The state of print news competition in Australia is dire, and local and regional news is slowly dying. In a growing and diverse country, this may have horrible consequences for Australian democracy. Read the full report ⤵️ https://theaus.in/4plao5Q

REMINDER Next event in Re-Imagining the ACT governance, Spotlight on Community Councils. What Community Councils, government, other parties and community think their role might be in ACT governance. More at: canberra-alliance.org.au/Activity/. Registration: events.humanitix.com/spotlight-on...

On @thepointau.bsky.social , @benraue.com warns "democracy isn't an optional extra" as local council tries to leave a position vacant for more than two years. Rule change to use countbacks more often could resolve future vacancies. thepoint.com.au/opinions/dem...

fascinating topical issue - have a listen

Join @richarddenniss.bsky.social @amyremeikis.bsky.social in 40 mins for a chat about the historic 2025 election, one year on from Labor's landslide. nb.australiainstitute.org.au/after_the_la...

Voters deserve to know when they’re being misled – but right now, it’s perfectly legal to lie in a political ad in NSW. NSW residents: help restrict lies in political advertising. ✍ Help get this petition to 20,000 so Parliament has to act: www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/parliamentar...

And now, a state byelection in Hastie’s federal electorate?

A billionaire who who gives to charity instead of paying taxes is just a rich person who thinks they know best. A billionaire who buys political influence is an oligarch. https://politicalgadgets.com/

Next event in Re-Imagining the ACT governance, Spotlight on Community Councils. What Community Councils, government, other parties and the community think their role might be in ACT governance. More at: canberra-alliance.org.au/Activity/. Registration: events.humanitix.com/spotlight-on...

Today we mark the National Day of Protest Rights. Protest is crucial to maintaining fair and healthy democracies. Governments have passed anti-protest laws. Without the right to protest we live in an autocracy. Protest as achieved all these benefits. Share to support our right to protest.

100+ Canberrans prioritised ideas to reform the ACT Assembly. Improving effectiveness by having more MLAs Limiting the terms an MLA may have Moving away from a Westminster to a unitary (but not presidential) or other model #democracy #governement Full details: canberra-alliance.org.au/Activity/.

Canberrans have spoken. 50 ideas, 102 people casting 2,964 votes. Join us this Sunday to Co-Design a program of democratic and governance reform for the ACT. Links to the Poll Report and to register for the Co-Design Workshop are both here: canberra-alliance.org.au/activity/

Join the call for a national plebiscite to introduce a 25% gas export tax and help ensure the gas industry pays its fair share. ✍️ Sign the petition: https://theaus.in/4vwhjvi

For the NACC nerds: Submissions to the parliamentary inquiry on the NACC's performance are being published. Some interesting names here:

We have collected ideas for how to reform the ACT Legislative Assembly. Join us for a hands on workshop to collaboratively design a program of democratic and governance reform for the ACT based on the June 15 panel and follow up poll. Register here: bit.ly/4aaxENx

What needs to change for the ACT Legislative Assembly to work better? We heard some ideas. Now we want to collect more. To participate and vote go to canberra-alliance.org.au/activity/ and follow the instructions there.

South Australia has had successful truth in political advertising laws for decades. Australia Institute research shows 89% of NSW residents support truth in political advertising laws! #auspol @browne90.bsky.social

✍️ Join the call for a national plebiscite to introduce a 25% gas export tax! ⤵️ gas-plebiscite.australiainstitute.org.au?utm_campaign...

Fresh #DemocracySausage 🌭🎙️ episode just dropped! Rüçhan Kaya, A/Prof of Political Science @austincollege.bsky.social, joins @markgkenny.bsky.social & @marijataflaga.bsky.social to discuss the drift towards popularism & nationalism in liberal democratic countries. 🎧👉 ausi.anu.edu.au/news/democra...

Mood: Frustrated & polarised. Cynicism about both major parties, lived hardship (housing crisis, welfare), Gaza anger, AI concerns. Users see gotcha politics masking policy vacuum. https://politicalgadgets.com/SocialMedia/bs_pulse/ #auspol 🧵3/3

Will Labor actually address people's unrest or focus more on playing party politics?

The ANAO's audit of ‘Renew ANU’ highlights how much unnecessary damage was done to our national university and its people. I'll keep pushing for reform to ensure that this kind of leadership & governance failure can't happen again. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06...

Join us for a rare and timely conversation with some of the ACT’s most influential political leaders as we reflect on 35 years of self government — and explore what needs to change for the future. More info and registration at: canberra-alliance.org.au/event/worksh...

Clearly an error in this chart (Sky reporting YouGov). All voters figure for "I am glad I voted that way" should be around 71 not 67.

Disability advocates have joined growing calls for a 25 per cent tax on gas exports, arguing the revenue could help protect Australians on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) from cuts to essential supports. Read the full piece on The Point ➡️ https://theaus.in/4ekFl66

Pauline Hanson not wrong that the prime minister can come from the Senate -- even though by convention, PMs are chosen from among House of Reps MPs. Votes and seats, not convention and tradition, still greatest barrier to Hanson prime ministership. live.thepoint.com.au?post=bfe3367...

Parliamentary privilege is a powerful tool. But it escapes the restrictions that all other Australians are subject to, like defamation, hate speech and contempt of court. Parliamentary privilege depends on politicians (and committee witnesses) using it in good faith. thepoint.com.au/opinions/260...

Parties manage contradictions by committing to a shared platform, dangling promotion as reward for discipline, and keeping disputes private. Community independents represent new forms of organisation – with their own contradictions. On @thepointau.bsky.social thepoint.com.au/opinions/260...

Next level. Worth reading. Pondering. Reading again. To escape the Master's House Take useful things Run barefoot in the grass Build a new being of the Universe, all together

A conversation with former ACT political leaders to reflect on self government and what needs to change for our future. #governance #Canberra #democracy More info and registration at: canberra-alliance.org.au/event/worksh...

“We’re in this ridiculous situation where as one of the biggest gas exporters in the world, we have the Petroleum Resources Rent Tax collecting less revenue than beer tax,” Senator Pocock said. “This needs to change." Read the full piece on The Point ➡️ https://theaus.in/3PCwdjF

Mood: pronounced disillusionment with Albanese Labor on foreign policy & climate. Left-leaning discourse sees govt as status-quo enabler. 83 engagements on coal critique alone. https://politicalgadgets.com/SocialMedia/bs_pulse/ #auspol 🧵3/3

g'day Some thoughts about the up-coming discussion about Reimagining Governance in the ACT by Genevieve Jacobs, long time CAPaD supporter. Find out more on the CAPaD Activities and Events pages. Article here: region.com.au/is-the-westm...

As UK Labour has been surprisingly slow to remember, voters elect centre-left parties to undertake economic reform and strengthen social justice. Otherwise, what’s the point of them?

“Gas that is exported from this country should be paid for by the gas companies that export it. "And a 25% gas export tax is the way to go. "Australians deserve a fair return." – Senator David Pocock ✍️ Sign to support a 25% gas export tax ➡️ https://theaus.in/4dkPcsp

“Taxing wealth fairly is not just important for the economy, it’s important for our democracy. As the federal budget approaches, we’re about to hear a lot about what Australia ‘can’t afford’,” writes Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director of The Australia Institute. Read more: https://theaus.in/48Exhds

By way of coda

Mood: Angry & disillusioned. Left-leaning exhaustion dominates; cynical resignation mixed with urgent reform demands. Engagement: 19. https://politicalgadgets.com/SocialMedia/bs_pulse/ #auspol 🧵3/3

Most viral take: Govt keeps doing the same thing, expects gratitude. Carl Sagan's quote resonated—'A government's first responsibility is to its people.' Users calling it shameful, describing policy as mere tinkering rather than reform. 🧵2/3

Mood: Deeply frustrated & fractured. Left angry at Labor; widespread distrust of both majors. Sentiment: disillusioned, activist-oriented. https://politicalgadgets.com/SocialMedia/bs_pulse/ #auspol 🧵3/3

Sorry - my bad, next week Tuesday, May 5th.

Reminder - this tuesday (tomorrow) Is direct democracy possible? Sociocracy is a way. A conversation between Peter Tait , CAPaD, and Yolanda van Gellecum of Co-operative Bonds and NENA. Register here: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

May 5th Sociocracy Conversation Event reminder. Registration: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

For a complementary look at why Australia gives gas away cheaply, see Matt Bevin at www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxwX...

NSW's expanded police powers, brought in on Christmas Eve, are unconstitutional under the freedom of political communication that all Australians enjoy. If protest didn't work, they wouldn't try so hard to ban it. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04...

I have problems with the details, but I strongly recommend reading Scott Alexander's original piece because it teases out real but usually unspoken differences in political approach, strategy and mindset: slatestarcodex.com/2018/01/24/c...

Draws on @astralcodexten.com.web.brid.gy "mistake theory versus conflict theory", i.e. can we find win–win solutions to the evils of the world or do these problems exist because powerful people benefit from them? On @thepointau.bsky.social thepoint.com.au/opinions/260...

"Don't think for a minute you don't have power... don't think for a minute you can't make change." - Richard Denniss. See more from the Climate Integrity Summit here: https://australiainstitute.org.au/event/climate_integrity_summit_2025/

GenZ voters want parliamentarians who will fight for them not fiddle at the edges. Kos Samaras looks into this at redbridgeintel.substack.com/p/from-caret...

This coming Thursday evening, I’m running a session for the Degrowth Network Australia on Direct Action as a path to Degrowth (and broad economic, social and political transformation) Register here: events.humanitix.com/strategy-wor...