marklawrence
@marklawrence.bsky.social
Be brave. Be nice.
Single dad. Cat dad. Plant dad. Bad Asian. Anti racist. Some interests: food, cooking, cats, ceramics, tea, plants, social and climate justice, anti-racism, the beautiful in everyday life. Join your union.
Melbourne, Australia
Single dad. Cat dad. Plant dad. Bad Asian. Anti racist. Some interests: food, cooking, cats, ceramics, tea, plants, social and climate justice, anti-racism, the beautiful in everyday life. Join your union.
Melbourne, Australia
Reposted by marklawrence
This is Jo Dyer @instanterudite.bsky.social at her most brilliant best.
Jo is a former Adelaide Writers' Week director, and this article beautifully sums up her fury at the needless destruction of one of Australia's most world famous arts events.
@theshot.net.au
theshot.net.au/uncategorize...
Jo is a former Adelaide Writers' Week director, and this article beautifully sums up her fury at the needless destruction of one of Australia's most world famous arts events.
@theshot.net.au
theshot.net.au/uncategorize...
Why is a Labor Premier silencing a writer? - The Shot
For many Adelaideans, Adelaide Writers’ Week (AWW) is the highlight of their year. A glorious six days when the Pioneer...
theshot.net.au
January 13, 2026 at 12:18 PM
This is Jo Dyer @instanterudite.bsky.social at her most brilliant best.
Jo is a former Adelaide Writers' Week director, and this article beautifully sums up her fury at the needless destruction of one of Australia's most world famous arts events.
@theshot.net.au
theshot.net.au/uncategorize...
Jo is a former Adelaide Writers' Week director, and this article beautifully sums up her fury at the needless destruction of one of Australia's most world famous arts events.
@theshot.net.au
theshot.net.au/uncategorize...
Reposted by marklawrence
It’s my bin night, maybe it’s your bin night too?
January 12, 2026 at 8:39 AM
It’s my bin night, maybe it’s your bin night too?
Reposted by marklawrence
Flying foxes die in their thousands in worst mass-mortality event since Australia’s black summer
Flying foxes die in their thousands in worst mass-mortality event since Australia’s black summer
Volunteers found thousands of dead bats at Melbourne’s Brimbank park, wildlife expert says
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Thousands of flying foxes have perished in the heatwave that scorched south-east Australia last week, the largest mass mortality event for flying foxes since black summer.
Extreme temperatures resulted in deaths in camps across South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. Grey-headed flying foxes, listed as vulnerable under federal environment laws, were the most affected. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
January 12, 2026 at 6:30 AM
Flying foxes die in their thousands in worst mass-mortality event since Australia’s black summer
Reposted by marklawrence
Ardern withdraws from Writers' Week; Adelaide Festival board faces fresh questions
Ardern withdraws from Writers' Week; Adelaide Festival board faces fresh questions
Former NZ prime minister pulls out of event. Meanwhile, a past Writers' Week director has questioned the Adelaide Festival board's viability after resignations.
www.sbs.com.au
January 12, 2026 at 8:49 AM
Ardern withdraws from Writers' Week; Adelaide Festival board faces fresh questions
Reposted by marklawrence
It is so blatant that right-wing forces are calling for this royal commission because they want a few months of viciously xenophobic anti-immigration headlines - something that directly contributes to worse safety for everyone, surely including Australia's Jewish community.
Fully support Cathy
Fully support Cathy
January 12, 2026 at 9:43 AM
It is so blatant that right-wing forces are calling for this royal commission because they want a few months of viciously xenophobic anti-immigration headlines - something that directly contributes to worse safety for everyone, surely including Australia's Jewish community.
Fully support Cathy
Fully support Cathy
Reposted by marklawrence
‘And, whatever the Board’s protestations that the two are not linked, how telling, how grim, is the dog whistle connecting Dr Abdel-Fattah’s name with the Bondi massacre.’
January 10, 2026 at 9:53 AM
‘And, whatever the Board’s protestations that the two are not linked, how telling, how grim, is the dog whistle connecting Dr Abdel-Fattah’s name with the Bondi massacre.’
Reposted by marklawrence
David Bowie died ten years ago today so here is a photo of him in Japan looking cool as the current Berlin winter.
January 10, 2026 at 9:42 AM
David Bowie died ten years ago today so here is a photo of him in Japan looking cool as the current Berlin winter.
Reposted by marklawrence
Denton, Garner, FitzSimons, Dalton, de Krester, Hammer, Lette, Zadie Smith...
It is very much at the point where the lower risk is actually to drop out. That is the mainstream position.
The Festival board (and those who support them) are the extremists.
It is very much at the point where the lower risk is actually to drop out. That is the mainstream position.
The Festival board (and those who support them) are the extremists.
Final update tonight. Andrew Denton is also out. Have also crossed out Michael Veitch & Tracey Lee Holmes as they were part of Better Off Said, which is out.
Remember the list is a not final. Don't assume those not crossed out are going
Others to be found here www.artshub.com.au/news/news/ad...
Remember the list is a not final. Don't assume those not crossed out are going
Others to be found here www.artshub.com.au/news/news/ad...
January 10, 2026 at 9:54 AM
Denton, Garner, FitzSimons, Dalton, de Krester, Hammer, Lette, Zadie Smith...
It is very much at the point where the lower risk is actually to drop out. That is the mainstream position.
The Festival board (and those who support them) are the extremists.
It is very much at the point where the lower risk is actually to drop out. That is the mainstream position.
The Festival board (and those who support them) are the extremists.
Reposted by marklawrence
. @mollyjongfast.bsky.social RTYI - over 100 writers have now cancelled their appearance at the Adelaide Writers Week
www.artshub.com.au/news/news/ad...
www.artshub.com.au/news/news/ad...
Adelaide Writers Week in disarray as almost 100 writers boycott over Board’s ‘censorship’ of Randa Abdel-Fattah
Helen Garner, Melissa Lucashenko and Zadie Smith are among the more than 40 writers to have withdrawn from Adelaide Writers Week in the last 24 hours.
www.artshub.com.au
January 10, 2026 at 9:58 AM
. @mollyjongfast.bsky.social RTYI - over 100 writers have now cancelled their appearance at the Adelaide Writers Week
www.artshub.com.au/news/news/ad...
www.artshub.com.au/news/news/ad...
Reposted by marklawrence
Hard to believe that a former SDA official would do something like this eh.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
SA premier denies pressuring Adelaide festival to drop Randa Abdel-Fattah
Letter from 11 South Australian cultural leaders labels cancellation of Palestinian-Australian’s participation a ‘grave mistake’ which brought festival into disrepute
www.theguardian.com
January 10, 2026 at 6:58 AM
Hard to believe that a former SDA official would do something like this eh.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Reposted by marklawrence
Several parts of Australia are likely to face the worst heatwaves since the 2019/2020 bushfires.
Volunteers and underpaid frontline workers will step up to help communities.
Meanwhile, in just one year, the Australian government gave $14.9 billion in subsidies to fossil fuel producers and users.
Volunteers and underpaid frontline workers will step up to help communities.
Meanwhile, in just one year, the Australian government gave $14.9 billion in subsidies to fossil fuel producers and users.
January 6, 2026 at 6:01 AM
Several parts of Australia are likely to face the worst heatwaves since the 2019/2020 bushfires.
Volunteers and underpaid frontline workers will step up to help communities.
Meanwhile, in just one year, the Australian government gave $14.9 billion in subsidies to fossil fuel producers and users.
Volunteers and underpaid frontline workers will step up to help communities.
Meanwhile, in just one year, the Australian government gave $14.9 billion in subsidies to fossil fuel producers and users.
Reposted by marklawrence
There’s twice as many utes as tradies in Australia. We need remove the luxury car tax exemption which incentivises people to buy megautes instead of safer, cleaner smaller cars and SUVs.
December 27, 2025 at 9:29 PM
There’s twice as many utes as tradies in Australia. We need remove the luxury car tax exemption which incentivises people to buy megautes instead of safer, cleaner smaller cars and SUVs.
Reposted by marklawrence
5/ And I dunn0 about you, but investing NSW Police with the legal authority to 'ban protests' just weeks after it gave The Big Tick 😀👍 to neo-Nazis occupying the steps of the NSW state parliament while holding a banner declaring 'Abolish The Jewish Lobby' is bad taste, at best.
December 30, 2025 at 6:49 AM
5/ And I dunn0 about you, but investing NSW Police with the legal authority to 'ban protests' just weeks after it gave The Big Tick 😀👍 to neo-Nazis occupying the steps of the NSW state parliament while holding a banner declaring 'Abolish The Jewish Lobby' is bad taste, at best.
Reposted by marklawrence
Call me nuts, but I think arming vigilante groups is a bad idea, and I'm troubled that not only is it on the list of options, it seems to be near the top.
We should be deeply alarmed that the Premier is talking about permanently arming the “Community Security Group”, a Mossad-linked Zionist organisation that runs paramilitary training camps in Israel. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12...
December 29, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Call me nuts, but I think arming vigilante groups is a bad idea, and I'm troubled that not only is it on the list of options, it seems to be near the top.
Reposted by marklawrence
Reposted by marklawrence
Men…so emotional
December 26, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Men…so emotional
Reposted by marklawrence
Welfare check for the Member for Riverina please.
Sussan Ley: I’m going to give the most opportunistic, unhinged press conference to try and get political gain from the tragedy that is the Bondi shooting. I’m even going to Criticise Penny Wong for not crying enough.
Michael McCormack: most unhinged? Hold my beer.
Michael McCormack: most unhinged? Hold my beer.
December 26, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Welfare check for the Member for Riverina please.
Reposted by marklawrence
“Pope Leo said in a Christmas Eve sermon on Wednesday that the story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room at an inn should remind Christians that refusing to help the poor & strangers today is tantamount to rejecting God himself.”
Obvious to any REAL Christian. #MerryChristmas
Obvious to any REAL Christian. #MerryChristmas
Pope Leo, on Christmas Eve, says denying help to poor is rejecting God
Leo has made care for immigrants and the poor key themes of his early papacy.
www.reuters.com
December 25, 2025 at 4:00 AM
“Pope Leo said in a Christmas Eve sermon on Wednesday that the story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room at an inn should remind Christians that refusing to help the poor & strangers today is tantamount to rejecting God himself.”
Obvious to any REAL Christian. #MerryChristmas
Obvious to any REAL Christian. #MerryChristmas
Reposted by marklawrence
I totally agree with the Jewish Council here.
I will continually speak out against the Netanyahu Govt’s killing of 20,000 innocent children in Gaza.
That appalling action has caused so much anti-semitism around the world.
I will continually speak out against the Netanyahu Govt’s killing of 20,000 innocent children in Gaza.
That appalling action has caused so much anti-semitism around the world.
December 19, 2025 at 6:07 AM
I totally agree with the Jewish Council here.
I will continually speak out against the Netanyahu Govt’s killing of 20,000 innocent children in Gaza.
That appalling action has caused so much anti-semitism around the world.
I will continually speak out against the Netanyahu Govt’s killing of 20,000 innocent children in Gaza.
That appalling action has caused so much anti-semitism around the world.
Reposted by marklawrence
To placate the base, Trump occasionally belts out a rant on Truth Social, sometimes peppered with racism to make people feel he's fighting for the white working class. Or he renames the Kennedy Center. But the material conditions for most voters remain unchanged. Pure symbolism.
December 19, 2025 at 9:46 PM
To placate the base, Trump occasionally belts out a rant on Truth Social, sometimes peppered with racism to make people feel he's fighting for the white working class. Or he renames the Kennedy Center. But the material conditions for most voters remain unchanged. Pure symbolism.
Reposted by marklawrence
Almost a year into this presidency, Trump voters have gotten nothing except the Big Beautiful Bill, which was usual Republican politics of giving tax cuts to the rich and slashing social spending for the poor. Housing remains unaffordable, cost of living is rising, and manufacturing jobs fell.
December 19, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Almost a year into this presidency, Trump voters have gotten nothing except the Big Beautiful Bill, which was usual Republican politics of giving tax cuts to the rich and slashing social spending for the poor. Housing remains unaffordable, cost of living is rising, and manufacturing jobs fell.
Reposted by marklawrence
Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner Sivaraman said more could have been done to address antisemitism if the government adopted the Australian Human Rights Commission’s national anti-racism framework – for which he had been advocating for over a year.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Social media companies allow antisemitic hate to flow ‘unchecked’, Australia’s race discrimination commissioner says
Giridharan Sivaraman warns of a surge of racially motivated violence in wake of Bondi shooting, saying ‘it’s going to get worse before it gets better’
www.theguardian.com
December 19, 2025 at 5:55 AM
Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner Sivaraman said more could have been done to address antisemitism if the government adopted the Australian Human Rights Commission’s national anti-racism framework – for which he had been advocating for over a year.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Reposted by marklawrence
As a Jew, I find it bizarre that people are forcing a 'Palestine' narrative onto the Bondi Beach shooting. The shooter openly claimed inspiration from ISIS; an organization that actually despises Palestinian nationalism in favor of their own global caliphate.
Yeah, making it illegal to protest a genocide is going to help 🙄
NSW to effectively ban protests for up to three months as premier links Gaza rallies to Bondi terror attack
Chris Minns says state ‘can’t risk another mass demonstration on that scale in NSW [because] the implications can be seen, in my view, on Sunday’
www.theguardian.com
December 19, 2025 at 9:52 PM
As a Jew, I find it bizarre that people are forcing a 'Palestine' narrative onto the Bondi Beach shooting. The shooter openly claimed inspiration from ISIS; an organization that actually despises Palestinian nationalism in favor of their own global caliphate.
Reposted by marklawrence
Hanson is calling for tougher hate speech laws, while she is currently in court trying to appeal against her loss in a hate speech legal case. A fact not mentioned by a single outlet covering this story.
Hanson at the Bondi memorial calling for students to be "rounded up" and cuts to immigration. The crowd muttering in agreement, and giving her a huge round of applause once she finishes.
Everything is about to get so much worse in Australia
Everything is about to get so much worse in Australia
December 16, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Hanson is calling for tougher hate speech laws, while she is currently in court trying to appeal against her loss in a hate speech legal case. A fact not mentioned by a single outlet covering this story.
Reposted by marklawrence
This is a great essay: "The real history of Italian food is turbulent: a saga of hunger, improvisation, migration, industrialisation and sheer survival instinct." www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The myth of traditional Italian cuisine has seduced the world. The truth is very different | Alberto Grandi
The comforting tourist-brochure idea of what Italian food looks like obscures a story shaped by hunger, migration and innovation, says Alberto Grandi, author and professor of food history
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:20 AM
This is a great essay: "The real history of Italian food is turbulent: a saga of hunger, improvisation, migration, industrialisation and sheer survival instinct." www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...