Some thoughts from me on fascism and Australian history. Including multiple perspectives in the national story is not woke, it is what democracy looks like. aristotlesaustralia.substack.com/p/fascism-an...

I don't follow Elon on X but on the odd occasion I still log in, I always see the latest thing he has posted. To be honest, I find it sad as much as anything.

What happens to Indigenous history in a post truth world? open.substack.com/pub/aristotl...

This was a pleasure to edit. The papers come from the wonderful histories of northern and regional Australia stream at the AHA conference this year. Thanks to all the talented contributors.

Uber driver picking me up from campus: so what do you study? Me, choking back tears: thank you 🙏

It was a pleasure to deliver the keynote for the Australian Independent Schools History Symposium. My talk was titled, is real history possible in an era of fake news. You can read it here. aristotlesaustralia.substack.com/p/is-real-hi...

Publication day! New issue of the Australian Studies Journal is open access. It was a pleasure to guest edit this special issue on histories of northern Australia. The articles come from papers presented at the 2025 AHA co-hosted by CQUniversity and JCU. australienstudien.org/australian-s...

My new website is live! It's a work in progress, with lots I still want to do, but after many years my last site became completely non-functional so this is the first step: mikejonesonline.com #archives #history #historian #consultant #GLAM #academia #website

Hear! Hear! Dr Holbrook 👏 theconversation.com/the-australi...

Wonderful outcome but this national treasure never should have been under threat.

a huge day for the ANU and the @nteuact.bsky.social campaign to stop forced redundancies in the college of arts and social sciences and the college of science and medicine. This is genuinely an incredible result! share.google/ORnkjimiuQiK...

In Canberra next week? Come along and celebrate the launch of Playtime 🧸 Delighted to have Play School actress & singer Justine Clarke launch the book! 🗓️ 22 September, 6pm 📍 ANU Harry Hartog

MUP claims that it is closing Meanjin on "purely financial grounds", yet it also asserts "the journal is not for sale"? They would rather it end and receive $0 than let somebody acquire it for $$? Truly, one of the most shameful episodes in Australia's cultural life is unfolding

"If the ANU is not committed to research that tells the Australian story then well may we ask, what is the point of a national university?" theconversation.com/the-anu-was-...

I wrote for Crikey about the decision to shut Meanjin down - and to sever a connection to a hopeful progressive vision of Australian culture

I don't fall into the extreme camps that see generative AI as either the end of the humanities or its saviour. That said, I would never use AI in any of my writing and would request my name be taken off any joint paper that uses it. Imperfect, and frequently with typos, my voice is my own.

"Despite my role in authoring a hybrid model, I am increasingly convinced that a direct-election model has the best chance of passing the high bar of a referendum." A mea culpa of sorts from me and a concise history of the Republic debate in Australia. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

ANU School of History invites applications for a PhD scholarship to research the Communist Party of Australia, 1970-91. The project continues the work of the late Prof Stuart Macintyre and is valued at AU$100,000 over a four year period. programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/program/9520... #phavictas

Chancel Culture, David Pope

Help us reach our target of 5000 signatures - please sign and share!

A shoutout to all the academics who are also working 9 to 9, 24/7 👩‍💻

Labor's bill to cut HECS debts by 20%, which passed this morning, leaves unchanged the structural inequalities built into tertiary education through Job-Ready Graduates. Sign our petition calling for the repeal of this destructive and unfair policy here: www.openpetition.org/au/petition/...

'The independent member for Kooyong, Dr Monique Ryan, will this week table an amendment to the student debt bill to reverse the JRG package and change the timing of Hecs/Help indexation until after prepayments are made.' #highered #auspol #academicsky

And it’s not just writers: comedians, business leaders, academics, musicians and chefs have signed our letter:

More than 100 high-profile and distinguished Australians -and BA graduates- have signed the @austhistassoc.bsky.social open letter calling for the repeal of Job-Ready Graduates: a policy that punishes humanities students with life-changing debts: www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Worried about AI imitating people's voices? They had similar concerns in 1893: "When the Phonograph comes into general use in his country, a new law will be wanted ... There are some excellent mimics, who might do great mischief by imitating one's voice in the Phonograph."

The problem is ANU leadership applied these strategies like they’re running BHP, not a university.

I’ve learned there are basically only three ultimate truths of university faculty life: 1. No, you did not miss anything important at that meeting 2. You will be told that your successes somehow, paradoxically, complicate your tenure case 3. If you do not take up space, space will be taken from you

"Professor Parry has defended the Change Proposals by stating that the ADB could easily have been cut altogether. She appears to regard the ADB as an academic unit within the gift of the dean rather than as a collaborative national institution" inside.org.au/the-jewel-in...

A few thoughts from me on the Australian Citizenship Test. aristotlesaustralia.substack.com/p/whats-miss...

here's my academic hot take: it is not/should not be the responsibility of individual departments (especially in the humanities) to solve enrollment problems

This is a national disgrace.

getting in an arms race with LLMs over em-dashes by using dashes so long ——— so very long ——— that they have never appeared in training data

It's nice to be appreciated ❤️ #OzHA2025 #AHA2025

For 30 years I've been experimenting with ways to see & use the online collections of libraries, archives & museums. I've made useful things, playful things, & weird things. Here's a big list of them for you to explore! https://wraggelabs.com #glam #histodons #digitalhumanities

Presentations finished, but #AHA2025 @austhistassoc.bsky.social still “Looking up”!! Birdwatching tour with Russell McGregor on town common

#AHA2025 @austhistassoc.bsky.social in Townsville officially complete with last minute salt water croc spotting on the Friday arvo. Thanks everyone for all the inspiration and see you next year at Macquarie!

That's a wrap on #OzHA2025 thanks everyone for four wonderful days of rich intellectual exchange and warmest congratulations to all our prize winners. It's been a genuine pleasure for @CQU to work with @jcu to cohost this great event. See you in Sydney next year! #AHA2025

This was before Lyndon broke into song…!!!

A funny, insightful, and much to the delight of the audience, musical keynote from Lyndon Megarrity. His love for Townsville shines through. #AHA2025 #OzHA2025

A revised version of an old essay from me that also appears as 1 of 3 commentaries (others by Robert Manne and Alex McDermott) in a terrific new collection, edited by Chris Feik, from La Trobe University Press: John Hirst: Selected Writings. Discounted copy available: inside.org.au/a-political-...

Henry Reynolds' keynote #AHA2025 was brilliant, funny and direct - and an inspiration for everyone @jcuofficial.bsky.social and @austhistassoc.bsky.social . Big thanks!!! Also to @frankbongiorno.bsky.social for terrific moderation and introduction.

Our 4th 'Studies in North Queensland History' retrospective on the occasion of @austhistassoc.bsky.social #AHA2025 @jcucase.bsky.social @jcuofficial.bsky.social is @frankbongiorno.bsky.social on 'North Queensland separatism in the nineteenth century' jculibrarynews.blogspot.com/2025/06/a-vi...

I've been struck by how heartfelt the introductions have been at this conference. Love to see such sincere collegiality. A beautiful tribute to our final keynote Lyndon Megarrity from Claire Brennan. #AHA2025 #OzHA2025

Day 3 done and dusted 💪 #OzHA2025 #AHA2025