Ben Eltham

@beneltham

Writer, journalist, researcher, trade unionist

2,094 Following13,386 Followers2,944 Posts

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Ben Eltham@beneltham· Jul 3

I’m sorry but have we talked enough about Spain’s youngest and most passionate fan

Ben Eltham@beneltham· Jun 17

CPA Australia is complaining that the capital gains tax reforms will force ordinary Australians to value their Pokemon cards. I promise I'm not making this up

Ben Eltham@beneltham· May 12

In 18 years of closely watching federal budgets, I've never seen a budget measure with this level of social spending cuts (not even in Joe Hockey's 2014 budget). $36b in NDIS cuts over the forward estimates

Ben Eltham@beneltham· May 3

Would simply love to know what might be in some of the confidential bits of the Royal Commission's Interim Report

Screenshot from the Interim Report of the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. Large parts of the report are redacted

Ben Eltham@beneltham· Mar 11

The NACC held *35 days* of private hearings in its investigation into Robodebt corruption, but decided that these hearings didn't need to be public. I, for one, would have liked to have watched the corruption hearing of Scott Morrison

Ben Eltham@beneltham· Mar 4

In a recent podcast, Nick Srnicek wondered whether troubles at Blue Owl might be the trigger for a broader crisis in AI stocks. Today, in the FT, we read that Blue Owl is now struggling to deal with investment withdrawls

Ben Eltham@beneltham· Feb 16

These "Australian values" sound pretty good! Especially the bits about "freedom of speech", "freedonm of religion", "mutual respect", "tolerance" and "compassion for those in need" ... wonder if we can get some of our state premiers to sign up

Ben Eltham@beneltham· Feb 12

Melbourne protest against the visit of President Herzog, 12 February 2026

Ben Eltham@beneltham· Feb 12

Ben Eltham@beneltham· Jan 30

Ben Eltham@beneltham· Jan 29

A letter to the editors of the Washington Post, 28 January 2026, from ex-US Marine Gus Biggio, Wooster, Ohio. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

In 2009, I was a Marine in Helmand province during the height of the shift to counterinsurgency operations. We were heavily armed and trained for violence, as Marines are expected to be.

But when we encountered local Afghans, we took off our helmets. We removed our sunglasses. We put a hand over our hearts, we looked the Afghans in the eye and said Salaam Alekum, or “peace be upon you.” If the situation allowed, we sat down. We drank tea. We talked. This wasn’t weakness or wokeness. It was strength, discipline and strategy.

We were still Marines. When it was time to fight, we did so decisively. But we also understood something essential: You cannot intimidate your way into lasting security. You cannot terrorize a population into cooperation. And you cannot claim moral authority if your posture communicates only contempt or fear.

That approach was a reflection of guidance from the strategic and operational levels. Our senior leaders understood that how we looked, spoke and behaved at the tactical level mattered enormously. Tone was policy. Posture was strategy.

I reflect on those lessons as I watch an anti-immigration agenda in the United States that has gone badly off course. Masked officers in military-style gear, conducting raids with theatrical dominance rather than measured authority. Communities treated as hostile terrain rather than neighborhoods. I find this not only disturbing but also strategically incoherent.

In Afghanistan, we understood that showing up as faceless, armored enforcers was a fast way to lose the population’s trust. We knew that intimidation buys compliance only temporarily, and resentment compounds faster than control.

If Marines could understand this in a war zone, we should be able to understand it in our own country.

Ben Eltham@beneltham· Jan 25

Hey Samuel! I baked your recipe plums from my tree. Came out really really good!

Ben Eltham@beneltham· Jan 20

The controversial "procedural fairness not required" provision is still in there:

Ben Eltham@beneltham· Jan 9

Victoria: the garden state

Ben Eltham@beneltham· Dec 21

One of the most genuinely incoherent op-eds I have read in a long time. Christopher Joye used to be quite an interesting commentator. This stuff is so analytically confused as to be basically meaningless

Ben Eltham@beneltham· Dec 5

💔

Ben Eltham@beneltham· Nov 4

Kym Beazley's "knowledge nation" diagram, 2001

Ben Eltham@beneltham· Nov 4

The Australian government has announced it will impose a 10% local content quota on video streamers operating in Australia. It will apply to services with more than 1 million local subscribers. The bill will be introduced to Parliament this week.

Ben Eltham@beneltham· Oct 25

Outstanding. No notes

What the front page of Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology looks like on my phone. An empty box with a blue border.

Ben Eltham@beneltham· Sep 11

Melbourne poet Pi-O performs a poem at the Save Meanjin rally this morning

Ben Eltham@beneltham· Sep 9

Rally to save Meanjin magazine Thursday 11 Sept 9am 715 Swanston St Carlton A number of Australian writers, editors and academics will speak in support of this vital cultural institution

Ben Eltham@beneltham· Aug 21

Apparently Mark Butler didn't bother to tell the states and territories about his Thriving Kids thought bubble ....

Ben Eltham@beneltham· Jun 9

5 stars. No notes.

Ben Eltham@beneltham· May 27

Literally years into this atrocity and the "deadly strikes" are still raining down in the passive voice, like some unfortunate weather

Ben Eltham@beneltham· Apr 28

In Crikey today, I take a look at the cultural implications of the Coalition's public service policy. If Peter Dutton is elected, it will mean massive job losses in cultural institutions like the NGA, National Library and National Museum. www.crikey.com.au/2025/04/28/p...

Table showing likely job losses if national cultural institutions are returned to 2022 staffing levels.

Ben Eltham@beneltham· Apr 15

This is a good discussion on arts policy tonight at 3RRR — actual citizens asking questions to artists and politicians about things like artists’ wages, funding, quotas, streaming, and live venues

Ben Eltham@beneltham· Apr 7

ABC24 is crossing to their reporter on the campaign bus

Ben Eltham@beneltham· Apr 6

Just logging on to Bloomberg to check how the markets are going --- ohhh

Ben Eltham@beneltham· Mar 26

Censoring an art exhibition might even be in breach of Monash Uni's governing legislation, which states that the "objects of the University" are "to serve the ... public interest" by "enriching cultural and community life" and "promoting critical and free enquiry"

Ben Eltham@beneltham· Mar 11

Senate Inquiry into Governance in Universities kicks off this morning — really important insight into the corruption of public institutions by corporate boards