Dr Blair Williams
@blairwilliams26.bsky.social
Award-winning academic. Lecturer in AusPol. Research examines the gendered media coverage of women in politics. Also loves craft. #feminist #disabilityactivist #unionist #craftivist TEDx speaker 🏳️🌈
Canberra/Naarm
Canberra/Naarm
Pinned
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My Daggy Dads and State Daddies paper has officially been published!
This paper has everything - Diggers,Larrakins, Battlers, Daggy Dads, State Daddies, thirst traps, glow ups and more!
You can access the article (for free!) using this link:
#AusPol
This paper has everything - Diggers,Larrakins, Battlers, Daggy Dads, State Daddies, thirst traps, glow ups and more!
You can access the article (for free!) using this link:
#AusPol
Reposted by Dr Blair Williams
#Victorians! Our State Library is being trashed by a series of executives with no experience or understanding of public collections. Many hired as 'temps' without full process, who then caused scandals & exodus of specialist & librarian staff: a full wreck looms. www.theage.com.au/national/vic...
State Library proposes major cuts to staff and services
The library plans halve the number of reference librarians it employs and reduce the number of computers available for public use in a move that has outraged staff.
www.theage.com.au
November 22, 2025 at 12:05 AM
#Victorians! Our State Library is being trashed by a series of executives with no experience or understanding of public collections. Many hired as 'temps' without full process, who then caused scandals & exodus of specialist & librarian staff: a full wreck looms. www.theage.com.au/national/vic...
Oh I'm so ready for @auspsa.bsky.social this week!
Want to know more about how political leaders use women's magazines to build political legitimacy? And you'll be at APSA?
Then come to my session, Gender and sexuality 2, 1.30 PM – 3.00pm 25th November, Room: PAR-149-L1-124.
#AusPol #APSA2025
Want to know more about how political leaders use women's magazines to build political legitimacy? And you'll be at APSA?
Then come to my session, Gender and sexuality 2, 1.30 PM – 3.00pm 25th November, Room: PAR-149-L1-124.
#AusPol #APSA2025
November 23, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Oh I'm so ready for @auspsa.bsky.social this week!
Want to know more about how political leaders use women's magazines to build political legitimacy? And you'll be at APSA?
Then come to my session, Gender and sexuality 2, 1.30 PM – 3.00pm 25th November, Room: PAR-149-L1-124.
#AusPol #APSA2025
Want to know more about how political leaders use women's magazines to build political legitimacy? And you'll be at APSA?
Then come to my session, Gender and sexuality 2, 1.30 PM – 3.00pm 25th November, Room: PAR-149-L1-124.
#AusPol #APSA2025
Amid writing my op-eds, I spoke to SBS News about the new women state Liberal leaders:
"The party is crumbling around Australia ... One leader can't change everything, and nor should we expect women leaders to change everything."
#AusPol
"The party is crumbling around Australia ... One leader can't change everything, and nor should we expect women leaders to change everything."
#AusPol
'Crisis of identity': Why state Liberals aren't following Sussan Ley on net zero
Liberal Party leadership spills in NSW and Victoria have seen two moderate women leaders emerge.
www.sbs.com.au
November 22, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Amid writing my op-eds, I spoke to SBS News about the new women state Liberal leaders:
"The party is crumbling around Australia ... One leader can't change everything, and nor should we expect women leaders to change everything."
#AusPol
"The party is crumbling around Australia ... One leader can't change everything, and nor should we expect women leaders to change everything."
#AusPol
Reposted by Dr Blair Williams
I actually find that paradigm of women are better really insulting to women generally. She’s a person and should be judged on her politics, not her gender. Same as Ley who strikes me as incredibly un intelligent.
November 22, 2025 at 12:07 AM
I actually find that paradigm of women are better really insulting to women generally. She’s a person and should be judged on her politics, not her gender. Same as Ley who strikes me as incredibly un intelligent.
Reposted by Dr Blair Williams
My op-ed on Kellie Sloane's ascension to NSW Liberal leader has just been published in @womensagenda.bsky.social!
It's great to see more women lead the Liberals. But "if the party has truly changed, they must also elect women leaders during times of stability" as well:
#AusPol #Sloane #NSWLiberal
It's great to see more women lead the Liberals. But "if the party has truly changed, they must also elect women leaders during times of stability" as well:
#AusPol #Sloane #NSWLiberal
The Liberal Party has finally backed women leaders. Is it genuine renewal or a glass cliff?
If the Liberal Party has truly changed, they must also elect women leaders during times of stability, writes Dr Blair Williams
womensagenda.com.au
November 21, 2025 at 6:12 AM
My op-ed on Kellie Sloane's ascension to NSW Liberal leader has just been published in @womensagenda.bsky.social!
It's great to see more women lead the Liberals. But "if the party has truly changed, they must also elect women leaders during times of stability" as well:
#AusPol #Sloane #NSWLiberal
It's great to see more women lead the Liberals. But "if the party has truly changed, they must also elect women leaders during times of stability" as well:
#AusPol #Sloane #NSWLiberal
My piece in today's @canberratimes.bsky.social:
"Their choice of Jess Wilson is a savvy one in the leadup to the next election. At 35 years old, Wilson is the youngest opposition leader in Victoria's history. She's not just a fresh face, but, to quote Ley, represents a 'next generation approach.'"
"Their choice of Jess Wilson is a savvy one in the leadup to the next election. At 35 years old, Wilson is the youngest opposition leader in Victoria's history. She's not just a fresh face, but, to quote Ley, represents a 'next generation approach.'"
A step in the right direction or tiptoeing toward glass-cliff? It's kind of both
Liberal overhaul will be for naught without some key changes.
www.canberratimes.com.au
November 21, 2025 at 9:31 PM
My piece in today's @canberratimes.bsky.social:
"Their choice of Jess Wilson is a savvy one in the leadup to the next election. At 35 years old, Wilson is the youngest opposition leader in Victoria's history. She's not just a fresh face, but, to quote Ley, represents a 'next generation approach.'"
"Their choice of Jess Wilson is a savvy one in the leadup to the next election. At 35 years old, Wilson is the youngest opposition leader in Victoria's history. She's not just a fresh face, but, to quote Ley, represents a 'next generation approach.'"
Reposted by Dr Blair Williams
To “my students and to anyone who might listen, I say: Don’t surrender to AI your ability to read, write and think when others once risked their lives and died for the freedom to do so.”
www.huffpost.com/entry/histor...
www.huffpost.com/entry/histor...
I Set A Trap To Catch My Students Cheating With AI. The Results Were Shocking.
"Students are not just undermining their ability to learn, but to someday lead."
www.huffpost.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:22 AM
To “my students and to anyone who might listen, I say: Don’t surrender to AI your ability to read, write and think when others once risked their lives and died for the freedom to do so.”
www.huffpost.com/entry/histor...
www.huffpost.com/entry/histor...
Send this to all uni execs please! 👇👇👇
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
November 21, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Send this to all uni execs please! 👇👇👇
Reposted by Dr Blair Williams
🤖🫧
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
November 21, 2025 at 12:17 PM
🤖🫧
Reposted by Dr Blair Williams
I feel like the last couple decades of "is representation good or not?" discourse missed more important questions of "how fragile is representation?", "what do we do when multiple industries eliminate it as an intentional move against us?" and "how can we sustain queer artists when shit goes south?"
"According to the report, [...]during the 2024-25 television season, queer characters increased across platforms by 4%, bringing the total to 489. However, the Thursday report found that 41% of those characters will not return." www.thewrap.com/glaad-where-...
Nearly Half of All LGBTQ+ Characters Will Disappear From TV Next Season, GLAAD Study Finds
The 2024-25 TV season recorded 489 queer characters across broadcast, cable and screenings, but cancellations and plot find a deep decline to come
www.thewrap.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:13 AM
I feel like the last couple decades of "is representation good or not?" discourse missed more important questions of "how fragile is representation?", "what do we do when multiple industries eliminate it as an intentional move against us?" and "how can we sustain queer artists when shit goes south?"
Reposted by Dr Blair Williams
Please to see my book chapter co-authored with @blairwilliams26.bsky.social on gender equality in state politics is finally out!
Check it out!
Check it out!
There's been a lot happening in state politics this week.
And what good timing - my latest chapter co-authored with @katrinebeau.bsky.social exploring how state and territory legislatures have helped (or hindered) the quest for gender equality in Australia has just been published!
#AusPol
And what good timing - my latest chapter co-authored with @katrinebeau.bsky.social exploring how state and territory legislatures have helped (or hindered) the quest for gender equality in Australia has just been published!
#AusPol
The State of Gender Equality: Victories and Challenges Across Australia
This chapter compares the performance of State and Territory governments on gendered political leadership and gender equality policies. We establish a series of indicators grouped into three categorie...
link.springer.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Please to see my book chapter co-authored with @blairwilliams26.bsky.social on gender equality in state politics is finally out!
Check it out!
Check it out!
There's been a lot happening in state politics this week.
And what good timing - my latest chapter co-authored with @katrinebeau.bsky.social exploring how state and territory legislatures have helped (or hindered) the quest for gender equality in Australia has just been published!
#AusPol
And what good timing - my latest chapter co-authored with @katrinebeau.bsky.social exploring how state and territory legislatures have helped (or hindered) the quest for gender equality in Australia has just been published!
#AusPol
The State of Gender Equality: Victories and Challenges Across Australia
This chapter compares the performance of State and Territory governments on gendered political leadership and gender equality policies. We establish a series of indicators grouped into three categorie...
link.springer.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:26 AM
There's been a lot happening in state politics this week.
And what good timing - my latest chapter co-authored with @katrinebeau.bsky.social exploring how state and territory legislatures have helped (or hindered) the quest for gender equality in Australia has just been published!
#AusPol
And what good timing - my latest chapter co-authored with @katrinebeau.bsky.social exploring how state and territory legislatures have helped (or hindered) the quest for gender equality in Australia has just been published!
#AusPol
My op-ed on Kellie Sloane's ascension to NSW Liberal leader has just been published in @womensagenda.bsky.social!
It's great to see more women lead the Liberals. But "if the party has truly changed, they must also elect women leaders during times of stability" as well:
#AusPol #Sloane #NSWLiberal
It's great to see more women lead the Liberals. But "if the party has truly changed, they must also elect women leaders during times of stability" as well:
#AusPol #Sloane #NSWLiberal
The Liberal Party has finally backed women leaders. Is it genuine renewal or a glass cliff?
If the Liberal Party has truly changed, they must also elect women leaders during times of stability, writes Dr Blair Williams
womensagenda.com.au
November 21, 2025 at 6:12 AM
My op-ed on Kellie Sloane's ascension to NSW Liberal leader has just been published in @womensagenda.bsky.social!
It's great to see more women lead the Liberals. But "if the party has truly changed, they must also elect women leaders during times of stability" as well:
#AusPol #Sloane #NSWLiberal
It's great to see more women lead the Liberals. But "if the party has truly changed, they must also elect women leaders during times of stability" as well:
#AusPol #Sloane #NSWLiberal
Going to be speaking with PK on Afternoon Briefing today at 4:10pm AEDT about the new women Liberal leaders in NSW and Victoria.
It's such an interesting phenomenon.
#AusPol #Liberals #WomenProblem
It's such an interesting phenomenon.
#AusPol #Liberals #WomenProblem
November 21, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Going to be speaking with PK on Afternoon Briefing today at 4:10pm AEDT about the new women Liberal leaders in NSW and Victoria.
It's such an interesting phenomenon.
#AusPol #Liberals #WomenProblem
It's such an interesting phenomenon.
#AusPol #Liberals #WomenProblem
Just wrote two op-eds in two days 😵
Didn't plan to write either! But politics is a real-time discipline.
#AcademicLife #AusPol #Liberals
Didn't plan to write either! But politics is a real-time discipline.
#AcademicLife #AusPol #Liberals
November 21, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Just wrote two op-eds in two days 😵
Didn't plan to write either! But politics is a real-time discipline.
#AcademicLife #AusPol #Liberals
Didn't plan to write either! But politics is a real-time discipline.
#AcademicLife #AusPol #Liberals
Reposted by Dr Blair Williams
I seriously cannot get over how stupid it is to be cutting back on research right now #ThePoint
thepoint.com.au/off-the-char...
thepoint.com.au/off-the-char...
CSIRO 350 job cuts a damning indictment on Government priorities, misses 'golden opportunity' on research
The announcement this week that CSIRO are to cut 350 research jobs is another damning indictment on Australia’s ongoing failure to prioritise research and development.
thepoint.com.au
November 19, 2025 at 10:37 PM
I seriously cannot get over how stupid it is to be cutting back on research right now #ThePoint
thepoint.com.au/off-the-char...
thepoint.com.au/off-the-char...
Reposted by Dr Blair Williams
Voting has consequences.
Without state governments the Morrison federal government would have been equally appalling.
Without state governments the Morrison federal government would have been equally appalling.
Boris Johnson oversaw 'chaotic' UK COVID response that led to more deaths
The inquiry's chair finds that more than 23,000 deaths could have been avoided had the British government acted sooner.
www.abc.net.au
November 20, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Voting has consequences.
Without state governments the Morrison federal government would have been equally appalling.
Without state governments the Morrison federal government would have been equally appalling.
Reposted by Dr Blair Williams
There is something intensely bleak about students using gAI in an assignment asking them to respond to a text about enslaved people--so sad.
Students are being misled into stripping themselves of the ability to read, write, think by our own universities and Big Tech
www.huffpost.com/entry/histor...
Students are being misled into stripping themselves of the ability to read, write, think by our own universities and Big Tech
www.huffpost.com/entry/histor...
November 20, 2025 at 9:03 PM
There is something intensely bleak about students using gAI in an assignment asking them to respond to a text about enslaved people--so sad.
Students are being misled into stripping themselves of the ability to read, write, think by our own universities and Big Tech
www.huffpost.com/entry/histor...
Students are being misled into stripping themselves of the ability to read, write, think by our own universities and Big Tech
www.huffpost.com/entry/histor...
Reposted by Dr Blair Williams
#CSIRO says 350 research positions would go at the organisation. That's on top of more than 800 jobs cut over the past 18 months. The union reax "Worse than Abbott", describing cuts as more devastating than those inflicted by the former Coalition government. #auspol
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
Government playing down impact of CSIRO job cuts
The prime minister, when in opposition, accused the Coalition of "hollowing out" the CSIRO. Now, following the announcement 350 research positions at the organisation will be cut, he is being accused ...
www.abc.net.au
November 20, 2025 at 12:46 AM
#CSIRO says 350 research positions would go at the organisation. That's on top of more than 800 jobs cut over the past 18 months. The union reax "Worse than Abbott", describing cuts as more devastating than those inflicted by the former Coalition government. #auspol
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
Reposted by Dr Blair Williams
😏😏😏
November 20, 2025 at 12:21 AM
😏😏😏
Reposted by Dr Blair Williams
stealing and enshittifying human knowledge, attacking social connection, giving money to purveyors of slop for testing their black box bullshit machines, trashing the planet.
www.404media.co/ai-is-superc...
www.404media.co/ai-is-superc...
AI Is Supercharging the War on Libraries, Education, and Human Knowledge
"Fascism and AI, whether or not they have the same goals, they sure are working to accelerate one another."
www.404media.co
November 19, 2025 at 9:55 PM
stealing and enshittifying human knowledge, attacking social connection, giving money to purveyors of slop for testing their black box bullshit machines, trashing the planet.
www.404media.co/ai-is-superc...
www.404media.co/ai-is-superc...
Reposted by Dr Blair Williams
Yeah dude, it was totally the commitment to net zero that caused the economy to fall in the late 2020-2021 period
Nothing else of note happened that impacted the economy
Nothing else of note happened that impacted the economy
November 19, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Yeah dude, it was totally the commitment to net zero that caused the economy to fall in the late 2020-2021 period
Nothing else of note happened that impacted the economy
Nothing else of note happened that impacted the economy
Reposted by Dr Blair Williams
And this is of course compounded by the fact that many universities in Australia aren't hiring at the moment. Leaving two options to many of these researchers: leaving the country, or leaving research.
These are incredibly competent, specialized experts we're losing, not overpaid consultants. 🤦♂️
These are incredibly competent, specialized experts we're losing, not overpaid consultants. 🤦♂️
November 18, 2025 at 10:08 PM
And this is of course compounded by the fact that many universities in Australia aren't hiring at the moment. Leaving two options to many of these researchers: leaving the country, or leaving research.
These are incredibly competent, specialized experts we're losing, not overpaid consultants. 🤦♂️
These are incredibly competent, specialized experts we're losing, not overpaid consultants. 🤦♂️
Reposted by Dr Blair Williams
Where to start, with a statement like this?
"Tim Ayres said the cuts were aimed at refocusing … CSIRO towards research priorities, such as critical minerals, iron & steel production in Australia."
From some rando down the bus stop, one would brush it off.
But this is from our Science Minister 🤯
"Tim Ayres said the cuts were aimed at refocusing … CSIRO towards research priorities, such as critical minerals, iron & steel production in Australia."
From some rando down the bus stop, one would brush it off.
But this is from our Science Minister 🤯
CSIRO to cut up to 350 research jobs in major overhaul
After 440 positions were slashed last year, the CSIRO has announced more staff cuts across the country in a bid to remain financially viable.
www.abc.net.au
November 19, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Where to start, with a statement like this?
"Tim Ayres said the cuts were aimed at refocusing … CSIRO towards research priorities, such as critical minerals, iron & steel production in Australia."
From some rando down the bus stop, one would brush it off.
But this is from our Science Minister 🤯
"Tim Ayres said the cuts were aimed at refocusing … CSIRO towards research priorities, such as critical minerals, iron & steel production in Australia."
From some rando down the bus stop, one would brush it off.
But this is from our Science Minister 🤯