Benjamin T. Jones
@drbenjaminjones.bsky.social
Associate Professor in History at Central Queensland University. Australia on the World Stage (Routledge, 2022).
This was a pleasure to edit. The papers come from the wonderful histories of northern and regional Australia stream at the AHA conference this year. Thanks to all the talented contributors.
AHA members Lyndon McGarrity and Ben Jones have co-edited a special issue of Australian Studies Journal, on "Histories of Northern and Regional Australia". Access the special issue at the link to read the latest work from a bunch of AHA members! australienstudien.org/australian-s...
Australian Studies Journal 44/2025 – German Association for Australian Studies
German Association for Australian Studies
australienstudien.org
November 12, 2025 at 2:11 AM
This was a pleasure to edit. The papers come from the wonderful histories of northern and regional Australia stream at the AHA conference this year. Thanks to all the talented contributors.
Uber driver picking me up from campus: so what do you study?
Me, choking back tears: thank you 🙏
Me, choking back tears: thank you 🙏
November 7, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Uber driver picking me up from campus: so what do you study?
Me, choking back tears: thank you 🙏
Me, choking back tears: thank you 🙏
It was a pleasure to deliver the keynote for the Australian Independent Schools History Symposium. My talk was titled, is real history possible in an era of fake news. You can read it here.
aristotlesaustralia.substack.com/p/is-real-hi...
aristotlesaustralia.substack.com/p/is-real-hi...
Is real history possible in an era of fake news?
What is post-truth history and why the age of AI makes historical literacy more urgent than ever.
aristotlesaustralia.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 5:22 PM
It was a pleasure to deliver the keynote for the Australian Independent Schools History Symposium. My talk was titled, is real history possible in an era of fake news. You can read it here.
aristotlesaustralia.substack.com/p/is-real-hi...
aristotlesaustralia.substack.com/p/is-real-hi...
Publication day! New issue of the Australian Studies Journal is open access. It was a pleasure to guest edit this special issue on histories of northern Australia. The articles come from papers presented at the 2025 AHA co-hosted by CQUniversity and JCU.
australienstudien.org/australian-s...
australienstudien.org/australian-s...
Australian Studies Journal 44/2025 – German Association for Australian Studies
australienstudien.org
October 30, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Publication day! New issue of the Australian Studies Journal is open access. It was a pleasure to guest edit this special issue on histories of northern Australia. The articles come from papers presented at the 2025 AHA co-hosted by CQUniversity and JCU.
australienstudien.org/australian-s...
australienstudien.org/australian-s...
Reposted by Benjamin T. Jones
My new website is live! It's a work in progress, with lots I still want to do, but after many years my last site became completely non-functional so this is the first step: mikejonesonline.com #archives #history #historian #consultant #GLAM #academia #website
Home - Dr Mike Jones
professional historian and archivist Connect with the past I am an accredited professional historian and archivist with eighteen years experience working on public history, archives, collections, and ...
mikejonesonline.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:45 AM
My new website is live! It's a work in progress, with lots I still want to do, but after many years my last site became completely non-functional so this is the first step: mikejonesonline.com #archives #history #historian #consultant #GLAM #academia #website
Reposted by Benjamin T. Jones
Hear! Hear! Dr Holbrook 👏 theconversation.com/the-australi...
The Australian War Memorial’s prize controversy betrays the institution’s purpose: to tell the messy truth about war
Chris Masters’ book on Ben Roberts-Smith was chosen to win the Australian War Memorial’s Les Carlyon Prize for Military History. But the prize wasn’t awarded. Why?
theconversation.com
September 18, 2025 at 6:10 AM
Hear! Hear! Dr Holbrook 👏 theconversation.com/the-australi...
Wonderful outcome but this national treasure never should have been under threat.
We were very pleased to get the news today that the Australian National Dictionary Centre will be saved, thanks to an anonymous donation and the halt on involuntary redundancies under the Renew ANU plan. We thank everyone for their generous support through these difficult times.
September 18, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Wonderful outcome but this national treasure never should have been under threat.
Reposted by Benjamin T. Jones
a huge day for the ANU and the @nteuact.bsky.social campaign to stop forced redundancies in the college of arts and social sciences and the college of science and medicine. This is genuinely an incredible result!
share.google/ORnkjimiuQiK...
share.google/ORnkjimiuQiK...
No more involuntary redundancies at ANU as anonymous donation aids university
Anonymous donation helps save much-loved institution.
share.google
September 18, 2025 at 10:23 AM
a huge day for the ANU and the @nteuact.bsky.social campaign to stop forced redundancies in the college of arts and social sciences and the college of science and medicine. This is genuinely an incredible result!
share.google/ORnkjimiuQiK...
share.google/ORnkjimiuQiK...
Reposted by Benjamin T. Jones
In Canberra next week? Come along and celebrate the launch of Playtime 🧸
Delighted to have Play School actress & singer Justine Clarke launch the book!
🗓️ 22 September, 6pm
📍 ANU Harry Hartog
Delighted to have Play School actress & singer Justine Clarke launch the book!
🗓️ 22 September, 6pm
📍 ANU Harry Hartog
Book Launch of Playtime: A History of Australian Childhood by Emily Gallagher
Book Launch of Playtime : A History of Australian Childhood by Emily Gallagher
events.humanitix.com
September 15, 2025 at 12:07 AM
In Canberra next week? Come along and celebrate the launch of Playtime 🧸
Delighted to have Play School actress & singer Justine Clarke launch the book!
🗓️ 22 September, 6pm
📍 ANU Harry Hartog
Delighted to have Play School actress & singer Justine Clarke launch the book!
🗓️ 22 September, 6pm
📍 ANU Harry Hartog
Reposted by Benjamin T. Jones
MUP claims that it is closing Meanjin on "purely financial grounds", yet it also asserts "the journal is not for sale"? They would rather it end and receive $0 than let somebody acquire it for $$?
Truly, one of the most shameful episodes in Australia's cultural life is unfolding
Truly, one of the most shameful episodes in Australia's cultural life is unfolding
September 11, 2025 at 12:27 PM
MUP claims that it is closing Meanjin on "purely financial grounds", yet it also asserts "the journal is not for sale"? They would rather it end and receive $0 than let somebody acquire it for $$?
Truly, one of the most shameful episodes in Australia's cultural life is unfolding
Truly, one of the most shameful episodes in Australia's cultural life is unfolding
"If the ANU is not committed to research that tells the Australian story then well may we ask, what is the point of a national university?"
theconversation.com/the-anu-was-...
theconversation.com/the-anu-was-...
The ANU was set up to be a ‘national asset’. Here are 3 ways it can return to its original mission
After months of pressure, Australian National University vice-chancellor Genevieve Bell has resigned. This creates a unique opportunity for the federal government.
theconversation.com
September 11, 2025 at 10:07 AM
"If the ANU is not committed to research that tells the Australian story then well may we ask, what is the point of a national university?"
theconversation.com/the-anu-was-...
theconversation.com/the-anu-was-...
Reposted by Benjamin T. Jones
I wrote for Crikey about the decision to shut Meanjin down - and to sever a connection to a hopeful progressive vision of Australian culture
Opinion | Melbourne University Press says it shut down Meanjin for "purely financial reasons". Perhaps the university could have used some of its $273 million surplus to safeguard the seminal journal, @catrionamp.bsky.social writes.
Meanjin's 'financial' shutdown doesn't add up
www.crikey.com.au
September 8, 2025 at 3:01 AM
I wrote for Crikey about the decision to shut Meanjin down - and to sever a connection to a hopeful progressive vision of Australian culture
I don't fall into the extreme camps that see generative AI as either the end of the humanities or its saviour. That said, I would never use AI in any of my writing and would request my name be taken off any joint paper that uses it. Imperfect, and frequently with typos, my voice is my own.
September 2, 2025 at 4:32 AM
I don't fall into the extreme camps that see generative AI as either the end of the humanities or its saviour. That said, I would never use AI in any of my writing and would request my name be taken off any joint paper that uses it. Imperfect, and frequently with typos, my voice is my own.
"Despite my role in authoring a hybrid model, I am increasingly convinced that a direct-election model has the best chance of passing the high bar of a referendum."
A mea culpa of sorts from me and a concise history of the Republic debate in Australia.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
A mea culpa of sorts from me and a concise history of the Republic debate in Australia.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
The Elusive Australian Republic: A Short History of the Debate
For most of the 1990s a clear majority of Australians wanted to change the constitution to replace the British monarch with an Australian head of state. Despite this, the republic referendum of 199...
www.tandfonline.com
August 25, 2025 at 11:46 PM
"Despite my role in authoring a hybrid model, I am increasingly convinced that a direct-election model has the best chance of passing the high bar of a referendum."
A mea culpa of sorts from me and a concise history of the Republic debate in Australia.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
A mea culpa of sorts from me and a concise history of the Republic debate in Australia.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Benjamin T. Jones
ANU School of History invites applications for a PhD scholarship to research the Communist Party of Australia, 1970-91. The project continues the work of the late Prof Stuart Macintyre and is valued at AU$100,000 over a four year period.
programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/program/9520...
#phavictas
programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/program/9520...
#phavictas
August 24, 2025 at 11:16 PM
ANU School of History invites applications for a PhD scholarship to research the Communist Party of Australia, 1970-91. The project continues the work of the late Prof Stuart Macintyre and is valued at AU$100,000 over a four year period.
programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/program/9520...
#phavictas
programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/program/9520...
#phavictas
Reposted by Benjamin T. Jones
Chancel Culture, David Pope
August 15, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Chancel Culture, David Pope
Reposted by Benjamin T. Jones
Help us reach our target of 5000 signatures - please sign and share!
It baffles me that @australianlabor.bsky.social wants to hang this failed, unfair policy around its neck, when they could condemn it as a folly of the unpopular Morrison government and ditch it. Sign our petition to urge them to abolish it now!
www.openpetition.org/au/petition/...
www.openpetition.org/au/petition/...
Repeal Job-Ready Graduates Policy Now: Restoring Equity in Higher Education - Online petition
We sign this petition in solidarity with those who signed the Open Letter to the Prime Minister on 28 July 2025 (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/28/open-letter-to-australian-govern...
www.openpetition.org
August 12, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Help us reach our target of 5000 signatures - please sign and share!
Reposted by Benjamin T. Jones
Reposted by Benjamin T. Jones
Reposted by Benjamin T. Jones
A shoutout to all the academics who are also working 9 to 9, 24/7 👩💻
Your #openaccess ☕📘 coffee read 📘☕ sorted! www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... #historyaustralia
@dranastevenson.bsky.social on ‘Workin’ 9 to 9, 24/7’: political humour about Australian politicians and ministerial staffers during the Rudd-Gillard era
@dranastevenson.bsky.social on ‘Workin’ 9 to 9, 24/7’: political humour about Australian politicians and ministerial staffers during the Rudd-Gillard era
July 31, 2025 at 6:49 AM
A shoutout to all the academics who are also working 9 to 9, 24/7 👩💻
Reposted by Benjamin T. Jones
Labor's bill to cut HECS debts by 20%, which passed this morning, leaves unchanged the structural inequalities built into tertiary education through Job-Ready Graduates. Sign our petition calling for the repeal of this destructive and unfair policy here: www.openpetition.org/au/petition/...
July 31, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Labor's bill to cut HECS debts by 20%, which passed this morning, leaves unchanged the structural inequalities built into tertiary education through Job-Ready Graduates. Sign our petition calling for the repeal of this destructive and unfair policy here: www.openpetition.org/au/petition/...
Reposted by Benjamin T. Jones
'The independent member for Kooyong, Dr Monique Ryan, will this week table an amendment to the student debt bill to reverse the JRG package and change the timing of Hecs/Help indexation until after prepayments are made.'
#highered #auspol #academicsky
#highered #auspol #academicsky
Young Australians have much higher student debt than generations before them, data shows
The average Hecs/Help debt held by younger Australians increased by a third between 2009 and 2024
www.theguardian.com
July 28, 2025 at 2:30 AM
'The independent member for Kooyong, Dr Monique Ryan, will this week table an amendment to the student debt bill to reverse the JRG package and change the timing of Hecs/Help indexation until after prepayments are made.'
#highered #auspol #academicsky
#highered #auspol #academicsky
Reposted by Benjamin T. Jones
And it’s not just writers: comedians, business leaders, academics, musicians and chefs have signed our letter:
A great comment piece on @austhistassoc.bsky.social open letter urging the PM to repeal Job-Ready Graduates:
theconversation.com/top-australi...
theconversation.com/top-australi...
Top Australian writers urge Albanese to abolish Job-Ready Graduates, calling their humanities degrees life changing
Tim Winton, Helen Garner and Peter Garrett are just a few of the high-profile signatories to an open letter against Job-Ready Graduates – and for the humanities.
theconversation.com
July 28, 2025 at 8:56 AM
And it’s not just writers: comedians, business leaders, academics, musicians and chefs have signed our letter:
Reposted by Benjamin T. Jones
More than 100 high-profile and distinguished Australians -and BA graduates- have signed the @austhistassoc.bsky.social open letter calling for the repeal of Job-Ready Graduates: a policy that punishes humanities students with life-changing debts: www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Tim Winton among 100 high-profile Australians calling for university fees that don’t ‘punish’ arts students
Open letter urges Labor to reverse JRG scheme, introduced by Coalition in 2021, as cost of humanities degrees reaches more than $50,000
www.theguardian.com
July 27, 2025 at 9:23 PM
More than 100 high-profile and distinguished Australians -and BA graduates- have signed the @austhistassoc.bsky.social open letter calling for the repeal of Job-Ready Graduates: a policy that punishes humanities students with life-changing debts: www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...