Sign in

David Sligar

@davidsligar.bsky.social
1.1K followers 523 following 1.4K posts

Liberal socialist. Economics, social policy, psychology.

PostsRepliesMedia
David Sligar @davidsligar.bsky.social · 17h
bday lunch and love to be in south-west sydney
121
David Sligar @davidsligar.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
kasparian outlines an opposition to AI due to it saving labour, thus reducing "meaning and purpose". while there are legit discussions on environment, distribution, corporate control etc, I think this intuition underpins much of the negative sentiment. very bad imo www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2YD...
230
David Sligar @davidsligar.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
5yo: "I have a secret" leans in, whispers "we will, we will rock you"
191
Reposted by David Sligar
Asher Wolf @asherwolf.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Dr Steve Robson modelled an economic cost benefit analysis for a scenario in which GLP-1’s were fully government funded without means testing in Australia
archive.li
13214
David Sligar @davidsligar.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
johnny cash 1991: MOAR welfare "there's too much money being spent on military and there should be more spent on education, welfare, young people, children, the elderly" www.facebook.com/watch/?v=105...
facebook.com
50K views · 8.5K reactions | The Highwaymen — Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and Johnny Cash — rail the state of the US and its spending priorities in a 1991 interview. | Jacobin magazine
The Highwaymen — Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and Johnny Cash — rail the state of the US and its spending priorities in a 1991 interview.
041
David Sligar @davidsligar.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
sigh
162
Reposted by David Sligar
Greg Jericho @grogsgamut.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
My column on how the level of Jobseeker kills people. And those running the economy for over 30 years have decided that is how it should be. www.theguardian.com/business/gro...
theguardian.com
In such a rich country, it is shameful how many Australians on jobseeker are dying in desperate poverty | Greg Jericho
Lifting the abysmally low jobseeker rate to the poverty line would save thousands of lives
23354165
Reposted by David Sligar
akayea.bsky.social @akayea.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Pro tip for upcoming policy wonks in the APS - give your legislation a read once in a while! www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
theguardian.com
Health officials in turmoil over 11th-hour backflip on aged care algorithm override powers, emails reveal
Ministers given emergency briefing about changes to algorithm decisions just three days before tool rollout
121
David Sligar @davidsligar.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
dominos pizza just casually texting out manosphere derangement
011
David Sligar @davidsligar.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Coroner suggests radiologists use AI to review images after missed cancer diagnosis www.reddit.com/r/ausjdocs/s...
reddit.com
From the ausjdocs community on Reddit: Coroner suggests radiologists use AI to review images after missed cancer diagnosis
Posted by spoopy_skeleton - 48 votes and 54 comments
000
David Sligar @davidsligar.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
personal finance column reminds that means testing is a tax that distorts behaviour - and the impact of the age pension cash assets test is unusually aggressive www.smh.com.au/money/super-...
smh.com.au
The retirement ‘sweet spot’: Can less super mean more income?
The age pension and super work together and can deliver you a closer-to-comfortable retirement.
253
Reposted by David Sligar
Tom Studans @maximumwelfare.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
🚨 New report from the Australian Institute of Health & Welfare on mortality rates of working-age welfare recipients between 2012-2022 makes for grim reading, could be hugely improved tomorrow by raising rates as per the Government's own committee. @aihw.bsky.social www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cent...
Key findings

Of the 287,000 people aged 22-64 who died over 2012-2022, almost 3 in 5 people received income support payments

Coronary heart disease was the leading cause of death among income support recipients

Income support recipients were overrepresented in deaths from suicide, accidental poisoning, and alcoholic liver disease

Mortality rates and leading causes of death differed depending on the type of payment received
17444
David Sligar @davidsligar.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
a lot of this sounds like middle-upper brow folks in fancy boston suburbs ganging up on someone who lacked skills at articulating and rationalising their views. reasonable doubt is in the eye of the beholder. people go by vibes. that’s just an inescapable part of both democracy and juries
200
David Sligar @davidsligar.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
cf Clancy in Aus Similar: bipolar diagnosis, no overt psychotic history, “altruistic filicide” w suicide attempt, sympathetic ex Different: higher defence burden in SA; male perpetrator & four-year-old victim, so no clean postpartum story. Crown conceded, no trial www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12...
abc.net.au
SA judge backs grief-stricken mother in call for mental health resources
A Supreme Court judge hopes a grief-stricken mother's plea for better support for those suffering from mental illness is heard by the health and welfare sector.
011
David Sligar @davidsligar.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
combing 5yo's hair for school photo 5yo: "hmm it's not perfection, but... it's ok"
010
David Sligar @davidsligar.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
instead of my usual noodling on the bass, i copied one of the little kids’ melodies the 5yo played on the piano. 5yo: “oh wow, you can play an ACTUAL song on the bass” damn owned. destroyed. unable to recover
020
David Sligar @davidsligar.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
it’s so wild how seppo land juror identities and positions wind up getting leaked, and then they go around giving interviews. justice as reality tv
130
David Sligar @davidsligar.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
5yo: so many songs have “broken hearts”, “play with fire”, so dangerous!!!
050
David Sligar @davidsligar.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
working on a new aesthetic
050
David Sligar @davidsligar.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Once a jury is deadlocked, a not-guilty verdict should require only a majority. If a majority of a jury of your peers believes there is reasonable doubt, there is reasonable doubt. The state should not be allowed to use its overwhelming power to repeatedly grind a defendant down with weak retrials.
161
David Sligar @davidsligar.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
It is easier for American liberals to accept that mental illness caused a mother to strangle her three children than that Tourette’s caused a man to involuntarily say the N-word.
020
Reposted by David Sligar
Harvey @harvey-normal.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Melbourne Remand Centre is overflowing with frightened young men/boys with metal issues & little or no insight into how they got where they are.
121
David Sligar @davidsligar.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
the Clancy defence sensibly pushed the postpartum angle: it’s a relatively intuitive and sympathetic narrative. but it’s not just about that. multiple factors can precipitate bipolar episodes and psychosis, including antidepressants and sleep loss - both of which contributed to clancy’s episode.
200
David Sligar @davidsligar.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
jury locked 11-1 on clancy. jury foreman has pointed finger at the one holdout for guilty, claiming they are not upholding law on "reasonable doubt". there will be an inquiry and questioning of juror tomorrow. reddington thinks in open court! man seppo justice is something else. spectator sport
141
Reposted by David Sligar
Asher Wolf @asherwolf.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
The very sickest cant’ afford GLP-1s they desperately need www.theaustralian.com.au/health/medic...
theaustralian.com.au
23310
David Sligar @davidsligar.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
doubt any jury will unanimously convict lindsay clancy of murder 1. state should offer manslaughter (which makes no sense) or a deal to support not guilty by lack of criminal responsibility in a judge only trial.
110
David Sligar @davidsligar.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
this should be a scandal with a substantial government response. but oversight of policing in nsw is completely broken
0276
Reposted by David Sligar
Greg Jericho @grogsgamut.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
In econ news, the ABS today says there is no planning for a new "Household Expenditure Survey". This survey breaks down spending by household types - incomes, wealth, age etc. Vital for determining how price changes affect people. Meant to be every 5 years. The last was in 2015-16.
Screenshot:

Economy
Statistical release	Changes made	Rationale
Monthly Business Turnover Indicator	Publication ceased in November 2025	Experimental publication developed in 2021 to provide insights into economic activity following the COVID-19 pandemic. Several alternative measures of business activity by industry are available on the ABS website.

Household Expenditure Survey, Australia: Summary of results	Not currently scheduled	The timing of the next Household Expenditure Survey is to be confirmed. 

Household Income and Wealth, Australia	Schedule correction	Initially scheduled for release in 2027–28 in the 2025–26 FWP, this has been revised to 2026–27 in this FWP.

Australian National Accounts: Input-Output Tables	Frequency change from yearly to two-yearly	The ABS has produced Input-Output (I-O) tables annually since the early 2000s. I-O tables primarily provide detailed structural information on production activity. Because these structures tend to change slowly, the frequency of I-O tables was reviewed in consultation with users. 

Consumer Price Index, Australia	Standalone quarterly publication ceased in October 2025	The ABS now publishes a complete monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) as the primary measure of headline inflation. Quarterly CPI data tables are included in every third month of the monthly CPI release. 

Consumer Price Index, Australia – Monthly Indicator	Publication ceased in October 2025	The ABS now publishes a complete monthly CPI.
1715259
David Sligar @davidsligar.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
re the Lindsay Clancy killings, I’m genuinely surprised and disturbed that utterly bonkers conspiracy theories are not merely popular on TikTok, but the orthodoxy there. Post after post, hundreds of thousands of likes - for sicko, true-crime-brain-rotted nonsense.
010
Reposted by David Sligar
Blakandblack @blakandblack.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Alumni revolt over Israel: 450 Sydney Uni staff and graduates demand Convocation meeting Signatories accuse the university of a “profound moral failure” on Gaza in push for first mass meeting in over three decades www.deepcutnews.com/p/alumni-rev...
deepcutnews.com
Alumni revolt over Israel: 450 Sydney Uni staff and graduates demand Convocation meeting
Signatories accuse the university of a “profound moral failure” on Gaza in push for first mass meeting in over three decades
0219
David Sligar @davidsligar.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
the extraordinary growth in human prosperity over the past 200 years has been grounded in destruction of blue collar jobs by technology. this is why we evolved a welfare state. now it's coming for white collar workers and it's presented as radically different. www.semafor.com/article/08/2...
semafor.com
‘This is crazy. This is insane’: Bill Gates has changed his mind about AI and jobs
The Microsoft founder says human-only jobs and token taxes will be required at “a unique moment in evolutionary history.”
1134
David Sligar @davidsligar.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
massive subsidy to transformative technology development, extracted from the capitalist class without compensation. the system works.
082
David Sligar @davidsligar.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
oh yeah for sure
180
David Sligar @davidsligar.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
early 90s recession
140
David Sligar @davidsligar.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
family over medicare safety net threshold (same every year). but i hadn’t logged in mid year to tick “yes” box to confirm family composition (same composition every year). medicare is meant to send notice - say they did, none received. will cost me $1000 with no policy logic whatsoever?
2121
David Sligar @davidsligar.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
you gotta laugh when a non-academic science youtuber (hank green) gets cancelled for using AI to help summarise scientific papers while the scientists are using AI to write them www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Staggering 90% of biomedical papers now show signs of AI help
The figure, which is much higher than previous estimates of Large Language Model use, is for papers published in December and archived in PubMed
170
David Sligar @davidsligar.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
AI undermines stepping stone learning by making home-work too easy; universities should have weekly or fortnightly pen and paper tests. Class participation needs to be emphasised. Will be tough for Australian unis - stingy with class times and sizes - to pull off.
182
David Sligar @davidsligar.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
the notion that ozempic is "cheating" gives the game away on the way obesity is viewed as primarily a moral failing
070
Reposted by David Sligar
Elle @ellesanders.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
We’re the End Partner Income Testing campaign, fighting for the abolition of partner income testing. Today we met with advisers from Tanya Plibersek’s office. More updates to come after our team debrief. Elle, Laura & Sophia @sophiaredjeb.bsky.social
062
Reposted by David Sligar
mariecolemanao.bsky.social @mariecolemanao.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
There is a tsunami of elderly awaiting assessment. Trying in addition to covert those on CHSP just not on. That's in addition to algorythm issues workforce shortages, charging mess, service deserts
0139
David Sligar @davidsligar.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
the cancellation of hank green for disclosing ai use in background research feels like a high watermark of derangement, a moment we will look back on and cringe at in a decade (Woke 2, perhaps)
3100
Reposted by David Sligar
lastpositivist.bsky.social @lastpositivist.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Just... I just don't feel like entertaining this. Speed limits are good and enforcing them is good. We could save a great many lives and prevent a lot of pain from enforcing them harder, at a social cost in money and convenience that I'd be very willing to pay.
852441
Reposted by David Sligar
lastpositivist.bsky.social @lastpositivist.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
The Recurring Speed Camera Discourse is a bit exasperating really because, look, we all know what's actually happening is people just want to be able to commit the pertinent crimes and don't like being punished for it, but people come up with obvious post-hoc pseudo-woke rationalisations for this.
391224177
Reposted by David Sligar
wil @wilful.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Canada has had 46 MPs, 21 Senators. The American tax revolt at the end of the 18th century had a bad outcome.
021
David Sligar @davidsligar.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
how is this not a national scandal in US? how are there not realms of progressive discourse on it? only two (male) Indigenous senators in the past century, zero women fascinating how central racial idpol is to progressive USA but if it’s not african american and sometimes hispanic, out of luck.
170
Reposted by David Sligar
Sky Marchini @sky.skymarchini.net · 14/08/2026
“If we ban sports betting, the people at those companies will lose their jobs” good
1805137622
Reposted by David Sligar
lastpositivist.bsky.social @lastpositivist.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
FWIW I think I might be against the death penalty cos I think evil people don't deserve to die.
101046