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Ben Lever

@benleverau.bsky.social
744 followers 206 following 641 posts

Transport and climate activist from Victoria, Australia linktr.ee/benleverau

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Reposted by Ben Lever
Tim Baxter @timinclimate.naruresearch.com.au · 15/10/2026
Love to see the Minister caught in either incompetence or a lie by work I put out last month. No, Minister King: Your government hasn't even come close to implementing the Pepper Inquiry's recommendations on Beetaloo. You don't get to claim completion when you're less than 5% of the way there.
theguardian.com
Resources minister faces calls to correct her claim all Beetaloo emissions will be offset
Madeleine King told press club emissions from NT fossil fuel basin ‘are accounted for and offset’ but research found 95% of emissions this decade would not have to be offset
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Pete M 🌳 @pete-m.bsky.social · 15/10/2026
Bear in mind it is perfectly legal to buy and sell Mein Kampf in the UK.
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Barbara Waxer 🌈 @barbara-waxer.bsky.social · 15/10/2026
When Grammy-winning musician Rhiannon Giddens begins playing “Old Corn Liquor,” a traditional Black American folk tune, acclaimed Chinese pipa virtuoso Wu Man recognizes similarities to Chinese pentatonic music and spontaneously joins in. The joy on their faces says it all.
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André Brett @drdrehistorian.bsky.social · 15/10/2026
Hard to say which of them this reflects worse on
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John Michael McGrath @jm-mcgrath.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
If anyone was skeptical, "Musk disables Ukraine's Starlink terminals during a major Russian attack" is a pretty strong argument to get US oligarch tech out of our governments (and out of everywhere else.)
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Jacquelyn Gill @jacquelyngill.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
Aaron Swartz, coding prodigy and hacktivist who helped develop RSS and was a co-founder of Reddit, died by suicide after facing $1 million in fines and 35 years in prison for felony charges, just for downloading pdfs of research papers with the intention of making them accessible to the public.
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Julie S. Lalonde @julieslalonde.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
Being GenX/Millennial is such a trip. In our lifetimes, we saw people our age getting wild criminal penalties for pirating music and now have to sit and watch as companies gobble up our work with impunity.
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Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
Trump has cut off intelligence to Ukraine so that Putin can more easily bomb civilians including children.
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Kate Starbird @katestarbird.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
Y’all, I hate to rain on the dead bot parade, but the Yandex data center destruction doesn’t seem to have significantly impacted social media bots. I made temporal graphs of X posts about AfD around the time of the attack and there’s no sign of a sudden dip or residual impact on that conversation.
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climatecouncil.org.au @climatecouncil.org.au · 13/10/2026
Did you know that transport is one of Australia’s fastest growing sources of climate pollution? To cut transport emissions, we need to change how we travel and shift the focus to moving people, not cars. Think walking, cycling, taking the train or bus 🚌🚶🏽🚴🏼 How did you get to work today?
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Randy Au @randyau.com · 13/10/2026
I'm dying laughing at how the cat has conformed to her flower shaped bed today
A white cat is sleeping curled up in a med that has five fluffy white lobes of a flower petal, the cat has half her face peeking upwards and otherwise has filled the pentagonal space in the center of the bed completely
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Daniel Bowen @danielbowen.au · 09/10/2026
Really good long read on why some cities developed separate commuter/suburban rail vs metros, and how building cross-city connections can help suburban railways can transition into metros. Melbourne's Metro Tunnel is an example of this.
worksinprogress.co
The magic of through running - Works in Progress Magazine
Commuter trains often stop at the edge of cities. Building a short tunnel to join them up is often by far the most efficient way to improve a city's transport.
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Yung En Chee @yungenchee.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
DYK the diesel burned by these data centres is eligible for govt rebates of >50 cents/litre‼️🤯 NextDC of West Footscray infamy used ~2 ML of diesel across its national portfolio in the 2025 financial year, meaning taxpayers gifted >$1 million to DCs to run polluting diesel generators 🤯 🤬
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The Australia Institute @australiainstitute.org.au · 13/10/2026
"It's hugely popular. The community wants it. They're sick of gas companies getting Australian's gas for free," Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young talking about a 25% gas export tax on ABC 7.30. Join the call for a national plebiscite: gas-plebiscite.australiainstitute.o…
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Chris Bowen @chrisbowenmp.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
Here's your renewable wrap: Plug-In Solar and Batteries are going to be made legal in Australia.
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Critical Mass naarm Melbourne @criticalmassmelb.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
❤️ Dr Tim Read: Memorial Bike Ride + State Memorial Memorial Bike Ride (from Bruns to Melb Town Hall) Wed 28 Oct 2pm. 2/272 Barkly St Brunswick. More details to come State Memorial Wed 28 Oct 2026 Doors open at 2:30pm for 3.30pm start. Melb Town Hall Source: www.instagram.com/p/DeamlTGCsk0/
instagram.com
Instagram
Create an account or log in to Instagram - Share what you're into with the people who get you.
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Ed Zitron @edzitron.com · 13/10/2026
And with that we have our first dead AI startup
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Rebecca Fernandez O'Shea @rebeccafernandez.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
If only Australia had put some real effort into weaning our transport systems off fossil fuels. Not just better for the environment, but also all our pockets. My damn mortgage interest rate is tied to the price of fuel in this country!
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Gillian Brockell @gillianbrockell.com · 12/10/2026
Exactly as predicted: Elder abuse. This is from Danny Trejo’s son, Gilbert Trejo. Not only did Ben Shapiro’s camp trick the elder Trejo about what the movie really was, he apparently signed a contract barring him from even putting out a statement about it.
For anyone seeing this shit with my dad...
He was booked on a film, it's not pro-ice, it's not overtly pro anything. His agent described it as "a complicated story about a complicated time, where everyone looks bad except you, the hardworking Mexican shop owner who just wants peace"
He jumped at the idea of playing a good guy.
About 2 weeks into shooting everyone, including us, found out Ben Shapiro was involved.
My 82 year old dad has never heard of Ben Shapiro, I had to explain to him who that is, and what kind of guy he is.
My dad contractually can't bad mouth him, the film, or walk away without being sued for breach of contract. He couldn't even release the statement he wanted to.
It's fucked up. He's handcuffed to this stupid project, and swaths of people have instantly turned their back on him without knowing any of the facts.
Ben Shapiro got Mexicans to abandon one of their heroes, got his own name to the top of google's searches, and made us look like angry fools lacking any nuance. He wins.
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Katherine Copsey @katcopseygreens.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
Time to pump up the tyres for #Ride2WorkDay tomorrow! Petrol prices are spiking again, and jumping on the bike is a great way to save money (and cut emissions!) The Greens are proud to back the #Gimme5 campaign to dedicate 5% of the transport budget to safe bike infrastructure
A selfie of Katherine Copsey MP wearing a bike helmet and crouching next to her bike, with one hand on the bike pump.
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Julian Sanchez @normative.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
My father used to talk about this in medicine—occasionally you’d find some “common knowledge” factoid that, it you followed it back five hops down the citation chain, always terminated with some poorly designed 15-person study from the 30s that was wildly inadequate to support the claim.
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Michael Mazengarb @michaelmazengarb.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Finkel has embarrassed himself with this intervention. The judgement itself is straight statutory interpretation. The High Court hasn’t imposed anything other than what the NSW planning laws require. He also clearly hasn’t read the judgement or familiarised himself with the case history.
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Zia Foxxington @ziamacmarten.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
the fact this is being covered in Australia is 1) a note of what a huge deal this is 2) might in fact be a reason why people dont want to tour the USA and 3) underscores this is, in fact, abormal and a big deal
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Chanda Prescod-Weinstein 🌌 @chanda.blacksky.app · 12/10/2026
“the Cloudflare “Bot Traffic” chart many people have cited is really about automated web crawlers operated by Yandex accessing the web. It’s not connected to “bots” posting”
theverge.com
Did “Russian bot traffic” really disappear after Ukrainian strikes on Yandex servers?
Despite multiple Ukrainian strikes hitting Yandex servers in Russia, a thread by antibot4navalny, which has long tracked state-sponsored social media campaigns and troll farms, explains that the Cloud...
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Guardian Australia @australia.theguardian.com · 12/10/2026
‘What planet is she on?’: Seekers take aim at CPAC over use of I am Australian
theguardian.com
‘What planet is she on?’: Seekers take aim at CPAC over use of I am Australian
The carnival is over for use of Australian band’s song they say was played without permission at conservative conference * Get our new political email, free app or daily news podcast A member of legendary Australian band The Seekers has taken aim at a conference featuring Pauline Hanson for using a classic song, confirming no permission had been granted. Bruce Woodley said the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) featured I Am Australian without approval, while the song’s co-author revealed Hanson had been previously threatened with legal action over its potential use. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s Politics, really newsletter here Continue reading...
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Katherine Copsey @katcopseygreens.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
We’ve been touring a GIANT banner around the state, collecting signatures from Victorians who want to end coal & gas - now we’re bringing it to parliament! Swing by on the way to work to add your last-minute signature & join our big group photo! Details: contact-vic.greens.org.au/civicrm/even...
A photo of Sarah Mansfield MP with some of her staff and a big banner that reads "Protect Victoria - End Coal & Gas". The banner is covered in signatures. They are standing in front of a lighthouse. Graphic text over the photo reads "End Coal & Gas banner at Parliament. Wednesday 14 October - 8:30am. Steps of Parliament House."
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Sonya Semmens @sonyasemmens.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Tax them.
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Codfather #FBPE 🇫🇷🇪🇺 @codfather.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
In Germany, the curb can charge your car. Developed by Rheinmetall, these electric vehicle charging points are integrated directly into sidewalk curbs, removing the need for conventional charging posts. The compact system delivers up to 22 kW while taking up virtually no additional sidewalk space.
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Dr nick nobody @nicknobody.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Good to see National Party leader Matt Canavan got to dress up in 'worker' cosplay at the conservative party. No one there is going to point out he's only ever worked as an economist, director, and political staffer. #auspol
Screenshot of picture from ABC News online, photo by Luke Bowden shows Matt Canavan in a Q&A with Pauline Hanson. Private school educated multi millionaire Canavan is wearing a Hi Vis construction worker shirt.
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Senator David Shoebridge @davidshoebridge.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
In the last 48 hours, Trump has invented an energy ceasefire deal between Russia and Ukraine, pretended that much of this year’s energy price surge is not because of his reckless war on Iran and cut a side deal to funnel billions to Russia for sanctioned diesel. Not a friend. End AUKUS.
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ABC News Australia @news.abc.net.au · 11/10/2026
Critics say 'Santos-sized loopholes' will make gas reservation a joke
abc.net.au
Critics warn of 'Santos-sized loopholes' in gas reservation plan
Industry players say draft gas reservation plans are full of carve-outs that will let a venture many blame for rising prices off the hook. 
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News Eye @newseye.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
This is how you write a headline.
Telegraph headline:

Trump backstabs Zelensky for five minutes of midterm relief
Deal with Putin for Russia’s oil might soften the markets but Ukraine will pay the price
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Nick Young @nickofnz.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
The Te Huia train service connecting Auckland and Hamilton just posted its best-ever monthly passenger figures as trial period nears end - proving Luxon wrong again. www.waikatotimes.co.nz/nz-news/3610...
waikatotimes.co.nz
Te Huia posts best monthly passenger number as trial period nears end
More people are using the Auckland to Hamilton service than ever before.
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Ben Lever @benleverau.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
sorry for your loss, Dylan
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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 11/10/2026
Extra PT for today's Marathon, including Metro tunnel trains running every 5 mins much of the day. In 2010 organisers said: "public transport is not an option" - back then the first trains didn't reach the city until 8am. In 2026: "We highly suggest that all competitors take public transport"🏃👍
Competitors running the Melbourne marathon PTUA 2014 article: Melbourne's Sunday trains now start last
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Chris Bowen @chrisbowenmp.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
It’s a big weekend for cosplay conventions in Australia...
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Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
El-Sayed’s response to Kennedy:
El-Sayed: “That’s rich coming from someone who wears his bed sheets out at night.”
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Jake Grumbach @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
A real welfare state and universal health care require broad taxation, including the middle class. But high end wealth taxation is the kind of tax that protects democracy and the rule of law, and prevents aristocratic dynasties. It keeps us human.
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Jake Grumbach @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
New working paper: the Norwegian wealth tax was a huge success. The "exodus" of wealthy people never happened (less than 100 individuals left). Tax revenue increased by 71.5%. No changes in business activity or investment. www.nber.org/papers/w35854
Taxing Entrepreneurial Wealth: Evidence from
Norway, 2021-2025
Marius A. K. Ring
WORKING PAPER 35854|
DOl 10.3386/w35854
ISSUE DATE October 2026
Whether imposing higher taxes on business owners adversely affects business activity by constraining investment and inducing capitalist flight is a central question in the ongoing debate on how to tax the ultra wealthy. To shed new light, I exploit a series of related Norwegian reforms during 2021-2024 that increased dividend tax rates, removed migration-related capital gains tax loopholes, and nearly doubled the effective marginal tax rate on business wealth. These reforms spurred international debate and, allegedly, an "exodus" of Norwegian billionaires (Financial Times,
2023). While I document clear effects on migration, these responses are concentrated among the top 0.1% of the wealth distribution and mostly confined to 2022 and 2023. My results indicate that at most 100 individuals left due to the reforms. I find no evidence of significant outmigration or reduced inflows of startup founders or inventors. I estimate that absent any outmigration, wealth tax revenues would have increased by 75% from 2021 to 2024. Reform-driven outmigration lowers the revenue gain to 71.5%. My findings further show that outmigrating owners' firms remain economically active and do not reduce investment. In a broader set of analyses, I examine whether business outcomes are affected, regardless of whether owners outmigrate, since firms may reduce investment both due to liquidity constraints or distortions to owners' savings decisions. I compare firms owned by Norwegian individuals subject to the wealth tax with firms owned by foreigners and other tax-exempt entities. By merging historical ownership data from Orbis with the Norwegian shareholder register, I perform these analyses on both Norwegian and foreign-domiciled firms.
Across settings, I find no evidence that Norwegian-owned firms pay out more dividends or invest less after the reforms,…
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Climate Action Merribek @camerribek.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Make Big Polluters Pay - Communities for Climate Compensation in Merri-bek today: 3 door knockers in 1.5 hours: 40 doors, 11 answered, 6 surveys, 6 petitions, left 4 flyers We will get there because we will do the work
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Ruth Ben-Ghiat @ruthbenghiat.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
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Ben Lever @benleverau.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
The narrative for months has been that a right-wing victory is inevitable and the only question was whether the Coalition could do it without One Nation. But there's hope for us yet!
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Ben Lever @benleverau.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Victorian election: Roy Morgan's current projection puts the left ahead, with Labor on 40 seats and the Greens on 6 (double the current 3) for a total of 46. This would be a narrow majority over the Coalition on 31 and One Nation on 11 for a total of 42. roymorgan.com/findings/103… #SpringSt
roymorgan.com
Victorian Election is ‘too close to call’ today: ALP/Greens (46 seats) narrowly ahead of L-NP/ONP (42 seats); One Nation set to win over 10 seats in Lower House - Roy Morgan Research
Before all candidates are locked in, before preference deals are done, and before the campaign begins in earnest in the next few weeks Roy Morgan has created a Winnability Score. It combines current State voting intention with how closely an electorate's voter profile aligns with each party's core s
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Ben Eltham @beneltham.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
What’s happening to our climate is utterly terrifying. We’re looking at 4 degrees above average this southern summer www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
‘Jaw-dropping’ El Niño bursts through temperature record months before peak
‘Godzilla-level’ phenomenon is supercharging the climate crisis and will have a huge impact on communities across the world
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Ben Lever @benleverau.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Overseas, Albanese sees ‘the very definition of climate injustice’ – but at home, he still wants coal theguardian.com/environment/…
theguardian.com
Overseas, Albanese sees ‘the very definition of climate injustice’ – but at home, he still wants coal
It isn’t hard to see a contradiction between the PM’s message in Fiji and his opposition to legal action to stop a NSW coalmine
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Eric Alper @thatericalper.com · 09/10/2026
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Cam @camster.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Was Penny Wong unavailable?
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Ben Collins @bencollins.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Sam Altman said people are just gonna have to die in order to implement AI. In the very same week, Anthropic claimed it’s a human rights violation to be mean to the computer. These people need to be held accountable. They think lines of code are a person with rights but living people are debris.
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Guardian Australia @australia.theguardian.com · 09/10/2026
The Block secured a Victorian government property for $38 per sq metre. Neighbours and MPs want to know why
theguardian.com
The Block secured a Victorian government property for $38 per sq metre. Neighbours and MPs want to know why
Historic former psychiatric hospital in Sunbury was sold to Channel Nine for $1m in the cheapest real estate purchase in the show’s history * Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Community groups and MPs are demanding answers from the Victorian government after it sold a 2.6 hectare (6.4 acre) site containing a former psychiatric hospital for just $38 per sq metre, so it can be renovated on the next series of The Block. It was revealed this week the government had sold the historic Sunbury property to Channel Nine for $1m – the cheapest purchase in the reality show’s history. Three of it’s buildings will reportedly be converted into five homes by the program’s contestants. Continue reading...
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Railmaps @railmaps.com.au · 09/10/2026
Nice article in the Brisbane Times on the passing of Robert Dow. www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/que...
brisbanetimes.com.au
‘Not someone to be ignored’: Former ministers pay tribute to public transport advocate
Robert Dow was the face of public transport advocacy in Brisbane for almost two decades.
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