Jo
@jo8may.bsky.social
I am an Australian, a retired academic and historian.
Anthony Albanese STOP USING X!
The Australian government is spending millions supporting Elon Musk’s deepfake porn factory, X www.crikey.com.au/2026/01/09/a...
The Australian government is spending millions supporting Elon Musk’s deepfake porn factory, X www.crikey.com.au/2026/01/09/a...
The Australian government is spending millions supporting Elon Musk's deepfake porn factory, X
A spokesperson for the prime minister says the government is committed to protecting Australians from online harms. Tell that to the Australian victims of X-produced image-based abuse.
www.crikey.com.au
January 9, 2026 at 4:39 AM
Anthony Albanese STOP USING X!
The Australian government is spending millions supporting Elon Musk’s deepfake porn factory, X www.crikey.com.au/2026/01/09/a...
The Australian government is spending millions supporting Elon Musk’s deepfake porn factory, X www.crikey.com.au/2026/01/09/a...
Disgraceful. We need to stand united against all forms of racism and attacks on diversity of views. This is not leadership from an organisation that should know better.
As a former Director of Adelaide Writers' Week I am appalled that the Adelaide Festival Board has rescinded Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah's invitation to the 2026 AWW, explicitly linking its decision to the shattering crimes in Bondi.
A shocking decision that will and should have far-reaching consequences.
A shocking decision that will and should have far-reaching consequences.
January 8, 2026 at 6:32 AM
Disgraceful. We need to stand united against all forms of racism and attacks on diversity of views. This is not leadership from an organisation that should know better.
7:30 ABC why were we subjected to the views of that man from the “Atlantic Council” whose motto was “We win, they lose” - DO BETTER ABC!
January 7, 2026 at 9:01 AM
7:30 ABC why were we subjected to the views of that man from the “Atlantic Council” whose motto was “We win, they lose” - DO BETTER ABC!
Brilliant historically informed summation.
January 4, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Brilliant historically informed summation.
Tonight my family and I joined thousands of our beautiful diverse community for the annual 9pm fireworks gathering. Peaceful, harmonious and joyful, we celebrated our lives here in the (other) harbour city of New South Wales, Australia. Sending love and light for a better year in 2026.
December 31, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Tonight my family and I joined thousands of our beautiful diverse community for the annual 9pm fireworks gathering. Peaceful, harmonious and joyful, we celebrated our lives here in the (other) harbour city of New South Wales, Australia. Sending love and light for a better year in 2026.
Weaponising the Bondi tragedy is a betrayal of all our children theshot.net.au/uncategorize...
Weaponising the Bondi tragedy is a betrayal of all our children - The Shot
Breathe, slowly. It helps. Cry if you need to. All of this hurts. But please understand, before we go any...
theshot.net.au
December 31, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Weaponising the Bondi tragedy is a betrayal of all our children theshot.net.au/uncategorize...
An Important Judgment on an issue vital to everyone.
open.substack.com/pub/zeteo/p/...
open.substack.com/pub/zeteo/p/...
The Taliban’s Treatment of Women Is Gender Apartheid. Governments Worldwide Must Act Now
Leaders have a chance to make gender apartheid a crime against humanity in international law. Will they meet the moment – for women and girls in Afghanistan, and worldwide?
open.substack.com
December 30, 2025 at 10:59 PM
An Important Judgment on an issue vital to everyone.
open.substack.com/pub/zeteo/p/...
open.substack.com/pub/zeteo/p/...
A C Grayling from 2006 makes perfect sense.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
“… to believe something in the face of evidence and against reason - to believe something by faith - is ignoble, irresponsible and ignorant, and merits the opposite of respect. It is time to say so.”
1/3
“… to believe something in the face of evidence and against reason - to believe something by faith - is ignoble, irresponsible and ignorant, and merits the opposite of respect. It is time to say so.”
1/3
Religions don't deserve special treatment
AC Grayling: It is time to reverse the prevailing notion that religious commitment is intrinsically deserving of respect.
www.theguardian.com
December 29, 2025 at 11:06 AM
A C Grayling from 2006 makes perfect sense.
youtu.be/eQDjyZWw_A4?...
Brilliant gloss on the economic theory in “It’s a wonderful life” - bravo Robert Reich, an American national treasure!
Brilliant gloss on the economic theory in “It’s a wonderful life” - bravo Robert Reich, an American national treasure!
Robert Reich Reacts: “It's a Wonderful Life”
YouTube video by Robert Reich
youtu.be
December 24, 2025 at 10:57 AM
youtu.be/eQDjyZWw_A4?...
Brilliant gloss on the economic theory in “It’s a wonderful life” - bravo Robert Reich, an American national treasure!
Brilliant gloss on the economic theory in “It’s a wonderful life” - bravo Robert Reich, an American national treasure!
🎭 2/2 Friels’ heartfelt performance resonated with the malignant narcissism of a Trump. The staging of this play at this time was perfect commentary to our current situation. “Machinations, hollowness, treachery, and all ruinous disorders, follow us disquietly to our graves." (King Lear, Act 1:2)
December 22, 2025 at 12:17 PM
🎭 2/2 Friels’ heartfelt performance resonated with the malignant narcissism of a Trump. The staging of this play at this time was perfect commentary to our current situation. “Machinations, hollowness, treachery, and all ruinous disorders, follow us disquietly to our graves." (King Lear, Act 1:2)
🎭 1/2 Saw King Lear at the Belvoir Saturday night. The minimal staging allowed us to concentrate on the words, difficult words despite our familiarity. Standout performances by Peter Carroll as the Fool and Raj Labade as Edmund. Alison Whyte’s Gloucester amazing and cathartic.
December 22, 2025 at 5:41 AM
🎭 1/2 Saw King Lear at the Belvoir Saturday night. The minimal staging allowed us to concentrate on the words, difficult words despite our familiarity. Standout performances by Peter Carroll as the Fool and Raj Labade as Edmund. Alison Whyte’s Gloucester amazing and cathartic.
Mark Kenny at his best on Nikki Savva at hers. The Libs as a “work in regress” & “Earthquake [as] a cautionary tale for both sides. Their concrete silos stand half-empty; their grains of truth are no longer a staple in a world of fluid allegiances and ephemera.”
theconversation.com/niki-savvas-...
theconversation.com/niki-savvas-...
Niki Savva’s Earthquake is a damning account of the election that shook Australia
It became clear that “Team Dutton” was running on little more than bloke-energy, an unaffordable nuclear policy and, crazily, higher taxes.
theconversation.com
December 19, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Mark Kenny at his best on Nikki Savva at hers. The Libs as a “work in regress” & “Earthquake [as] a cautionary tale for both sides. Their concrete silos stand half-empty; their grains of truth are no longer a staple in a world of fluid allegiances and ephemera.”
theconversation.com/niki-savvas-...
theconversation.com/niki-savvas-...
Reposted by Jo
Racists seldom see their own race based intolerances as racism.
HoWARd is one such racist.
HoWARd is one such racist.
He has said he has always been uncomfortable with multiculturalism, and had called for Asian migration to stop. He disagrees with people who say racism is a problem in Australia because that hasn’t been his experience. Why would anyone listen to him about social cohesion?!
December 17, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Racists seldom see their own race based intolerances as racism.
HoWARd is one such racist.
HoWARd is one such racist.
A beautiful, true and heartfelt article. Thank you for sharing.
David Leser's indelible phrasing: 'anti-Semitism ... a light sleeper in the dreamscape of nations for centuries'.
www.smh.com.au/national/i-t...
www.smh.com.au/national/i-t...
I told a friend the world was trembling, then Bondi erupted
We were two Jewish men and two non-Jewish women, settling down for dinner in Bondi. Then the gunshots rang out.
www.smh.com.au
December 16, 2025 at 1:40 PM
A beautiful, true and heartfelt article. Thank you for sharing.
Parents please STOP sending your kids to private schools. It does not give an educational advantage once they are at university. Furthermore it is anti-democratic. Why not support a universally excellent public system for all Australian children and youth? www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/educati...
Private schools’ million-dollar principals
The government is yet to compel private schools to publish their principals’ salaries, despite concerns that taxpayers are supporting packages up to $1 million a year.
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au
December 14, 2025 at 6:08 AM
Parents please STOP sending your kids to private schools. It does not give an educational advantage once they are at university. Furthermore it is anti-democratic. Why not support a universally excellent public system for all Australian children and youth? www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/educati...
johnmenadue.com/post/2025/12... John Frew does it again. Shame on us! He writes: “The emotional force that binds the pecking order together is shame. Shame turns structural inequality into individual failure.”
The pecking order: how class blindness governs Australian schools
Australia prides itself on fairness and opportunity, yet an unspoken pecking order shapes who advances and who is blamed for falling behind. In schools and public institutions, structural inequality i...
johnmenadue.com
December 14, 2025 at 2:56 AM
johnmenadue.com/post/2025/12... John Frew does it again. Shame on us! He writes: “The emotional force that binds the pecking order together is shame. Shame turns structural inequality into individual failure.”
A really great roundup of the year. Don’t miss it. Thank you Sunday Shot!
Thank you Shot presenters, panellists and producers for your efforts during 2025.....
and now NEVER back to you, Speersy.
and now NEVER back to you, Speersy.
Last episode of Sunday Shot starts at 9.
Doug Cameron and Zoe Daniel join us on the panel, plus we reflect on 2025 with @ronnisalt.bsky.social, Grace Tame, Purple Pingers, @thomasmayo.bsky.social, Nasser Mashni, @amyremeikis.bsky.social, @cherylkernot.bsky.social and more
Doug Cameron and Zoe Daniel join us on the panel, plus we reflect on 2025 with @ronnisalt.bsky.social, Grace Tame, Purple Pingers, @thomasmayo.bsky.social, Nasser Mashni, @amyremeikis.bsky.social, @cherylkernot.bsky.social and more
December 13, 2025 at 11:41 PM
A really great roundup of the year. Don’t miss it. Thank you Sunday Shot!
open.substack.com/pub/zeteo/p/... The writer would be better placed in criticising the “draconian’ algorithms that expose young minds to poisonous content. Australia at least is calling these platforms to account. Some hard evidence, not sensationalist claims, was needed.
Social Media Is a Literal Lifeline for Many Kids. Don't Ban Them From Using It
US politicians want to replicate Australia's draconian law prohibiting children under 16 from using social media. But experts say such bans will actually make kids 'significantly less safe online.'
open.substack.com
December 13, 2025 at 9:57 PM
open.substack.com/pub/zeteo/p/... The writer would be better placed in criticising the “draconian’ algorithms that expose young minds to poisonous content. Australia at least is calling these platforms to account. Some hard evidence, not sensationalist claims, was needed.
Yay People Power!
open.substack.com/pub/crickete...
open.substack.com/pub/crickete...
We Did It
GH brings good news
open.substack.com
December 12, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Yay People Power!
open.substack.com/pub/crickete...
open.substack.com/pub/crickete...
At Least We Tried! As quoted in the Crikey Worm this morning:
“The world will follow like nations once followed our lead on plain tobacco packaging, gun reform, water and sun safety. How can you not follow a country with clearly prioritising teen safety ahead of tech profits?”
Julie Inman Grant
“The world will follow like nations once followed our lead on plain tobacco packaging, gun reform, water and sun safety. How can you not follow a country with clearly prioritising teen safety ahead of tech profits?”
Julie Inman Grant
a blue flag with white stars and a red stripe
ALT: a blue flag with white stars and a red stripe
media.tenor.com
December 10, 2025 at 11:39 PM
At Least We Tried! As quoted in the Crikey Worm this morning:
“The world will follow like nations once followed our lead on plain tobacco packaging, gun reform, water and sun safety. How can you not follow a country with clearly prioritising teen safety ahead of tech profits?”
Julie Inman Grant
“The world will follow like nations once followed our lead on plain tobacco packaging, gun reform, water and sun safety. How can you not follow a country with clearly prioritising teen safety ahead of tech profits?”
Julie Inman Grant
Top shot from Gideon Haigh! open.substack.com/pub/crickete...
What's Really Happening at the State Library of Victoria?
GH has some thoughts
open.substack.com
December 10, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Top shot from Gideon Haigh! open.substack.com/pub/crickete...
This evening at Albury, the mighty Murray River, Milawa, giver of life in Wiradjuri country. This river marks the colonial boundary between New South Wales and Victoria, an invisible construct unknown to the original peoples of this land. They had other much older maps to go by.
December 9, 2025 at 11:32 AM
This evening at Albury, the mighty Murray River, Milawa, giver of life in Wiradjuri country. This river marks the colonial boundary between New South Wales and Victoria, an invisible construct unknown to the original peoples of this land. They had other much older maps to go by.
Well Jess Wilson, you failed in leadership by not supporting the apology to First Nations people in Victoria today. Shame on the Liberal Party born- to- rules who can’t admit that colonialist wealth to which their party is heir was stolen. History will out and Treaties must be made with reparations.
December 9, 2025 at 4:36 AM
Well Jess Wilson, you failed in leadership by not supporting the apology to First Nations people in Victoria today. Shame on the Liberal Party born- to- rules who can’t admit that colonialist wealth to which their party is heir was stolen. History will out and Treaties must be made with reparations.
There’s more than a whiff of sexism around the targeting of Anika Wells (guess who broke the story? Sky News, Home of the Patriarchy). Speers pursues piddly travel items rather than policy - his Sky “training” comes to the fore.
December 6, 2025 at 10:28 PM
There’s more than a whiff of sexism around the targeting of Anika Wells (guess who broke the story? Sky News, Home of the Patriarchy). Speers pursues piddly travel items rather than policy - his Sky “training” comes to the fore.