Sean Bowes
@seanbowes.bsky.social
On Gadigal land (Sydney).
Community lawyer. Union member. Pronouns: He/they.
Views are my own, not my employer's. My posts are not legal advice.
Community lawyer. Union member. Pronouns: He/they.
Views are my own, not my employer's. My posts are not legal advice.
'Millions of Americans are expected to take to the streets this weekend as part of nationwide protests against US President Donald Trump and his government.'
Anti-Trump rallies to draw millions in 'single biggest day of protest' in US history
Millions of Americans are expected to take to the streets this weekend as part of nationwide protests against US President Donald Trump. Here's what to know about the events, which could see the singl...
www.abc.net.au
October 18, 2025 at 12:42 PM
'Millions of Americans are expected to take to the streets this weekend as part of nationwide protests against US President Donald Trump and his government.'
Reposted by Sean Bowes
The Black Summer bushfires cost Australians over $50 billion.
As we enter another high-risk bushfire season, we shouldn't wait for the next disaster to act.
The Government could put a climate disaster levy on gas & coal exports to help pay for the damage.
Add your name: theaus.in/fossilfuelco...
As we enter another high-risk bushfire season, we shouldn't wait for the next disaster to act.
The Government could put a climate disaster levy on gas & coal exports to help pay for the damage.
Add your name: theaus.in/fossilfuelco...
Make fossil fuel exporters pay for the damage they are causing, not ordinary Australians
Climate change is making natural disasters like fires, floods, heatwaves and drought worse, costing Australians billions every year.
Make fossil fuel producers pay a climate disaster levy to help pay...
theaus.in
October 8, 2025 at 12:41 AM
The Black Summer bushfires cost Australians over $50 billion.
As we enter another high-risk bushfire season, we shouldn't wait for the next disaster to act.
The Government could put a climate disaster levy on gas & coal exports to help pay for the damage.
Add your name: theaus.in/fossilfuelco...
As we enter another high-risk bushfire season, we shouldn't wait for the next disaster to act.
The Government could put a climate disaster levy on gas & coal exports to help pay for the damage.
Add your name: theaus.in/fossilfuelco...
Reposted by Sean Bowes
US President Donald Trump issued a memorandum last week directing law enforcement to investigate a sprawling, imaginary conspiracy to foment political violence, with no evidence to substantiate these claims.
This is a serious threat to human rights and democratic institutions.
This is a serious threat to human rights and democratic institutions.
September 29, 2025 at 4:59 PM
US President Donald Trump issued a memorandum last week directing law enforcement to investigate a sprawling, imaginary conspiracy to foment political violence, with no evidence to substantiate these claims.
This is a serious threat to human rights and democratic institutions.
This is a serious threat to human rights and democratic institutions.
'The next flotilla is already on its way' - First Dog on the Moon (@firstdogonthemoon.bsky.social)
🔗 www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2025/oct/06/the-gaza-flotilla-gives-us-hope-because-we-can-see-someone-is-doing-something
🔗 www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2025/oct/06/the-gaza-flotilla-gives-us-hope-because-we-can-see-someone-is-doing-something
October 7, 2025 at 4:06 AM
'The next flotilla is already on its way' - First Dog on the Moon (@firstdogonthemoon.bsky.social)
🔗 www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2025/oct/06/the-gaza-flotilla-gives-us-hope-because-we-can-see-someone-is-doing-something
🔗 www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2025/oct/06/the-gaza-flotilla-gives-us-hope-because-we-can-see-someone-is-doing-something
Reposted by Sean Bowes
Would you join the flotilla? It looks terrifying... however... www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Gaza flotilla gives us hope because we can see SOMEONE is doing SOMETHING! | First Dog on the Moon
It reminds us of what people can do even though we have not (yet) stopped the genocide
www.theguardian.com
October 6, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Would you join the flotilla? It looks terrifying... however... www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
⚠️ If you work in community or disability services (for example, at a community legal centre), there's some important information here from the Australian Services Union (ASU) about proposed changes to your pay.
🔗 www.skilledrespectedequal.com.au/national-day...
A thread (1/6) 🧵
🔗 www.skilledrespectedequal.com.au/national-day...
A thread (1/6) 🧵
October 5, 2025 at 10:38 AM
⚠️ If you work in community or disability services (for example, at a community legal centre), there's some important information here from the Australian Services Union (ASU) about proposed changes to your pay.
🔗 www.skilledrespectedequal.com.au/national-day...
A thread (1/6) 🧵
🔗 www.skilledrespectedequal.com.au/national-day...
A thread (1/6) 🧵
'... four years on, the [Housing Australia Future Fund] has become a political headache. A government that promised to boost housing supply is struggling with the awkward reality that its signature fund has yet to build a single new home.'
The PM wants to build homes like the one he grew up in. These days, it's harder
It takes a long time to build anything at all in Australia's dysfunctional housing market, even for the federal government, but Labor's social housing fund is inching towards an impact.
www.abc.net.au
October 5, 2025 at 9:58 AM
'... four years on, the [Housing Australia Future Fund] has become a political headache. A government that promised to boost housing supply is struggling with the awkward reality that its signature fund has yet to build a single new home.'
'Australia has formally recognised Palestine as a sovereign and independent state'
Australia joins UK and Canada in formally recognising Palestinian state
Move comes as Anthony Albanese tries to secure meeting with Donald Trump and amid warnings that recognition could spark ‘punitive measures’ from the US
www.theguardian.com
September 21, 2025 at 10:40 PM
'Australia has formally recognised Palestine as a sovereign and independent state'
Reposted by Sean Bowes
$548.5 million settlement for Robodebt trauma.
What can Robodebt victims do now?
1. Ensure that your Services Australia details are up to date.
2. Register your interest with Gordon Legal for updates.🔗Link in bio.
3. Wait for the settlement to be approved and to be contacted by Services Australia.
What can Robodebt victims do now?
1. Ensure that your Services Australia details are up to date.
2. Register your interest with Gordon Legal for updates.🔗Link in bio.
3. Wait for the settlement to be approved and to be contacted by Services Australia.
September 8, 2025 at 6:30 AM
$548.5 million settlement for Robodebt trauma.
What can Robodebt victims do now?
1. Ensure that your Services Australia details are up to date.
2. Register your interest with Gordon Legal for updates.🔗Link in bio.
3. Wait for the settlement to be approved and to be contacted by Services Australia.
What can Robodebt victims do now?
1. Ensure that your Services Australia details are up to date.
2. Register your interest with Gordon Legal for updates.🔗Link in bio.
3. Wait for the settlement to be approved and to be contacted by Services Australia.
Reposted by Sean Bowes
It’s really good to see the ABC reporting using ‘child’ and ‘cell’. Too often reporting describes children as ‘young people’ and prison cells as ‘detention facilities’. Across Australia governments are putting children, alone, in prison cells. It must stop. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...
Child held in solitary cell for three days, denied food and medications
An Aboriginal child was held in a solitary cell for more than three days and denied food and medication as a coercion "strategy", an investigation into the NT's notorious Don Dale youth prison has fou...
www.abc.net.au
September 5, 2025 at 11:59 PM
It’s really good to see the ABC reporting using ‘child’ and ‘cell’. Too often reporting describes children as ‘young people’ and prison cells as ‘detention facilities’. Across Australia governments are putting children, alone, in prison cells. It must stop. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...
Reposted by Sean Bowes
McVeigh: “If there are legitimate issues … to ensure better protections for the rights of vulnerable young people, the sector will, of course, be wanting to support that
“But that should not be a net-widening exercise that then results in gagging … community services”
“But that should not be a net-widening exercise that then results in gagging … community services”
August 23, 2025 at 9:55 PM
McVeigh: “If there are legitimate issues … to ensure better protections for the rights of vulnerable young people, the sector will, of course, be wanting to support that
“But that should not be a net-widening exercise that then results in gagging … community services”
“But that should not be a net-widening exercise that then results in gagging … community services”
Reposted by Sean Bowes
QCOSS chief exec Aimee McVeigh has also raised concerns about a shift in enforcement – denied by government – which she says has seen some youth justice orgs being told they’re in breach of *existing* contracts for speaking to media about YJ issues.
August 23, 2025 at 9:55 PM
QCOSS chief exec Aimee McVeigh has also raised concerns about a shift in enforcement – denied by government – which she says has seen some youth justice orgs being told they’re in breach of *existing* contracts for speaking to media about YJ issues.
Reposted by Sean Bowes
Scoop: The Queensland Council of Social Service will meet with Youth Justice department officials next week seeking changes to new contract terms it says will result in the “gagging” of frontline groups from speaking with media.
Peak body to push back on state’s ‘gagging’ of youth justice groups
Several community leaders have now raised alarm new restrictions for front-line youth justice service contracts could chill criticism under risk of funding loss.
www.brisbanetimes.com.au
August 23, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Scoop: The Queensland Council of Social Service will meet with Youth Justice department officials next week seeking changes to new contract terms it says will result in the “gagging” of frontline groups from speaking with media.
Reposted by Sean Bowes
New: Critics of the Crisafulli government could be “silenced”, or risk losing crucial funding, community leaders fear, under new restrictions to be written into the contracts of front-line youth justice organisations.
Fears youth justice groups ‘silenced’ with new contract clauses
New clauses set to be written into government contracts will bar front-line service providers from speaking to media without approval.
www.brisbanetimes.com.au
August 22, 2025 at 7:13 AM
New: Critics of the Crisafulli government could be “silenced”, or risk losing crucial funding, community leaders fear, under new restrictions to be written into the contracts of front-line youth justice organisations.
Inequality in Australia has become extreme. This is why we no longer have nice things.
'As Australians struggle with housing, billionaires' wealth could pay for 680,000 homes'
'As Australians struggle with housing, billionaires' wealth could pay for 680,000 homes'
As Australians struggle with housing, billionaires' wealth could pay for 680,000 homes
As housing becomes more unaffordable for the ordinary Australian, new analysis from Oxfam shows the nation's wealthiest are getting wealthier — and real estate is one of their biggest money-spinners.
www.sbs.com.au
August 17, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Inequality in Australia has become extreme. This is why we no longer have nice things.
'As Australians struggle with housing, billionaires' wealth could pay for 680,000 homes'
'As Australians struggle with housing, billionaires' wealth could pay for 680,000 homes'
'When Melbourne stonemasons won the eight-hour day, employers of the day prophesied economic ruin ... Far from ruin, Australians went on to enjoy one of the highest living standards on the globe' 🤔
Australia used to lead the world on shorter work hours – we could do it again
In some industries, the four-day work week may be appropriate, in others it may not. Dismissing it out of hand ignores bigger long-term questions about fairness.
theconversation.com
August 16, 2025 at 10:42 AM
'When Melbourne stonemasons won the eight-hour day, employers of the day prophesied economic ruin ... Far from ruin, Australians went on to enjoy one of the highest living standards on the globe' 🤔
'The peak union body has called for a move towards a four-day work week, with pay and conditions protected' 👏
Peak union body calls for four-day work week
The peak union group says a shorter work week would improve productivity and reduce burnout, adding workers should also be able to share in the spoils of the expected artificial intelligence boom.
www.abc.net.au
August 13, 2025 at 9:50 AM
'The peak union body has called for a move towards a four-day work week, with pay and conditions protected' 👏
'After the extraordinary crowds at the Sydney Harbour Bridge march, advocates say political attempts to crack down on freedom of speech are out of step with community attitudes'
Australians are pushing back against ‘authoritarian’ anti-protest laws in ‘a return to the spirit of the 60s’
After the extraordinary crowds at the Sydney Harbour Bridge march, advocates say political attempts to crack down on freedom of speech are out of step with community attitudes
www.theguardian.com
August 9, 2025 at 1:35 PM
'After the extraordinary crowds at the Sydney Harbour Bridge march, advocates say political attempts to crack down on freedom of speech are out of step with community attitudes'
Reposted by Sean Bowes
For renters to be protected, we need full bans on soliciting AND accepting rent bids, in every state. Rents are high enough—we shouldn't be doing our landlord's job by offering to make them even higher!
Read the full article here or at the link in our bio: www.choice.com.au/money/proper...
Read the full article here or at the link in our bio: www.choice.com.au/money/proper...
Rent bidding is now illegal, but tenants say it's still happening | CHOICE
Agents and landlords exploiting loopholes in legislation meant to outlaw the practice of leasing a home to the highest bidder
www.choice.com.au
July 28, 2025 at 6:19 AM
For renters to be protected, we need full bans on soliciting AND accepting rent bids, in every state. Rents are high enough—we shouldn't be doing our landlord's job by offering to make them even higher!
Read the full article here or at the link in our bio: www.choice.com.au/money/proper...
Read the full article here or at the link in our bio: www.choice.com.au/money/proper...
Reposted by Sean Bowes
Our deputy director Bernie talked to CHOICE about rent-bidding this week: real estate agents continue to solicit bids for rents above the asking price, even in states where that's against the law.
July 28, 2025 at 6:19 AM
Our deputy director Bernie talked to CHOICE about rent-bidding this week: real estate agents continue to solicit bids for rents above the asking price, even in states where that's against the law.
Young people deserve to have a meaningful say in the issues affecting them, both now and into the future. Housing and climate change spring immediately to mind – there are countless other issues affecting young people that are being fumbled by adults.
UK to allow 16-year-olds to vote in biggest electoral change since 1969
The move would allow 16-year-olds to vote at the next UK national election and would be the biggest change to the country's electorate in more than half a century.
www.abc.net.au
July 20, 2025 at 4:31 AM
Young people deserve to have a meaningful say in the issues affecting them, both now and into the future. Housing and climate change spring immediately to mind – there are countless other issues affecting young people that are being fumbled by adults.
'The Jewish Council of Australia has today warned that the newly released Special Envoy's Plan to Combat Antisemitism risks undermining Australia's democratic freedoms, inflaming community divisions, and entrenching selective approaches to racism that serve political agendas.'
July 10, 2025 at 12:11 PM
'The Jewish Council of Australia has today warned that the newly released Special Envoy's Plan to Combat Antisemitism risks undermining Australia's democratic freedoms, inflaming community divisions, and entrenching selective approaches to racism that serve political agendas.'
Reposted by Sean Bowes
More than 100,000 people marched in Hungary’s annual Pride parade in Budapest on Saturday after Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s ban on the event backfired, turning what is usually a low-key parade into a mass rally against his government. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/28/w...
June 28, 2025 at 8:42 PM
More than 100,000 people marched in Hungary’s annual Pride parade in Budapest on Saturday after Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s ban on the event backfired, turning what is usually a low-key parade into a mass rally against his government. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/28/w...
June 28, 2025 at 8:09 AM