About The AIMN
Founded by the owners Michael and Carol Taylor on January 2, 2013, The Australian Independent Media Network is a platform for public interest journalists to write and engage in an independent media environment, providing both news and opinion.
Please feel free to join in the discussions on our featured articles on:
Your Say (Where we publish opinion pieces from our authors or readers).
Or articles from our resident satirist Rossleigh.
We also welcome articles from our readers, and these can be submitted via the Contact Us facility.
Meet The Team
Carol Taylor – Co-founder and Assistant Managing Editor at The AIMN. Carol is a former teacher (ed psych) and a disability advocate. Carol also studied law at SCU. Although Carol has written a number of articles for The AIMN, she is now mainly involved in admin and promotion. She maintains a strong interest in politics, social justice, history, travelling and the arts.
Michael Taylor – Co-founder and Managing Editor at The AIMN. Michael is a retired Public Servant. His interests include Australian and US politics, history, travel, and Indigenous Australia. Michael holds a BA in Aboriginal Affairs Administration, a BA (Honours) in Aboriginal Studies, and a Diploma of Government.
Victoria Rollison – Dr Victoria Fielding (nee Rollison) is an academic, independent media commenter and activist. Victoria’s PhD research investigated the media representation of industrial disputes by tracing the influence of competing industrial narratives on news narratives. She has developed a theory of media inequality which explains structural media bias in news reporting of industrial, political and social contestation. In her honours thesis, Victoria studied the influence of mining tax narratives on mainstream news media. receive one.
John Lord – John has a strong interest in politics, especially the workings of a progressive democracy, together with social justice and the common good. He holds a Diploma in Fine Arts and enjoys portraiture, composing music, and writing poetry and short stories. He is also a keen amateur actor. Before retirement John ran his own advertising marketing business.
John Kelly – John holds a Bachelor of Communications degree majoring in Journalism and Media Relations. He is the author of four novels and one autobiography. As well as being a regular writer for The AIMN, he also runs his own site, The View From My Garden covering a variety of social, religious and political issues.
Kaye Lee – Kaye studied Science at Sydney and Macquarie Universities. She spent twenty years teaching mathematics and is now a small business owner. Her writing is motivated by the belief that democracy runs best when people know the truth. Kaye is also an admin and moderator at The AIMN.
Rossleigh – Rossleigh is a writer, director and education futurist. As a writer, his plays include “The Charles Manson Variety Hour”, “Pastiche”, “Snap!”, “That’s Me In The Distance”, “48 Hours (without Eddie Murphy)”, and “A King of Infinite Space”. His acting credits include “Pinor Noir Noir” for “Short and Sweet” and carrying the coffin in “The Slap”. His ten minute play, “Y” won the 2013 Crash Test Drama Final. Rossleigh is also an admin and moderator at The AIMN.
Dr Jennifer Wilson – Jennifer has worked as an academic and a scholar, but now works at little of both her careers. She has published short stories in several anthologies, academic papers and book chapters, frequently on the topic of human rights. Her interests and writing are wide ranging, including cultural analysis. Jennifer has written for On Line Opinion, Suite 101 and ABC’s Drum Unleashed. Jennifer is well-known for her long-running blog No Place for Sheep: an eclectic blog that covers politics, society, satire, fiction and fun stuff.
David Tyler – (AKA Urban Wronski) was born in England, raised in New Zealand and an Australian resident since 1979. Urban Wronski grew up conflicted about his own national identity and continues to be deeply mistrustful of all nationalism, chauvinism, flags, politicians and everything else which divides and obscures our common humanity. He has always been enchanted by nature and by the extraordinary brilliance of ordinary men and women and the genius, the power and the poetry that is their vernacular. Wronski is now a full-time freelance writer who lives with his partner and editor Shay and their chooks, near the Grampians in rural Victoria and he counts himself the luckiest man alive. A former teacher of all ages and stages, from Tertiary to Primary, for nearly forty years, he enjoyed contesting the corporatisation of schooling to follow his own natural instinct for undifferentiated affection, approval and compassion for the young.
Jon Chesterson – Jon was born in London, schooled in Sussex and Wales, migrated to Sydney in 1988. Career in mental health, nursing, health care management and education. Currently retired but not brain dead. Occasional writer for the AIM Network, touch of critique and socio-political satire, creative writing and publishing poetry. Family man with grown up daughters and grandchildren. Interests ranging from humanities and social justice to climate change, protecting the planet from reckless destruction to a more than idle lifelong fascination in astronomy and palaeontology. Found sanctuary in the Blue Mountains, a place that reminds us we have a mortal responsibility to inspire in each other good stewardship – this place is our only home in the cosmos to hand on to our children’s children.
Lucy Hamilton – Lucy is Melbourne born and based. She studied humanities at Melbourne and Monash universities, until family duties killed her PhD project. She is immersed in studying the global democratic recession.
Michael Springer – Michael was first admitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2003 and was entered on the Registrar of Practitioners in the High Court of Australia in 2005. Michael practiced as a criminal defence barrister up to 2010.
William Olson – William is American-born, but Melbourne and Geelong-based since late 2001. Freelance journalist from 1990-2004, hospitality professional since late 2004. Back into freelance journalism since 2019, covering the union movement, industrial relations, public policy, and press freedom issues existing in Australia as the main beat. Husband to Jennifer, and “Dadda” to Keira, a very naughty calico fatto catto.
Binoy Kampmark – Dr Binoy Kampmark is a senior lecturer in the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University. He was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, University of Cambridge. He is a contributing editor to CounterPunch and can be followed on Twitter at @bkampmark.
RosemaryJ36 – Rosemary Jacob Grew up in England with a Tory mother and a Labour father making her a political fence sitter for life, but one leaning towards social justice and compassion. Maths was always her best subject and, with a BSc (Special) Mathematics from Imperial College, London (1957), she has taught maths at secondary and tertiary level while picking up a Grad Dip Ed (Sec) from Bathurst College (1979), and an MSc (Science Education) by thesis from Curtin in 1996. Learning is a lifelong pursuit so, with a career change in mind, she started studying Law in mid-2004, completing the Graduate Course degree in 2007 and the GDLP in early 2008, to be admitted in February 2008.
Grumpy Geezer – Having been released from the constraints of the red in tooth and claw capitalist running dogs by retirement the grumpy one now expresses opinions that would have previously limited his career options. (The pseudonym is used simply to avoid familial arguments with Tory-voting kin.)
A loathing of Tory politicians is supplemented by an equal disdain for bad language – the corporatese and the flim-flam of sales spruikers, marketers, spin doctors, bureaucrats and politicians. Red-penning the tosh from such types was an upside to having to work with them.
The crankiness is offset by a love of motorbicycles, the occasional glass of claret too many and the sun glittering off a blue swell just down the road. Could possibly be identified from the ash down his shirtfront and the egg in his beard.
Jennifer Michels – Jennifer (Jen) comes from the Munggurra Clan of the Alawa Nation and the Garawa Clan of the Marla Nation. Jen is an advocate for improving the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nations across Australia through the Grassroots movements Indigenous World of Entertainment and Indigenous Rise. She is also an associate of Black GST. Her focus lies in creating equal human rights for all people in Australia, including refugees.
Roswell – Roswell is American born though he was quite young when his family moved to Australia. He holds a Bachelor of Science and spent most of his working life in Canberra. His interests include anything that has an unsolved mystery about it, politics (Australian and American), science, history, and travelling. Roswell is our SEO guru so most of his work at The AIMN is in an admin or moderator role, though he does produce the occasional article.
Mark Buckley – Mark is a writer based in regional Victoria. He has a particular interest in politics, history and ethics in public life. He blogs at www.askbucko.com.
Eva Cripps – Eva is a freelance writer with a keen interest in legal, social justice and community matters, particularly where they intertwine with politics. She holds a Bachelor of Laws degree with First Class Honours, Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (Distinction) and a Bachelor of Social Science, majoring in Social Justice and Behavioural Science. Eva enjoys fighting politically expedient populism and is commited to empowering Australians to participate in democracy. She’s also a mother to three young children and lives in Tasmania.
Henry Johnston – Henry Johnston is a Sydney-based author. His latest book, The Last Voyage of Aratus is on sale here.
James Moylan – Dr James Moylan – LLB (Hon), BA (Culture), Dr of Phil (Law, SCU) – lives in Lismore, NSW. Dr JiMM has variously been a skid row alcoholic (age 13-27), a Journalist, a Sugar Train Driver, and a researcher on the heritage age god and mineral fields in central Queensland. He has also run a Public Relations firm (Radio Mango Productions, Mackay), has been admitted to the roll of legal practitioners as a solicitor (Qld, 2014), was the President of (the short lived) independent Student Union at Southern Cross University (LEXUS – 2011/2), and is one of the co-founders of the HEMP Party in Australia (along with Micheal Balderstone). Dr JiMM has been happily married to the same gorgeous lady (Sharon) for more than three decades and has one adult daughter (Tayla).
Dr Tristan Ewins – Tristan is a freelance writer, PhD graduate, qualified teacher, blogger, social commentator and ALP Socialist Left activist of over 20 years. He has written for The Canberra Times and several online publications – most prolifically at ON LINE Opinion. He blogs at Left Focus, ALP Socialist Left Forum and the Movement for a Democratic Mixed Economy.
Kate M – Kate started her adult life studying Arts/Law at Sydney University – majoring in Australian history – before giving up the law to transfer to a career in technology and innovation. After working and studying across Asia and the US, Kate now has her feet firmly planted back in Australia, where she spends her day job asking ‘why?’, why not?’ and ‘what if?’. She moonlights as a citizen journalist, where she asks the same questions of our political system, believing in the power of conversation to challenge and change the status quo. You can read more of her thoughts at Progressive Conversation.
Dave Chadwick – David is a teacher from Tasmania who began writing about equality when one of his students was racially vilified in the street. Aside from his interest in politics and ethics, he loves sport and bushwalking in the Tasmanian wilderness, which he writes about frequently at quietblog.weebly.com.
Keith Davis – Keith is a writer and commentator, with a background in Indigenous sector project management and tabloid newspaper publishing. As a retired older-age Australian Keith uses his time, and his voice, to highlight the level of social injustice that exists in this country. He seek a better, more humane, more progressive Australia. He do not limit himself to any one topic, and his writing style gives whimsy and left-field thought at least as much power as logic, fact, and reason.
Letitia McQuade – Letitia McQuade is a writer, business person, and an award winning screenwriter and film maker. As a post grad, she studied creative writing at Melbourne University, and has a BA in Film and TV from VCA. Letitia has owned and run numerous small businesses in retail, manufacturing and real estate.
Erin Chew – Erin is an entrepreneur, blogger and a social activist, who takes an active interest in politics, social justice and human rights. Currently, Erin works for YOMYOMF (You Offend Me, You Offend My Family), an Asian diaspora pop culture website as a blogger. Erin has worked in the trade union movement for a decade and has worked in policy advisor roles with not for profits. She holds a degree in Business and a Diploma in Human Resource Management.
Trish Corry – Trish loves to discuss Australian Politics. Her key areas of interest are Welfare, Disadvantage, emotions in the workplace, organisational behaviour, stigma, leadership, women, unionism. Trish is pro-worker, anti-conservativism and anti-Liberalism. Trish is a proud member of the Australian Labor Party and her articles are written from a Laborist / Progressive perspective. Trish’s blog is The Red Window (polyfeministix.wordpress.com).
Leo Jai – Leo’s love of the oceans saw him take up the cause of raising awareness for marine conservation, making three trips to the ‘Cove’ in Taiji, Japan to document the annual dolphin slaughter. His experiences inspired two self-published works which balanced the tale of the dolphin capture industry against a deeply spiritual backdrop of Japanese culture.
He also supports and counsels immigration detainees and is a tireless advocate for social justice.
A former commercial pilot, he once landed on a sheep on a night approach. Leo and the sheep survived. He is an unashamed nerd and if put in a situation where he had to de-fuse an unexploded bomb, he would cut the blue wire. Find him on Twitter: @lionheartleojai
OzFenric – OzFenric has a background in biological sciences and information management. He has worked as a librarian, a web designer and a social researcher. In his spare time he leads a church choir, performs in amateur musical theatre and writes fiction. He has won peer awards for editing and for writing, but never anything with money attached!
Nicole Clark – Nicole has a B.Env.Sc (Hons), and currently reside in Adelaide. Nicole has a broad background in botanical and or plant science. Her research interests include parasitic plants (mistletoe) and blood parasites of botanical origin, particularly malaria. She recently developed a hypothesis which details the use of chlorophyll as a suggested anti-viral treatment for COVID-19 which was published in the top scientific Journal, Frontiers in Plant Science. Nicole is currently undertaking a PhD looking at chlorophyllins as treatments for human coronaviruses.
Barry Tucker – Barry is a retired journalist with 46 years experience across all forms of new media, including reporting, sub-editing, as editor and publisher. He operates the TruthInNewsMedia resource centre (http://bit.ly/Z1XUC0), comments on politics and personal interests as The Sniper (http://bit.ly/12CJae4) and in May 2014 launched The Third Party, now know as the Centre Party of Australia (http://wp.me/p4D06M-38). You can find him on Twitter @btckr and @3rdauparty.
Regular Guest Writers
Anthony Horton – Anthony holds a PhD in Environmental Science, a Bachelor of Environmental Science with Honours and a Diploma of Carbon Management. He has a track record of delivering customised solutions in Academia, Government, the Mining Industry and Consulting based on the latest wisdom and his scientific background and experience in Climate/Atmospheric Science and Air Quality. Anthony’s work has been published in internationally recognised scientific journals and presented at international and national conferences, and he is currently on the Editorial Board of the Journal Nature Environment and Pollution Technology. Anthony also blogs on his own site, The Climate Change Guy.
Dr. Venturino Giorgio Venturini (1928-2022) – ‘George’ devoted some sixty years to study, practice, teach, write and administer law at different places in four continents. In 1975, invited by Attorney-General Lionel Keith Murphy, Q.C., he left a law chair in Chicago to join the Trade Practices Commission in Canberra – to serve the Whitlam Government. In time he witnessed the administration of a law of prohibition as a law of abuse, and documented it in Malpractice, antitrust as an Australian poshlost (Sydney 1980).
Denis Bright – Denis is a registered teacher and a member of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA). Denis has recent postgraduate qualifications in journalism, public policy and international relations. He is interested in advancing pragmatic policies compatible with contemporary globalisation.
Strobe Driver – Strobe completed his PhD in war studies in 2011 and since then has written extensively on war, terrorism, Asia-Pacific security, the ‘rise of China,’ and issues within Australian domestic politics. Strobe is a recipient of Taiwan Fellowship 2018, MOFA, Taiwan, ROC, and is an adjunct researcher at Federation University.
Steve Laing – Steve is unaligned to any particular party, but cognizant of the reality that people are our biggest asset, so it makes sense to look after them. Uncomfortable with the ineptitude that permeates our current government, and yet sees such as the prevailing condition in our political system. Over the years Steve has worked for a number of different businesses, both corporate and small, and has experienced good and bad “policy” development and decision making, and seen the outcomes of such. Steve also has his own blog: www.makeourvoiceheard.com.
Brian Morris – World travel shaped Brian’s interest in social justice — wealth, poverty and religion in many countries. His book Sacred to Secular is critically acclaimed, including from the Richard Dawkins Foundation. It’s an analysis of Christianity, its origins and the harm it does. It’s a call for Australia to become fully secular. More information about Brian can be found on his website, Plain Reason. Brian is also a director with the National Secular Lobby.
Sir ScotchMistery – Sir Scotch (or SSM as he is frequently referred to), is based in rural Queensland and is developing a social enterprise with his wife, in a very small town, which has been indolent for many years, but not in a bad way. More in an accepted state of being sort of way. He sees as his life goal, allowing men to face their individual truth in a non-judgemental, non-threatening environment where they are heard, supported and loved as men with a story to be heard. He is married and rates as his hobbies raising calm kangaroos and other macropods. He sees being accepted as a new face in an old town and sharing the joy of great coffee as his life ambition.
Tracie Aylmer – Tracie is an advocate who enjoys writing about social justice issues. From working in most facets of office work as a professional temporary for several years, to completing a postgraduate law degree and then to researching and writing about social justice, she has been a Jill of many trades. She is the most well known for writing a submission as well as the Immigration Department manuals and guidelines to the International Criminal Court, calling for the arrest of several politicians due to their crimes against humanity, as well as getting some pretty great results from the ICC.
Paul G. Dellit – Whenever he publishes, Paul has to use his middle initial “G” lest his distant relative, Paul Dellit, a noted Brisbane thespian whom he has never met, is blamed for views and syntax for which he is not responsible. Our Paul has a B. Soc. Sci. (majors in sociology and economics) and a Diploma in Professional Wool Classing. He wanted to be a writer for as long as he can remember, but first became a law student, then a Malay Language Interpreter as a National Serviceman in Malaysia, a Canberra Public Servant involved first in providing international policy advice and then negotiating joint ventures with the private sector on behalf of the Commonwealth, a small scale primary producer and Public Servant commuter, a Melbourne based consultant involved in the commercial development of advanced IT systems, and now, at last, a writer. He got there in the end.
Vanessa Kairies – Vanessa has a Diploma in Fine Art and a Diploma in Television Production. Vanessa worked in the television industry for 22 years, working on the production of news and current affairs programs among many other things. With a strong interest in art, music, politics and social issues, she has also exhibited her artwork numerous times in her own private exhibitions and various communal art projects. She continues to create her life work which now includes writing. Vanessa has her own blog and an active Facebook site where she writes and exhibits the passions mentioned above.
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