Dr Alex Wodak AM
@alexwodak.bsky.social
Retired physician. Live on Gadigal land. Always was, always will be. Advocate: reduce greenhouse gas emissions ASAP; drug law reform; harm reduction; smoke free nicotine; human rights; social justice; evidence based policy. Born when ~280 CO2 ppm
Australia adopts vape & smoking policy Mission Creep on steroids! New policies are introduced every few months in yet another sign of policy failure. But more govt doubles down, sooner policy collapse will happen #auspol
@alexwodak.bsky.social @drbfreeman.bsky.social @melissasweetdr.bsky.social @squigglyrick.bsky.social
“This cognitive dissonance at a policy level, a refusal to connect cause and effect because doing so would mean admitting failure.”
www.aliveadvocacymovement.com/post/when-he...
“This cognitive dissonance at a policy level, a refusal to connect cause and effect because doing so would mean admitting failure.”
www.aliveadvocacymovement.com/post/when-he...
When Health Becomes Policing: The Minns Government’s War on Landlords
When that black market grows (as it inevitably does), the government blames “greedy retailers,” “criminal syndicates,” or now, “negligent landlords.” But it never blames the prohibitionist policies th...
www.aliveadvocacymovement.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Australia adopts vape & smoking policy Mission Creep on steroids! New policies are introduced every few months in yet another sign of policy failure. But more govt doubles down, sooner policy collapse will happen #auspol
Reposted by Dr Alex Wodak AM
@alexwodak.bsky.social @drbfreeman.bsky.social @melissasweetdr.bsky.social @squigglyrick.bsky.social
“This cognitive dissonance at a policy level, a refusal to connect cause and effect because doing so would mean admitting failure.”
www.aliveadvocacymovement.com/post/when-he...
“This cognitive dissonance at a policy level, a refusal to connect cause and effect because doing so would mean admitting failure.”
www.aliveadvocacymovement.com/post/when-he...
When Health Becomes Policing: The Minns Government’s War on Landlords
When that black market grows (as it inevitably does), the government blames “greedy retailers,” “criminal syndicates,” or now, “negligent landlords.” But it never blames the prohibitionist policies th...
www.aliveadvocacymovement.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:53 AM
@alexwodak.bsky.social @drbfreeman.bsky.social @melissasweetdr.bsky.social @squigglyrick.bsky.social
“This cognitive dissonance at a policy level, a refusal to connect cause and effect because doing so would mean admitting failure.”
www.aliveadvocacymovement.com/post/when-he...
“This cognitive dissonance at a policy level, a refusal to connect cause and effect because doing so would mean admitting failure.”
www.aliveadvocacymovement.com/post/when-he...
This account of Richo’s gross #corruption strengthens case for beefing up Australia’s National Anti-Corruption Commission which seems under powered & not performing #auspol @actinosproject.bsky.social @m1ngthemerciless.bsky.social @paulrgregoire.bsky.social
www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...
www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...
Long lunches, Swiss bank accounts and a kangaroo scrotum: My decades pursuing Graham Richardson
For a reporter whose career has been spent uncovering crime and corruption, the Labor senator was the one who got away.
www.smh.com.au
November 11, 2025 at 7:06 AM
This account of Richo’s gross #corruption strengthens case for beefing up Australia’s National Anti-Corruption Commission which seems under powered & not performing #auspol @actinosproject.bsky.social @m1ngthemerciless.bsky.social @paulrgregoire.bsky.social
www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...
www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...
‘in 2004, it took the world a whole year to install a gigawatt of solar-power capacity; in 2010, it took a month; in 2016, a week’
www.smh.com.au/environment/...
www.smh.com.au/environment/...
If this is the world’s most hopeful chart, then why are we staring at catastrophe?
It starts with great news – but it gets worse. And in Brazil, world leaders hope progress can be accelerated on slowing a catastrophe.
www.smh.com.au
November 11, 2025 at 6:36 AM
‘in 2004, it took the world a whole year to install a gigawatt of solar-power capacity; in 2010, it took a month; in 2016, a week’
www.smh.com.au/environment/...
www.smh.com.au/environment/...
Reposted by Dr Alex Wodak AM
It's time for Australia to send a clear message to our nation, our region and the world that nuclear weapons are a red line. We call for the government to set a timeline for the signature of the TPNW in this term of parliament
#nuclearban
#nuclearban
The PM once championed a nuclear weapons ban. What happened?
Anthony Albanese and Richard Marles once pledged Labor would sign a treaty to ban nuclear weapons. Why have they walked this back in government?
www.abc.net.au
November 3, 2025 at 10:27 AM
It's time for Australia to send a clear message to our nation, our region and the world that nuclear weapons are a red line. We call for the government to set a timeline for the signature of the TPNW in this term of parliament
#nuclearban
#nuclearban
Well worth seeing ‘A House of Dynamite’ — on @netflix - reminder how close we are to nuclear catastrophe.
Read the full review via substack: www.icanaustralia.substack.com
#AHouseOfDynamite #NuclearWeapons #NuclearBan
Read the full review via substack: www.icanaustralia.substack.com
#AHouseOfDynamite #NuclearWeapons #NuclearBan
November 11, 2025 at 5:41 AM
Well worth seeing ‘A House of Dynamite’ — on @netflix - reminder how close we are to nuclear catastrophe.
Read the full review via substack: www.icanaustralia.substack.com
#AHouseOfDynamite #NuclearWeapons #NuclearBan
Read the full review via substack: www.icanaustralia.substack.com
#AHouseOfDynamite #NuclearWeapons #NuclearBan
Reposted by Dr Alex Wodak AM
ICAN Co-Chair Marianne Hanson reviews A House of Dynamite — Kathryn Bigelow’s chilling new film on @netflix that reminds us how close we remain to nuclear catastrophe.
Read the full review via our substack: www.icanaustralia.substack.com
#AHouseOfDynamite #NuclearWeapons #NuclearBan
Read the full review via our substack: www.icanaustralia.substack.com
#AHouseOfDynamite #NuclearWeapons #NuclearBan
November 11, 2025 at 4:24 AM
ICAN Co-Chair Marianne Hanson reviews A House of Dynamite — Kathryn Bigelow’s chilling new film on @netflix that reminds us how close we remain to nuclear catastrophe.
Read the full review via our substack: www.icanaustralia.substack.com
#AHouseOfDynamite #NuclearWeapons #NuclearBan
Read the full review via our substack: www.icanaustralia.substack.com
#AHouseOfDynamite #NuclearWeapons #NuclearBan
Reposted by Dr Alex Wodak AM
Never forget this most extraordinary rendition of the Whitlam Dismissal from the "Gillies Report" ABC TV
Still thrilled to have been a bit player in the BEST of Australian satire!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp7f...
Still thrilled to have been a bit player in the BEST of Australian satire!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp7f...
The Gillies Report Il Dismissale
YouTube video by NockturneSA
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Never forget this most extraordinary rendition of the Whitlam Dismissal from the "Gillies Report" ABC TV
Still thrilled to have been a bit player in the BEST of Australian satire!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp7f...
Still thrilled to have been a bit player in the BEST of Australian satire!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp7f...
Australia now catching up on shortage of residential buildings. Must do better with social housing in new buildings. Higher % of building & for longer duration than current tokenism. @m1ngthemerciless.bsky.social @actinosproject.bsky.social @quentindempster.bsky.social @paulbongiorno.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 5:23 AM
Australia now catching up on shortage of residential buildings. Must do better with social housing in new buildings. Higher % of building & for longer duration than current tokenism. @m1ngthemerciless.bsky.social @actinosproject.bsky.social @quentindempster.bsky.social @paulbongiorno.bsky.social
James Watson won Nobel Prize for work on DNA. But he was a racist & misogynist. Vape opponents say if you support vapes that’s agreeing with Big Tobacco so you must be wrong. Doesn’t that mean we should also reject Watson’s DNA work? @jgitchell.bsky.social @chancethegardener.bsky.social
A profound analysis of DNA co-discoverer Jim Watson. Best piece of science writing I've seen in a long time.
"To remain on the stage and keep receiving what he viewed as his due, he therefore needed a new act."
By the late Sharon Begley @statnews.com
www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/j...
"To remain on the stage and keep receiving what he viewed as his due, he therefore needed a new act."
By the late Sharon Begley @statnews.com
www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/j...
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:10 AM
James Watson won Nobel Prize for work on DNA. But he was a racist & misogynist. Vape opponents say if you support vapes that’s agreeing with Big Tobacco so you must be wrong. Doesn’t that mean we should also reject Watson’s DNA work? @jgitchell.bsky.social @chancethegardener.bsky.social
Only matter of time before anti tobacco harm reduction jihad collapses. Who would have guessed in 1985 USSR & its satellites would all be gone in ~5 years? @chancethegardener.bsky.social @jgitchell.bsky.social @jamomartin.bsky.social @publichealthaus.bsky.social
@actinosproject.bsky.social
@actinosproject.bsky.social
The FCTC was supposed to help reduce tobacco harm. Instead, it’s been turned into a political weapon
@alexwodak.bsky.social @drbfreeman.bsky.social @melissasweetdr.bsky.social @squigglyrick.bsky.social
@alexwodak.bsky.social @drbfreeman.bsky.social @melissasweetdr.bsky.social @squigglyrick.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Only matter of time before anti tobacco harm reduction jihad collapses. Who would have guessed in 1985 USSR & its satellites would all be gone in ~5 years? @chancethegardener.bsky.social @jgitchell.bsky.social @jamomartin.bsky.social @publichealthaus.bsky.social
@actinosproject.bsky.social
@actinosproject.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr Alex Wodak AM
The FCTC was supposed to help reduce tobacco harm. Instead, it’s been turned into a political weapon
@alexwodak.bsky.social @drbfreeman.bsky.social @melissasweetdr.bsky.social @squigglyrick.bsky.social
@alexwodak.bsky.social @drbfreeman.bsky.social @melissasweetdr.bsky.social @squigglyrick.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 1:20 AM
The FCTC was supposed to help reduce tobacco harm. Instead, it’s been turned into a political weapon
@alexwodak.bsky.social @drbfreeman.bsky.social @melissasweetdr.bsky.social @squigglyrick.bsky.social
@alexwodak.bsky.social @drbfreeman.bsky.social @melissasweetdr.bsky.social @squigglyrick.bsky.social
In 2010 number people in world taking safer, smoke-free nicotine options was ~zero. 2025 >140 million. Philip Morris International (PMI), British American Tobacco (BAT), Japan Tobacco International (JTI) & Imperial Brands now make, sell safer, smoke-free nicotine options @jgitchell.bsky.social
But last I checked, of the 15 largest Big Tobacco companies in the world, only a handful were embracing that shift to lower-risk products. I can list them on one hand and still have fingers left over... waiting.
November 10, 2025 at 11:06 PM
In 2010 number people in world taking safer, smoke-free nicotine options was ~zero. 2025 >140 million. Philip Morris International (PMI), British American Tobacco (BAT), Japan Tobacco International (JTI) & Imperial Brands now make, sell safer, smoke-free nicotine options @jgitchell.bsky.social
Many of people hurt badly by Australia’s indulgence to gambling industry are low income & minority immigrant populations which Labor should be duty bound to try to help. Albanese government has no pressure to curb gambling excess from weak, divided opposition. @actinosproject.bsky.social
Did you get that people??
Australia, with 0.5% of world population, has 25% OF THE WORLD’S POKER MACHINES!!!
And THIS LABOR govt can’t even stop the gambling industry from advertising !!
Albanese is a @&$)&&?ing @@$&)(&!!!!
Sorry for the language. I just couldn’t hold it in. 🤪🤮🫣
Australia, with 0.5% of world population, has 25% OF THE WORLD’S POKER MACHINES!!!
And THIS LABOR govt can’t even stop the gambling industry from advertising !!
Albanese is a @&$)&&?ing @@$&)(&!!!!
Sorry for the language. I just couldn’t hold it in. 🤪🤮🫣
Australia #pokermachine capital of world; 0.5% of world’s population Oz has 25% of globe’s poker machines. Pokies have high rates of personal addiction aggregated into community distress, especially in lower socioeconomic areas #auspol
#Murphy Ban gambling ads!
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
#Murphy Ban gambling ads!
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
November 10, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Many of people hurt badly by Australia’s indulgence to gambling industry are low income & minority immigrant populations which Labor should be duty bound to try to help. Albanese government has no pressure to curb gambling excess from weak, divided opposition. @actinosproject.bsky.social
Prime Minister @albomp.bsky.social
absolutely right to say Gough Whitlam’s dismissal was not a constitutional crisis but “a calculated plot” to remove a democratically elected government via partisan ambush
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
absolutely right to say Gough Whitlam’s dismissal was not a constitutional crisis but “a calculated plot” to remove a democratically elected government via partisan ambush
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Gough Whitlam’s dismissal ‘a calculated plot’ to remove elected government via partisan ambush, PM says
Albanese says ‘old suffocating conservatism’ of Menzies era reached out of its political grave to remove a government chosen by voters
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Prime Minister @albomp.bsky.social
absolutely right to say Gough Whitlam’s dismissal was not a constitutional crisis but “a calculated plot” to remove a democratically elected government via partisan ambush
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
absolutely right to say Gough Whitlam’s dismissal was not a constitutional crisis but “a calculated plot” to remove a democratically elected government via partisan ambush
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Australia #pokermachine capital of world; 0.5% of world’s population Oz has 25% of globe’s poker machines. Pokies have high rates of personal addiction aggregated into community distress, especially in lower socioeconomic areas #auspol
#Murphy Ban gambling ads!
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
#Murphy Ban gambling ads!
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Australia’s poker machine story started 70 years ago. We were warned of harms from the beginning
Australia is the poker machine capital of the world. But from nearly as soon as they were installed, people voiced their opposition to the pokies
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:08 AM
Australia #pokermachine capital of world; 0.5% of world’s population Oz has 25% of globe’s poker machines. Pokies have high rates of personal addiction aggregated into community distress, especially in lower socioeconomic areas #auspol
#Murphy Ban gambling ads!
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
#Murphy Ban gambling ads!
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
“Research confirms eliminating fossil fuels makes solid commercial sense, even in the hardest-to-abate sectors. Eliminating fossil fuels isn’t a cost, but a huge opportunity. We’ve reached game-changing tipping point – renewables now cheapest source of power
reneweconomy.com.au/andrew-forre...
reneweconomy.com.au/andrew-forre...
reneweconomy.com.au
November 10, 2025 at 4:40 AM
“Research confirms eliminating fossil fuels makes solid commercial sense, even in the hardest-to-abate sectors. Eliminating fossil fuels isn’t a cost, but a huge opportunity. We’ve reached game-changing tipping point – renewables now cheapest source of power
reneweconomy.com.au/andrew-forre...
reneweconomy.com.au/andrew-forre...
Sale of illegal cigarettes in Australia doubled since 2022, from 3.1 billion to a whopping 6.6 billion by end 2025. Not sustainable!! @aliveadvocacy.bsky.social @algore09algor.bsky.social @ianamossyd.bsky.social @jmenezes.bsky.social
share.google/hBRalsQwrHjm...
share.google/hBRalsQwrHjm...
Major tobacco company blames Albanese govt’s excise for black market boom
British American Tobacco Australia (BATA) has blamed the Albanese government’s enormous excise for the unprecedented surge in black market business and multi-billion-dollar revenue losses.
share.google
November 10, 2025 at 4:25 AM
Sale of illegal cigarettes in Australia doubled since 2022, from 3.1 billion to a whopping 6.6 billion by end 2025. Not sustainable!! @aliveadvocacy.bsky.social @algore09algor.bsky.social @ianamossyd.bsky.social @jmenezes.bsky.social
share.google/hBRalsQwrHjm...
share.google/hBRalsQwrHjm...
Australia’s legal cig market has decreased by 2/3, from about 11 billion cigarettes sold in 2022 to 3.5 billion by end of 2025. @aliveadvocacy.bsky.social @algore09algor.bsky.social @ianamossyd.bsky.social
share.google/A6TJcvx9mRhj...
share.google/A6TJcvx9mRhj...
‘The crisis we’re in’: Australia’s tobacco underbelly dwarfs legal market
Astonishing new figures have revealed the scale of Australia’s tobacco underbelly, which will dwarf the legal market after doubling in volume in just three years.
share.google
November 10, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Australia’s legal cig market has decreased by 2/3, from about 11 billion cigarettes sold in 2022 to 3.5 billion by end of 2025. @aliveadvocacy.bsky.social @algore09algor.bsky.social @ianamossyd.bsky.social
share.google/A6TJcvx9mRhj...
share.google/A6TJcvx9mRhj...
Australia concentrates on digging stuff up from ground & selling it to other countries. Spend SFA on universities
Economic Complexity Index (ECI) is a holistic measure of the knowledge/productive capabilities of a country. ECI indicates a lot about long term prosperity and resilience. Here’s how Australia is trending compared with our Asian neighbours. 1/2 #StopJustExportingRocks #auspol
November 10, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Australia concentrates on digging stuff up from ground & selling it to other countries. Spend SFA on universities
Very helpful analysis. Smokers & traded tobacco companies are already switching quite rapidly from high to low risk nicotine options despite strong headwinds of massive misinformation & government indifference/hostility. @chancethegardener.bsky.social
I created my first Substack post, based on my opening remarks at the #FDLI Tobacco and Nicotine Product Conference on 28-29 Oct.
Please read and help me get less wrong.
open.substack.com/pub/joegitch...
Please read and help me get less wrong.
open.substack.com/pub/joegitch...
Setting goals for nicotine regulation and policy
Using Regulatory Stances to move forward
open.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Very helpful analysis. Smokers & traded tobacco companies are already switching quite rapidly from high to low risk nicotine options despite strong headwinds of massive misinformation & government indifference/hostility. @chancethegardener.bsky.social
So much compelling evidence available now #vaping much lower risk than smoking & one of most effective quit smoking aids available. Great Volkow now acknowledges this. @sanho.bsky.social
The canary in the coal mine: LUNG CANCER
In the 1950s, this was the evidence "signal" that finally convinced public health cigarettes kill people.
Nicotine vapes entered UK & US markets 18 years ago.
2007-2024: adult vaping ↑ ; adult smoking ↓
...and lung cancer continues to drop, so?
In the 1950s, this was the evidence "signal" that finally convinced public health cigarettes kill people.
Nicotine vapes entered UK & US markets 18 years ago.
2007-2024: adult vaping ↑ ; adult smoking ↓
...and lung cancer continues to drop, so?
November 9, 2025 at 9:49 PM
So much compelling evidence available now #vaping much lower risk than smoking & one of most effective quit smoking aids available. Great Volkow now acknowledges this. @sanho.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr Alex Wodak AM
The canary in the coal mine: LUNG CANCER
In the 1950s, this was the evidence "signal" that finally convinced public health cigarettes kill people.
Nicotine vapes entered UK & US markets 18 years ago.
2007-2024: adult vaping ↑ ; adult smoking ↓
...and lung cancer continues to drop, so?
In the 1950s, this was the evidence "signal" that finally convinced public health cigarettes kill people.
Nicotine vapes entered UK & US markets 18 years ago.
2007-2024: adult vaping ↑ ; adult smoking ↓
...and lung cancer continues to drop, so?
November 7, 2025 at 4:44 PM
The canary in the coal mine: LUNG CANCER
In the 1950s, this was the evidence "signal" that finally convinced public health cigarettes kill people.
Nicotine vapes entered UK & US markets 18 years ago.
2007-2024: adult vaping ↑ ; adult smoking ↓
...and lung cancer continues to drop, so?
In the 1950s, this was the evidence "signal" that finally convinced public health cigarettes kill people.
Nicotine vapes entered UK & US markets 18 years ago.
2007-2024: adult vaping ↑ ; adult smoking ↓
...and lung cancer continues to drop, so?
Time APSAD made stand to clearly support harm reduction for all drugs including tobacco. Many people struggling with alcohol & other drug problems die prematurely from smoking related condition #APSAD25
November 9, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Time APSAD made stand to clearly support harm reduction for all drugs including tobacco. Many people struggling with alcohol & other drug problems die prematurely from smoking related condition #APSAD25
Hastie & pals just delaying Liberals return to government. His views toxic for overwhelming majority of voters. ‘A divided house cannot stand’. #auspol @m1ngthemerciless.bsky.social
It’s too late George (Brandis). Andrew Hastie (Lib., Canning) has already jumped the shark. He’s joined the illiberal Faragists and Trumpists. The key question: does Sussan Ley have the party room numbers to survive this week, then months, years to the 2028 election?
November 9, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Hastie & pals just delaying Liberals return to government. His views toxic for overwhelming majority of voters. ‘A divided house cannot stand’. #auspol @m1ngthemerciless.bsky.social