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Mark Riboldi

@markriboldi.bsky.social
264 followers 366 following 133 posts

Lecturer in social impact and social change at UTS. Non-profits, civil society, democracy, etc: profiles.uts.edu.au/mark.riboldi AWFC / Tillies. OG Fool. Chaotic Good.

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Mark Riboldi @markriboldi.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
New article from me for the Ultimo Institute at UTS. "The operations of many modern Australian charities more closely resemble corporate organisations. They focus on managing risk, property portfolios and financial scalability..." www.uts.edu.au/news/2026/09...
uts.edu.au
Has Neoliberalism Turned Activists into Managers? | UTS
UTS researcher Dr Mark Riboldi examines how neoliberalism has transformed charities and advocacy groups, reshaping activism, democracy and social change.
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Mark Riboldi @markriboldi.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Generally, we find further evidence that this turn is a realignment in Australian politics, not just a fragmentation. And tl;dr: everyone's excited about One Nation, but they're nowhere near the full story, or even the most important part of it. #AustralianPolitics #PartyPolitics #PoliticalScience
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Mark Riboldi @markriboldi.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Having previously looked at political and electoral factors contributing to the rise of IMPs, including increasing 'party-like' behaviour, we now add demographic factors like gender and geography, as well as looking at how long these politicians stay in parliament once elected.
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Mark Riboldi @markriboldi.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
"Enduring realignment: gender and geography in Australian independent and minor party politics". New and open access from @phoebehayman.bsky.social, @bspiesbutcher.bsky.social and me in @ausjpolsci.bsky.social @auspsa.bsky.social @popgroupaus.bsky.social www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
tandfonline.com
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emilyrosefoley.bsky.social @emilyrosefoley.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Was great to write about the legacy of WorkChoices in @aunz.theconversation.com for their new Politics and Policy Series. doi.org/10.64628/AA....
doi.org
WorkChoices helped end John Howard’s leadership. The policy’s ghost still haunts the Liberals
Over the years, WorkChoices has become shorthand for policy disaster. It forever changed the political landscape on industrial relations reform.
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Mark Riboldi @markriboldi.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
I got to be on one of my favourite podcasts this week, The Tally Room, talking about the upcoming Farrer by-election, including the broader political environment around the rise of One Nation, and the potential collapse of the Liberal National Party as the recognised 'Opposition'.
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Dr Jeremy Walker @jeremywalker.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
If this piece by Riboldi & Vromen uses a disappointing 'both sides' frame (real NGOs representing actual #Auspol workers & greenies treated on par with fossil funded/pop-up front orgs), it has useful data on Advance, ATA & AfP election ad spend. #AtlasNetwork press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/pr...
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Ben Raue @benraue.com · 04/05/2026
Today's podcast previews this Saturday's Farrer by-election, with @markriboldi.bsky.social
tallyroom.com.au
Podcast #167 – Farrer by-election preview
Ben was joined by Mark Riboldi from UTS to preview this weekend’s Farrer by-election, and what it might imply about the Coalition’s bigger issues losing support to One Nation and indepe…
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Mark Riboldi @markriboldi.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
media.tenor.com
a cartoon penguin with the words hey thereee written below it
ALT: a cartoon penguin with the words hey thereee written below it
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Mark Riboldi @markriboldi.bsky.social · 22/03/2026
tl;dr: Money has flowed into and professionalised the sector; governments have sought to delegitimise advocacy, including criminalising protest; much CSO advocacy has become 'quiet' (which governments of course prefer); and the connections between CSOs and people have become democratically 'thin'.
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Mark Riboldi @markriboldi.bsky.social · 22/03/2026
🚨 📖 ✍ Some new (open access) research from me - a long-term view of how pressures from neoliberalism have impacted Australian civil society organisations (CSOs) and their advocacy. 💸 🇦🇺 ✊ www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...
degruyterbrill.com
Shifting Focus: The Impacts of Neoliberalism on Australian Nonprofit Advocacy
As the dominant economic ideology for almost half a century, neoliberalism has reshaped various aspects of society, including governments and nonprofit organisations. This article explores how this tr...
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Mark Riboldi @markriboldi.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
TBH, while this all sounds a little Al Capone, Andrew's 'email forwarding' could have been via duress from Epstein, relating to some of the other alleged offences.
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The Cathy Wilcox @cathywilcox.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
Make your bed. My @smh @theage cartoon.
Single frame. Morning tv show set with male and female hosts on curved couch facing PM Albanese. Albanese says: “My mother would have said, ‘if you make your bed, you lie in it…’” Female host says: “What if the bed involves leaving kids in camps overseas to be stigmatised, traumatised and radicalised instead of repatriating and rehabilitating them?”
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Dan Ilic @danilic.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
Happy #LibSpill Day for those who celebrate.
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Kurt Sengul @kurtsengul.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
🚨 New article by me and Jordan McSwiney in The Conversation about One Nation’s long history of dysfunction, infighting and scandal, and why this is will be one of the biggest barriers to the party translating its polling surge into electoral success theconversation.com/can-one-nati...
theconversation.com
Can One Nation turn its polling hype into seats in parliament? History shows it will struggle
Pauline Hanson’s party has been dysfunctional and scandal-ridden for its entire existence. Capitalising on strong polling will mean changing decades-old patterns.
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Mark Riboldi @markriboldi.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
The relevant piece on Advance in The Conversation, fwiw: theconversation.com/right-wing-p...
theconversation.com
Right-wing political group Advance is in the headlines. What is it and what does it stand for?
The husband of antisemitism special envoy Jillian Segal has donated to Advance. Here’s what the group’s all about.
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Mark Riboldi @markriboldi.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
An extensive analysis by the ABC's @garethhutchens.bsky.social about the decades long agenda setting work of the Atlas Network, which quotes some of my work on Advance Australia. (as well as UTS colleague @jeremywalker.bsky.social 's on the Atlas Network).
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Mark Riboldi @markriboldi.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
...'a global network of free-market think tanks to target the "intellectuals" in society, and to market their ideas like toothpaste to win the "battle for ideas"...' www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01... #auspol #thinktanks #agendasetting
abc.net.au
A discreet intellectual network has been reshaping the world for 70 years. Here's how
A constant battle of ideas reshapes the world we live in, and few groups have been more successful in winning the war than the little-known Atlas Network.
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Mark Riboldi @markriboldi.bsky.social · 29/12/2025
Very interested in this potential resurgence in one of Australia's oldest civil society orgs - the Country Women's Association. Promoting a solution to modern disillusionment, disengagement and detachment - getting involved in community around shared interests. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12...
abc.net.au
'More than just tea and scones': Why young members are joining city's CWA
More young women are joining the Country Women's Association's city branches, with a passion for jams and scones along with social connection and purpose.
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Asher Wolf @asherwolf.bsky.social · 28/12/2025
Brigitte Bardot's 30 years of sympathy for the far right www.lemonde.fr/en/obituarie...
lemonde.fr
Brigitte Bardot's 30 years of sympathy for the far right
Convicted five times for racist remarks, the actress – whose foundation announced her death on Sunday, December 28 – remained one of the only French celebrities to openly embrace far-right views.
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The Cathy Wilcox @cathywilcox.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
Put it down. My @smh @theage cartoon.
Single frame. Left: man and woman at kitchen table having drinks. Woman pointing to her phone, saying: “Immigrants are causing the housing crisis, the environmentalists want to ruin our lifestyle, and our children’s minds are being poisoned by woke!” Right: Young teen girl walking through doorway carrying drink and plate with sandwich, says, “Omigod Mum, put that thing down, can’t you see what it’s doing to you?”
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Political Organisations and Participation Research Group @popgroupaus.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
This week's Tallyroom podcast is essential listening for understanding the modern Australian Labor Party. 👏 friends of POP: host @benraue.com in conversation with @redrabbleroz.bsky.social www.tallyroom.com.au/63678
tallyroom.com.au
Podcast #159 – The Labor factions
Ben was joined this week by Osmond Chiu, Per Capita research fellow and contributor editor for the Labor Left magazine Challenge, to discuss the factions of the Australian Labor Party. Read Osmond&…
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Mark Riboldi @markriboldi.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
Both workshops were precursors to upcoming special editions / symposia of the Australian Journal of Political Science @ausjpolsci.bsky.social
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Mark Riboldi @markriboldi.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
The event spanned 2 @auspsa.bsky.social funded workshops: (1) on challenges for social democracy in Aus hosted by @lizhumphrys.bsky.social @jacobbroom.bsky.social and @emilyrosefoley.bsky.social; (2) on the rise of ind and minor parties by, @phoebehayman.bsky.social @bspiesbutcher.bsky.social & me.
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Mark Riboldi @markriboldi.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
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...
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Mark Riboldi @markriboldi.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
"Because being 'right' isn't enough." The hubris in this advert for Advance's 2026 conference is quite beautiful, really. If you need a refresher on who Advance are, etc., here's something I prepared in advance... theconversation.com/right-wing-p...
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Mark Riboldi @markriboldi.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
I ran an experiment this semester, to see what impact listening to the subject coordinator and engaging with subject materials had on students' grades. tl;dr - students can excel without doing either, but if they want to pass they should do both. www.markriboldi.com.au/teaching-edu...
markriboldi.com.au
A Simple Equation (Schrödinger’s Class)
Students sometimes ask me how to do well in a subject. My TL;DR response is “make sure you’re clear about what the assessment expectations are”. I tell everyone this, so it’s not a secret.
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Mark Riboldi @markriboldi.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
🚨 🚨 Some inspiration for those opposing job cuts and the general corporatisation of public universities around Australia - the staff/union led campaign at ANU has resulted in the halting of forced redundancies. Join your union ✊ www.miragenews.com/union-triump...
miragenews.com
Union Triumphs: ANU Halts Forced Redundancies
The Australian National University (ANU) has announced that there will be no forced redundancies.Quotes attributable to NTEU ACT Division Secretary Dr
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Mark Riboldi @markriboldi.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
Some ramblings on my blog about philanthropic organisations, accountability, etc., if that's your thing. www.markriboldi.com.au/democracy-ci...
markriboldi.com.au
Australian Philanthropic Organisations – Organisation, Accountability and Action
While the responsibility for solving complex social problems ultimately falls on governments, organisations across civil society and industry also play important roles.
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Mark Riboldi @markriboldi.bsky.social · 23/08/2025
“Justice here is set up to favour the wealthy and well connected; the poor just get processed.” Marcia Langton outlines a damning story of institutional racism in @thesaturdaypaper.com.au www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/comment/topi...
thesaturdaypaper.com.au
The NT’s wilful ignorance over Black deaths in custody
When Tim Fischer called High Court judges “pissants” in the ’90s, after they recognised native title and overturned terra nullius, he created the rare spectacle of a government minister excoriating a ...
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Fiona Katauskas @fionakatauskas.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
V good piece by the legend that is @amyremeikis.bsky.social www.thenewdaily.com.au/opinion/2025...
thenewdaily.com.au
Gripped by an 'Abundance fever' that makes us see only red
Canberra is in the grip of Abundance fever, a virus that threatens to overwhelm public policy with a diagnosis of overregulation.
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Mark Riboldi @markriboldi.bsky.social · 15/08/2025
Thanks Marija. I mostly good :)
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Mark Riboldi @markriboldi.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
Thankfully not. But yeah, really awful.
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Mark Riboldi @markriboldi.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
Worried about losing your job? Just wash your undies and brush your teeth twice a day... 😡🤬 www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...?
abc.net.au
Uni staff told to 'wash delicates' for stress management as 146 courses suspended
The University of Technology Sydney is suspending more than 100 courses as it prepares for a controversial redundancy program to save $100 million.
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NTEU @nteunion.bsky.social · 12/08/2025
Senator @mehreenfaruqi.bsky.social: ‘Is ANU being trashed by the Bell and Bishop leadership?’ ACT Division Secretary @lachlanclohesy.bsky.social: ‘Absolutely. We need a new leadership approach or we need a new leadership.’ The Senate Inquiry into university governance continues…
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Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 05/08/2025
The rich must be incentivised; the poor must be disciplined. The political economy of the super-elite in one headline.
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ANU Australian Studies Institute @anuausi.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
How do politicians talk about housing, and does it impact policy? #ICYMI Political scientists @markriboldi.bsky.social & @pandanuspetter.bsky.social join @marijataflaga.bsky.social to discuss housing policy, safety nets and the fair go. #AUListen 🎧 #DemocracySausage ausi.anu.edu.au/news/democra...
ausi.anu.edu.au
Democracy Sausage Episode: Safety nets below and a roof above
Political scientists Mark Riboldi and Pandanus Petter join Democracy Sausage to discuss housing policy, safety nets and the fair go. How do politicians talk about housing, and does it impact policy? W...
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Mark Riboldi @markriboldi.bsky.social · 30/07/2025
I had a listen before posting, you did great!
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Mark Riboldi @markriboldi.bsky.social · 30/07/2025
In which I sneak in a gag about an AI-generated Presidential penis.
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The Shovel @theshovel.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
The 19-year-old has also been cast in The Price Is Not Inflating, and The Bold And The Big Beautiful Bill. theshovel.com.au/2025/07/23/p...
theshovel.com.au
Paramount Announce Barron Trump As New Late Show Host, “For Purely Financial Reasons” — The Shovel
After the network was accused of having political motivations for axing Stephen Colbert, CBS and Paramount put an end to suspicions by announcing Barron Trump as the new host of The Late Show.
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Mark Riboldi @markriboldi.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
From a supporter email Climate 200 sent today - a good example of how the organisation exhibits 'party-like' behaviour, as @phoebehayman.bsky.social, @bspiesbutcher.bsky.social and I wrote about @ausjpolsci.bsky.social in 2024: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
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emilyrosefoley.bsky.social @emilyrosefoley.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
Hello Sydneysiders! On Tuesday 23rd Sep join Frank Bongiorno, George Megalogenis, @bspiesbutcher.bsky.social, @lizhumphrys.bsky.social & me for our public event A New Australian Politics: Rupture or Realignment. Registration is free & we'd love to see you there! events.humanitix.com/a-new-austra...
A New Australian Politics: Rupture or Realignment
Please join us on at the University of Technology Sydney on Tuesday 23 September 2025, for a public event on the future of Australian democracy.  

Is Australia entering a new political era? With a record majority off a near record low primary vote, the new parliament continues the rise of new electoral coalitions, unsettling our assumptions about class, gender, race, and power.
Our stellar panellists George Megalogenis, Frank Bongiorno, Elizabeth Humphrys, Ben Spies-Butcher, and Emily Foley will be engaged in a wide-ranging discussion exploring whether we’re witnessing a rupture or a realignment in Australian politics, and what it means for political life today. The conversation will explore how the traditional party duopoly is being eroded under pressure from shifting demographics, growing economic inequality, and increasing political disillusionment. What happens when the working class no longer feels represented, and when younger, more diverse voters no longer see themselves in the major parties?
Tuesday 23 September — UTS Green Lecture Theatre

Building 7 — Room 025 (full location details below)
Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/a-new-australian-politics-rupture-or-realignment
Speakers
George Megalogenis is an author and journalist with over thirty years’ experience in the media, including over a decade in the federal parliamentary press gallery. His latest Quarterly Essay, Minority Report, explores the strategies and secret understandings of a political culture under pressure.
Frank Bongiorno is based at the Australian National University and author of several works of Australian history, including The Eighties: The Decade That Transformed Australia (2015) and Dreamers and Schemers: A Political History of Australia (2022). He is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia and the Australian Academy of Humanities.
Elizabeth Humphrys is the Head of Discipline of Social and Political Scie…
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Mark Riboldi @markriboldi.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
"Part of a worldwide trend towards right-wing populism, Advance will likely continue to be at the centre of conservative politics in Australia." Me writing for @theconversation.com on conservative campaign group Advance. theconversation.com/right-wing-p...
theconversation.com
Right-wing political group Advance is in the headlines. What is it and what does it stand for?
The husband of antisemitism special envoy Jillian Segal has donated to Advance. Here’s what the group’s all about.
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Mark Riboldi @markriboldi.bsky.social · 03/07/2025
"Universities are public institutions, not corporate machines. The way this process is unfolding [at UTS] raises serious concerns about governance," (Labor Senator Tony) Sheldon said. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07...
abc.net.au
UTS staff member risks sack to speak out against 'devastating' plan for mass redundancies
The University of Technology Sydney is being investigated by SafeWork over "psychological hazards" arising from a restructure with other universities also wielding the axe.
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Mark Riboldi @markriboldi.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
The corporatisation of universities races for the zenith, with Macquarie University proposing to cut completely sociology, politics, and more. Sign the petition to support those in line to lose their jobs, and current and future students. www.megaphone.org.au/petitions/sa...
megaphone.org.au
SAVE SOCIOLOGY AT MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY
We urge Macquarie University management to reverse this decision and preserve the vital disciplines of Sociology and Politics. Sociology has a key place in the social sciences as the broadest and mos...
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Mark Riboldi @markriboldi.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
The ACNC report released a few weeks ago: www.acnc.gov.au/tools/report...
acnc.gov.au
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Mark Riboldi @markriboldi.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
Looking at the latest ACNC data on registered charities (including universities) and spotted this ridiculous rate of casualisation at QUT, the ninth biggest employer in the sector. This is 2023 data reported to the ACNC. Almost twice as many casuals as full-time staff. @nteunion.bsky.social
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AusPSA @auspsa.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
APSA is deeply concerned about the proposed cuts to Politics and International Relations at Macquarie University. Our letter to university leadership outlines the discipline’s outstanding research, strong teaching record, and impact. 📄 Read the full letter here: auspsa.org.au/job-alert/ap....
auspsa.org.au
APSA's letter to Macquarie University - Australian Political Studies Association
APSA Statement on Proposed Cuts at Macquarie UniversityAPSA has expressed deep concern over proposed cuts to Politics and International Relations at Macquarie University, including the resting of the ...
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emilyrosefoley.bsky.social @emilyrosefoley.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
We're in @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social's Political Insight this week unpacking a bit about what British parties could learn from Australia’s election journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...
journals.sagepub.com
What British Parties Could Learn From Australia’s Election - Emily Foley, Zareh Ghazarian, Rob Manwaring, Ben Wellings, 2025
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