Ben Spies-Butcher
@bspiesbutcher.bsky.social
Political economist and sociologist @mqsociology.bsky.social Public finance, social policy, climate and inequality. Co-Director, Australian Basic Income Lab @ausbasicincome.bsky.social own views.
Pinned
Politics, Inequality and the Australian Welfare State After Liberalisation - Part I: Contesting Neol...
Neoliberalism changed many things in Australia. Unions are weaker. Inequality is higher. But exactly what changed is often surprising. The state did not shrink. Social spending did not decrease, nor d...
www.ppesydney.net
How has neoliberalism changed the politics of inequality and social policy? Blog previewing my new book Politics, Inequality and the Australian Welfare State after Liberalisation.
www.ppesydney.net/politics-ine...
www.ppesydney.net/politics-ine...
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
Shockwaves in Europe & in Asia. As Policytensor puts it "We have the W Hemisphere, Europe & the Middle East but no Asia. The only core, vital US interest in the Indo-Pacific is described as the security of sea-lanes,supply chains,&critical minerals. No mention of Japanese, Korean,Taiwanese security"
A few thoughts on the new US national security strategy that was released today.
🧵
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
🧵
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
December 5, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Shockwaves in Europe & in Asia. As Policytensor puts it "We have the W Hemisphere, Europe & the Middle East but no Asia. The only core, vital US interest in the Indo-Pacific is described as the security of sea-lanes,supply chains,&critical minerals. No mention of Japanese, Korean,Taiwanese security"
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
Listen to George Megalogenis, @frankbongiorno.bsky.social @bspiesbutcher.bsky.social @emilyrosefoley.bsky.social and I discuss if Australia is entering a new political era. With record electoral shifts reshaping class, gender, race, and power dynamics, what does the future hold for our democracy?
December 5, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Listen to George Megalogenis, @frankbongiorno.bsky.social @bspiesbutcher.bsky.social @emilyrosefoley.bsky.social and I discuss if Australia is entering a new political era. With record electoral shifts reshaping class, gender, race, and power dynamics, what does the future hold for our democracy?
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
Great to see this event we organised, with funds from @auspsa.bsky.social and featuring George Megalogenis, @frankbongiorno.bsky.social @bspiesbutcher.bsky.social @lizhumphrys.bsky.social & @emilyrosefoley.bsky.social has been made into a podcast by UTS Impact Studios.
pod.link/1760672339/e...
pod.link/1760672339/e...
December 4, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Great to see this event we organised, with funds from @auspsa.bsky.social and featuring George Megalogenis, @frankbongiorno.bsky.social @bspiesbutcher.bsky.social @lizhumphrys.bsky.social & @emilyrosefoley.bsky.social has been made into a podcast by UTS Impact Studios.
pod.link/1760672339/e...
pod.link/1760672339/e...
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
“America’s Polarization Has Become the World's Side Hustle”
too many people just focus on supply side of foreigners using tech for disinformation. Its the demand side - American society is broken yet wealthy - that makes it a business model
www.404media.co/americas-pol...
too many people just focus on supply side of foreigners using tech for disinformation. Its the demand side - American society is broken yet wealthy - that makes it a business model
www.404media.co/americas-pol...
America’s Polarization Has Become the World's Side Hustle
The 'psyops' revealed by X are entirely the fault of the perverse incentives created by social media monetization programs.
www.404media.co
December 1, 2025 at 12:49 PM
“America’s Polarization Has Become the World's Side Hustle”
too many people just focus on supply side of foreigners using tech for disinformation. Its the demand side - American society is broken yet wealthy - that makes it a business model
www.404media.co/americas-pol...
too many people just focus on supply side of foreigners using tech for disinformation. Its the demand side - American society is broken yet wealthy - that makes it a business model
www.404media.co/americas-pol...
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
The latest corrective services data is out today, and it points a horrific picture of the systemic racism in our judicial system #PointLive
live.thepoint.com.au
live.thepoint.com.au
November 27, 2025 at 4:29 AM
The latest corrective services data is out today, and it points a horrific picture of the systemic racism in our judicial system #PointLive
live.thepoint.com.au
live.thepoint.com.au
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
"Poverty is not evidence, the presumption of innocence must apply to everyone" Smashing column by @kristin8x.antipovertycentre.org & @maiyazize.bsky.social #ThePoint
thepoint.com.au/opinions/251...
thepoint.com.au/opinions/251...
Poverty is not evidence, the presumption of innocence must apply to everyone
In the final days of October, the Federal Government quietly inserted a last-minute amendment into an unrelated bill. It has been trying to rush through a change that would allow police and the Home A...
thepoint.com.au
November 23, 2025 at 11:38 PM
"Poverty is not evidence, the presumption of innocence must apply to everyone" Smashing column by @kristin8x.antipovertycentre.org & @maiyazize.bsky.social #ThePoint
thepoint.com.au/opinions/251...
thepoint.com.au/opinions/251...
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
Macclesfield Central (Cheshire East) Council By-Election Result:
🌍 GRN: 41.8% (+19.7)
🌹 LAB: 28.6% (-25.7)
➡️ RFM: 15.8% (New)
🌳 CON: 9.1% (-4.5)
⚖️ EQU: 2.5% (New)
🔶 LDM: 2.2% (-7.7)
Green GAIN from Labour.
Changes w/ 2023.
🌍 GRN: 41.8% (+19.7)
🌹 LAB: 28.6% (-25.7)
➡️ RFM: 15.8% (New)
🌳 CON: 9.1% (-4.5)
⚖️ EQU: 2.5% (New)
🔶 LDM: 2.2% (-7.7)
Green GAIN from Labour.
Changes w/ 2023.
November 20, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Macclesfield Central (Cheshire East) Council By-Election Result:
🌍 GRN: 41.8% (+19.7)
🌹 LAB: 28.6% (-25.7)
➡️ RFM: 15.8% (New)
🌳 CON: 9.1% (-4.5)
⚖️ EQU: 2.5% (New)
🔶 LDM: 2.2% (-7.7)
Green GAIN from Labour.
Changes w/ 2023.
🌍 GRN: 41.8% (+19.7)
🌹 LAB: 28.6% (-25.7)
➡️ RFM: 15.8% (New)
🌳 CON: 9.1% (-4.5)
⚖️ EQU: 2.5% (New)
🔶 LDM: 2.2% (-7.7)
Green GAIN from Labour.
Changes w/ 2023.
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
The Young Greens of England and Wales is officially the largest youth and student wing of any British political party.
Greens: "With overall Green Party membership now at over 150,000, the Young Greens have over 40,000 members – making them larger than Young Labour."
Greens: "With overall Green Party membership now at over 150,000, the Young Greens have over 40,000 members – making them larger than Young Labour."
November 18, 2025 at 9:52 AM
The Young Greens of England and Wales is officially the largest youth and student wing of any British political party.
Greens: "With overall Green Party membership now at over 150,000, the Young Greens have over 40,000 members – making them larger than Young Labour."
Greens: "With overall Green Party membership now at over 150,000, the Young Greens have over 40,000 members – making them larger than Young Labour."
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
Our co-director @bspiesbutcher.bsky.social will be speaking to the Economic Society of Australia tomorrow in Sydney (and online). He'll be discussing AI, #BasicIncome and much more.
Registration details below.
Registration details below.
I'm speaking to the Economic Society of Australia (Central) in Sydney (and Webinar) on Wednesday about the future of jobs, money and the economy after AI, discussing hashtag #BasicIncome, Fully Automated Luxury Communism, Techno-feudalism and more.
esansw.org.au/event/64812/...
esansw.org.au/event/64812/...
If AI takes most of our jobs, money as we know it will be over. What then?
If AI takes most of our jobs, money as we know it will be over. What then? ESA - NSW Branch
esansw.org.au
November 18, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Our co-director @bspiesbutcher.bsky.social will be speaking to the Economic Society of Australia tomorrow in Sydney (and online). He'll be discussing AI, #BasicIncome and much more.
Registration details below.
Registration details below.
I'm speaking to the Economic Society of Australia (Central) in Sydney (and Webinar) on Wednesday about the future of jobs, money and the economy after AI, discussing hashtag #BasicIncome, Fully Automated Luxury Communism, Techno-feudalism and more.
esansw.org.au/event/64812/...
esansw.org.au/event/64812/...
If AI takes most of our jobs, money as we know it will be over. What then?
If AI takes most of our jobs, money as we know it will be over. What then? ESA - NSW Branch
esansw.org.au
November 17, 2025 at 5:32 AM
I'm speaking to the Economic Society of Australia (Central) in Sydney (and Webinar) on Wednesday about the future of jobs, money and the economy after AI, discussing hashtag #BasicIncome, Fully Automated Luxury Communism, Techno-feudalism and more.
esansw.org.au/event/64812/...
esansw.org.au/event/64812/...
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
The Australian Basic Income Lab is proud to endorse Basic Income for a Just Transition, a bold proposal from @equalrightorg.bsky.social @give-directly.bsky.social BIEN and Project Deep.
bsky.app/profile/did:...
bsky.app/profile/did:...
Ahead of #COP30, we are launching “Basic Income for a Just Transition” Paper, showing how unconditional cash can drive #ClimateJustice across 5 key #UNFCCC workstreams.
💡 Read the paper here: www.equalright.org/publications
#JustTransition #LossAndDamage #ClimateFinance
💡 Read the paper here: www.equalright.org/publications
#JustTransition #LossAndDamage #ClimateFinance
October 29, 2025 at 11:02 PM
The Australian Basic Income Lab is proud to endorse Basic Income for a Just Transition, a bold proposal from @equalrightorg.bsky.social @give-directly.bsky.social BIEN and Project Deep.
bsky.app/profile/did:...
bsky.app/profile/did:...
Great piece from my colleague @alistairsisson.bsky.social exploring the implications of our voter data on the ##HousingCrisis
johnmenadue.com/post/2025/10...
johnmenadue.com/post/2025/10...
As the home ownership dream fades, Australians may be open to a frank conversation about house prices
One of the most basic axioms in Australian politics is that voters support rising house prices. John Howard expressed this axiom when he infamously remarked that no one had ever told him “I'm angry wi...
johnmenadue.com
October 28, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Great piece from my colleague @alistairsisson.bsky.social exploring the implications of our voter data on the ##HousingCrisis
johnmenadue.com/post/2025/10...
johnmenadue.com/post/2025/10...
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
The 1st publication from the 2025 Cooperative Election survey was launched yesterday
prepared by the Macquarie Housing & Urban Research Centre, this report explores perceptions of housing affordability and perceived solutions
(thread)
prepared by the Macquarie Housing & Urban Research Centre, this report explores perceptions of housing affordability and perceived solutions
(thread)
October 23, 2025 at 1:23 AM
The 1st publication from the 2025 Cooperative Election survey was launched yesterday
prepared by the Macquarie Housing & Urban Research Centre, this report explores perceptions of housing affordability and perceived solutions
(thread)
prepared by the Macquarie Housing & Urban Research Centre, this report explores perceptions of housing affordability and perceived solutions
(thread)
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
Fascinating stuff from @bspiesbutcher.bsky.social and the gang - check it out!
What do voters think about the housing crisis? Just out in @aunz.theconversation.com our piece (w @shaunwilson.bsky.social @alistairsisson.bsky.social Kristian Ruming and Adam Stebbing) for MQ's Housing and Urban Research Centre exploring #Housing attitudes
theconversation.com/most-austral...
theconversation.com/most-austral...
Most Australians agree there’s a housing crisis. But they differ on what’s causing it – and how to fix it
New research shows older voters believe immigration is crunching housing supply, while young voters blame high interest rates and low wage growth.
theconversation.com
October 23, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Fascinating stuff from @bspiesbutcher.bsky.social and the gang - check it out!
What do voters think about the housing crisis? Just out in @aunz.theconversation.com our piece (w @shaunwilson.bsky.social @alistairsisson.bsky.social Kristian Ruming and Adam Stebbing) for MQ's Housing and Urban Research Centre exploring #Housing attitudes
theconversation.com/most-austral...
theconversation.com/most-austral...
Most Australians agree there’s a housing crisis. But they differ on what’s causing it – and how to fix it
New research shows older voters believe immigration is crunching housing supply, while young voters blame high interest rates and low wage growth.
theconversation.com
October 22, 2025 at 9:22 PM
What do voters think about the housing crisis? Just out in @aunz.theconversation.com our piece (w @shaunwilson.bsky.social @alistairsisson.bsky.social Kristian Ruming and Adam Stebbing) for MQ's Housing and Urban Research Centre exploring #Housing attitudes
theconversation.com/most-austral...
theconversation.com/most-austral...
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
Join us for a free webinar hosted by Macquarie University where researchers will present the fascinating insights they have drawn from data collected by Accent Research at the 2025 federal election showing how voters' demographics, backgrounds and economic interests shape housing politics
How did #Housing shape the 2025 #auspol Election? Come to our free webinar.
We analyse new data to see how generation, tenure and voting shape housing politics
With @emmabaker.bsky.social @shaunratcliff.bsky.social and @everybodyshome.bsky.social Maiy Azize
events.humanitix.com/webinar-on-h...
We analyse new data to see how generation, tenure and voting shape housing politics
With @emmabaker.bsky.social @shaunratcliff.bsky.social and @everybodyshome.bsky.social Maiy Azize
events.humanitix.com/webinar-on-h...
Housing and the 2025 Federal Election: Between Crisis and Inertia
Join our free webinar for key insights into housing and politics—ideal for researchers, students, and policymakers tackling Australia's housing crisis.
events.humanitix.com
October 15, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Join us for a free webinar hosted by Macquarie University where researchers will present the fascinating insights they have drawn from data collected by Accent Research at the 2025 federal election showing how voters' demographics, backgrounds and economic interests shape housing politics
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
Palestinian bodies returned by Israel show signs of torture and execution, say doctors
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Palestinian bodies returned by Israel show signs of torture and execution, say doctors
Almost all had been blindfolded and had gunshot wounds between the eyes, says medic at Nasser hospital in Gaza
www.theguardian.com
October 15, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Palestinian bodies returned by Israel show signs of torture and execution, say doctors
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
Now out with New Political Economy: What's going on in the legal back-end of 'innovative' climate finance constructs? I provide some additional clues to why it's so hard to de-risk private climate finance by public means. Open access, too! www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
January 17, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Now out with New Political Economy: What's going on in the legal back-end of 'innovative' climate finance constructs? I provide some additional clues to why it's so hard to de-risk private climate finance by public means. Open access, too! www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
How did #Housing shape the 2025 #auspol Election? Come to our free webinar.
We analyse new data to see how generation, tenure and voting shape housing politics
With @emmabaker.bsky.social @shaunratcliff.bsky.social and @everybodyshome.bsky.social Maiy Azize
events.humanitix.com/webinar-on-h...
We analyse new data to see how generation, tenure and voting shape housing politics
With @emmabaker.bsky.social @shaunratcliff.bsky.social and @everybodyshome.bsky.social Maiy Azize
events.humanitix.com/webinar-on-h...
Housing and the 2025 Federal Election: Between Crisis and Inertia
Join our free webinar for key insights into housing and politics—ideal for researchers, students, and policymakers tackling Australia's housing crisis.
events.humanitix.com
October 14, 2025 at 12:15 AM
How did #Housing shape the 2025 #auspol Election? Come to our free webinar.
We analyse new data to see how generation, tenure and voting shape housing politics
With @emmabaker.bsky.social @shaunratcliff.bsky.social and @everybodyshome.bsky.social Maiy Azize
events.humanitix.com/webinar-on-h...
We analyse new data to see how generation, tenure and voting shape housing politics
With @emmabaker.bsky.social @shaunratcliff.bsky.social and @everybodyshome.bsky.social Maiy Azize
events.humanitix.com/webinar-on-h...
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
Our submission on Help to Buy is in. Biggest concerns? *Inflated prices *Hidden fiscal costs *No perpetual affordability 💡 Shared equity could work better. Tie it to Community Land Trusts → permanent affordability, real public benefit: sbee.link/6phagtynb8 #HousingCrisis #HelpToBuy
Submission: Help to Buy Regulations 2025 - Grounded
Grounded has made a submission on the proposed Help to Buy regulations. While we welcome stronger consumer protections, the scheme risks inflating housing prices, obscuring real costs, and missing the chance to deliver permanent affordability.
sbee.link
October 1, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Our submission on Help to Buy is in. Biggest concerns? *Inflated prices *Hidden fiscal costs *No perpetual affordability 💡 Shared equity could work better. Tie it to Community Land Trusts → permanent affordability, real public benefit: sbee.link/6phagtynb8 #HousingCrisis #HelpToBuy
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
This event is going to be wonderful! A chance to discuss the past and future of political economy in Sydney
👏💖🎈
👏💖🎈
Celebrating 50 Years of Political Economy at the University of Sydney ppesydney.net/celebrating-...
September 30, 2025 at 11:53 PM
This event is going to be wonderful! A chance to discuss the past and future of political economy in Sydney
👏💖🎈
👏💖🎈
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
I hadn't seen George Brandis' op ed about expanding parliament but it is indeed completely false and @benraue.com has kindly saved me the trouble of debunking it www.tallyroom.com.au/62130
Who would benefit from an expanded parliament?
Today’s blog post is inspired by a strange opinion piece in the Nine papers yesterday by former federal Liberal Attorney-General George Brandis. Brandis’ piece (in addition to incorrect…
www.tallyroom.com.au
September 30, 2025 at 12:05 AM
I hadn't seen George Brandis' op ed about expanding parliament but it is indeed completely false and @benraue.com has kindly saved me the trouble of debunking it www.tallyroom.com.au/62130
I suppose they've given up on abundance...?
"We think the WTO needs to focus on oversupply issues … There’s plenty of products that I think people would say there’s an oversupply."
www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...
"We think the WTO needs to focus on oversupply issues … There’s plenty of products that I think people would say there’s an oversupply."
www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...
As Chinese cars flood the market, Australia backs global crackdown on price war
Australia’s trade minister is pushing for reform of the WTO amid rising alarm that China’s manufacturing boom will hand Beijing coercive power in key sectors.
www.smh.com.au
September 29, 2025 at 9:39 PM
I suppose they've given up on abundance...?
"We think the WTO needs to focus on oversupply issues … There’s plenty of products that I think people would say there’s an oversupply."
www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...
"We think the WTO needs to focus on oversupply issues … There’s plenty of products that I think people would say there’s an oversupply."
www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...
Reposted by Ben Spies-Butcher
JOB!
Permanent Lecturer / Senior Lecturer position (education focused) in Political Economy at the University of Sydney.
Permanent Lecturer / Senior Lecturer position (education focused) in Political Economy at the University of Sydney.
Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Political Economy (Education Focused) - University of Sydney - Progress in Political Economy (PPE)
The Discipline of Political Economy at the University of Sydney is advertising a continuing education focused position, to be appointed at either Lecturer or Senior Lecturer level. This position is pa...
www.ppesydney.net
September 25, 2025 at 2:08 AM
JOB!
Permanent Lecturer / Senior Lecturer position (education focused) in Political Economy at the University of Sydney.
Permanent Lecturer / Senior Lecturer position (education focused) in Political Economy at the University of Sydney.
How did #housing shape the #auspol election? Come and hear new data and analysis from our MQ Housing and Urban Research Centre unpacking how generation, tenure and partisanship shape how we see the problem and the solutions.
Zoom event, Oct 22, 12pm
events.humanitix.com/webinar-on-h...
Zoom event, Oct 22, 12pm
events.humanitix.com/webinar-on-h...
Housing and the 2025 Federal Election: Between Crisis and Inertia
Join our free webinar for key insights into housing and politics—ideal for researchers, students, and policymakers tackling Australia's housing crisis.
events.humanitix.com
September 26, 2025 at 7:28 AM
How did #housing shape the #auspol election? Come and hear new data and analysis from our MQ Housing and Urban Research Centre unpacking how generation, tenure and partisanship shape how we see the problem and the solutions.
Zoom event, Oct 22, 12pm
events.humanitix.com/webinar-on-h...
Zoom event, Oct 22, 12pm
events.humanitix.com/webinar-on-h...