Peter of Perth Hills
@peterperthhills.bsky.social
Seeking non-simplistic solutions to complex problems, and sustainability in economics, societal wellbeing, and the environment the world's people share. Perth area, Western Australia.
Pinned
Up until about 10 years ago, I drank the Kool Aid about the Trickle Down Effect; maybe the best way for poorer people to become richer was to help rich people. But it's clear this just raises inequality further. It's just bullshit to justify those in power making the lives of poorer people worse.
The proposal for Australia's Centre for Disease Control isn't sufficiently funded, nor broad enough in scope. Chronic disease is ignored:
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/21677/...
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/21677/...
Labor’s CDC lacks budget and vision
Never before has Australia more needed a full-service, independent Centre for Disease Control, able to address the rising challenges of disease, both infectious and non-communicable. Medical experts f...
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au
September 27, 2025 at 2:19 AM
The proposal for Australia's Centre for Disease Control isn't sufficiently funded, nor broad enough in scope. Chronic disease is ignored:
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/21677/...
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/21677/...
The danger to the Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme from Trumpist policy isn't more expensive medicines, as much as slower or limited access to new pharmaceuticals. (My question: is this necessarily a bad thing? If it keeps the PBS sustainable?)
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/21685/...
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/21685/...
The battle to defend the PBS against Donald Trump
In his visit to the White House next month, Anthony Albanese is expected to come under pressure to weaken the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme that Donald Trump considers unfair to American drug compani...
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au
September 27, 2025 at 2:00 AM
The danger to the Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme from Trumpist policy isn't more expensive medicines, as much as slower or limited access to new pharmaceuticals. (My question: is this necessarily a bad thing? If it keeps the PBS sustainable?)
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/21685/...
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/21685/...
I can't describe a fellow as focused on the pursuit of power as Alex Hawke using nice words. But if he can keep the Sky After Dark crowd like Angus Taylor, Andrew Hastie and Jacinta Price away from the Opposition Leadership, maybe he's at least useful:
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/21689/...
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/21689/...
‘Ruthlessly effective’: The Morrison lieutenant behind Ley’s leadership
Liberal powerbroker Alex Hawke – a key figure in Scott Morrison’s inner circle – has emerged as the factional leader and numbers man on whom Sussan Ley depends for her control of the party.
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au
September 27, 2025 at 1:39 AM
I can't describe a fellow as focused on the pursuit of power as Alex Hawke using nice words. But if he can keep the Sky After Dark crowd like Angus Taylor, Andrew Hastie and Jacinta Price away from the Opposition Leadership, maybe he's at least useful:
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/21689/...
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/21689/...
Reposted by Peter of Perth Hills
“Bobbie [Houston] was all about … you've got to be sexually attractive to your husband. You don't want to let yourself go, because it's sad for him. You were able to get up and preach and lead – but women’s leadership in terms of being feminine, not feminist." http://satpa.pe/MVMQNCd
I was Hillsong’s babysitter
A decade after the Hillsong Church was founded, Carly worked as a babysitter for Bobbie and Brian Houston. She recalls a culture of sycophancy, sexualisation and shunning.
satpa.pe
August 4, 2025 at 12:49 AM
“Bobbie [Houston] was all about … you've got to be sexually attractive to your husband. You don't want to let yourself go, because it's sad for him. You were able to get up and preach and lead – but women’s leadership in terms of being feminine, not feminist." http://satpa.pe/MVMQNCd
The inability of IT graduates to get work in Australia has been a problem for decades, nothing to do with the rise of AI or working visas. It's always appeared to be employers confecting a skills shortage to obtain skilled migrants at below-market rates:
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/21181/...
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/21181/...
International IT graduates struggle to secure Australian employment
Australia has little trouble attracting international IT students, but employment is proving difficult for graduates, despite the need to fill a quarter of a million jobs in the next five years.
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au
July 25, 2025 at 10:51 PM
The inability of IT graduates to get work in Australia has been a problem for decades, nothing to do with the rise of AI or working visas. It's always appeared to be employers confecting a skills shortage to obtain skilled migrants at below-market rates:
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/21181/...
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/21181/...
Australia's National Anti-Corruption Commission is toothless without the accountability of public hearings. The public can have no confidence that the NACC are effectively performing their role, or are even behaving ethically, until this is done.
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/21090/...
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/21090/...
Sack the NACC
After years of unfulfilled promises by both sides of politics, the Albanese government passed legislation in its first term to establish the National Anti-Corruption Commission. The NACC began operati...
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au
July 12, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Australia's National Anti-Corruption Commission is toothless without the accountability of public hearings. The public can have no confidence that the NACC are effectively performing their role, or are even behaving ethically, until this is done.
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/21090/...
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/21090/...
Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme is not a monopoly. American drug companies can sell stuff to Australians at whatever inflated prices they choose. But if they want to get subsidised by the Australian government, they must follow the rules.
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/21091/...
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/21091/...
The importance of China mates
The cockney rhyming slang, traditionally beloved of Australians, would have it that our old china plates in America are causing us more anxiety than our newer ones in North Asia. The prime minister is...
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au
July 12, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme is not a monopoly. American drug companies can sell stuff to Australians at whatever inflated prices they choose. But if they want to get subsidised by the Australian government, they must follow the rules.
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/21091/...
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/21091/...
After the 3rd guess I knew I was in trouble. I thought of 3 words to fit that involved a maximum 6 different possibilities for the grey letters. So I went for an exploratory 4th guess that was helpful enough to solve in 5 - not one of the 3 words!
Wordle 1,477 5/6
⬜🟨🟨⬜🟨
🟨🟩⬜🟩⬜
⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩
⬜🟩🟩⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,477 5/6
⬜🟨🟨⬜🟨
🟨🟩⬜🟩⬜
⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩
⬜🟩🟩⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
July 5, 2025 at 4:34 AM
After the 3rd guess I knew I was in trouble. I thought of 3 words to fit that involved a maximum 6 different possibilities for the grey letters. So I went for an exploratory 4th guess that was helpful enough to solve in 5 - not one of the 3 words!
Wordle 1,477 5/6
⬜🟨🟨⬜🟨
🟨🟩⬜🟩⬜
⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩
⬜🟩🟩⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,477 5/6
⬜🟨🟨⬜🟨
🟨🟩⬜🟩⬜
⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩
⬜🟩🟩⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Reposted by Peter of Perth Hills
Alex Antic’s position on the margins gives him power, writes Jason Koutsoukis. Unencumbered by responsibility, he has turned provocation into strategy, building a national profile through cultural grievance and factional muscle. https://trib.al/JgITIHZ
trib.al
June 22, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Alex Antic’s position on the margins gives him power, writes Jason Koutsoukis. Unencumbered by responsibility, he has turned provocation into strategy, building a national profile through cultural grievance and factional muscle. https://trib.al/JgITIHZ
So in fact Trump can interfere with the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and there is precious little the Australian government can do about it: www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/20937/...
Exclusive: PBS listings frozen over Trump’s executive order
Industry sources reveal drug companies have stopped negotiating listings on the PBS and in some cases are considering not listing in Australia as they seek to lift profits under Trump.
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au
June 13, 2025 at 10:19 PM
So in fact Trump can interfere with the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and there is precious little the Australian government can do about it: www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/20937/...
An after-the-event word finder check showed that in fact, yes, there was nothing else the 4th guess could be. Do I get a prize for finding it myself?
Wordle 1,448 4/6
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨
⬜🟨⬜🟨⬜
🟨🟨🟨⬜🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,448 4/6
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨
⬜🟨⬜🟨⬜
🟨🟨🟨⬜🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
June 6, 2025 at 6:54 AM
An after-the-event word finder check showed that in fact, yes, there was nothing else the 4th guess could be. Do I get a prize for finding it myself?
Wordle 1,448 4/6
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨
⬜🟨⬜🟨⬜
🟨🟨🟨⬜🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,448 4/6
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨
⬜🟨⬜🟨⬜
🟨🟨🟨⬜🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
After seeing my result after 2, it looked like a certain 3. Except it wasn't.
Wordle 1,446 4/6
⬜⬜🟩🟨🟩
🟨🟨🟩⬜🟩
🟩⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,446 4/6
⬜⬜🟩🟨🟩
🟨🟨🟩⬜🟩
🟩⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
June 4, 2025 at 10:32 AM
After seeing my result after 2, it looked like a certain 3. Except it wasn't.
Wordle 1,446 4/6
⬜⬜🟩🟨🟩
🟨🟨🟩⬜🟩
🟩⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,446 4/6
⬜⬜🟩🟨🟩
🟨🟨🟩⬜🟩
🟩⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
A typical dilemma confronting me on the second guess - do I go with a less common consonant and let me use an untried vowel, or a more common consonant and double up the existing vowel?
Wordle 1,444 4/6
⬜🟩⬜⬜🟨
⬜🟩⬜🟩⬜
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,444 4/6
⬜🟩⬜⬜🟨
⬜🟩⬜🟩⬜
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
June 1, 2025 at 11:45 PM
A typical dilemma confronting me on the second guess - do I go with a less common consonant and let me use an untried vowel, or a more common consonant and double up the existing vowel?
Wordle 1,444 4/6
⬜🟩⬜⬜🟨
⬜🟩⬜🟩⬜
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,444 4/6
⬜🟩⬜⬜🟨
⬜🟩⬜🟩⬜
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
A typical not-quite-3, pretty easy 4:
Wordle 1,443 4/6
⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,443 4/6
⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
May 31, 2025 at 11:56 PM
A typical not-quite-3, pretty easy 4:
Wordle 1,443 4/6
⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,443 4/6
⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Reposted by Peter of Perth Hills
Despite claiming successes against the Greens, right-wing lobby group Advance shifted very few votes and contributed to the failures of the Liberal Party.
Jason Koutsoukis on how Australia's richest non-party lobby group missed the mark:
Jason Koutsoukis on how Australia's richest non-party lobby group missed the mark:
Inside story: Advance ‘siphoned’ Liberal resources
Despite claiming successes against the Greens, right-wing lobby group Advance shifted very few votes and contributed to the Liberal Party’s massive loss.
trib.al
May 31, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Despite claiming successes against the Greens, right-wing lobby group Advance shifted very few votes and contributed to the failures of the Liberal Party.
Jason Koutsoukis on how Australia's richest non-party lobby group missed the mark:
Jason Koutsoukis on how Australia's richest non-party lobby group missed the mark:
Finally. Tried all the vowels and locked in a consonant, it just wasn't going to take any longer.
Wordle 1,442 5/6
🟨⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜⬜⬜🟨🟩
⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩
⬜🟩🟨⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,442 5/6
🟨⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜⬜⬜🟨🟩
⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩
⬜🟩🟨⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
May 31, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Finally. Tried all the vowels and locked in a consonant, it just wasn't going to take any longer.
Wordle 1,442 5/6
🟨⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜⬜⬜🟨🟩
⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩
⬜🟩🟨⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,442 5/6
🟨⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜⬜⬜🟨🟩
⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩
⬜🟩🟨⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
There weren't too many genuine options by the time I got to the 4th guess, but I chose the wrong one 😔
Wordle 1,440 5/6
⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜
🟨🟨🟩⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,440 5/6
⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜
🟨🟨🟩⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
May 29, 2025 at 4:00 AM
There weren't too many genuine options by the time I got to the 4th guess, but I chose the wrong one 😔
Wordle 1,440 5/6
⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜
🟨🟨🟩⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,440 5/6
⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜
🟨🟨🟩⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
I broke my rule on the 2nd guess of not doubling up a letter unless I already know it's there - which turned out okay, giving me more information about a yellow letter. The true stuff ups came later on:
Wordle 1,438 6/6
🟨🟨⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟨🟨⬜🟨
🟩🟨🟩🟩⬜
🟩⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,438 6/6
🟨🟨⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟨🟨⬜🟨
🟩🟨🟩🟩⬜
🟩⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
May 27, 2025 at 3:57 AM
I broke my rule on the 2nd guess of not doubling up a letter unless I already know it's there - which turned out okay, giving me more information about a yellow letter. The true stuff ups came later on:
Wordle 1,438 6/6
🟨🟨⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟨🟨⬜🟨
🟩🟨🟩🟩⬜
🟩⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,438 6/6
🟨🟨⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟨🟨⬜🟨
🟩🟨🟩🟩⬜
🟩⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
There was I, selecting the 3rd guess to give me the best information to solve it - and I got lucky:
Wordle 1,435 3/6
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜⬜🟨🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,435 3/6
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜⬜🟨🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
May 24, 2025 at 7:39 AM
There was I, selecting the 3rd guess to give me the best information to solve it - and I got lucky:
Wordle 1,435 3/6
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜⬜🟨🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,435 3/6
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜⬜🟨🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
An elite sporting club would never cut costs by ignoring the best talent and recruit from amateur leagues instead. So why does a university's cost-cutting ignore its academic talent - the core of a university's identity, and ultimate source of its profit?
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/20805/...
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/20805/...
Exclusive: KPMG’s secret university restructure
A leaked report of the KPMG-led restructure plan for UTS is based on a performance metric not permitted by labour contracts.
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au
May 23, 2025 at 11:00 PM
An elite sporting club would never cut costs by ignoring the best talent and recruit from amateur leagues instead. So why does a university's cost-cutting ignore its academic talent - the core of a university's identity, and ultimate source of its profit?
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/20805/...
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/20805/...
If the shell of Australia's Liberal party has a whiff of former PM Tony Abbott about it, there's a reason for that. Along with confidant Peta Credlin and the Murdoch media, Abbott appears to prioritise revenge and conservativism over the party's future:
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/20806/...
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/20806/...
Exclusive: How Abbott and Credlin control the Liberals
Liberal MPs reveal how the former prime minister and his close confidante have been at the centre of a string of disastrous decisions that led to the party’s stunning election loss and the collapse of...
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au
May 23, 2025 at 10:50 PM
If the shell of Australia's Liberal party has a whiff of former PM Tony Abbott about it, there's a reason for that. Along with confidant Peta Credlin and the Murdoch media, Abbott appears to prioritise revenge and conservativism over the party's future:
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/20806/...
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/20806/...
It looks increasingly like the Nationals walking away from the Australian Coalition opposition was the last step in a misguided attempt to overplay their hand and attempt to prevent the Liberals from reviewing unpopular policy positions:
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/20804/...
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/20804/...
‘Tail’s wagged the dog’: The Coalition’s implosion
The Nationals staked their political future on four policy positions, in what looks increasingly like a messy and misguided coup.
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au
May 23, 2025 at 10:44 PM
It looks increasingly like the Nationals walking away from the Australian Coalition opposition was the last step in a misguided attempt to overplay their hand and attempt to prevent the Liberals from reviewing unpopular policy positions:
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/20804/...
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/20804/...
Just a standard slow-and-steady-in-4:
Wordle 1,434 4/6
⬜⬜⬜🟩⬜
⬜⬜⬜🟩🟩
⬜🟨⬜🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,434 4/6
⬜⬜⬜🟩⬜
⬜⬜⬜🟩🟩
⬜🟨⬜🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
May 23, 2025 at 4:14 AM
Just a standard slow-and-steady-in-4:
Wordle 1,434 4/6
⬜⬜⬜🟩⬜
⬜⬜⬜🟩🟩
⬜🟨⬜🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,434 4/6
⬜⬜⬜🟩⬜
⬜⬜⬜🟩🟩
⬜🟨⬜🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
I was totally stumped after 3 guesses. The word finder offered 3 choices, 2 of those ridiculously obscure.
Wordle 1,433 4/6
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟨🟨⬜⬜
⬜🟩🟨⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,433 4/6
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟨🟨⬜⬜
⬜🟩🟨⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
May 22, 2025 at 8:09 AM
I was totally stumped after 3 guesses. The word finder offered 3 choices, 2 of those ridiculously obscure.
Wordle 1,433 4/6
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟨🟨⬜⬜
⬜🟩🟨⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,433 4/6
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟨🟨⬜⬜
⬜🟩🟨⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
This one stumped me a bit, so I consulted the word finder after 2 guesses. By then, I was fairly confident of solving in 4, which I did.
Wordle 1,431 4/6
⬜🟨⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜🟩⬜🟩
🟨⬜🟩⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,431 4/6
⬜🟨⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜🟩⬜🟩
🟨⬜🟩⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
May 19, 2025 at 11:50 PM
This one stumped me a bit, so I consulted the word finder after 2 guesses. By then, I was fairly confident of solving in 4, which I did.
Wordle 1,431 4/6
⬜🟨⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜🟩⬜🟩
🟨⬜🟩⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,431 4/6
⬜🟨⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜🟩⬜🟩
🟨⬜🟩⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩