Sam Neill – a life in pictures

Private actors are increasing their control over the essentials of life in energy, fuel, housing, food, healthcare & education. They drive inflation & drag down living standards. We need price controls & more public delivery to protect Australia from inflation & profiteering. My op-ed with SMH.

The money supply is two to three times larger than 2008. The problem is, it's not circulating. It's parking at the top while the bottom of the economy bleeds out with weak hiring and frozen housing. That's not a shortage. That's a distribution problem. Watch the full video: youtu.be/gGL-2C8HNhI

“Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese has said China’s weapons test ……….. fired on Monday capable of causing “considerable damage” if weaponised.” Hello ?… AUKUS? The Australian PM is an idiot. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...

On March 26, 2026, during a debate on violence against women in Germany’s Bundestag, left-wing MP Kathrin Gebel was repeatedly interrupted by AfD MP Martin Reichardt. She responded: “Mr. Reichardt, the clitoris has 3,000 nerve endings, and you’re still more sensitive. That’s quite an achievement.”

Utility boss warns US faces blackouts due to power supply shortfall ft.trib.al/OYX3FMs

Today in Politics, Bulletin 406. Everything you need to know about what happened today in politics. open.substack.com/pub/meidasto...

‘The effect of the AI build-out on prices could be fundamentally different from either the tariffs that were put in place last year or this year’s jump in fuel prices. Both tariffs and oil are one-time shocks. AI is a shock to demand that could persist for years.’ www.wsj.com/economy/the-...

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni fired back after Trump doubled down on his attacks, telling him that his “constant, unprovoked attacks are senseless” Meloni: “My popularity is none of your concern. I suggest you focus on yours.”

How many alarms need to ring? “Any clinician knows that silencing the monitor does not stabilize the patient. It only ensures that no one hears the alarm. A government that did not expect to find damage would not work this hard to avoid looking for it.” www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Govt rarely discloses their project cost estimates because they say it would “prejudice them commercially”. Yet publicly listed companies 👇 announce their project budgets to the world at large through the stock market👇. Our Govt engages in secrecy for secrecy’s sake 😈. #auspol #NoAccountability

The Barefoot Investor has backed the proposed changes to the capital gains tax discount and negative gearing! He says, 'the system lets wealthy families with good accountants pay less tax than nurses and tradies.' And he's right! @mattgrudnoff.bsky.social #auspol

I just watched a Babylon 5 episode 3.05 Voices of Authority where a political officer is sent to the space station. The political officer’s instructions match the Project 2025 manifesto almost word for word. Any criticism of the leaders will not be tolerated.

“Tony Abbott backs One Nation preference deal and says Liberals can’t just be a ‘little less woke than Labor’” There we have it, Tony Abbott is and always has been a One Nation admirer and fervent believer in far right wing culture wars. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

“.. Mr. Pelley sent a statement to The Times that assailed the new leadership of CBS News, writing that ‘incompetence and unprofessionalism in the new management have wreaked havoc’ at the network. He added, ‘The collapse of values at the top has become untenable.’” www.nytimes.com/2026/06/02/b...

“US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has declared that the Trump administration will not let China impose "hegemony" on the region” The utter hypocrisy of the above is exposed by US threats on Greenland, Cuba and Canada, the war in Iran, Venezuela and open seas murders. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05...

“.. pumping the brakes in a way that could complicate AI’s triumphal march across the economy.” @wsj.com www.wsj.com/tech/ai/corp...

Political parties need to tread very carefully when railing against something driven by investment from business and consumers. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05...

Abolish the PRRT is bad enough but the proposal is a joke. “Under the proposal, the government would offer companies a 30% rebate on the cost of exploration in commonwealth waters in exchange for taking an equity stake of up to 30% in the operation.” www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

There is going to be a LOT of bullshit about trusts. So let's keep our eye on the ball. Bugger all people use them. But millionaires do and they get a LOT of income through them And they do that because they can avoid paying tax.

Well worth a read: @jasonfurman.bsky.social gives a balanced and thoughtful appreciation of Jay Powell (and let's a little inside gossip sneak out along the way). www.nytimes.com/2026/05/14/o... (gift link)

Owner of Australia’s most successful big #battery developer says storage costs have plunge 65-70 pct in last two years, and are solving the #grid’s biggest problems.. https://reneweconomy.com.au/they-solve-the-problem-leading-storage-developer-says-battery-costs-have-plunged-70-pct-in-two-years/

‘The worst time for wheat’: US farmers face losses to extreme heat and drought: Temperature swings have left crops across the Plains in terrible conditions, with some farmers opting not to harvest Merrill Nielsen’s wheat crop looked healthy after he planted it in the fall on his 2,500-acr...

Trump wanted a war with Iran because he thought Americans would rally around a war president and it would drive his poll numbers up. It did the opposite. So thousands of lives & billions of dollars were wasted, and the price you pay for gas is significantly higher, because Donald Trump is an idiot.

Sorry ABC - 8m are not on "income support". My fact check for @thepointau.bsky.social thepoint.com.au/factchecks/2...

Michele Bullock thinks real wage growth falling after COVID was a good thing and she's worried they might go up this time. Brain dead belief that it is always 1979. Please resign and get someone who is not an RBA lifer. live.thepoint.com.au

Michael Pascoe askes Bullock how unemployment of 4% has been pretty consistent for a few year snow, so shouldn't that be the aim. She replies she wants unemployment "in the fours". 4.9% is a long way from 4.0%, Michele.

The Trump administration will be a case study in stupidity and environmental vandalism on a global scale in the future, if there is free thought and study that is. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

@vanlathan.bsky.social went to DC for the Correspondents' Dinner, watched people who act like mortal enemies on TV laugh and pal around together, and told CNN exactly what he saw. They never cut back to him. Funny how that works. Watch the full video: youtu.be/_7qFbU90ECk

Politicians like to frame their legacy in terms of achievement, I can think of nothing better than increasing the wealth of Australia (gas tax increase) and a strong NDIS. But that won’t happen. ‘Not the right time'? Safety first is just not enough www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/politic...

The opposition leader, Angus Taylor, has called for welcome to country remarks to be used less often, saying he is frustrated they have been “devalued” by “overuse”. What like ANZAC day is now spread across 5 days as opposed to the traditional 1 day or Xmas sales begin months before Xmas.

Private credit is like plumbing behind the drywall — the water still flows, but you lose the gauges. You might not notice the slow leak until the ceiling stains appear. That's the trade-off worth understanding.

Despite the advice and evidence for increasing the gas tax, the public support and benefits the ALP still won’t do what’s right. So disappointing but this is now pretty much the standard outcome of govt actions or inactions. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04...

“Just do it, and stop the crap.” 💥🔥 You can see why gas giants are worried. When the guy who wrote the book on Australian tax reform calls for a 25% gas export tax this bluntly, it would be gross negligence for the government to ignore it. Thank you, Ken Henry. #auspol

This is rather shocking. But yes - Japan has a gas import tax australiainstitute.org.au/post/japanes...

Larissa Waters asks former Treasury chief Ken Henry if it’s too simplistic to say wartime gas profits from the war on Iran can either go to Australians, or to overseas investors & shareholders. Henry “That’s not simplistic, that’s how it is!” “It is as simple as that.” 💥 #auspol

New Australia Institute research shows that the Japanese Government makes more revenue taxing Australian gas than the Australian Government! "They're taxing our gas. There's no reason we can't." @richarddenniss.bsky.social #auspol

This made me laugh “"I was in prison but you almost got there," Anwar joked to Donald Trump last year in front of the media” www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04...

Angus Taylor. Liberal Party Leader. Australian Opposition Leader. @cathywilcox.bsky.social cartoon today is absolutely outstanding. 🏆 Why don't journalists call him out on these facts?! #auspol #immigration #racism #Gaza

Dug into the ugly new inflation prints and paired it with San Fran Fed report on tariff inflation for the latest @meidastouch.com piece. Rocky road ahead of us. Again... entirely self-inflicted. Just wild.

In France, legislation came into effect recently for all car parks that have over 80 spaces to be covered with solar panels. Estimated to add around 11GW of renewable energy capacity to the national grid. Why not do likewise in Scotland? Braehead, Silverburn, Glasgow Fort etc.

All politicians in Australia should read this before opening their mouths about drilling in Australia. I like the bit that says we gave away our bargaining chip with LNG to leverage oil. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04...

Excellent, broad-focus piece by @iandunt.bsky.social about the mammoth achievement by Hungarians in toppling Orbàn, the template he created that was adopted by the global far-right (including Trumpist America), and the stupendous significance for democracy. open.substack.com/pub/iandunt/...

Oil, gas, fertiliser, helium and other resources are about to increase in price and experience shortages world wide because of one old demented fool. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04...

“JD Vance says talks failed due to Iran’s refusal to give up nuclear programme” Trump walked away from a nuclear deal with Iran in 2019 where Iran would give up nuclear material, a deal that paid Iran a lot less as well. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...

The conflict in the Middle East is lacking in details on all sides. Israel has damaged its own intelligence assessments and the USA seemingly has ignored its own intelligence. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04...

“You know what's a war crime? Allowing a sick country with demented leadership to have a nuclear weapon”, he (Trump) added. Every accusation is a confession www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04...

“Since retaking office last January, Trump has granted presidential pardons to dozens of people convicted of white-collar crimes, including several individuals who were convicted of fraud.” The mid terms are under threat but from the White House. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

He probably just wants to make sure that future Presidents — of all political parties — are comfortable. 🤡 @politico.com www.politico.com/news/2026/04...

🚨 🚨 ABC News confirms that Iran used advanced, passive infrared detection to shoot down the American F-15E fighter jet. Passive infrared detection does not emit radar signals. As a result, it cannot be detected or jammed by American electronic warfare systems. That leaves our aircraft vulnerable.