Michael Thorn
banner
michaeltthorn.bsky.social
Michael Thorn
@michaeltthorn.bsky.social
Preventive health advocate, reader, cyclist & skier. Part-time Dockers supporter!
Reposted by Michael Thorn
I hope someone draws this wonderful story about Tom Stoppard's Arcadia and the power of the arts to help us see things differently, to the attention of our Education Secretary. Do read it, it will lift your spirits.
December 2, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Reposted by Michael Thorn
Great culture can save lives. Literally.

Amazing letter in today’s @thetimes.com about Tom Stoppard
December 2, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Reposted by Michael Thorn
I wish more people were aware of this. Considering the scale of the threat, the media's near-silence is both remarkable and culpable.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Hello, foreign oligarchs and corporations! Please come and sue the UK for billions | George Monbiot
The case of a planned Cumbrian coalmine shows how governments around the world are being threatened by litigation in shadowy offshore courts, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
December 2, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Reposted by Michael Thorn
Literally smoke and mirrors. Santos is blowing smoke up put arses. For money. And greenwashing credentials.
CONGRATS to Australian fossil fuel company Santos, which has been granted 614,133 carbon offsets for its new CCS facility.

Assuming a price of $37, that's $22m AUD in profits if they sell the CCS offsets. Or 600k tonnes of fake "neutralisation" if they claim it for themselves.

archive.ph/jqIZe
December 1, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Reposted by Michael Thorn
November 30, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Reposted by Michael Thorn
CEO-to-worker pay ratio in 1965: 20-1

CEO-to-worker pay ratio in 1990: 75-1

CEO-to-worker pay ratio today: 280-to-1

Trickle-down economics was always a sham.

Nothing has ever trickled down.
November 29, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Quentin Beresford’s Hooked, documents the appalling history of the development of Australia’s gambling industry and the failure of governments to recognise its shocking toll on ordinary people. ##auspol
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 30, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Reposted by Michael Thorn
A well-deserved third #Walkleys Award for cartoons to David Pope. #GazaGenocide
November 28, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Reposted by Michael Thorn
This morning I’m writing up a “follow the money” story for Michael West Media, although the Government has made it hard for me. But what better place to do it than from a beachside writing desk. Whyalla, South Australia. #WorkFromRoam
November 29, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Reposted by Michael Thorn
Oh joy! A friend came bearing gifts.
November 29, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Reposted by Michael Thorn
In India rapid decline in vulture population means increase in wild dogs, more dog bites, and thousands of additional deaths from rabies.
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
Humans killed millions of vultures. Now people are paying the price.
The near-extinction of vultures in India has had severe consequences.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 29, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Reposted by Michael Thorn
Book 2/30. Arborescence, by @rhettsdavis. Entrancing, otherworldly & sharp as an axe, it's a transporting story of people deciding, or not deciding, to turn into trees as a sideways answer to the Anthropocene. Startling dialogue, intense characters. PLUS a little hat-tip to Lumen? Loved it.
November 19, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Reposted by Michael Thorn
Book 10/30 Field Notes from Death's Door. Katie Treble. One of the most compelling medical memoirs I have read (and I have read a few). A rare wonder, surging with humility & humanity. The unfettered, uplifting, harrowing truth of the MSF experience in the Central African Republic. I stand in awe.
November 27, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Reposted by Michael Thorn
Pretty funny that the party who fights culcha wars for Aussie flag thongs in supermarkets on Australia Day sold our gas to tax dodging foreign owned multinationals so you pay more. How very patriotic
November 25, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Reposted by Michael Thorn
The Federal Government has been trying to rush through a change that would allow police and the Home Affairs Minister to cancel someone’s Centrelink payment if they are suspected of a serious crime.

Read the full story on The Point: thepoint.com.au/opinions/251...
November 26, 2025 at 4:10 AM
Reposted by Michael Thorn
Exactly the same playbook as with the Voice. “Confusing”…”divisive”. Those fossil fuel lobbyists are working hard.
November 25, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Reposted by Michael Thorn
Absolutely superb pickup by @amyremeikis.bsky.social - Ted O'Brien's made up "Jess" is just the Howard era "Jenny" that Lynton Crosby came up for for the 1996 election #PointLive
live.thepoint.com.au/2025/11/the-...
The Point Live — Daily Updates
Stay updated with the latest from The Point.
live.thepoint.com.au
November 26, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Reposted by Michael Thorn
At a gas industry tax conference, the government’s representative did not use the words “gas” or “tax” in his 2500 word speech, writes @rodcampbell.bsky.social www.thenewdaily.com.au/opinion/2025...
It's the perfect time for the government to defy the mining lobbies
Long-gone are the days when the mining industry could claim to have the power to topple prime ministers and governments.
www.thenewdaily.com.au
November 21, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Reposted by Michael Thorn
Albanese Govt failure to progress oral health policy is exacerbating health inequities & contributing to preventable illness, suffering & hospitalisations.
Where is new National Oral Health Plan?
www.croakey.org/is-oral-heal...
Is oral health a priority for the Albanese Government? Apparently not…
Introduction by Croakey: In between the political jockeying over public hospital funding, perhaps the Prime Minister and Treasurer could ask
www.croakey.org
November 21, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Reposted by Michael Thorn
The Albanese Government's proposed changes would weaken our environment laws and benefit destructive industries.

The Australia Institute is proud to be one of 100+ orgs calling on Parliament to reject the changes that would gut our environmental protections.
#auspol
November 20, 2025 at 4:50 AM
Reposted by Michael Thorn
Quite a disappointment
Gambling ruins lives. It is absolutely unacceptable that the Albanese government will continue to choose vested interests over the wellbeing of Australians and hide behind a watered-down policy - if they ever introduce one. We need action on gambling harms now.
Labor tipped to drop proposal for online gambling ad ban
Political and industry sources expect Communications Minister Anika Wells to crack-down on illegal offshore gambling websites.
www.afr.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:52 AM
Looks like your departure pics. 😹
Arriving into Ushuaia in the early morning. A lovely end to a glorious Antarctic #ShackeltonFootsteps adventure. Thanks for following along.
November 20, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Reposted by Michael Thorn
Last day at sea; we disembark tomorrow at Ushuaia. We are mesmerised by sea birds, including albatross, constantly around the ship (impossible to photograph with phone). In a few hours we will sail within 3 nautical miles of Cape Horn, then go on to enter the Beagle Channel.
#ShackeltonFootsteps
November 19, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Reposted by Michael Thorn
“Disclosure without consequences. A smoke alarm without batteries - installed when the house is already ablaze”. Carmen Lawrence 👇 exposes the Faustian “trigger” PM Albanese proposes in his EPBC Act. Coal/gas: let ‘er rip.
November 17, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Reposted by Michael Thorn
David Pope in Canberra Times
November 18, 2025 at 11:40 PM