Michelle Arrow
Historian. Author, The Seventies (2019), co-author Personal Politics (2024). Writing a biography of Anne Deveson. President, Australian Historical Association. Whitlam Institute Fellow. FASSA. She/her. Views my own. newsouthbooks.com.au/books.
- Such a lovely tribute to Graeme. As Andrew notes, we need his calm, clear advocacy for the humanities now more than ever:
- I wrote a belated tribute to one of my teachers, the late, legendary Graeme Turner. An enormous loss to Australian cultural studies and critical thinking. www.patreon.com/posts/149223...
- There’s a whole Honours thesis to be written about this one:
- COLDEST 100: 2026 EDITION 19. Have a Go (1978) Mojo Singers #coldest100 #hottest100 youtu.be/ygTjsu-dd8w
- And this definitely deserves its place in the top 25
- COLDEST 100: 2026 EDITION 22. You Should Hear How She Talks About You (1985) Simon Gallaher #coldest100 #hottest100 youtu.be/bgcXYzMAntc
- Also outstanding:
- COLDEST 100: 2026 EDITION 51. Viva Las Vegas (1995) Warwick Capper #coldest100 #hottest100 @rhrettrospective youtu.be/OTmhSSvJgp4
- This is outstanding:
- COLDEST 100: 2026 EDITION 84. Border Shopping Town (1986) Border Shopping Town Albury #coldest100 #hottest100 youtu.be/5ds2rn7ULfg
- ‘It’s financial stupidity to enter the humanities in any of our universities, and the current federal government has done nothing to abate that.’ Great piece by Ben Quilty on our undervaluing of the arts in Australia: www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
- And putting Whitlam in a longer context - short essays on all the PMs since Whitlam here: theconversation.com/how-did-the-...
- It’s that time of year when too much Whitlam is barely enough! Here’s my addition to the fray: theconversation.com/extraordinar...
- I watched six hours of Australian history on TV so you don’t have to (though I think you should!) www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-a...
- Bleak times at Macquarie Uni, as management moves to implement large scale job cuts in arts and science (because who needs that expertise, right?). Amanda’s threat outlines the lies that underpin these changes. We need urgent governance reform now: but is the government listening?
- 1/At Macquarie Uni we are losing 50% of our units in my faculty. This is on top of cuts in 2020. We estimate by next year my faculty will be teaching 80% fewer subjects than pre Covid. Disciplines being cut do not have declining enrolments. @jennaprice.bsky.social @michaelwestbiz.bsky.social
- Great piece on the failures of governance and regulation over our university sector by Richard Dennis: australiainstitute.org.au/post/imagine...
- Help us reach our target of 5000 signatures - please sign and share!
- It baffles me that @australianlabor.bsky.social wants to hang this failed, unfair policy around its neck, when they could condemn it as a folly of the unpopular Morrison government and ditch it. Sign our petition to urge them to abolish it now! www.openpetition.org/au/petition/...
- We only made it about a quarter of the way across the bridge before the march was turned around. A huge crowd, hugely diverse: proud to be there with my family #MarchforHumanity
- Heading into the city for today’s March for Humanity across the Harbour Bridge
- It baffles me that @australianlabor.bsky.social wants to hang this failed, unfair policy around its neck, when they could condemn it as a folly of the unpopular Morrison government and ditch it. Sign our petition to urge them to abolish it now! www.openpetition.org/au/petition/...
- And it’s not just writers: comedians, business leaders, academics, musicians and chefs have signed our letter:
- A great comment piece on @austhistassoc.bsky.social open letter urging the PM to repeal Job-Ready Graduates: theconversation.com/top-australi...
- A great comment piece on @austhistassoc.bsky.social open letter urging the PM to repeal Job-Ready Graduates: theconversation.com/top-australi...
- Wonderful! Thanks David!
- More than 100 high-profile and distinguished Australians -and BA graduates- have signed the @austhistassoc.bsky.social open letter calling for the repeal of Job-Ready Graduates: a policy that punishes humanities students with life-changing debts: www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
- If you would like to add your voice in support, you can sign here: url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/w2nbCBNqgB...
- And if you would like to see the letter and all signatories, and send it to your own MP, you can find it here: theaha.org.au/wp-content/u...
- ‘But the notion of safe spaces was always about opening up participation. It was never meant to suggest that people had the right […] to avoid hearing views with which they disagree.’ An excellent piece by Margaret Simons that every Uni VC must read: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
- This seems fine, right?
- Someone needs to tell our university executive class too:
- Excellent coverage of Macquarie Uni’s proposed restructure: www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
- This is a great, nuanced piece about Haidt’s ‘Anxious Generation’ - it’s far better than most commentary on the book: observer.co.uk/culture/book...
- This. Labor needs to be bolder, do better in their next term. They were lucky to be up against a dreadful opposition but they need to step up: in higher education, in climate action, on transparency, and fixing our below poverty-level ‘safety’ net. Let’s hold their feet to the fire and demand better
