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Dominic Meagher

@dom-ma.bsky.social
2.8K followers 2.6K following 5.3K posts

Research fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University | Non-resident fellow, John Curtin Research Centre

PostsRepliesMedia
Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
What happened here? Agents weren’t reporting what they’d done accurately. And they assumed more authorisation to keep pushing through ‘obstacles’ than they were entitled to The combination makes it difficult to predict behaviour, difficult to evaluate, & difficult to report safety incidents
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
A long discussion with SBS about the OpenAI Medicare hack this morning. Two key points: 1. It's more like a lab-leak or an industrial accident than a break & enter. 2. The idea of a single 'AI Act' massively underestimates the scale of the issue. www.sbs.com.au/news/article...
sbs.com.au
'Too big to be contained': Anthony Albanese's AI plans met a major test
Was it a crime? Who's to blame? Who writes the rules? The big questions after an AI agent broke into a government site.
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
More than just speeding up benchmarking: labs should not be able to release models that fail benchmarking & their physical infrastructure access should also depend on it.
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
“It’s a bit hard to say you love Australia if you don’t love more than a third who were born overseas & more than half who have a parent who were born overseas.” - Chris Bowen, just now at the Curtin Oration
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
“Much of the infrastructure we expect to be hardened is actually being held together by glue and popsicle sticks” This is absolutely true. There’s a reason this is such an enduring meme:
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
If the “AI alignment problem” doesn’t mean much to you… imagine a magic genie that does whatever you say, but never what you want. And you can’t know if it’s because your instructions weren’t good or because the genie is secretly evil. That’s the alignment problem.
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
I spoke with @SBSNews about AI safety this afternoon. I think it’s solvable. We have real points of leverage. But we need to change the game. The frontier labs are in a ‘winner takes all’ race to AGI - we need them racing to alignment. www.sbs.com.au/news/article...
sbs.com.au
A 'winner-takes-all race' that could end in catastrophe, and the calls to slow it down
The world's frontier AI companies are sounding the alarm about the race they're leading.
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Kevin Rudd's speech on 'the complacent country' is absolutely worth watching www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQWM...
youtube.com
WATCH NOW: Fmr PM and Asia Society CEO Kevin Rudd at National Press Club | ABC NEWS
YouTube video by ABC News (Australia)
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
First time I've seen a mainstream paper argue that we should run government more like a criminal syndicate www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...
smh.com.au
Albo’s approach has failed and Taylor’s won’t work. To beat the mafia, think like the mafia
No crime boss would run a territory the way the government has run tobacco. Each crew needs to get a cut of its own turf.
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Fun article on debates over translations of Confucius. Chinese school kids study texts like this a little bit like we study Shakespeare, but with more emphasis on translating ancient language into modern ways of speaking These are not under-studied texts foreignpolicy.com/2026/08/28/c...
foreignpolicy.com
Getting Confucius Wrong
A new translation of a key Chinese text is dangerously lacking in expertise.
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
The Kremlin is apparently reporting intentions for a Trump-Putin-Xi summit in November. If anyone knows a way to derail that, please act fast.
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Wow. Good news. After nearly 30 years, NSW has taken this low hanging fruit / easy win. Policy doesn’t come much more obviously low cost, high value than this, not more easily or thoroughly tested. Glad to see it happen in my lifetime, despite all that. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09...
abc.net.au
NSW government to make pill testing permanent, after successful trial
The Minns government will provide a drug checking service at up to 15 music festivals per year in the state, beginning in October.
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Fantastic to see WA & Tim Ayres backing manufactured housing through the National Reconstruction Fund. Our Productivity Roundtable submission called for this, & Clare ONeil launched a huge JCRC report on it at Labor's national conference youtu.be/wkcJE9T9wNA
youtu.be
Government backs modular to help solve the housing crisis | The Business | ABC NEWS
YouTube video by ABC News (Australia)
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
I’m 100% with Japan on this one. Humiliating behaviour & it apparently still hasnt been apologised for. www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2...
japantimes.co.jp
Sanae Takaichi: The prime minister nobody defended
Anthony Albanese’s melon joke revealed which women leaders the world feels safe mocking.
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Fantastic conversation with @justinwolfers.bsky.social. 25mins in he lands a serious blow on Australia about brain drain: that leadership in global higher education is up for grabs, and this is the moment that Australia is turning its back on the sector. So self defeating youtu.be/nkUEVl8uamM?...
youtu.be
Justin Wolfers on the economic absurdities of Trump's America | That's Business with Alan Kohler
YouTube video by ABC News (Australia)
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
“The principal lesson of the war in Ukraine is that a nation determined to survive must be willing to learn how to defend itself.” There’s a notion that defence investment is immoral. The opposite is true: if democracies aren’t defended, tyrants will rule reader.foreignaffairs.com/2026/07/08/t...
reader.foreignaffairs.com
The Ukraine Lesson Taiwan Keeps Missing
It’s Not the Drones—It’s Everything Around Them
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Uber deserves every fine they get because they refuse to implement a fair system. You can’t leave a 4 star rating without explaining the “complaint”. Then they say 12 “complaints” over 4 years gets you fired? What a joke. Just do it properly. www.smh.com.au/business/com...
smh.com.au
Uber blasts laws as it’s forced to reinstate banned driver”
Twelve complaints against the driver alleged spitting, swearing, inappropriate touching and speeding, but the Fair Work Commission found Uber failed to prove the behaviour.
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Looking forward to speaking alongside @chrispicton.bsky.social about a national AI sovereign capability & security agenda at the Fringe of Labor's National Conference in Adelaide on Thursday (2pm).
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Great to see fair workplace standards being upheld in the face of AI. You can’t treat people like shit just because you’re using AI to do it www.innovationaus.com/victoria-to-...
innovationaus.com
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
China closed 30,000 preschools & primary schools last year due to the falling number of kids. Numbers in China are always on another scale, but this must be quite arresting for people who worry about such things. asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/ca...
asia.nikkei.com
China shutters 30,000 preschools and primary schools in a single year
Prolonged demographic slump is reshaping the country's vast education system
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Note to Australian journalists: If you're reporting on explosive diarrhea inducing lettuce, please mention whether Australian lettuce is a risk. Reporting on a local issue from the other side of the world and not saying whether it’s an issue here is not inspiring of confidence
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Great to join Han Yang for a wide ranging discussion on China, including the SLBM test, green steel, China-Europe relations, China’s capital cost advantage, Australian social cohesion (including migration & housing)… Hopefully people find it interesting m.youtube.com/watch?si=Sxa...
m.youtube.com
EP 85 DR DOM MEAGHER ON AUS CHN INDUSTRIAL POLICY AND RELATIONS
YouTube video by 涵瞰世界 Devil's Advocate
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Speaking of AI, China's annual energy consumption hit a new record already this year, driven by massive growth in AI. From Bloomberg: "electricity demand from “internet data services” rose 44.6% in the first five months of the year" www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
China Power Load Hits Early Record as Data, EV Demand Rises
China’s nationwide electricity load reached a record high for the first time this year on July 10, hitting 1.518 billion kilowatts, the National Energy Administration said in a statement posted on its...
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
This is one area where we might have to accept an uncomfortable option. Retail staff are subjected to constant abuse & occasional violence - they need ways to stay safe at work. ground.news/article/laun...
ground.news
Launch of New Facial Recognition in UK Shops Prompts Backlash
Facewatch, a facial recognition system used by over 100 U.K. retailers including Sainsbury's and Spar, reportedly plans to launch a feature this autumn that will alert police within four seconds when ...
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
A generationally important speech for Australia, if it has the impact it deserves podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/b...
podcasts.apple.com
Is education policy damaging our democracy?
Podcast Episode · Big Ideas · 13 July · 54min
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
So many politicians in interviews discuss their strategy instead of implement it Listening now to shadow energy minister saying their strategy is to offer a positive alternative to the government, but instead of doing it he just talks about doing it It’s so strange
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
WTF? So the US is straight up into international piracy now? He's even calling it "protection" money. ground.news/article/4765...
ground.news
Trump says US will reinstate Strait of Hormuz blockade and impose 20% charge on cargo
President Trump announced on Monday that the U.S. is reinstating the naval blockade on Iran and will prevent any ships from leaving or entering Iranian ports. He also claimed the U.S. would be "reimbu...
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
I know how much you love writing… do you use Claude to help write? (Bloomberg) “I do, but I have not gotten to the point where I allow text directly written by Claude.” - Dario Amodei, Anthropic CEO
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
Barnaby Joyce seems to want unelected bureaucrats to manage the budget instead of Parliament. Has he really thought this one through? www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...
smh.com.au
One Nation’s radical plan to lower inflation
Admitting the party had not yet become credible on economics, Barnaby Joyce said One Nation would review the operations of Australia’s central bank.
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
I recently joined Mike Kelly on his podcast, Frontlines & Faultlines to talk about dealing with climate disasters without turning straight to the ADF. We need a civilian National Disaster Reserves, like the army reserves but for natural disasters. : youtu.be/oEfeg04iBng
youtu.be
Disaster Resilience with Dr Dominic Meagher (Part 1) | Ep067 Frontlines & Faultlines
YouTube video by Frontlines & Faultlines
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Fascinating that Fiji sought out the alliance with Australia, and Australia agreed (rather than the other way around). At least that's according to Fiji's PM during the press conference announcing it. Fiji's first ever defence treaty.
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Outrageous from the CCP, testing a nuclear-capable missile in the South Pacific, which is a nuclear weapon-free zone. I’m sure they’ll want Pacific Island countries to accept that this is somehow peaceful and not any kind of threat. I doubt that message will fly www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...
smh.com.au
‘Destabilising’: Australia blasts China for launching nuclear-capable weapon in Pacific
A Chinese submarine has test-fired a nuclear-capable long-range missile with a dummy warhead in the South Pacific, Chinse media has confirmed.
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
The pokies policy adopted at the NSW State Labor Conference yesterday was a major reversal - we were going hard in the wrong direction and now we’re going partially in the right direction. But only partially, and not on sports or online gambling www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...
smh.com.au
Labor’s streaming carve-out for gambling ads is a step backwards, says chief reform advocate
As one Labor MP said the law should be reviewed, Tim Costello said Labor’s carve-out for streaming ads laws was “the most generous gift to the sports betting companies I have ever seen”.
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Very lucky to meet Andrew this afternoon at the end of our delegation with FES to get a detailed brief on the Council’s recent China discussion. There’s a more happening to protect & reinvigorate Europe’s economy than most reporting suggests
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Have been talking about how European industry is surviving competition from China with Germany’s peak business group & with @merics.bsky.social this morning.
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Albo: “These [social media] companies… unaccountable… massive amounts of profit and… extraordinary power. We need to make sure that Australians are in charge of this." Hear hear. Algorithms shouldn’t rip society apart with no recourse. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06...
abc.net.au
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
With FES on my way to Germany’s foreign office to discuss perspectives on China relations & the NYT is conveniently updating me on Australia’s foreign policy: Albo quoted saying China’s long term goal is hegemony. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/23/w...
nytimes.com
In Uncertain Times, Is the Australian Leader’s Quiet Pragmatism Enough?
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Arrested for “soft resistance” - in this case, planning to sell a book about someone who disagrees with the CCP ground.news/article/hong...
ground.news
Hong Kong Arrests Two for Allegedly Selling 'Seditious' Material
Hong Kong police have arrested two people on suspicion of selling seditious publications and receiving funds from foreign political organizations. The arrests come under a national security law, just ...
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Japan once again the country that is trusted by more Australians than any other. The two countries we fought in WW2 are now the countries we trust the most. I guess they weren’t the only ones to change over the last 80 years
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
I just learned that Australia is not subject to the Vienna Convention on Drivers’ Licenses & I don’t know how to think about that treaties.un.org/pages/ViewDe...
treaties.un.org
UNTC
This is the United Nations Treaty Collection homepage. Here you will find related information and links.
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Hegseth… what a tragic joke: “As President Trump put it, he gave our allies a test—to support America when we asked for their help—and too many failed it.” The rest was: once he thoughtlessly took a dump on the world, who would rush to clean it up for him. youtu.be/x0pvVnrgC6I?...
youtu.be
FULL EXPLOSIVE SPEECH: Hegseth Blasts NATO As ‘Paper Tiger’ In Front Of Chief Mark Rutte | AC1F
YouTube video by DWS News
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Reposted by Dominic Meagher
Patrick Chovanec @prchovanec.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
JD Vance is Lin Biao to Trump’s Mao. Discuss.
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Fascinating conversation on the history of evidence-based thinking. It can be easy to assume you just know how to do something, but it’s good to remember a lot of things actually have an evidence base that’s surprisingly accessible (esp. with AI) podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/c...
podcasts.apple.com
The Hidden History of Evidence-Based Everything (with Helen Pearson)
Podcast Episode · Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg · 12 June · 1hr 17min
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Anthropic: “We need serious management of the risks from powerful AI” Trump admin: “No foreign nationals can use it” (These aren’t the same picture, as much as that’s the internets favourite simplification this hour) www.anthropic.com/news/fable-m...
anthropic.com
Statement on the US government directive to suspend access to Fable 5 and Mythos 5
The US government has issued an export control directive to suspend all access to Fable 5 and Mythos 5 by any foreign national, whether inside or outside the United States.
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Australia can increase international student enrolments without relying on just 1-2 countries. We can even do it in a way that's population-neutral: HECS exchanges. Let international students pay off fees through their home country tax system. And make it bidirectional youtu.be/K6V3r4Cvz74
youtu.be
How the loss of Chinese students could disrupt Australian universities | ABC News
YouTube video by ABC News In-depth
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Reposted by Dominic Meagher
Tinman 🌹 @tinmanzac.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
Meta employees should unionize.
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Excellent to see, even if the it has the worst possible cause asia.nikkei.com/business/aut...
asia.nikkei.com
EV sales set records in 37 countries as consumers flee high gas prices
Markets outside China and US post 50% year-on-year jump in March-April sales
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Great discussion with Australia’s longest serving Electoral Commissioner, Tom Rogers The AEC is one of Australia’s absolute gems podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/v...
podcasts.apple.com
Season 4 | Episode 2 : Our history and immigration journey, and our response to it
Podcast Episode · Voices of Australia · 8 June · 41min
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Ed Husic is wrong to say Australia “blinked” on regulating AI. Actually we’re doing it in a far better way than he proposed www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06...
abc.net.au
It's an AI behemoth. Now Anthropic is making a power play in Australia
The world's biggest tech titans see Australia as a promising investment opportunity for their AI ambitions, but some fear the federal government's regulatory retreat could lead to harm.
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Dominic Meagher @dom-ma.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
I wonder if the NSW government will listen this time. People have been screaming this fact for 6 years www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...
smh.com.au
Air quality study finds elevated carbon dioxide levels in some NSW classrooms
The University of NSW report which measured air quality at 59 schools found 17 classrooms experienced carbon dioxide levels not considered optimal for learning.
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