The only thing that gets real mode-shift to public transport is investing in providing a legitimately competitive alternative relative to the dominant mode: driving.
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Sam William
5.6K posts
Sam William
@SWDWilliam
Australian entrepreneur with broad interests across diplomacy, defence, branding & communications. Advocate for a stronger, more consistent National brand 🦘
Australia 参加日 Mayıs 2022
358 フォロー中372 フォロワー
Public transport was cheaper than driving even before fuel increased. Making it free when comparatively it’s now even cheaper again is such a nonsensical argument.
Good on @TKoutsantonisMP for sticking to the evidence & not chasing populist nonsense.
abc.net.au/news/2026-03-3…
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I’m often taken back by the gap between basic evidence based knowns and “public opinion”.
In a democracy, at what point is the lack of basic understanding of the evidence based fundamentals actually complete negligence on behalf of us all?
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@hot_rails Best take I’ve seen recently is that the excise is going directly to Albo … if you don’t laugh you’ll cry.
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Dangerous game, politics.
Anthony Albanese@AlboMP
Do you reckon Scott Morrison has been to a petrol station lately? Petrol prices are surging on his watch.
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@thamoonman_ It earns that status over time though - just like the Canadian Flag has despite being extremely controversial when introduced.
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@thamoonman_ Perfectionism vs understanding the primary purpose of a national flag.
A national flag is about being a simple and distinct identifier to distinguish one nation from another.
Trying to make a flag all things to all people all at once simply isn’t possible.
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NZ struggles with the same problem as Aus. It's accepted that a new flag = no UJ, but there's no clear consensus on which symbol replaces it, what colours should be used, & if the Southern Cross should be retained. Consequently new designs are incongruous & do too much
Civixplorer@Civixplorer
🗳️ Imagine there's a new referendum to change New Zealand's flag. What's your pick?
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@PaulineHansonOz Ah the predictably of populists - who cares if it creates another problem altogether if it sounds good right? 😂🤦♂️
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We don’t need to take 50% off the excise,
It needs to be 100% suspended - immediately.
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@_JohnMerchant @aaronsmith Or a freight train for more than 15x the freight task per litre of fuel (or kWh of energy)
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@aaronsmith Filling up the SUV to get to parliament instead of helping fuel a tractor or road train
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Nothing says ‘ready to govern’ like solemnly fondling a bowser beside a car covered in derangement.
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@SeanAndrews65 You’d think a natural solution would be swapping out the 20-30mm guns for 40-76mm guns which have far greater utility across the spectrum of threats/uses?
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@SWDWilliam Big fan of Italian naval doctrine. There is some significant thinking that 🇦🇺 should explore.
Queanbeyan, New South Wales 🇦🇺 English
With regards to cheap, numerous one-way attack drones - does this highlight a gap in the gun-based weapons fit of modern surface combatants?
Have the Italians got it right with plentiful 76mm guns instead of the more common 20-30mm secondary guns? Cheaper than missiles …
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Great piece by @SeanAndrews65
I’d also add that it (arguably) further highlights the fallacy that is specialist large surface combatants.
Particularly in the Indo-Pacific where the threat from both above and below is equally high.
aspistrategist.org.au/as-the-us-navy…
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@SpeedySticks007 @RAIL @philatrail Adessia is their high floor family - Coradia is for low floor / multi height.
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@RAIL But will it be of level boarding design @philatrail ? If so, all carriages?
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WSMR plans Alstom-built bi-mode sets if open access bid approved
railmagazine.com/news/wrexham-s…
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@modacitylife Speeds of *up to* 350 - a significant portion of the network is below that.
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China’s high-speed rail is the largest and most intensely used system on earth; consisting of 50,000 km of track linking 97% of cities above 500,000 at speeds of 350 km/h.
Today’s proof: comfortably gliding from Shenzhen to Xiamen, a distance of 600 km in just under three hours.
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@_JohnMerchant I’d love to see modular precast slab track manufactured in the Iron Triangle alongside Whyalla rail. One stop shop for rail infrastructure 🔥
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@dannolan Let’s not dampen positive ambition. We all know how much this unfortunate trait holds us back.
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half of the australian gdp would be spent paying for senators
Cameron Kusher@cmkusher
This would actually be way better than what we have IMO
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@the_transit_guy @humantransit If it helps, morons in Australia just love overbuilding transit too.
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At Finnish costs, you could build 782 miles of subway and 725 stations for $200 billion. Currently, the U.S. has only about 22 miles of subway planned or under construction.
The Associated Press@AP
BREAKING: The Pentagon seeks $200 billion in additional funds for the Iran war, AP source says. apnews.com/article/iran-w…
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@chibba1290 @ChaneyforCurtin The difference is they’re selling resources that by law we, the public, own.
How on earth is paying just the same tax rate as any other company fair on anyone?
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There already is a super profits tax, it's called the company tax rate. Profits are taxed at 30%, so if profit doubles then so does tax. These companies sink tend of billions of $ in capital in mega projects so it takes time to recoup CAPEX and become profitable and therefore paying tax. The PRRT is a terrible substitute for a normal royalty but that's a different conversation.
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Good news! Right now we are giving away our gas. When prices soar, we should all benefit. A super profits tax makes sense. The PRRT is not fit for purpose. This is a promising sign the govt is finally listening. This budget is the opportunity. #auspol abc.net.au/news/2026-03-2…
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@kevinbonham I’m still thinking about ON’s Media Head who initially answered the question with “charged, not convicted, right?”
If only we could all be so incompetent at our jobs yet still demand the big bucks.
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One Nation disendorses candidate for Adelaide but they will still appear on the ballot paper as the One Nation candidate (Unwinnable seat).
7NEWS Adelaide@7NewsAdelaide
BREAKING: Pauline Hanson has dumped a key candidate on the eve of the South Australian election. One Nation says it has today become aware of serious allegations facing its candidate for the seat of Adelaide, Aoi Baxter. The party has confirmed an arrest warrant in the United Kingdom has been issued for him, for failing to appear in court over a sexual offence charge. Also known as Trent Baxter, the 31-year-old was charged in September 2023 with sexually touching a woman without consent. One Nation says it conducted a nationwide police check on Mr Baxter as it does with all candidates and found ‘no issues’. Party officials say they have been unable to contact Mr Baxter today.
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