Bunnings ruling no ‘green light’ for facial recognition Privacy Commissioner says retail still faces scrutiny.

Australia’s privacy watchdog has warned retailers that the tribunal decision overturning her ruling against facial recognition at Bunnings is not a green light for widespread biometric surveillance in stores.

Read more: ia.acs.org.au/article/2026...

A photo of an Australian Tawny Frogmouth (Australian bird) perched on the edge of a tipped over recycling bin.

Went to put the recycling in the bin. Discovered a Tawny Frogmouth.

My stuffiest political-legal opinion is that the American style of giving laws acronymic names like the CHIPS (Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America) Act is undignified. Laws should have boring ass names like the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Act 2022

Please, I'm trying to stream the best community radio stations from around the world, and would like a recommendation for a good one to stream from London. Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. x

Daniel James on the Perth pipe bomb At Forrest Place in Boorloo (Perth), on what this country officially calls Australia Day, around 2,500 people gathered to mark Invasion Day. They listened to speakers, held banners and, for a few…

This essay by @mrdtjames.bsky.social, highlighting the blatant selective outrage over acts of violence, is precise and to the point, and very much worth your time.

Legal geographies of water: Cristy Clark Cristy will discuss her recent book, Legal Geographies of Water, which explores community and policy responses to the global water crisis.

I’m really looking forward to chatting about my book next Thursday at 5pm with the Oxford Water Network.

I plan to focus on some key insights & lessons legal geography brings to the challenge of charting more sustainable and just water governance futures.

Do come along if you’re in town!

The Weekly Cybers #102 In a relatively quiet week there’s some poking at the teen social media ban, a slap for Service Australia, and more.

NEW NEWSLETTER: “The Weekly Cybers #102” buttondown.com/stilgherrian...

In a relatively quiet week there’s some poking at the teen social media ban, a slap for Service Australia, and more. buttondown.com/stilgherrian...

A white woman with her long brown hair tied back wears a yellow and black top, sunglasses, and a smile like the Mona Lisa. Behind her stretches out a view of a tropical landscape and, eventually, the ocean. It?s Erin Cook!

NEW PODCAST: “The 9pm 57 Varieties of Thai with Erin Cook” @erincook.bsky.social (1h00m27s) the9pmedict.com/edict/00262/

Look for “The 9pm Edict” in your podcast app.

Like it? Please tell people and maybe throw in a tip at the9pmedict.com/tip.

My partner is running in the 10km event at the #Ballarat Marathon.

We'd appreciate any support for fund raising for Djirra, who are dedicated to ensuring that Aboriginal women and their children have access to opportunities and live free from violence.

Extended police stop-and-search declaration unlawful, court finds The Federal Court has found a Victoria Police move to give officers greater powers in Melbourne's CBD for six months was invalid and unlawful.

The Federal Court has found a Victoria Police move to give officers greater powers in Melbourne's CBD for six months was invalid and unlawful.

There's an emergency inquiry happening on the impact of AI and digital fraud on Parliamentary processes, namely epetitions, after unverified and self-evidently AI generated constituency emails, petitions and inquiry submissions started flooding in since 2021.

Very well done!

The @libertyvictoria.bsky.social submission with the NSW Council of Civil Liberties on the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026 is now online: lnkd.in/gPMwSnvc #auslaw

The @libertyvictoria.bsky.social submission with the NSW Council of Civil Liberties on the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026 is now online: lnkd.in/gPMwSnvc #auslaw

Happy birthday & best wishes for all the adventures to come!

It's certainly memorable :)

Thank you!

My partner is running in the 10km event at the #Ballarat Marathon.

We'd appreciate any support for fund raising for Djirra, who are dedicated to ensuring that Aboriginal women and their children have access to opportunities and live free from violence.

JOINT CCL MEDIA STATEMENT: Federal Government's Approach to Building Community Harmony Will do Real Harm

The Councils for Civil Liberties (NSW & QLD) & @libertyvictoria.bsky.social have issued a media release and are working on a submission setting out their concerns:

Banning organisations has a sorry history – does Australia really want to go down this road again? | Anne Twomey As the government brings its new hate laws to parliament, it’s worth remembering past attempts suggest legislation used to outlaw political groups have been neither wise nor necessary Australia’s history of banning political groups gives pause for thought as to whether we really want to go down this route again. During the first world war, the Unlawful Associations Act 1916 was enacted and used to ban a group called Industrial Workers of the World. Membership was made a criminal offence. Members could also be deported if they were not British subjects born in Australia. Anne Twomey is a Professor emerita in constitutional law at the University of Sydney Continue reading...

Banning organisations has a sorry history – does Australia really want to go down this road again? | Anne Twomey

Australian politicians are condemning X and Grok, so why won’t they leave the platform? Anthony Albanese has said the AI chatbot generating sexualised images of women and children is ‘abhorrent’ but has an account posting on the site

No sign Australian politicians will leave X after the Grok scandal. Hard to see what if anything could make people who are still posting on there now leave. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Hot Desk Fellowships

Entries are now open for the Wheeler Centre's Hot Desk Fellowships for emerging writers! I was in the very first cohort of Fellows & used my Hot Desk to work on my first book 'Out of Shape'. I went in there daily like it was my job, & got heaps done. Highly recommend this program!

The Committee (PJCIS) invites submissions to the inquiry by 4pm, Thursday 15 January 2026:
#auslaw

Looks delicious!

Thinking of all the workers and volunteers risking themselves to protect our communities against these fires.

And also thinking of the pissant political class who are refusing to risk any political capital to slow the expansion of the coal mines and gas wells that are driving us towards disaster.

And what exactly would the Opposition do differently given it agreed with the legislation is left unsaid ...

Iran: Communication blackout puts lives at risk and violates human rights - ARTICLE 19 Iranian authorities must restore the internet and all communications to ensure people can access information, communicate and remain safe.

At this crucial time people in Iran must be able to express themselves + access and share the information they need.

ARTICLE 19 urges authorities to restore the internet & all communications now.

#FreeIran #ایران_آزاد #اعتراضات_ایران اعتراضات_سراسری# #KeepItOn

www.article19.org/resources/ir...