Public health researcher. Director Aged Care Matters. Founder of Progressives of the Peninsula and Independent 4 Flinders. Owner of Ash Barky

Mornington Peninsula, Victoria
My take on Butler's recent announcement. Let's not forget the providers who are ripping off the #NDIS (and #agedcare) are not only disadvantaging vulnerable people but are also stealing from the taxpayer. #auspol
Problem with NDIS is neo-lib structure which creates the rorts. Oped by health sector expert @AgedMatters #auspol #butler reforms michaelwest.com.au/ndis-rort…
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History shows us that rorting is rife when govt fund the private sector to deliver a public good. Outsourcing public services to the private sector is central to neoliberal economics. The idea is that the private sector operates more efficiently and cheaply than govts. 1/2
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However, rather than operate within a genuine free market, child care, aged care and vocational education providers have developed business models based on government subsidies. Dishonest providers are often able to outsmart apathetic government bureaucrats. It was ever thus.
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Without ANAO performance audits, the public would not have known about Liberal govt rorts (e.g. sports rorts). Surely our national auditor should have guaranteed funding and be protected by legislation from political interference.#auspol
The sheer waste is shocking. 21 Defence projects, $37B in blow-outs. So govt orders Auditor-General to stop auditing. @MrRexPatrick used to be on the Audit Committee #auspol michaelwest.com.au/biggest-l…
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#Robodebt showed automation in govt decision-making leads to harm. Yet @healthgovau pushing ahead with automated aged care assessment tool. "The algorithm that determines how much support an older person needs is crude, amateur & not fit for purpose." @k_eagar Robo-AgedCare?
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#NACC has redefined Westminster ministerial responsibility. No longer does a minister bear ultimate responsibility for the actions of its ministry or department.  NACC has given Ministers a 'get out of jail free' card. Shameful. #RobodebtRC
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Whoever we are – Indigenous, descendants of settler Australians, migrants or refugees – we all have a stake in our nations future. It is beholden on us to find a date to celebrate '#AustraliaDay that is inclusive of all Australians. #auspol
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Is it a "bluff bill"? Excerpt from Richard Dennis' book "Dead Centre: How political pragmatism is killing us". @MichaelWestBiz
Albo's Omnibus Crash. Is it by design? Hate speech laws highly flawed, plus the wash-up of the Adelaide Festival debacle #auspol youtu.be/6RNFS5m1CdE?si=PuRO…
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This is a beautiful piece by Ahmed Ouf that expresses love and solidarity. "Grassroots engagement is the only way forward...We must resist efforts to weaponise grief or silence necessary conversations." Shame on @smh for removing it from their website
On Wednesday the @smh published an opinion piece by Cumberland City councillor Ahmed Ouf about Muslim-Jewish solidarity in the wake of Bondi. The piece was quickly taken down. We're publishing it here in full. deepcutnews.com/p/ahmed-ouf-…
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Thank you David Lesser. "Who do we choose to be in the midst of this national tragedy? The ones who pick up the guns – figuratively or literally – to cause harm to others, or the ones who run towards danger to save them?" 💔 #bondibeach
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Since the #NACC began, Brereton’s behaviour has been head-line news rather than the anti-corruption work the NACC is doing. The public expects the head of the NACC to be beyond reproach. Brereton's behaviour does not pass the pub test. @DavidShoebridge @helenhainesindi #auspol
Concerns about integrity at the top of the NACC are piling up. Undisclosed defence work, corrected evidence and rising complaints have put real pressure on the agency’s leadership, writes Sarah Russell ... #auspol #NACC #Accountability #Integrity johnmenadue.com/post/2025/12…
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Dr Sarah Russell retweeted
Love is always the answer. I won’t be deleting any of the hate anymore. I’ll leave it here for all to see. You’ll never change me, I hope and pray that one day you’ll see that we’re all equal and precious.
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When the #NACC legislation included the role of an Inspector, who would have thought Gail Furness SC would need to spend so much time investigating the behaviour of Paul Brereton, the NACC Commissioner? @DavidShoebridge @helenhainesindi @MichaelWestBiz #auspol
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The Joint Committee on the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is scheduled for this Thursday December 11 at 9:00 am. Tune in here youtube.com/watch?v=8eeAiNSp… #auspol #NACC @MichaelWestBiz
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How bizarre. The legislation requires MPs and Senators to "pray" for the removal of the NACC Commissioner. @MichaelWestBiz @RonniSalt @jommy_tee @QuentinDempster @AmyRemeikis
Why Paul Brereton, the chairman of the NACC, has to fall on his sword. By @AgedMatters He is before Senate Ests next week. Another year would be a travesty #auspol #robodebt michaelwest.com.au/enough-is…
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I followed the trail of the NACC's Commissioner giving misleading information to Parliament, the Attorney General, the CEO of the NACC and the public. For those wanting a deeper dive into Brereton betraying our trust, go to undueinfluence.substack.com/ @MichaelWestBiz #auspol
Why Paul Brereton, the chairman of the NACC, has to fall on his sword. By @AgedMatters He is before Senate Ests next week. Another year would be a travesty #auspol #robodebt michaelwest.com.au/enough-is…
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