
James Wilson
@jameswilson
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Economist, data analyst, public policy. Formerly @ausgov @govuk š¦šŗš¬š§ Views my own.
London
Joined November 2007
In my experience the APS blocks things from FOI using exemptions in the Act, or drags its feet. OAIC has no teeth. Admin review takes ages. Iāve not heard of advice watered down because of FOI fears - which is good. Depts and ministers shouldnāt be looking over their shoulders.
I think FOI ājournalismā like this is against the public interest. It provides embarrassment rather than a useful contribution to public discussion. Public servants will put even less advice in writing, further reducing the quality of internal discussion.
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When professions become closed to outside scrutiny, bad things happen. Brilliant and withering takedown from Jonathan on what has happened with Australiaās urban planning blob.
@inflectionptswk If governments are able to make these reforms, then our nation will be better off. Australians deserve better cities. And so we need to empower a new, younger generation to use modern policymaking toolsāand to plan for our future at the speed of the city.
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#StandWithFiona the wealthy wine mums of Australia deserve representation!!.
I get that committing 7 minutes of your time to a radio interview abt perth local govt beef is a big ask . But I need you all to trust me that this is one of the most fantastic broadcast meltdowns you will ever hear in your life. Clarke & Dawe grade.
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Strict fiscal rules are like wearing a straight jacket but weāre constantly adjusting it, taking it on and off, moving around in it. The real problem is weāre still in the insane asylum.
š¤Possibly my favourite ever @OBR_UK chartš.The green line is what the Government tells us is going to happen to the national debt at each Budget (up a bit then down). The yellow line is what actually happens (up, up, up)
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Huge news. Inspired choice. Didnāt think the Libs had it in them. Gonna be a tough gig but damn, this is a vibe shift. Congrats @SHamiltonian!
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The Elon crowd are rediscovering classical liberalism in real-time. Itās like weāre living through a stupid version of the enlightenment.
@elonmusk Is this the America Party platform?. -reduce debt, responsible spending only .-modernize military with ai/robotics.-pro tech, accelerate to win in ai .-less regulation across board but especially in energy .-free speech .-pro natalist.-centrist policies everywhere else . If so.
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Thank you @duncanrobinson š¬ļøāļø. āBritain is already a hot country. It should act like it.ā.
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We had minimal illicit tobacco until we jacked up tobacco excise so high it became immensely profitable to smuggle tobacco into Australia. Then we chose to ban vapes so those are being smuggled too. Catastrophic public policy failure. No one is learning the lessons.
Big news in the fight against illicit tobacco!. The Federal Government has appointed the first Illicit Tobacco and E-Cigarette Commissioner. This builds on the induction of a tobacco licensing scheme that began on July 1 2025 in NSW.
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āToo big, too fastā and yet Grattanās proposal still has the scheme costing ~$105b a year in 10 yearsā¦.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme has grown too big too fast, and its future is now at stake. Our new report shows how to save the NDIS ā and ensure disabled Australians can get the support they need. #auspol
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