BENDIGO WRITERS FESTIVAL EXCLUSIVE: La Trobe Uni pressured #Bendigo Council to send the infamous code of conduct to participants, according to those at a council-run roundtable. Council confirmed to us it sent the code with specific additions at La Trobe Uni’s request. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...

Wish they’d stop pushing the misleading claim that it was only (lol) a $4.1m upgrade.

what total depravity from the perpetrators of the abuse right up to Netanyahu who blames the “reputational damage” on the woman who leaked the video

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Well fuck

Congratulations @squigglyrick.bsky.social on being shortlisted for the 2025 Walkley Book award for Mean Streak. I'm sure you'd prefer not to have had to write it, but your forensic examination of Robodebt hell means a lot to many. #booksky

New literature review from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet says the government is "manifesting" stigma via the mutual obligations system 🤷 www.pmc.gov.au/news/stigma-...

Feel like I've been writing about new BoM website for 3 years now (because I have, and it is even later than that) but covering the go-live of the new site for this weekend's paper. I've learned some stuff. If you know more, internally or as a user I'm: [email protected]

Genuinely what the FUCK is wrong with these people. The publishing people, the two Australian directors, everyone else. Between this and the (related) fascism capitulations one learns a lot about the fragility of the human brain.

On my newsletter: it’s harder to steal My heart than jewels from the Louvre but people have tried during my weakest moments, such as during a John Farnham song at karaoke. rick-morton.ghost.io/down-the-bar...

The dishonesty around the use of Robodebt in prosecuting the government’s Freedom of Information secrecy drive is galling in the extreme. I set out some facts that deflate the specious claims being used as cover. www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/comment/topi...

My mum and her friend both texted to assure they knew it wasn’t me that robbed the Louvre because I don’t know how to use an angle grinder.

I remember getting this game with a box of Coco Pops and it awakened something in me: turning my enemies into sheep.

“And while I would love to continue splitting hairs about whether a country starving kids is better or worse if the kids are already sick let’s just table that discussion for when I see you in hell.” 🔥

Federal agents aren’t trying to keep the peace. They want violence to escalate so that Trump can declare martial law. They shot a reverend in the head with pepper balls while he was praying in front of an ICE facility. If that doesn’t tell you where we are as a country, nothing will.

Thank you! I do find with this story more than anything else it’s the details that really make you see it for the conspiracy it was. And so I did not pull back from those details.

The man bent over his guitar, A shearsman of sorts. The day was green. They said, "You have a blue guitar, You do not play things as they are." The man replied, "Things as they are, Are changed upon the blue guitar." Plus ça change! My newsletter: rick-morton.ghost.io/a-new-three-...

to be fair to him, he was far from alone in this

De Brouwer made the exact same argument two years ago after the Robodebt Royal Commission report was delivered. This is how I treated it in Mean Streak: "Grow up."

I am convinced that no one else in the world can sit like a Frenchman. It is a way of being, mastered and deployed with the confidence of a people who have been sitting for thousands of years. I think it might have something to do with all the statues. rick-morton.ghost.io/a-new-three-...

The NDIS algorithm is on the way, and no they don't want you giving them any evidence about your disability. In fact, they are going to make it next to impossible. www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/health/...

“We’d like to talk to you about your vehicle’s extended warranty.”

It's almost uncouth at this point, but the Walkley Book Award longlist has been announced and Mean Streak is on there with seven other incredible titles. Pity the judges whittling that down to a shortlist of three. www.walkleys.com/2025-walkley...

add it to the list

the army connections continue

Re-sharing this just for the pullquote, waking up in Paris early mornings and doing five interviews in a row before coffee leads to even less of a filter than usual

What a ride. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...

University of Technology Sydney ordered a spreadsheet from KPMG targeting individual academics by research income, which might contravene the bargaining agreement. They repeatedly denied it even existed for several info requests. But that wasn't true. www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/educati...

the only clash this guy has seen is in the pattern between his shirts and ties

A Man v The Times a memoir

Good morning!! Here's my latest for @crikey.com.au -> one of the reasons the CCA weakened its climate target suggestions is the possibility of uncontrolled data centre growth. I found the lobbyists already working to sell them as 'climate solutions' in Aus ---->>>>>

'God, having kept a few of his belongings in the storage shed of my soul, turned the locker over to the sharks at Storage War$ and fled'. Writing about possibly the happiest/most stressful moment I've had since living in Paris. Newsletters can be fun! rick-morton.ghost.io/a-gladiator-...

How fitting his mum’s name is sue. Another failed attempt to sue. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Absolutely fighting for my life outside a primary school in Paris trying to return a ball to the kids who kicked it over the Jurassic Park sized playground fence. Also: some shortlist admin and world is fuky. My newsletter this week. Sign up, si tu aimes. rick-morton.ghost.io/a-gladiator-...

I went down to try out the toughest spot kit in France: The Lucarne d'Evry. It's a 43-centimetre window to a bin room in the Parisian banlieue that became a viral challenge and then a national competition. It's also a way to celebrate a forgotten side of France. observer.co.uk/news/interna...

I'm always glad to see @squigglyrick.bsky.social take on the absolute mess that is university governance www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/educati...

Read Mean Streak by @squigglyrick.bsky.social It is a great and detailed account of the #Robodebt debacle.

Ezra Klein really is a fucking pikelet isnt he

Bishop needs to go as well. There is no sensible governance arrangement where she gets to lead appointing a new VC. A new Chancellor / Chair and then a deep breath followed by a proper process to appoint a new VC / CEO needed. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...

Perfect photo for the circumstances

nine ate seven

By her own definition, with apologies to Douglas Adams, she should now have her office funding cut and disappear in a puff of logic

had any higher court been possible BRS might have kicked someone off of it, so probably for the best he stops here

Being the Special Envoy for Antisemitism and refusing to address nazis is like being the Special Envoy for Black Lung Disease refusing to address coal. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

So much I could say about the Robodebt Class Action re-settlement. But I am tired and in another time zone and will simply leave this here instead.

Newsletterin' again. 'Salamander are well known for regenerating limbs and tails but some can also re-grow vital internal organs including the heart which means – unique in all the animal kingdom – salamanders have never invented country and western music.' rick-morton.ghost.io/makes-the-he...

I’m sure this point has been made elsewhere but not only did they openly lie about how many recommendations were in the robodebt final report, the one they erased was to reform FOI and now they’re heading in the opposite direction. Surprise is not a feature of my reaction.

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As govt prepares to remove children from the NDIS, the agency in charge of the scheme has been torn to shreds by the administrative review tribunal for breaking the law, 'repeated non-compliance' and conduct that constitutes contempt. A pattern emerges. www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politic...