Philip Thalis
@philipthalis.bsky.social
Architect, urbanist, public advocate. Principal @HillThalisAUP co author #PublicSydney Book & Puzzle. Prof Practice UNSW. ex Sydney Ind Councillor. Aust Arch Gold🥇2024
On Gadigal country
On Gadigal country
Speaking ill of the wicked dead; hopefully the tenacious #katemcclymont will dance on his grave, & publish a whole series on that ogre Graham Richardson
Should have died in jail
www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...
Should have died in jail
www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...
Long lunches, Swiss bank accounts and a kangaroo scrotum: My decades pursuing Graham Richardson
For a reporter whose career has been spent uncovering crime and corruption, the Labor senator was the one who got away.
www.smh.com.au
November 11, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Speaking ill of the wicked dead; hopefully the tenacious #katemcclymont will dance on his grave, & publish a whole series on that ogre Graham Richardson
Should have died in jail
www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...
Should have died in jail
www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...
Reposted by Philip Thalis
Australia’s democracy has changed radically since 1975.
So many more women in parliament, but less o in the Colaition
So many more minor party and independent MPs
And each MP now has so many more constituents…
Great article/graphs from @browne90.bsky.social
thepoint.com.au/off-the-char...
So many more women in parliament, but less o in the Colaition
So many more minor party and independent MPs
And each MP now has so many more constituents…
Great article/graphs from @browne90.bsky.social
thepoint.com.au/off-the-char...
How Australian democracy has changed since 1975, in six charts
50 years on from the Dismissal, how has Australian democracy changed? Here are six ways that Australian politics looks very different to when Gough Whitlam was PM in November 1975.
thepoint.com.au
November 11, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Australia’s democracy has changed radically since 1975.
So many more women in parliament, but less o in the Colaition
So many more minor party and independent MPs
And each MP now has so many more constituents…
Great article/graphs from @browne90.bsky.social
thepoint.com.au/off-the-char...
So many more women in parliament, but less o in the Colaition
So many more minor party and independent MPs
And each MP now has so many more constituents…
Great article/graphs from @browne90.bsky.social
thepoint.com.au/off-the-char...
Reposted by Philip Thalis
Something to read, something to watch. "The Palace Letters" by Prof Jenny Hocking @palaceletters.bsky.social and the documentary "The Search for the Palace Letters". Available to watch on ABC iview: iview.abc.net.au/show/search-... #auspol #Whitlam #Dismissal #RoyalFamily #PalaceLetters
November 11, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Something to read, something to watch. "The Palace Letters" by Prof Jenny Hocking @palaceletters.bsky.social and the documentary "The Search for the Palace Letters". Available to watch on ABC iview: iview.abc.net.au/show/search-... #auspol #Whitlam #Dismissal #RoyalFamily #PalaceLetters
50 years on …
It’s still time to fix the faults of the Constitution, abolish the Governor General, become a republic
…& have a progressive, reformist government…
It’s still time to fix the faults of the Constitution, abolish the Governor General, become a republic
…& have a progressive, reformist government…
November 10, 2025 at 7:52 PM
50 years on …
It’s still time to fix the faults of the Constitution, abolish the Governor General, become a republic
…& have a progressive, reformist government…
It’s still time to fix the faults of the Constitution, abolish the Governor General, become a republic
…& have a progressive, reformist government…
Fantasyland in Fassifern;
Folk art all along the footpath.
Someone clearly has an obsession which they are only too happy to share with any passers-by
Folk art all along the footpath.
Someone clearly has an obsession which they are only too happy to share with any passers-by
November 10, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Fantasyland in Fassifern;
Folk art all along the footpath.
Someone clearly has an obsession which they are only too happy to share with any passers-by
Folk art all along the footpath.
Someone clearly has an obsession which they are only too happy to share with any passers-by
Long overdue to have. Truth telling commission on what happened in the Australian Wars, too little acknowledged wars across our continent, almost always to the cost of the Aboriginal people’s
Excellent sentiments in letter to @smh
Excellent sentiments in letter to @smh
November 10, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Long overdue to have. Truth telling commission on what happened in the Australian Wars, too little acknowledged wars across our continent, almost always to the cost of the Aboriginal people’s
Excellent sentiments in letter to @smh
Excellent sentiments in letter to @smh
As Bob Dylan said; “stand on his grave & make sure that he’s dead”
Richardson such an odious character, zero redeeming features, always for sale or rent, promoter of Obeid, why didn’t he end his days in jail?
Richardson such an odious character, zero redeeming features, always for sale or rent, promoter of Obeid, why didn’t he end his days in jail?
Former Labor senator Graham Richardson has died as he lived — surrounded in euphemism, @theshufflediary.bsky.social writes.
The strange afterlives of Graham Richardson
www.crikey.com.au
November 10, 2025 at 11:05 AM
As Bob Dylan said; “stand on his grave & make sure that he’s dead”
Richardson such an odious character, zero redeeming features, always for sale or rent, promoter of Obeid, why didn’t he end his days in jail?
Richardson such an odious character, zero redeeming features, always for sale or rent, promoter of Obeid, why didn’t he end his days in jail?
Reposted by Philip Thalis
Former Labor senator Graham Richardson has died as he lived — surrounded in euphemism, @theshufflediary.bsky.social writes.
The strange afterlives of Graham Richardson
www.crikey.com.au
November 10, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Former Labor senator Graham Richardson has died as he lived — surrounded in euphemism, @theshufflediary.bsky.social writes.
Reposted by Philip Thalis
Cartoon by @rubenbolling.bsky.social.
November 9, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Cartoon by @rubenbolling.bsky.social.
Reposted by Philip Thalis
It would be difficult to identify a more unambitious government.
Committed to holding onto incumbency rather than doing anything big, bold, and transformational with it.
Time Albanese retire to his Central Coast clifftop pad.
His mind has already moved there
#auspol
Committed to holding onto incumbency rather than doing anything big, bold, and transformational with it.
Time Albanese retire to his Central Coast clifftop pad.
His mind has already moved there
#auspol
November 9, 2025 at 2:10 AM
It would be difficult to identify a more unambitious government.
Committed to holding onto incumbency rather than doing anything big, bold, and transformational with it.
Time Albanese retire to his Central Coast clifftop pad.
His mind has already moved there
#auspol
Committed to holding onto incumbency rather than doing anything big, bold, and transformational with it.
Time Albanese retire to his Central Coast clifftop pad.
His mind has already moved there
#auspol
Reposted by Philip Thalis
A deep commitment to anti-wokeness
November 8, 2025 at 7:33 PM
A deep commitment to anti-wokeness
Visiting an old friend;
Our wedge-shaped #studioapartments opposite Dulwich Hill station now have the fabulous #OlympicMeats at street level.
Council have improved street, metro pending, facade cleaned, neighbours still puzzlingly undeveloped, so you can still see form of our triangular site
Our wedge-shaped #studioapartments opposite Dulwich Hill station now have the fabulous #OlympicMeats at street level.
Council have improved street, metro pending, facade cleaned, neighbours still puzzlingly undeveloped, so you can still see form of our triangular site
November 9, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Visiting an old friend;
Our wedge-shaped #studioapartments opposite Dulwich Hill station now have the fabulous #OlympicMeats at street level.
Council have improved street, metro pending, facade cleaned, neighbours still puzzlingly undeveloped, so you can still see form of our triangular site
Our wedge-shaped #studioapartments opposite Dulwich Hill station now have the fabulous #OlympicMeats at street level.
Council have improved street, metro pending, facade cleaned, neighbours still puzzlingly undeveloped, so you can still see form of our triangular site
Reposted by Philip Thalis
Outrageous. Tens of millions have been given to a criminal bikie gang - to oversee refugees on Nauru, what other appalling things have happened on Nauru to refugees that we still don’t know about? #60mins
#nauru #albanese #auspol #60minutes
#nauru #albanese #auspol #60minutes
November 9, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Outrageous. Tens of millions have been given to a criminal bikie gang - to oversee refugees on Nauru, what other appalling things have happened on Nauru to refugees that we still don’t know about? #60mins
#nauru #albanese #auspol #60minutes
#nauru #albanese #auspol #60minutes
More tragic news in Sydney; now 8 pedestrians killed by cars in last fortnight
November 9, 2025 at 10:21 AM
More tragic news in Sydney; now 8 pedestrians killed by cars in last fortnight
Reposted by Philip Thalis
Always love speaking to my 86 yo Mum in Tassie ... re the proposed AFL stadium: "They love the AFL up north, and a few of them down south do too... so why not put the fucking thing in in Oatlands! Half way. Problem solved!"
That woman should be Premier!
That woman should be Premier!
November 9, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Always love speaking to my 86 yo Mum in Tassie ... re the proposed AFL stadium: "They love the AFL up north, and a few of them down south do too... so why not put the fucking thing in in Oatlands! Half way. Problem solved!"
That woman should be Premier!
That woman should be Premier!
All the while all the public housing just nearby in Millers Pt & Thé Rocks was first leased, then sold off outright by NSW Govts….
Barangaroo exemplar of worse practice, now with smidge of affordable housing (just 2.3%) given ‘poor door’ entry
@jennyleong.bsky.social spot on; “outsourced the responsibility of housing delivery” to developers, giving them “more control over affordable housing”.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
@jennyleong.bsky.social spot on; “outsourced the responsibility of housing delivery” to developers, giving them “more control over affordable housing”.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
‘Poor doors’: affordable housing tenants have to use back entrance to access Barangaroo apartments
Those paying discounted rent at Watermans Residences can’t use pool or gym, either. Critics say segregation ‘a dystopian microcosm of housing inequality’
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:44 AM
All the while all the public housing just nearby in Millers Pt & Thé Rocks was first leased, then sold off outright by NSW Govts….
Reposted by Philip Thalis
The economists we hear from so often have a hard time seeing beyond the market and its limited solutions, even when the market is clearly failing to deliver housing for all.
November 7, 2025 at 7:14 AM
The economists we hear from so often have a hard time seeing beyond the market and its limited solutions, even when the market is clearly failing to deliver housing for all.
Reposted by Philip Thalis
‘Labor sources have told ABC Investigations the PM’s office has been putting pressure on advocates for gambling reform within the parliamentary Labor party to prevent them from speaking up.’
Arise, Caucus MPs! You have nothing to lose but your chains!
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
Arise, Caucus MPs! You have nothing to lose but your chains!
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
'Broad, unspoken consensus': silent Labor MPs want action on gambling
Andrew Wilkie has asked the PM to allow a free vote on banning gambling advertising and it appears many Labor MPs would support it.
www.abc.net.au
November 7, 2025 at 11:07 PM
‘Labor sources have told ABC Investigations the PM’s office has been putting pressure on advocates for gambling reform within the parliamentary Labor party to prevent them from speaking up.’
Arise, Caucus MPs! You have nothing to lose but your chains!
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
Arise, Caucus MPs! You have nothing to lose but your chains!
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
At the re-installing of the sculpture Joy in Stanley St Darlinghurst, commemorating all the sex workers & street walkers who were once so common in the area.
Put back anew after a 30 year hiatus.
#publicsydney
Put back anew after a 30 year hiatus.
#publicsydney
November 8, 2025 at 2:31 AM
At the re-installing of the sculpture Joy in Stanley St Darlinghurst, commemorating all the sex workers & street walkers who were once so common in the area.
Put back anew after a 30 year hiatus.
#publicsydney
Put back anew after a 30 year hiatus.
#publicsydney
Reposted by Philip Thalis
'Prof Donald Rothwell, an expert in international law at... [ANU], said Israeli defence companies like Elbit Systems were “directly implicated in Israel’s alleged acts of genocide in Gaza”.
“As such, Australia should not be engaged in any trade that supports that type of activity,” Rothwell said.'
“As such, Australia should not be engaged in any trade that supports that type of activity,” Rothwell said.'
November 6, 2025 at 9:41 PM
'Prof Donald Rothwell, an expert in international law at... [ANU], said Israeli defence companies like Elbit Systems were “directly implicated in Israel’s alleged acts of genocide in Gaza”.
“As such, Australia should not be engaged in any trade that supports that type of activity,” Rothwell said.'
“As such, Australia should not be engaged in any trade that supports that type of activity,” Rothwell said.'
Reposted by Philip Thalis
The world’s first trillionaire initiated a move that has left more than half a million people dead, most of whom are children.
November 7, 2025 at 7:39 AM
The world’s first trillionaire initiated a move that has left more than half a million people dead, most of whom are children.
Reposted by Philip Thalis
In vernacular British English, any noun can be used as an insult if it feels right. Just looking around my immediate surroundings, 'you teacup' and 'you plant pot' work, but 'you subwoofer' and 'you mousepad' don't. Same with pastries: donut works, cheese lattice doesn't. Nobody knows why.
November 6, 2025 at 11:08 AM
In vernacular British English, any noun can be used as an insult if it feels right. Just looking around my immediate surroundings, 'you teacup' and 'you plant pot' work, but 'you subwoofer' and 'you mousepad' don't. Same with pastries: donut works, cheese lattice doesn't. Nobody knows why.
Shocking post by #walksydney -
5 pedestrians killed last week.
Look at the types of big vehicles involved
Shrink sizes, slow speeds
5 pedestrians killed last week.
Look at the types of big vehicles involved
Shrink sizes, slow speeds
November 7, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Shocking post by #walksydney -
5 pedestrians killed last week.
Look at the types of big vehicles involved
Shrink sizes, slow speeds
5 pedestrians killed last week.
Look at the types of big vehicles involved
Shrink sizes, slow speeds
If economists were serious about boosting housing affordability, they would be strongly advocating for reforms to assist cooperative housing, so challenging bank lending rules, their inflexible& unjustified restrictions on lending on sub 50m2 apartments.
Oh & they’ld be pushing for tax reform…
Oh & they’ld be pushing for tax reform…
Good advice.
Once that is done you could also add “support housing cooperatives”, or anything that can bypass the need for private profits.
One day the message will get through that market housing isn’t the way to housing affordability.
Once that is done you could also add “support housing cooperatives”, or anything that can bypass the need for private profits.
One day the message will get through that market housing isn’t the way to housing affordability.
November 7, 2025 at 7:07 AM
If economists were serious about boosting housing affordability, they would be strongly advocating for reforms to assist cooperative housing, so challenging bank lending rules, their inflexible& unjustified restrictions on lending on sub 50m2 apartments.
Oh & they’ld be pushing for tax reform…
Oh & they’ld be pushing for tax reform…
Reposted by Philip Thalis
Good advice.
Once that is done you could also add “support housing cooperatives”, or anything that can bypass the need for private profits.
One day the message will get through that market housing isn’t the way to housing affordability.
Once that is done you could also add “support housing cooperatives”, or anything that can bypass the need for private profits.
One day the message will get through that market housing isn’t the way to housing affordability.
November 6, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Good advice.
Once that is done you could also add “support housing cooperatives”, or anything that can bypass the need for private profits.
One day the message will get through that market housing isn’t the way to housing affordability.
Once that is done you could also add “support housing cooperatives”, or anything that can bypass the need for private profits.
One day the message will get through that market housing isn’t the way to housing affordability.