Aaron Smith

Part two of my 2022 year in reflection swimming thread is all salt water, and mostly ocean pools. /1

@BattleSideTim @TheIPA It highlights the need to aggressively reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. We can be doing much much much better.

Although,i think it has reminded a lot of people about how much we rely on oil & fuel for basically everything. Great that some that have EV’s & it’s cheap for them atm but ff’s still runs the country & under 10% of vehicles are EV’s so it doesn’t really solve the problem,which is,right now, ff’s are essential but good for you & your EV’s.

“The fuel crisis actually has been a really big negative for the solar and wind groups.” Reality is cutting through the narrative. Australia runs on diesel. Fossil fuels still matter. And policy decisions are leaving us exposed. 📺 Adam Creighton on the Power Hour Sky News Australia: bit.ly/4t8LmqG

It's true it gets messy. Sometimes the VEC exercises some latitude. For example, when I complained about legibility of authorisations on billboards in 2018, they said they cant' do anything about that - as long as it's authorised it's fine, regardless of whether an ordinary person could reasonably read it. Then in 2022 they changed their position to deal with this explicitly, without any change in law. So there's history. Also, the VEC claims a mandate, and "Trust in elections" is listed as one of its three core regulatory pillars - and to promote accountability, equity and transparency. So in its own framing, the VEC is the guardian of electoral integrity, not just a counter of ballots. If they're not going to do that, or are prevented from doing that, they shouldn't say they are.

@aaronsmith @electionsvic What is the law in this area? In the end, rightly or wrongly, @electionsvic can only do what the law allows them to do! My gut feel is that the law is quiet in this area leaving @electionsvic very little room to move! I do wonder if fraud laws might be triggered though!

Fake party names designed to deceive voters and harvest preferences. Authorisations that don't even name the political party. @electionsvic has a history of chasing the frivolous but remain silent when it matters most. Victoria's electoral laws have become a farce.

You'll only get public funding if you meet the threshold - which I understand is > 4% of primary votes in a lower house seat. Not sure about upper house. The fact that an entity is like this that's setup deliberately to mislead and subvert democracy is just waived through is appalling.

@aaronsmith @gomichild @electionsvic Isn't it a grift? Establish a party -enter an election and you get some money even if no votes?

@TheIPA Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahh According to Adam Creighton, the fuel crisis has been a big negative for solar and wind. All of those people charging their EVs for free, while others throw down $250 a week on a tank of diesel beg to disagree, Adam.

I’m calling on Jess Wilson to condemn James Newbury’s comments.

@DaveMcG67 Are you talking about the convicted rapist that Pauline Hanson hired and personally vouched for?

@simonaiken @Markyles A 70 year old bloke standing in a church he doesn't attend, in a town he doesn't live in, telling women what to do with their own bodies as he spreads dangerous lies about life-saving health care for women, is not my dear man - "post-Benny Hill" culture It's disgusting misogyny

@aaronsmith @BelindaJones68 I reckon the Tweet was removed from X for violent speech. He still has it up on Facebook. Disgusting.

The Rupert Murdoch-funded @AusPressCouncil is a sham — marking its own homework — and GetUp wants Australians to know. Today, we’re launching a new campaign calling for a truly independent journalism standards authority. @HackedOffHugh @hackinginquiry au.news.yahoo.com/activist-group…

@taipan168 Seems to be vague around when it’s actually needed to. I got one a few years ago because was advised by the rental car company I needed in Madeira, and then I was never asked for it. My Aus license was fine.

It’s a small cost in the context of a European trip, but the international driving permit is an unnecessary travel tax for people whose licenses are in English, particularly within the EU. $53 and they only last a year. smh.com.au/traveller/revi…

@DaveSharma That’s lower than the inflation rate your party left the country with four years ago, Dave. Do you think these posts through, or just hope everyone’s memory stops at yesterday?

Since Labor was elected 4 years ago: ❌ Prices are up (inflation currently 4.6%) ❌ Living standards are down (by ~ 7%) ❌ Real wages are stagnant ❌ Interest rates are up (by 3.75%) ❌ Income taxes have grown (by $83 bn) ❌ Government debt has ballooned (by $140bn) Everyone is worse off under Labor.

@OneNationAus I agree. Malcolm Roberts should be deported.

One poll shows 77% of Australians support deporting migrants who don’t follow Australian values.

@baudenandrew @MickamiousG No - you just delivered a meaningless boring word salad.

@aaronsmith @MickamiousG As expected, so fixated on being right about perceived value, you are lost for words when it's pointed out that the people gaslighting you are only delivering value for themselves. Perhaps there is hope. ☕️🫘💯

To the Labor, Greens & Socialist (Left Leaning) voters, genuinely asking. Why do you keep voting this way? Is it the economic benefits from government? The inclusion the government offers? Other reasons?? I’m genuinely curious.

James Newbury actively campaigned to shut down a housing facility for the homeless. Now he''s threatening violence. He might have deleted this tweet, but the internet doesn't forget.

It’s a year today since the 2025 election. It’s an incredible honour and privilege to represent the Kooyong community in the federal parliament. I’m forever grateful to the hundreds of volunteers who worked so hard in the election campaign, and to my wonderful 2025 EO and campaign teams.

@baudenandrew @MickamiousG No.

Science- is that the science that says Men can become women simply because they say so? Or climate science that seems to change to suit the narrative of the day? Eg when I was a kid it was acid rain. Science that is debated by top scientists. Fairness- is that the fairness that attempts to take away my right to hold a different opinion just because it makes you uncomfortable? Or perhaps the fairness that gives more money to Aboriginal Australians than Medicare does to all Australians? Or perhaps the fairness that allows someone who commits violent crime out on bail but deports someone for speaking their opinion? Equality- is that the equality that provides new immigrants to Australia cheep government housing while Australians are forced into homelessness? Or perhaps the equality where I have to work hard and pay taxes while bludgers hold out their hands for money from the Government? Or maybe the equality of a select group of elite Aboriginals spend the millions they receive on themselves and beautiful new offices while one of their children is forced to live in squalor, is abused then murdered? Creeping religion in politics- is that where the holidays of Islam, Buddhists and Sikh are celebrated by politicians but they never mention Christian or Jewish holidays? Or is it where Greens and Independent senator routinely call for support of countries where religion is the politics? Or is it perhaps the regular calls for Sharia law in Australian communities? Or perhaps forcing/allowing Islamic indoctrination in state funded public schools. As for lazy tropes. You seem to have nailed the lazy part without consideration for what actual science, true fairness and equality and which religions are truely creeping into politics and the moral values they truely represent. ☕️🫘💯