Rodney Holmes
@rodneyholmes.bsky.social
Progressive politics & policy; philosophy, psychology & film. On unceded Turrbal/Yaggera land. #DismantleNeoliberalism Opinions mine. he/him/his https://rodneyholmespolicy.com.au/
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Rodney Holmes
@rodneyholmes.bsky.social
· Jan 16
My submission (#174) to the federal AOD inquiry, asks: 'Why is alcohol still causing more harm, when the population is using it less?' In it I share my dependence lived experience & challenge some dominant approaches to alcohol policy. #AOD #Addiction www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentar...
Reposted by Rodney Holmes
But reports like the one we have seen this week and the ongoing reports from advocates, legal experts and those caught in the system prove beyond a doubt the fire isn’t just burning, it’s burning out of control. thepoint.com.au/opinions/251...
The welfare system isn’t just on fire, it’s burning out of control
The problem with having pattern recognition is that you can always see the fires before they start. Governments are a bit like that, too. It’s not that they don’t see the fire before the smoke, it’s...
thepoint.com.au
December 13, 2025 at 9:24 PM
But reports like the one we have seen this week and the ongoing reports from advocates, legal experts and those caught in the system prove beyond a doubt the fire isn’t just burning, it’s burning out of control. thepoint.com.au/opinions/251...
Reposted by Rodney Holmes
A fundamental quality needed to be a politician is judgement. A fundamental role of a politician is to ‘show the way’. Taking advantage of flexible travel rules for private benefit demonstrates neither. #auspol
Anthony Albanese sidesteps calls for reform amid growing community anger over MP travel perks
The federal opposition and crossbenchers have backed a review of expenses spending rules
www.theguardian.com
December 11, 2025 at 9:11 PM
A fundamental quality needed to be a politician is judgement. A fundamental role of a politician is to ‘show the way’. Taking advantage of flexible travel rules for private benefit demonstrates neither. #auspol
Reposted by Rodney Holmes
"A ban that normalises punitive rather than developmental responses to youth online behaviour ensures that the conversation stays on terrain advantageous to legacy media – fear, surveillance, and control." #auspol
johnmenadue.com/post/2025/12...
johnmenadue.com/post/2025/12...
The real winners of Australia’s under-16s social media ban
Australia’s social media ban for under-16s is sold as child protection, but its most tangible effect is a transfer of power away from global platforms and back to legacy media interests.
johnmenadue.com
December 11, 2025 at 6:14 PM
"A ban that normalises punitive rather than developmental responses to youth online behaviour ensures that the conversation stays on terrain advantageous to legacy media – fear, surveillance, and control." #auspol
johnmenadue.com/post/2025/12...
johnmenadue.com/post/2025/12...
Reposted by Rodney Holmes
“It is clear from both government and the department that they feel the financial viability of these providers is a higher priority than treating poor people with respect and care.”
www.themandarin.com.au/304738-targe...
www.themandarin.com.au/304738-targe...
'Is this Labor's robodebt?': Welfare advocates slam escalating failures
At least 15 welfare and human rights organisations have renewed calls for the government to end its Targeted Compliance Framework.
www.themandarin.com.au
December 10, 2025 at 9:42 PM
“It is clear from both government and the department that they feel the financial viability of these providers is a higher priority than treating poor people with respect and care.”
www.themandarin.com.au/304738-targe...
www.themandarin.com.au/304738-targe...
Reposted by Rodney Holmes
Press freedom is being destroyed from Gaza to America. Don’t think it can’t happen here | Kerry O'Brien
Press freedom is being destroyed from Gaza to America. Don’t think it can’t happen here | Kerry O'Brien
Anthony Albanese promised to end the ‘culture of secrecy’. With freedom of speech under attack globally, it’s past time he delivered
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First things first. It would be remiss of me not to refer specifically to the appalling and outrageous casualty list of Palestinian journalists and other media workers in Israel’s war on Gaza since the brutal attack by Hamas on Israeli citizens two years ago.
Having excluded independent global media access inside Gaza, leaving us all to rely on local journalists to bear witness to the devastating effect of Israel’s bombardment on the civilian population of Gaza and the famine that has accompanied it, Israel has failed dismally to explain with any credibility why so many journalists have been killed. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 28, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Press freedom is being destroyed from Gaza to America. Don’t think it can’t happen here | Kerry O'Brien
Reposted by Rodney Holmes
Earlier, @davidpocock.bsky.social calls out Plibersek for saying critics of the amendment (to cut ppl's welfare before they're guilty) "are on the side of rapists & murderers"
"What a way to make laws: to rush something through, point the finger at those who dare question these provisions"
"What a way to make laws: to rush something through, point the finger at those who dare question these provisions"
November 26, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Earlier, @davidpocock.bsky.social calls out Plibersek for saying critics of the amendment (to cut ppl's welfare before they're guilty) "are on the side of rapists & murderers"
"What a way to make laws: to rush something through, point the finger at those who dare question these provisions"
"What a way to make laws: to rush something through, point the finger at those who dare question these provisions"
Reposted by Rodney Holmes
The news has been coming so fast, I did another later which might not otherwise see the light.
November 20, 2025 at 10:01 PM
The news has been coming so fast, I did another later which might not otherwise see the light.
Reposted by Rodney Holmes
"fear within the Labor caucus is leading to silence."
And that silence is leading to very bad policy.
The Silence of the Labor Lambs is just amplifying the voices of gambling, sports and media lobbyists [and so many others] who have successfully captured Albanese and his gutless Cabinet. #auspol
And that silence is leading to very bad policy.
The Silence of the Labor Lambs is just amplifying the voices of gambling, sports and media lobbyists [and so many others] who have successfully captured Albanese and his gutless Cabinet. #auspol
Andrew Wilkie has asked the PM to allow a free vote on banning gambling advertising and it appears many Labor MPs would support it.
'Broad, unspoken consensus': silent Labor MPs want action on gambling
Andrew Wilkie has asked the PM to allow a free vote on banning gambling advertising and it appears many Labor MPs would support it.
www.abc.net.au
November 7, 2025 at 7:34 PM
"fear within the Labor caucus is leading to silence."
And that silence is leading to very bad policy.
The Silence of the Labor Lambs is just amplifying the voices of gambling, sports and media lobbyists [and so many others] who have successfully captured Albanese and his gutless Cabinet. #auspol
And that silence is leading to very bad policy.
The Silence of the Labor Lambs is just amplifying the voices of gambling, sports and media lobbyists [and so many others] who have successfully captured Albanese and his gutless Cabinet. #auspol
Some very interesting faces from movies I've watched in the last couple of months. How many people / films do you recognise?
November 6, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Some very interesting faces from movies I've watched in the last couple of months. How many people / films do you recognise?
Reposted by Rodney Holmes
Gift horse.
My @smh @theage cartoon.
My @smh @theage cartoon.
November 4, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Gift horse.
My @smh @theage cartoon.
My @smh @theage cartoon.
Reposted by Rodney Holmes
The new Support at Home Program sees the elderly paying private operators per shower.
@sarahrussell.bsky.social on the neoliberal aged care program #auspol
michaelwest.com.au/pay-per-show...
@sarahrussell.bsky.social on the neoliberal aged care program #auspol
michaelwest.com.au/pay-per-show...
Pay per shower: fully-funded aged care turns market-driven aged support - Michael West
The new Support at Home Program for the elderly is introducing a 'free market' transactional aged care system. It's a retrograde step.
michaelwest.com.au
November 2, 2025 at 7:42 PM
The new Support at Home Program sees the elderly paying private operators per shower.
@sarahrussell.bsky.social on the neoliberal aged care program #auspol
michaelwest.com.au/pay-per-show...
@sarahrussell.bsky.social on the neoliberal aged care program #auspol
michaelwest.com.au/pay-per-show...
Reposted by Rodney Holmes
Another #AlboSellout 🤯
The new Support at Home Program sees the elderly paying private operators per shower.
@sarahrussell.bsky.social on the neoliberal aged care program #auspol
michaelwest.com.au/pay-per-show...
@sarahrussell.bsky.social on the neoliberal aged care program #auspol
michaelwest.com.au/pay-per-show...
Pay per shower: fully-funded aged care turns market-driven aged support - Michael West
The new Support at Home Program for the elderly is introducing a 'free market' transactional aged care system. It's a retrograde step.
michaelwest.com.au
November 2, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Another #AlboSellout 🤯
Reposted by Rodney Holmes
In the same month that the UN Commission of Inquiry came out and said that there is a genocide in Gaza, the Albanese Government handed over $20 million to an Israeli arms manufacturer that tests its weapons in Gaza.
October 24, 2025 at 9:05 PM
In the same month that the UN Commission of Inquiry came out and said that there is a genocide in Gaza, the Albanese Government handed over $20 million to an Israeli arms manufacturer that tests its weapons in Gaza.
Reposted by Rodney Holmes
The electorate voted for a senate that has a majority of ALP and Greens.
Murray Watt and the ALP are choosing instead to write laws that will please the LNP and mining companies.
This is not the outcome a majority of Australians voted for.
Murray Watt and the ALP are choosing instead to write laws that will please the LNP and mining companies.
This is not the outcome a majority of Australians voted for.
I’m getting weary of this. This government is representative of what the people of this place want. The argument is with all of us. Turning it into a constant personalised political snipe belittles the nature of the problem.
Thanks to Murray and his ALP pals, weather reports like this will become increasingly scary and weird
October 22, 2025 at 8:13 PM
The electorate voted for a senate that has a majority of ALP and Greens.
Murray Watt and the ALP are choosing instead to write laws that will please the LNP and mining companies.
This is not the outcome a majority of Australians voted for.
Murray Watt and the ALP are choosing instead to write laws that will please the LNP and mining companies.
This is not the outcome a majority of Australians voted for.
Reposted by Rodney Holmes
“The environment minister wants to pass a major re-write of federal nature laws this year, encouraging miners to lobby the Coalition to work with Labor to help rush it through parliament in the final three sitting weeks”
Just contemplate that sentence.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Just contemplate that sentence.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
With climate trigger axed Labor wants to rush new environmental laws through after ‘positive’ talks with Coalition
Proposed timeframe leaves 12 days to scrutinise most significant changes to national environmental protection regime since 1999
www.theguardian.com
October 16, 2025 at 8:39 PM
“The environment minister wants to pass a major re-write of federal nature laws this year, encouraging miners to lobby the Coalition to work with Labor to help rush it through parliament in the final three sitting weeks”
Just contemplate that sentence.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Just contemplate that sentence.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Reposted by Rodney Holmes
Always remember - The ALP do not need a single vote from an LNP Senator to pass laws.
“The environment minister wants to pass a major re-write of federal nature laws this year, encouraging miners to lobby the Coalition to work with Labor to help rush it through parliament in the final three sitting weeks”
Just contemplate that sentence.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Just contemplate that sentence.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
With climate trigger axed Labor wants to rush new environmental laws through after ‘positive’ talks with Coalition
Proposed timeframe leaves 12 days to scrutinise most significant changes to national environmental protection regime since 1999
www.theguardian.com
October 16, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Always remember - The ALP do not need a single vote from an LNP Senator to pass laws.
Reposted by Rodney Holmes
“Let’s cut through the spin: if the mining industry and the Liberals back this package, it says everything. It’s a deal for corporate profits, not a deal for nature or our climate”
The 'two-party system' delivers literally toxic policy driven by fossil fuel profiteers.
#ClimateCrisis #auspol
The 'two-party system' delivers literally toxic policy driven by fossil fuel profiteers.
#ClimateCrisis #auspol
With climate trigger axed Labor wants to rush new environmental laws through after ‘positive’ talks with Coalition
With climate trigger axed Labor wants to rush new environmental laws through after ‘positive’ talks with Coalition
Proposed timeframe leaves 12 days to scrutinise most significant changes to national environmental protection regime since 1999
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The environment minister wants to pass a major re-write of federal nature laws this year, encouraging miners to lobby the Coalition to work with Labor to help rush it through parliament in the final three sitting weeks.
Murray Watt relayed the message in private talks with mining industry leaders in Perth this week after giving a speech promising faster project approvals under a planned overhaul of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act). Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
October 16, 2025 at 7:37 PM
“Let’s cut through the spin: if the mining industry and the Liberals back this package, it says everything. It’s a deal for corporate profits, not a deal for nature or our climate”
The 'two-party system' delivers literally toxic policy driven by fossil fuel profiteers.
#ClimateCrisis #auspol
The 'two-party system' delivers literally toxic policy driven by fossil fuel profiteers.
#ClimateCrisis #auspol
Reposted by Rodney Holmes
Two months ago, Premier Peter Malinauskas promised his government would act on a recommendation from the South Australian Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence to 'immediately' pass its proposed draft changes to alcohol laws.
October 15, 2025 at 5:05 AM
Two months ago, Premier Peter Malinauskas promised his government would act on a recommendation from the South Australian Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence to 'immediately' pass its proposed draft changes to alcohol laws.
Reposted by Rodney Holmes
We know the alcohol industry has a long history of being in the ears of politicians when they propose new laws that would affect their profits - and that's unacceptable when women and children's lives are impacted every day by violence exacerbated by alcohol products.
October 15, 2025 at 5:05 AM
We know the alcohol industry has a long history of being in the ears of politicians when they propose new laws that would affect their profits - and that's unacceptable when women and children's lives are impacted every day by violence exacerbated by alcohol products.
Reposted by Rodney Holmes
As of now there is nothing Albanese's govt has done that has changed the country in any structural way.
No change at all to how the fundamental debates of the nation are addressed.
No change at all to how the fundamental debates of the nation are addressed.
October 13, 2025 at 1:38 AM
As of now there is nothing Albanese's govt has done that has changed the country in any structural way.
No change at all to how the fundamental debates of the nation are addressed.
No change at all to how the fundamental debates of the nation are addressed.
Reposted by Rodney Holmes
"That's what I do."
October 13, 2025 at 2:00 AM
"That's what I do."
Reposted by Rodney Holmes
6News's @leopuglisi6.bsky.social says 6News would not exist if the social media ban was effect when he started it at age 11 in year 6 in 2019.
October 13, 2025 at 1:35 AM
6News's @leopuglisi6.bsky.social says 6News would not exist if the social media ban was effect when he started it at age 11 in year 6 in 2019.
Reposted by Rodney Holmes
Props to Project Rockit for bringing an actual young person, Caitlin Blanch, to speak to the committee given the policies are about them but mostly excludes them.
October 13, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Props to Project Rockit for bringing an actual young person, Caitlin Blanch, to speak to the committee given the policies are about them but mostly excludes them.
Reposted by Rodney Holmes
So affordable housing, in the middle of a housing crisis, is deemed to be “red tape”??? You couldn’t make this up if you tried. Marie Antoinette wasn’t as dense nor as self-centred as these bottom-feeding parasites.. #auspol
📢 The government this week announced developers would no longer need to include social and affordable housing in the Woolloongabba Priority Development Area.
‘Good planning, not red tape’: Opponents speak out as Gabba housing quota scrapped
www.theage.com.au
October 10, 2025 at 9:11 AM
So affordable housing, in the middle of a housing crisis, is deemed to be “red tape”??? You couldn’t make this up if you tried. Marie Antoinette wasn’t as dense nor as self-centred as these bottom-feeding parasites.. #auspol