Chris Salisbury
@chrissalisbury.bsky.social
recovering academic, hopeless nostalgic, unrepentant pop culture tragic | longtime Brisvegan
Reposted by Chris Salisbury
Today's blog post is inspired by the discussion this week of the 1975 Dismissal. It looks at how Senate majorities have changed since federation, and the role of electoral systems in shaping them. I also put a case that it's multi-party politics that protects us from a repeat of 1975 #auspol
How the Senate has changed since 1975
There has been a great deal of focus this week on the events of the Dismissal of Gough Whitlam’s Labor government, fifty years ago last Tuesday. I have been particularly drawn to examining ho…
www.tallyroom.com.au
November 13, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Today's blog post is inspired by the discussion this week of the 1975 Dismissal. It looks at how Senate majorities have changed since federation, and the role of electoral systems in shaping them. I also put a case that it's multi-party politics that protects us from a repeat of 1975 #auspol
Reposted by Chris Salisbury
The Pub at the End of the University
As universities implode, the world still needs us.
open.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Reposted by Chris Salisbury
Thanks to the Job Ready Graduates scheme, an arts degree today will cost over $50,000. How have five decades of government policy taken us from free education to this?
How did Australian universities go from free education to $50,000 arts degrees in 50 years?
theconversation.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Thanks to the Job Ready Graduates scheme, an arts degree today will cost over $50,000. How have five decades of government policy taken us from free education to this?
Freshly delivered! It’s a busy time for 50th anniversaries… look forward to diving into these pages and reminiscing on five decades of 4ZZZ radio on Brisbane’s airwaves 📻 🤘 @4zzzradio.bsky.social
November 12, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Freshly delivered! It’s a busy time for 50th anniversaries… look forward to diving into these pages and reminiscing on five decades of 4ZZZ radio on Brisbane’s airwaves 📻 🤘 @4zzzradio.bsky.social
Me too, screaming goat pillow. Me too…
Look, I know that fast fashion is terrible and I try to buy nothing new and repair what I have whenever possible. But my normal resistance to Temu ads is utterly undone by this objectively incredible item
November 12, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Me too, screaming goat pillow. Me too…
Reposted by Chris Salisbury
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 11, 2025 at 11:45 PM
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...
Reposted by Chris Salisbury
Opinion | If there is not a legal principle that Nazis have no rights, it’s time we created it, writes Michael Bradley.
It's no accident that Nazis rallied in Sydney. Police waved them through — and now Minns wants to punish us all
The existing law in NSW is more than adequate to have avoided the images of Nazis outside state parliament over the weekend.
www.crikey.com.au
November 11, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Opinion | If there is not a legal principle that Nazis have no rights, it’s time we created it, writes Michael Bradley.
Reposted by Chris Salisbury
Pictured: Sir John Kerr passes his responsibilities as Governor General of Papua New Guinea to Sir John Guise, September 16 1975. In his speech, Kerr welcomed how PNG independence was achieved peacefully and democratically, in accordance with the constitution.
Kerr's life was otherwise uneventful.
Kerr's life was otherwise uneventful.
November 11, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Pictured: Sir John Kerr passes his responsibilities as Governor General of Papua New Guinea to Sir John Guise, September 16 1975. In his speech, Kerr welcomed how PNG independence was achieved peacefully and democratically, in accordance with the constitution.
Kerr's life was otherwise uneventful.
Kerr's life was otherwise uneventful.
Tired: Whitlam dismissal
Inspired: Whitlam’s dismissal of Albert Field’s brief but impactful political career as Queensland senator (or ‘rat’, depending) in the mad months of late 1975. For Whitlam, “an individual of the utmost obscurity, from which he rose and to which he sank with equal speed” 🔥
Inspired: Whitlam’s dismissal of Albert Field’s brief but impactful political career as Queensland senator (or ‘rat’, depending) in the mad months of late 1975. For Whitlam, “an individual of the utmost obscurity, from which he rose and to which he sank with equal speed” 🔥
November 11, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Tired: Whitlam dismissal
Inspired: Whitlam’s dismissal of Albert Field’s brief but impactful political career as Queensland senator (or ‘rat’, depending) in the mad months of late 1975. For Whitlam, “an individual of the utmost obscurity, from which he rose and to which he sank with equal speed” 🔥
Inspired: Whitlam’s dismissal of Albert Field’s brief but impactful political career as Queensland senator (or ‘rat’, depending) in the mad months of late 1975. For Whitlam, “an individual of the utmost obscurity, from which he rose and to which he sank with equal speed” 🔥
Reposted by Chris Salisbury
My post on Gough: "Gough dreamed of a country that never was, and asked why not?"
thepoint.com.au/opinions/251...
thepoint.com.au/opinions/251...
Gough dreamed of a country that never was, and asked why not?
The point.com.au
thepoint.com.au
November 10, 2025 at 9:49 PM
My post on Gough: "Gough dreamed of a country that never was, and asked why not?"
thepoint.com.au/opinions/251...
thepoint.com.au/opinions/251...
Reposted by Chris Salisbury
Currently doing some marking. A reminder to everyone involved in archives and collections: digitisation is not preservation. If I digitise a box of records and put the files on a USB stick I haven't preserved a thing. It's all about what you do with the files post-digitisation. #archives #digipres
November 10, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Watched the ABC’s ‘Civic Duty’ show. Hoping that in retrospectives on the Dismissal and poring over the Whitlam government’s legacy there’s recognition for the advent of the Australian Electoral Office, statutory office forerunner of the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) - a national treasure 🗳️
November 10, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Watched the ABC’s ‘Civic Duty’ show. Hoping that in retrospectives on the Dismissal and poring over the Whitlam government’s legacy there’s recognition for the advent of the Australian Electoral Office, statutory office forerunner of the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) - a national treasure 🗳️
Reposted by Chris Salisbury
Tomorrow is the 140th anniversary of Melbourne's first cable tram.
It's been 85 years since the last cable tram ran, and they're largely forgotten now but they laid the foundations of today's extensive electric tram network.
Nice story by Ishkander Razak
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
It's been 85 years since the last cable tram ran, and they're largely forgotten now but they laid the foundations of today's extensive electric tram network.
Nice story by Ishkander Razak
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
The public transport punt that changed Melbourne
Melbourne's history with trams goes back 140 years. The city got its first tram in 1885 and the fleet has grown to become the world's largest tram network.
www.abc.net.au
November 10, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Tomorrow is the 140th anniversary of Melbourne's first cable tram.
It's been 85 years since the last cable tram ran, and they're largely forgotten now but they laid the foundations of today's extensive electric tram network.
Nice story by Ishkander Razak
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
It's been 85 years since the last cable tram ran, and they're largely forgotten now but they laid the foundations of today's extensive electric tram network.
Nice story by Ishkander Razak
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
Reposted by Chris Salisbury
I’m honoured to be featured alongside some of Australia’s biggest names in wonkdom in the summer issue of Inflection Points.
My paper is the culmination of 4 years work on declining civic participation — and why other researchers into the phenomenon have a blind spot for political parties.
My paper is the culmination of 4 years work on declining civic participation — and why other researchers into the phenomenon have a blind spot for political parties.
November 9, 2025 at 8:47 PM
I’m honoured to be featured alongside some of Australia’s biggest names in wonkdom in the summer issue of Inflection Points.
My paper is the culmination of 4 years work on declining civic participation — and why other researchers into the phenomenon have a blind spot for political parties.
My paper is the culmination of 4 years work on declining civic participation — and why other researchers into the phenomenon have a blind spot for political parties.
Reposted by Chris Salisbury
It’s that time of year when too much Whitlam is barely enough! Here’s my addition to the fray:
theconversation.com/extraordinar...
theconversation.com/extraordinar...
Extraordinary and occasionally inept: before The Dismissal, the Whitlam government changed Australia forever
With a bold reform agenda and occasional administrative chaos, Whitlam’s three-year government had, and continues to have, a profound effect on Australian life.
theconversation.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:43 PM
It’s that time of year when too much Whitlam is barely enough! Here’s my addition to the fray:
theconversation.com/extraordinar...
theconversation.com/extraordinar...
Reposted by Chris Salisbury
Anne Twomey is turning into a YouTube machine with her series on the dismissal of the Whitlam government—and now she's promising "a special video in a unique location" for the 50th anniversary on Tuesday. Constitutional and political history fans lesssgoooooo
Constitutional Clarion
This channel is about constitutional matters - largely Australian, but sometimes broader international constitutional issues. It is conducted by Anne Twomey, who is a Professor Emerita of the Univers...
www.youtube.com
November 9, 2025 at 5:26 AM
Anne Twomey is turning into a YouTube machine with her series on the dismissal of the Whitlam government—and now she's promising "a special video in a unique location" for the 50th anniversary on Tuesday. Constitutional and political history fans lesssgoooooo
If you see this, post an album cover with a motor vehicle on it
November 8, 2025 at 1:05 PM
If you see this, post an album cover with a motor vehicle on it
Reposted by Chris Salisbury
In a world with democracy in decline, we have much to learn from those who rallied against Whitlam’s dismissal | Frank Bongiorno and James Watson
In a world with democracy in decline, we have much to learn from those who rallied against Whitlam’s dismissal | Frank Bongiorno and James Watson
In 1975, few Australians believed the dismissal of a democratically elected government was business as usual
*
Past/Present is a column which places current events in historical context
The dismissal of the Whitlam government, which occurred 50 years ago this month, remains one of the biggest deals in Australian history. There was a previous example of a state governor, Sir Philip Game, sacking a Labor government, and older instances of the British monarch dismissing ministries: Gough Whitlam recalled George III’s dismissal of the Fox-North coalition in 1783.
In 1975, few Australians seriously believed that the vice-regal dismissal of a democratically elected government was business as usual. Accordingly, alongside the relief of anti-Whitlam partisans, there was widespread shock, dismay and anger.
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www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:04 PM
In a world with democracy in decline, we have much to learn from those who rallied against Whitlam’s dismissal | Frank Bongiorno and James Watson
Reposted by Chris Salisbury
Data colonialism in the most literal sense
Google plans to build a large artificial intelligence data centre on Australia’s remote Indian Ocean outpost of Christmas Island after signing a cloud deal with the Department of Defence this year, according to documents reviewed by Reuters and interviews with officials www.afr.com/technology/g...
Google to build data centre on Christmas Island
The search engine giant signed a cloud deal with the Department of Defence this year to build the facility, whose details remain secret, on Christmas Island.
www.afr.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:28 AM
Data colonialism in the most literal sense
Fun fact: several years after his Provisional Government was deposed by the Bolsheviks in 1917, former Russian prime minister Alexander Kerensky married Brisbane-born Nell Tritton and relocated briefly to peaceful, leafy Clayfield in Brisbane’s northern suburbs www.smh.com.au/world/alexan...
November 7, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Fun fact: several years after his Provisional Government was deposed by the Bolsheviks in 1917, former Russian prime minister Alexander Kerensky married Brisbane-born Nell Tritton and relocated briefly to peaceful, leafy Clayfield in Brisbane’s northern suburbs www.smh.com.au/world/alexan...
Reposted by Chris Salisbury
Delighted that the University of Canberra has announced my appointment as Donald Horne Professor of History and Public Ideas, and Director of UC's new Vice-Chancellor's Centre of Public Ideas. Looking forward to developing this exciting initiative from early 2026. www.canberra.edu.au/about-uc/med...
UC launches newly established Vice-Chancellor’s Centre of Public Ideas and appointment of inaugural director
UC to establish the Vice-Chancellor’s Centre of Public Ideas, and Prof Frank Bongiorno AM to take up Donald Horne Professorship as Centre director.
www.canberra.edu.au
November 7, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Delighted that the University of Canberra has announced my appointment as Donald Horne Professor of History and Public Ideas, and Director of UC's new Vice-Chancellor's Centre of Public Ideas. Looking forward to developing this exciting initiative from early 2026. www.canberra.edu.au/about-uc/med...
Daddy, what did you do in the great (sub)culture war of Oct-Nov 2025?
November 7, 2025 at 6:51 AM
Daddy, what did you do in the great (sub)culture war of Oct-Nov 2025?
Reposted by Chris Salisbury
One of the country's best music journalists, writing about one of Australia's greatest musicians. Lovely stuff.
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
Paul Kelly: Seventy review – reflections on ageing from a musician bigger than ever
After five decades, the songs are still memorable, warm and a little sex-mad. It’s classic Kelly – and Joe’s back, too
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:54 PM
One of the country's best music journalists, writing about one of Australia's greatest musicians. Lovely stuff.
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
Reposted by Chris Salisbury
Amanda Harris @amaharrisusyd.bsky.social reviews ‘The Wild Australia Show: The Story of an Aboriginal Performance Troupe and Its Afterlives’ by Paul Memmott, Maria Nugent, Michael Aird, Lindy Allen, Chantal Knowles and Jonathan Richards.
@anupress.bsky.social
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
@anupress.bsky.social
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
November 3, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Amanda Harris @amaharrisusyd.bsky.social reviews ‘The Wild Australia Show: The Story of an Aboriginal Performance Troupe and Its Afterlives’ by Paul Memmott, Maria Nugent, Michael Aird, Lindy Allen, Chantal Knowles and Jonathan Richards.
@anupress.bsky.social
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
@anupress.bsky.social
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Chris Salisbury
Happy birthday to the brilliant Lindy Morrison. Here's a glorious Go-Betweens performance filmed for Australian TV in 1987. It boasts their best line-up and a short but sweet set including Bye Bye Pride, Right Here, Cut It Out, Spring Rain, Cattle and Cane…
youtu.be/4ALbPfCFfkQ
youtu.be/4ALbPfCFfkQ
The Go-Betweens - Live in studio (Rock Arena 1987) (HD 60fps)
YouTube video by The 80s, a Decade of Music (Master Noise HD 60fps)
youtu.be
November 2, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Happy birthday to the brilliant Lindy Morrison. Here's a glorious Go-Betweens performance filmed for Australian TV in 1987. It boasts their best line-up and a short but sweet set including Bye Bye Pride, Right Here, Cut It Out, Spring Rain, Cattle and Cane…
youtu.be/4ALbPfCFfkQ
youtu.be/4ALbPfCFfkQ