof pictured.

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...

'Cannot turn back': Tasmanian government responds to scathing Hobart stadium report

The state government response to last month's scathing report from the planning commission says that while "change can be challenging", the "dream of a Tasmanian team representing our state in the AFL...

www.abc.net.au

2 13 29

Steve Baty (He/him) @docbaty.bsky.social · 1d

I hear it's two years away

1 1

Reposted by Steve Baty (He/him)

Damian Carrington @dpcarrington.bsky.social · 1d

Carbon offsets fail to cut global heating due to ‘intractable’ and systemic problems, study says

- Analysis of 25 years of evidence shows most schemes are poor quality and fail to lower emissions

#climatecrisis
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Carbon offsets fail to cut global heating due to ‘intractable’ systemic problems, study says

Analysis of 25 years of evidence shows most schemes are poor quality and fail to lower emissions

www.theguardian.com

3 27 57

Steve Baty (He/him) @docbaty.bsky.social · 1d

Right? Kudos for going through the motions I guess

Steve Baty (He/him) @docbaty.bsky.social · 1d

Seems obvious in hindsight

1 3

Steve Baty (He/him) @docbaty.bsky.social · 1d

Nah. Blocked 🙂

Steve Baty (He/him) @docbaty.bsky.social · 2d

There is no good justification for our Mutual Obligations scheme.

Successive reviews have determined that the systems underpinning it can't be trusted to make good decisions.

Participants continually call out its punitive, abusive nature.

Way past time to end it.

1 5 23