Simon Copland 🍉🍉
@SimonCopland
Followers
5K
Following
4K
Media
1K
Statuses
68K
Director Conservation Council ACT. Did a PhD on the manosphere, masculinity, social media and extremism. Also tweets about sport and Bowie, and am in the SES.
Canberra
Joined May 2009
Look what has arrived! I got my copies on my book - it is now very real and also very surreal!.The book comes out in the UK on February 7 and will be in stores in Australia on May 16. See online ordering options in the next week.
7
5
30
Told a cashier in San Francisco today that we are from Australia. Cashier: "didn't your Prime Minister shit himself at a McDonalds?".
158
434
5K
"Love will make you do crazy things," said Will Smith. The idea that love is "so powerful" that it makes you violent is actually a really dangerous idea.
174
423
4K
The CEO sleepout has to be one of the absolute worst charity ideas ever. Rich people cosplaying as poor people for a night to encourage middle-income people to donate money does nothing to solve homelessness.
140
515
3K
Not the message they were intending to send, but still good advice.
19
152
3K
Israel conducts an indiscriminate terrorist attack that killed an 8 year old girl, and our national news broadcaster cheers them on.
384
557
3K
I think what most ALP careerists don't understand is that no voter cares at all about Labor's historical tradition of caucus unity. Instead, they look at this and see people not voting for their convictions.
138
370
2K
I really hate Australia's medical system. We have this myth that we have a universally funded public system, but it really just isn't true.
170
238
2K
One thing I absolutely cannot stand is the excuse that the police officer had the right to use excessive force because the kid swore at them. Seriously, imagine if we let teachers use the same kid. "Yes, I punched my student, but it was justified because he swore at me!".
79
432
2K
Can anyone explain to me what is 'not peaceful' about people dropping banners from the top of Parliament House?
200
310
2K
The narrative around ICAC has really gone wild. Barnaby Joyce said it was like the Spanish inquisition and Scott Morrison said that they assume people are guilty before innocent. All they did was announce an investigation! No one knows the outcome of this yet. #nswpol.
55
315
2K
The most outrageous part of this is that Payman is the one who is voting in line with official Labor policy, and she's the one being punished for that.
#BREAKING 🚨 Fatima Payman has been SUSPENDED INDEFINITELY from the Labor caucus by Anthony Albanese, hours after she said she was prepared to cross the floor again. 6 News understands Payman is upset at not being allowed to vote her conscience. #6NewsAU |
70
382
2K
Can guarantee that all the ALP folks defending Albanese cutting the Independent's staff would have been absolutely outraged if it had been Morrison doing it. #auspol.
184
144
1K
Really baffled why two Labor Senators (Wong and Pratt) think now is a good time to remind voters that despite having two terms to do it, the ALP refused to legislate same-sex marriage, leaving it to the Liberals, who did it via postal vote. And all to defend party unity.
26
191
1K
Crazy idea: it is both possible for a joke to be bad, and that hitting the person who made the joke is also bad. Two things can be wrong at the same time. #Oscars.
55
55
1K
On a day in which people have likely died, homes have been lost, major highways closed and people told to delay their travel plans, I cannot help but remember that only a few months ago Governments were running scare campaigns over climate protestors disrupting people. #NSWfires.
23
428
1K
France gives us an important lesson: we don't defeat the far-right by conceding to them, or adopting more of their policies. We defeat them by presenting a bold alternative vision that people can get behind.
116
181
770
Let it be forever known that the ALP just joined with the Coalition to pass possibly the most draconian, union-busting laws Australia has ever seen. And as far I can see the ACTU has had basically nothing to say about it. Neither the ALP or ACTU stand for workers anymore.
112
179
710
Inside at the Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux event. Will keep all thoughts on this thread.
81
260
624
Canberra has basically had to shut down today because of the smoke. People are being sent home from work, Government buildings are closed, Australia post has cancelled deliveries and the hospital can't do some procedures. This is what climate change looks like. #AustraliaBurns.
14
407
592
State premiers should stop doing daily press conferences to announce case numbers. Daily numbers often don't mean much, and so it just breeds fear and panic. Step up when there are policy changes, otherwise just release data online. #covid19aus.
72
78
628
COVID policy in Australia basically now follows the same pattern of NSW announcing easing restrictions, a bunch of people criticising it, then Victorian announcing the same thing a few weeks later and those same people staying silent. #covid19aus.
18
48
602
Apparently western culture has never included rape, murder or infanticide.
8
21
456
Now Molyneux is mocking Aboriginal origin myths, and everyone is laughing along. Because all the western Christian myths make total sense. .
5
33
463
If you say that you believe in global warming while also approving new coal mines until 2064, you're either lying, or you just don't care and want the world to burn.
Two of the coal mines that @tanya_plibersek just extended to 2064 are already so large they would swallow her electorate (Syd) and @AlboMP's (Grayndler). (Ravensworth lighter orange, Ashton darker) @TheAusInstitute
45
150
511
I am now a doctor! Got my reports back today, passed with no corrections!!!. This one snippet from one of my reviewers has had me beaming all day. 😁😁😁 #phdlife
76
7
483
Here's something scary for you. Today is the first day in recorded history where it did not rain in any part of Australia.
20
258
424
Seriously, if you're a police office and you can't tell the difference between an empty threat from a 16 year old and a genuine risk to your physical safety, then you shouldn't be on the streets.
13
80
421
An unarmed security guard died while confronting the attacker.
5
17
394
Have been really disappointed watching all the derision and attacks against Raygun on this site. Here is someone who is doing nothing to hurt anyone, and is copping waves of online ridicule for it. Maybe stop and think whether you need to have a go? .
696
18
378
I'm about to fly home from Melbourne after a weekend at the tennis, as well as visits to the zoo, gallery, bars and restaurants. Tomorrow I will go to work in my office. No, we are not in lockdown. #covid19aus.
"We have, in all but name, lockdowns over east": WA Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson has defended the delayed border reopening, saying supply chains and the health sector are being 'crippled' in other states. #auspol
26
23
390
We often think about conspiracy theories as being the purview of the far-right (i.e. QAnon). COVID-19 however has shown that elements of the left can be just as good at it. Here are a bunch of receipts from Aus, and some thoughts on implications of this. Thread. #covid19aus.
35
144
388
Is it just me, or has the partisanship around COVID gotten a lot worse? Cases are rising everywhere and most states have very similar restrictions. Yet, somehow, Perrotet is 'letting it rip', while no other (state) leader gets criticism? #covid19aus #covid19nsw.
43
30
387
The decision to suspend flights from India is shameful. Leaving people stranded in a place where they're far more likely to get COVID and where the health system is buckling under pressure. We're literally wiping our hands of responsibility for our citizens. #covid19aus.
16
89
373
Gladys Berejiklian was the one who decided to resign here. ICAC had nothing to do with that. Again, all they did was said they were opening an investigation. She could have stuck it out and gone through the investigation as Premier. There was nothing forcing her to stand down.
11
67
346
This is not something you should be celebrating. Exploiting workers, breaking up relationships, and all to make a shithouse browser.
17
43
356
Holy wow. Have gained over 350 followers after tweeting the Molyneux and Southern event. Hope you are not all disappointed when you realise my feed is largely me talking about my anxiety and how much I love David Bowie.
31
2
339
All of these attacks on ICAC are about undermining it, and any future national body, so that politicians can more easily get away with corruption. Don't buy it. They did their job, how politicians reacted was their own choice.
6
96
327
Molyneux says that in aboriginal religion it was forbidden to alter nature, which is why they didn't have agriculture. Which is absolutely wrong (They did have agriculture).
11
21
278
This should not be happening. Police should not have access to this data. #covid19aus #covid19qld .
20
77
321
I can't believe people are still advocating #CovidZero. It's neither feasible or desirable. Even if we achieve it in Aus (very unlikely) it would mean borders closed indefinitely. We cannot, and should not, shut ourselves off to the world like that. #covid19aus #covid19.
15
36
318
This is what happens when we blame individuals for daring to catch a highly-infectious disease. We've promoted fear and the belief that catching it means you've done something wrong. #covid19aus.
A COVID-positive woman’s car has been torched after her infection resulted in restrictions being re-imposed in the South East. The latest in 7NEWS Adelaide at 4pm and 6pm. #7NEWS
21
67
317
Given we know that globally it is the far-right that is the biggest growing terror threat, this is an outrageous claim from the PM.
16
85
311
It is really clear that having a sense of community and belonging was central to so many involved in the #ConvoyToCanberra. #auspol . It's not surprising, but it is interesting, and can tell us a lot about what happened/will continue to happen. 1/24.
36
83
279
I honestly thought that after a year of genocide and Israel's growing expansion of war into neighbouring countries that our media and political class may finally become more critical. I was sadly wrong. It seems like they're even more determined to protect their war crimes.
25
57
293
Twitter at the moment is full of a lot of people outraged at the noose at the protest, but not that many people interested in actual conversations about how we got here or what we could do about it. #melbourneprotests.
40
31
287
Love is an emotion like any others. We can manage it just like any others. Using it as an excuse to hit someone on live TV is super pathetic, and it's the same kind of excuse people use to commit a whole bunch of violence, often against women themselves. #Oscars.
5
23
268
It's particularly odious when politicians do it, acting as if they don't have the actual power to fix this problem.
6
21
276
First thing I noticed was how many people of colour were working on tickets and security for the event. All smiling and doing an amazing job. Rather awkward really.
7
11
217
For the past two years I've been dealing with a medical issue. It's not life threatening but at times it has been debilitating, and I've had to go to emergency twice (and almost a third time). Each time in hospital I have received great, free, healthcare.
2
1
276
Locking kids in jail achieves nothing except creating generations of trauma.
Newly elected Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has detailed her tough-on-crime agenda, including immediate bail reform and lowering the criminal age of responsibility down to 10 years old.
253
35
254
That is not a universal system. If I were still a student there was no way I would have been able to pay for this. I have no idea how people poorer than me do it. Our system benefits the rich and leaves the poor waiting for the moment of emergency. It's just not good enough.
8
17
255
I've been surrounded by teachers my entire life (my dad, my partner etc.) and they face kids who swear and make threats all the time. It's not nice, but they also have a range of techniques that are not violent to de-escalate the situation. And, strangely enough, they work!.
6
21
244
Just got another push notification from @GuardianAus over a death related to a rare blood clot associated with the AZ vaccine. I wonder, are news agencies going to start writing headlines about all deaths associated with medical procedures, or is the vaccine the only one?.
10
37
229
Thinking today about all the people stranded overseas who finally managed to get a flight home. They've probably packed their bags, quit their jobs, and said their goodbyes. And now likely to get stuck for even longer because of this cruel decision. How awful. #covid19aus.
10
33
233
Feeling for everyone who has family in Perth. Two years to prepare and the WA Government still can't do it. #covid19aus #covid19wa.
20
10
242
This year I've finally managed to get to see a specialist to deal with this problem long-term. It took about three months to get an appointment, during which I almost ended up back in hospital. I was never told how much this specialist appointment would cost (I should have asked).
1
4
247
This week Penny Wong said Labor wouldn't have signed the Pacific declaration on coal and Palaszczuk has announced laws to crack down on climate protesters. Once again time to recognise that *this is who Labor is*.
7
64
213
Sorry folks, am tweeting some epic racist stuff here.
3
18
199
"The aborigine culture is very violent", says Molyneux. Again, apparently the west has never had any violence.
7
19
191
"I don't like the idea of racial pride" Molyneux says after talking about how amazing it was when whites came to Australia.
4
32
196
The ALP are now going to try and effectively make it illegal for anyone from Afghanistan to be an MP because they're butthurt over Payman quitting the party.
15
56
231
At this point it is worth nothing that I have private health insurance, which I got because of the tax rebate. I hate having to have private health insurance, and would love to never have to get it. Despite having it though, the 15 minute consultation cost $210.
5
5
227
The Zero-COVID people will never be satisfied. The goal posts will keep shifting and they will continue to show they have no regard for people's actual lives. It's time we stop listening to them. #covid19aus #covid19wa.
15
21
228
How many 1-in-100-year events are we going to have until our leaders acknowledge that these aren't 1-in-100-year events and that we need to do something about global warming? #nswfloods.
4
33
202
Honest question, if people are testing positive for COVID on a rapid antigen test, but feel well enough to stay at home and isolate, why are we pushing them to get a PCR test? Surely that seems to be putting people at risk when they are safer at home. #covid19aus.
29
10
212
It really feels like it would just be much simpler to tax digital media companies and then use that money on public broadcasting and other investment in journalism. #auspol #socialmediacode.
7
38
197
So, in total, for this one operation, I've currently had to pay $2,110. This doesn't count the GP visits ($100 each), the drugs after, my insurance fees, nor the materials for my wound care. I'll get some of this back, but if I didn't have that money I would have been screwed.
3
6
211
It seems to me that our healthcare system is okay (I emphasise only 'okay') when you're at the pointy end and need to turn up to emergency. But if you want to deal with a problem so it doesn't get to that point then you have to wait and you'll end up massively out-of-pocket.
3
9
213
There are countries all around the world with large crowds at sports events and who aren't at COVID zero. Because they know that vaccines work and will by and large protect their population. #covid19aus.
7
14
211
Operation went well and I went home. Since then, however, I've been sent two bills. One, $850, for the operation itself, and another, $550 for the anaesthetic services. These should be covered by my insurance, but I have to pay them upfront and then get the money back.
5
4
204
I have a piece in @TheAtlantic. How a smug politics of COVID empowers the far right. #covid19 #covid19aus #melbourneprotests
44
57
202
So proud of my sister Sarah and brother-in-law Craig for having the courage to talk to 4 Corners. This is their story of what happened in the #BeirutBlast and how we lost my beautiful nephew.
Beirut explosion victim Isaac Oehlers was fatally struck by glass in his highchair. This is how his parents fought for him
14
14
180
Just wondering, what does this have to do with Hamas?.
The #Israeli army has invaded the West Bank city of Jenin and the Jenin refugee camp and has cut off the city’s electricity.
10
69
178
I don't think BRS' stuff should be taken down from the War Memorial. It should be part of a new exhibition about Australia's historical involvement in war crimes. We need open and honest conversations about this.
10
33
197
Okay Stefan Molyneux walked in to Queen's We Will Rock You. That is awkward. .
9
6
159
I can't get over the fact that the Government cancelled Djokovic's visa because he apparently poses a threat because he might inspire anti-vaxxers and broader anti-vax sentiment. It is so idiot and quite frankly dangerous. #auspol #covid19aus #djokovic.
25
16
196
I'm not saying Will Smith is a bad guy or that he doesn't deserve the Oscar he just got (but what a way to ruin the biggest night of your life?). But skip the excuses for your bad behaviour please.
2
9
186
Both parties, and many of their supporters, fundamentally believe in an inherent conservatism in Aus. However, when you start to look at polling on issues this narrative falls apart. Australians are far more progressive than the political class assumes. Let's have a look.
3
16
176
Once again, I cannot help but remember the scare campaigns being run a few months ago because climate activists were 'disrupting commuters'. Strangely enough so many of our politicians don't seem to care about the real disruptions that are happening now.
2
82
169
On top of this, the doc said I also needed to pay $500 for the operation, which he described as a fee that the AMA charges (I think this was the 'known-gap' arrangement, but tbh, he didn't explain it well). I paid this up front, and so that day I was out out $710.
3
3
189
Molyneux talks about how in Aboriginal communities people killed off those who didn't belong or broke the rules and somehow claims that doesn't happen in the West. .
3
13
155
I'm trying to keep up with every awful thing being said but I just can't.
3
8
161
I just don't understand how, based on the current data, anyone could claim that NSW failed in its approach to the Northern Beaches cluster. They've not only contained the spread, but managed to do so without a harsh lockdown. This is what success looks like. #COVID19nsw.
24
15
179
The specialist advised that I'd need two operations. He does them at a private hospital, and tbh I wasn't really given an alternative. I probably could have asked to go public, but I imagine it would have been a long way and I would have had to go with someone else.
2
2
188
Lefties need to be thinking very differently in our approach. The problem is not the 'population' it is the political and media class. Instead of assuming we need to consistently 'convince' voters on issues, we should spend more time rallying voters to insist on change.
5
29
168
When I get to the operation at reception I'm told I need to pay another $500. I think this was something to do with insurance excess (tbh I wasn't absorbing the information well at the time). I was never told this beforehand, just had to pay it, otherwise no operation.
1
3
185
Molyneux seems now to be claiming that Aboriginal people killed off intelligent people and that's why their culture "never moved on". Different to Western culture apparently.
15
13
134
Click and collect is a stupid solution to COVID. Am picking up something from Officeworks and I've had far more interaction with people than if I went in the store myself, found something and bought it on self serve. #covid19aus #covid19act.
15
12
187
Thank you @adharves for such sensitive and nuanced reporting about the #BeirutBlast. You truly honored the memory of my nephew Isaac. #4corners.
10
11
174
This myth has underpinned the current election campaign. The ALP's 'small target' strategy is based on a belief that Australians will reject bold progressive policies. Katherine Deves' anti-trans comments are part of a strategy to appeal to a core conservatism within the country.
8
9
156
You cannot be for climate action while simultaneously supporting new fossil fuel projects @AustralianLabor. Simple as that. #auspol #ausvotes.
3
34
152
- 64% of Australians support introducing an emissions trading scheme or a carbon tax, which is amazing given how unwilling either major party is to even consider this. - Crucially, 63% support a ban on new coal mines opening in Australia and 63% support reducing coal exports.
1
21
149