The "sensible centre" is not the same as evidence-based policy. With online gambling, junk food advertising or incarcerating children, evidence of harm is clear, but centrist positions are defined by politics rather than evidence. This Friday, join @richarddenniss.bsky.social for a free webinar ⤵️

Five publishing outfits and four of them have women founders. Thanks to @womensagenda.bsky.social for republishing my piece in the Conversation

No Trump meeting might be the best outcome for Anthony Albanese. Allan Behm joins @emmashortis.bsky.social to discuss MAGA's deification of Charlie Kirk, Australia’s disastrous fortnight of Pacific diplomacy & the best-case scenario out of a Trump-Albanese meeting. #auspol 🎧 theaus.in/4mwlQbJ

There's been a lot of discussion about whether Albanese will get a meeting with Trump at the upcoming UN General Assembly. But would it even be a good idea? International & Security Affairs Advisor Allan Behm thinks Albanese would do better to avoid it. #auspol @emmashortis.bsky.social

If you are in Canberra, get along to this. Have seen some of the clips and it is amazing/shattering

The government is supposed to represent us, not the fossil fuel industry. Our research shows fossil fuels are the biggest source of carbon emissions in Australia – but the government is letting them off the hook. Add your name to the petition > theaus.in/phase-out-fo...

Canberra! Join us on Wednesday for a special edition of Politics in the Pub with Gitty Yee, Tuvalu resident and climate campaigner, joined by @ebonybennett.bsky.social and @stephenlongaus.bsky.social. #auspol Free, RSVP now: nb.australiainstitute.org.au/save_tuvalu_...

On the #SundayShot is our very own @markogge.bsky.social AND @emmashortis.bsky.social! Catch all their analysis here ⤵️

"Labor can pretend it is “following the science” (it’s not – if it were, it would stop new coal and gas projects) ... because the Coalition is stuck somewhere in 2012 pretending beta-Tony Abbott politics is all it needs to get back in," – @amyremeikis.bsky.social in @thenewdaily.bsky.social ⤵️

Great piece from @rossgittins.bsky.social in the SMH today. It references a new report from @richarddenniss.bsky.social on how Australian governments game their climate targets to conceal their lack of climate action. Read: australiainstitute.org.au/report/targe...

The Climate Risk Assessment report predicts 1.5 million Australians will be affected by sea level rise within 25 years. The length of the average mortgage? 30 years. @grogsgamut.bsky.social @elinorjohnstonleek.bsky.social #auspol

Australian artists helped the nation survive the COVID pandemic, but our governments have left them in the lurch. “If people can’t earn a living while making their art, newsflash, there’s not going to be a lot of art.” - Skye Predavec, Anne Kantor Fellow @skyelark.bsky.social #auspol

Donald Trump lashing out at an Australian journalist for asking questions is authoritarian behaviour. "Will Albanese stand up to the White House if they try to stop the ABC from entering, which is what happened in the UK?" - Chief Political Analyst Amy Remeikis @amyremeikis.bsky.social #auspol

"We’re still opening new gas and coal projects. "At the same time, the Government wants a pat on the back for slightly more ambitious domestic targets." - Executive Director Richard Denniss on FIVEAA Mornings @richarddenniss.bsky.social #auspol

“It is truly extraordinary that of the three countries that are party to the deal, Australia – which bears the brunt of both the cost and the risk – is the only one not to have put AUKUS to a genuine review." Petition for an inquiry into AUKUS > theaus.in/AUKUS_inquiry

Jimmy Kimmel axing: "Successful use of the standard authoritarian playbook" @emmashortis.bsky.social joined ABC PM for analysis. #auspol

90% of WA’s gas is exported by mostly foreign owned gas corporations and they pay no PRRT for it. Our governments should fight for the interest of the Australian people, not the gas industry’s profits. @punterspolitics.bsky.social #auspol

"This is very clearly a successful use of the standard authoritarian playbook," said @emmashortis.bsky.social on ABC's PM. "The key becomes how much the Trump administration doubles down on its threats and oppression, and it's given every indication it will continue to do that." #auspol Listen:

The National Climate Risk Assessment includes terrifying predictions for Australia's economy. So why is the government still approving fossil fuel projects? @grogsgamut.bsky.social discusses the impact of climate change on the economy on this Dollars & Sense. #auspol 🎧 theaus.in/4pJZ4A2

As venues close and festivals cancel, our artists and arts sector is in desperate need of support. We've just published a submission with 3 key ideas to save our arts industry. • Culture passes • Book bounty • Remove tax on art prizes & grants We've got five ideas for how to pay for it too. ⤵️

"These submarines will lock us into the warlike activities of nuclear weapon states. "It is a complete repudiation of decades of Australian anti-nuclear weapons policy." - The Hon. Doug Cameron, former Senator for NSW #auspol @dncameron.bsky.social

Jimmy Kimmel’s cancellation is the latest sign we’re witnessing the end of US democracy – @emmashortis.bsky.social, Director of International & Security Affairs Program at the Australia Institute. Read: theconversation.com/jimmy-kimmel...

The PM was proud the 62-70% by 2035 emissions reduction target is in the "sweet spot" where "some will say it's too high, some will say it's too low." Any target would be too high for Barnaby Joyce – what's important is what science demands. It's exactly what Richard wrote about in Dead Centre ⤵️

Australia is so generous to the gas industry that more than half of our gas is being given away to foreign-owned companies. “Japan are buying gas from us and then selling it to other countries and making a buck out of it.” - Richard Denniss, Executive Director @richarddenniss.bsky.social #auspol

The Government just released a climate risk report with terrifying predictions of Australia's future. And it says a lot about its priorities that it waited until after giving final approval to extend a massive gas export project. #auspol @richarddenniss.bsky.social

MEDIA RELEASE: Labor’s 62 to 70% climate target does not align with the science, but can be met by phasing out fossil fuels “A cut of at least 75% cut by 2035 is what was required & it’s a missed opportunity for the govt to show it is serious about climate change," said @richarddenniss.bsky.social.

Nearly all of Australia's 'on paper' emissions reductions come from land use. This is largely because Aus chose 2005 as the baseline year from when 'reduction' starts. In 2005 there was very high land clearing which soon stopped. This is counted as a huge reduction, while polluters keep polluting.

@grogsgamut.bsky.social is back on Dollars & Sense (& wearing a Gladbach hoodie...cus in case he hasn't told you, he's been on holidays in Europe). Episode out today, discussing the wellbeing economy, climate disaster risk & the ICE raid on a Hyundai factory. @elinorjohnstonleek.bsky.social #auspol

"The Pacific has lost patience with Australia," writes @amyremeikis.bsky.social. "This is not new, nor particularly earth-shattering as analysis. But it does pose larger questions for Australia moving forward, as the old ways of doing business with our regional neighbours no longer cut it." #auspol

Kirk's death — a "horrific act of political violence" — is being weaponised to enact a plan of suppression against those considered enemies of Trump & his supporters, explained @emmashortis.bsky.social, via SBS. The call for "widespread retribution" is "straight out of the authoritarian playbook".

What if we taxed the gas industry properly? "We're incredibly generous to the gas industry, most of which is foreign owned. "Norway taxes gas & gives their kids free education. What we do is give the gas away for free & charge our kids a fortune to go to uni." @richarddenniss.bsky.social on ABC ⤵️

"This double whammy in the Pacific is a failure of diplomacy. But the failure of diplomacy is symptomatic of a much deeper set of systemic failures," writes Allan Behm. "Australia’s default foreign policy mindset is a function of two factors: dependence on America and fear of China."

Jimmy Barnes & nearly 40 other artists have joined the call to ditch the proposed cuts at the ANU School of Music. This joins a long list of controversies in Australia's unis recently. It's a result of running unis like a business, explained Richard Dennis: www.canberratimes.com.au/story/905472...

“I can’t stress enough the number of variables that just aren’t included. This is a minimum cost,” – Richard Denniss at estimates re National Climate Risk Assessment. “What you see in that report is the best-case scenario.” via @themandarin.bsky.social ▶️ australiainstitute.org.au/post/devasta...

The costs of climate damages are rising and local government revenue isn’t keeping up. ‘It’s the fossil fuel companies that are causing climate change that should be paying for some of the damage.” - Rod Campbell, Research Director @rodcampbell.bsky.social #auspol

The Australian Government's (bad) excuse for more gas? So that the world will use less coal...🤨 So why is the Australian Government...also approving new coal mines!? 🔊 Executive Director Richard Denniss appearing at the Senate Environment Committee @richarddenniss.bsky.social #auspol

AUKUS ties us ever closer to an increasingly volatile and aggressive America. Add your name to the petition for Australia to conduct an inquiry into AUKUS, something the US and UK are already doing. ✍️ theaus.in/AUKUS_inquiry #auspol

President Trump's scorn for highly respected Australian journalist John Lyons was followed up by an official White House X account branding him a "foreign fake news loser". Our research shows Australians want a more independent foreign policy. #auspol australiainstitute.org.au/post/poll-in...

"We're telling 20 year olds to worry about superannuation they won't get until 2065. "This report is saying there are catastrophic risks coming right now, way before you need your super." 🔊 Executive Director Richard Denniss at the Senate Environment Committee @richarddenniss.bsky.social #auspol

“To say that I care about your security & actually do the very thing that’s actually threatening our security, it does not make sense. We cannot be that stupid,” – Anote Tong, fmr president of Kiribati. Pacific leaders see through the rhetoric & are furious about Australia's fossil fuel expansion.

Australia Institute polling shows that 54% of Australians want a more independent foreign policy over a closer alliance with the US. “This is a really rare opportunity that Trump is giving us, to collectively rethink our security and our safety.” - Emma Shortis @emmashortis.bsky.social #auspol

Our Revenue Summit will feature this fantastic panel to discuss bold solutions to the housing crisis. ⭐️ Josie Lee, Maiy Azize and @purplepingers.bsky.social, hosted by @amyremeikis.bsky.social. Tickets: events.humanitix.com/revenue-summ... #auspol

Lots of calls for moderation and avoiding “extremism” right now. But sometimes extremes are evidence based: take radical action on climate action. If you haven’t read Dead Centre by Richard Denniss yet, time’s a wastin!

This is no time to open up crown land for hunting or allow silencers. But that's what the NSW Government is considering legislation this week with legislation that risks winding back some of the critical laws that have drastically reduced firearm violence in Australia since Port Arthur.

Good piece here about how climate change will affect local communities and councils. It includes our proposal for a National Climate Disaster Fund to pay for the costs of response and recovery – funded by a levy on fossil fuel exports. Our research: australiainstitute.org.au/post/local-g...

"This is a serious, serious attack on our democracy." The government's freedom of information changes "would be a coup that would simply make it so difficult for us to participate," says @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social. #auspol 🎧 theaus.in/41Vrsor

The Government finally released the Climate Risk Assessment report, and it's damning. 1.5 million Australians living on the coastline are under threat of rising sea levels by 2050! But the Govt STILL approved extending the North West Shelf gas project #auspol @richarddenniss.bsky.social

We've signed onto this open letter coordinated by the Gun Safety Alliance. The NSW Conservation Hunting Bill threatens public safety, risks poor animal welfare outcomes, undermines conservation efforts & erodes Australia’s globally respected firearm laws. australiainstitute.org.au/report/submi...

The gas industry provides little benefit to Australians, but they try and distract us from that fact with sponsorships. ‘You can’t criticise them without criticising your favourite sporting team.’ - Konrad from Punter’s Politics @punterspolitics.bsky.social #auspol

It is great news that the Government is proposing changes to the construction code for climate resilience. Our research showed the bogeyman of "red tape" has resulted in many Australian dwellings being poorly insulated and too cold in winter and/or too hot in summer. #auspol Read more in replies