Meanwhile my local paper isn't pulling punches when it comes to world events vis-a-vis the oil industry.

ABC24 has rolled Scott Prasser out to comment on the RC; he has just intoned that Virginia Bell's inquiry into Morrison's secret cabinet ministries found that "he did nothing wrong, by the way", which is .... uh .... not what her inquiry found. It's going to be a long 2026

No Adelaide Writers Week for me. I can’t in any good conscience now appear at a festival seeking to mute a very necessary public conversation … Randa Abdel-Fattah is an important voice. Here’s something I published from her on, guess what, Palestinian marginalisation. meanjin.com.au/latest/the-g...

If it’s safe to leave, leave now. If VIC Emergency suggests you should leave, please leave

Leave Cathy alone - one of this nation's greatest, bravest 'toonists in these difficult times Or come after me too, you fuckers!

As a former Director of Adelaide Writers' Week I am appalled that the Adelaide Festival Board has rescinded Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah's invitation to the 2026 AWW, explicitly linking its decision to the shattering crimes in Bondi.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.

Well, I was going to be on a panel at the Adelaide Writers' Festival but I'm not any more.

The point is that, while criminal proceedings are on foot, a royal commission can't look at anything to do with the Bondi shootings or the shooters, including why and how they did it, that is it can't touch on the subject that is its sole reason for being established. It will achieve nothing.

Following the decision from the Board of the Adelaide Festival, The Australia Institute is withdrawing its support from this year’s literary festival. Here is our statement, and a personal one from me.

This is just the start of the backlash

😵😵😵 "The executive director of Sweltering Cities, Emma Bacon, has been lobbying the government to suspend mutual obligations for jobseekers amid the heatwave. The team visited a Services Australia in Brunswick on Wednesday to measure the temperature at nearby public transport stops...

This is ridiculous and offensive

Intriguing reporting from Nine here - the objection to former High Court justice Virginia Bell to lead the royal commission apparently relates to a previous decision where she upheld the democratic right to protest www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...

Sort of gives away what this is all about doesn’t it.

Absolutely disgraceful from the Adelaide Festival. I hope other participants reconsider their part in it.

Had anything like this happened before in Australia? A Royal Commissioner appointed through negotiation with bad-faith actors, details leaked out via extremist activists journalists?

what a farce

The campaign has seamlessly pivoted from demanding the royal commission to demanding the right to handpick the commissioner, next will be the demand to dictate the terms of reference.

Albanese can’t win. Surprised he hasn’t figured this out yet.

Over the holiday period, I finally set up on newsletter publishing platform Ghost to escape Substack for a variety of reasons, but mainly the ongoing presence of white nationalists on the platform. First post will drop next Tuesday and then every second week, or thereabouts.

Jacob Frey: "To ICE -- get the fuck out of Minneapolis"

Media outlets will probably never stop presenting the deadly impacts of fossil fuels as delightful fun:

The ABC going strong with their ‘extreme heat illustrated as a fun day out at the beach’ series. The reality is a lot more serious for most. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...

Governments have got a nerve, "warning" citizens. If governments eliminated fossil fuel companies, they'd be doing something responsible. Instead, their neglect of their duty to protect citizens is reprehensible.

Yup. I used to assess applications from charities for community funding. Those big in-your-face mainstream charities completely lost all trust and respect from me. Since then i donate to small (lean and nosy like a ferrett) charities. Sometimes i donate to eg admin not covered by tax rebate.

Stop deliberately killing people. Stop deliberately hurting people. ALL people. No one should feel intimidated to say this and no one should be attacked for saying this. Stop it. Enough. #auspol

I’ve been involved in fundraising events. A crucial questions to put this in context are: How much does the Pink Test cost? Does the SCG make money? Do TV stations charge for coverage? Are the cricketers paid for their support? How much does CA donate? Are there rights obligations to be paid?

What @deniseshrivell.bsky.social means to say is that none of these are associated with #NewsCorpse #NeinNews #7StokesDivision #theirABC Four good reasons to recommend them ;-) #auspol

If you're like me and have not watched MSM news since Bondi because of the blatant propaganda for the Zionist lobby, the Trump regime and the owners of the Coalition and One Nation MPs. Sign up and share True North. Read from actual journalists not paid stenographers.

nickfeik.substack.com/p/weaponisin... This analysis from Nick Feik is profound especially as there is talk of the PM caving to a shameless campaign

Of course we should support increased awareness and care for women with breast cancer - but surely we should also be clear eyed about the funding of one of its major charities - and this is cause for great concern #auspol > www.thenewdaily.com.au/opinion/2024...

Your very regular reminder to support Australia's excellent independent news media publishers, journalists and commentators - and one way to do this is to sign up to and share TrueNorth #auspol > truenorthnews.substack.com

Well done. Possums are very prone to heat stress so a gentle reminder for those who may not know, offer possums water in a bowl. Please don’t try to put a bottle of water to their mouths, the water can end up in their lungs.

Love John Howard not being able to reach.

Even if Trump invades Greenland, which now seems likely, few if any states will recognise US sovereignty over territory acquired by conquest. There is a doctrine for this - it's called the Stimson Doctrine, named after US Secretary of State Harry L Stimson. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

ICYMI- yesterday's #Trump cartoon for @australia.theguardian.com

Why are the legacy political parties in Canberra so resolutely pledging allegiance to a now meaningless alliance? When will they admit Australia’s interests are best served by distancing ourselves from a failed US state? Just some of questions I’d be asking if I were still an editor.

If the US moves on Greenland - controlled by NATO’s Denmark - how would its alliance partners react? Where does Australia stand on AUKUS against a Washington gone rogue? With the US trashing international law and its own constitution, at what point do the US joint chiefs of staff move on Trump? 1/2

Please put some water out in a shaded spot today for our wildlife 🙏🙏🙏 #auspol

Grass roots. My @smh cartoon.

So many of us are yearning for strong, decent, uncompromising leadership. I know you’re out there. Hurry up 🙌🙌 #auspol

Kym Davey and me today on why a Bondi royal commission is not needed Rethinking the call for a royal commission after Bondi johnmenadue.com/post/2026/01...

My sister’s contribution.

congratulations again to the Oslo-based Nobel Peace Prize committee

In Australia international corporations get huge subsidies from the Australian taxpayer. Relatively few jobs. No real resource tax. We pay global prices for a local resource because #auspol “forgot” to mandate a reserve kept for local market. (Small, partial reserve for the Western Aus market.)

Albo is going to give into them. #auspol

I will happily sign

So the next salvo is from ex-Labor politicians. Huge groundswell. 22 of them! Some overlap with the previous eminent sporting greats. Basically if you can muster a quorum you’ve got front page coverage guaranteed. Get in line! A clear majority (of a small vocal minority) want this.

Listen!! @davidshoebridge.bsky.social seems to be one of the few Australian politicians who’s speaking up for us. We really need to see decide our arrangements with #PineGap, #AUKUS etc #auspol

Excellent post on Insta re Australia's ABC News leaving out so much context in its reporting of Trump's illegal, unsanctioned attack on Venezuela and the kidnapping of their president. Credit: @mssingcontext.bsky.social #USA #Venezuela #journalism