Rudd should block Westpac and St George love-in

Trading in Westpac and St George shares have halted during friendly takeover talks. But the courtship should be boned by regulators, writes Stephen Mayne.

• Economy-business,
• banks,
• westpac,
• st-george

Budget leaks aplenty as Swan opens floodgates

As if mortified by press complaints that there had been minimal leaking of Budget news, the Government let pretty much everyone have a scoop, writes Bernard Keane.

• Politics-government,
• federal-budget,
• wayne-swan,
• kevin-rudd

Heather Ridout, the 21st member of Rudd's Cabinet

Julia Gillard’s first task as Deputy Prime Minister back in December was to address the Australian Industry Group. Since then, the AIG's CEO Heather Ridout has scored a number of important Government gigs, writes Bernard Keane.

• Politics-government,
• heather-ridout,
• aig,
• workchoices

AFL tribute match an ode to boredom

It was billed as the match of the century, but like the Big V versus the Dream Team was a fizzer, writes Francis Leach.

• sport,
• vic,
• afl,
• state-of-origin

Housing slump will put pressure on merged Westpac/St George

The housing slump and the Reserve Bank's war in inflation could take its toll on the proposed Westpac/St George merger. Westpac would be under pressure to cut costs by closing branches, sacking staff and rationalising banking infrastructure.

• Economy-business,
• house-prices,
• westpac,
• st-george

Comments, corrections, clarifications, and c*ckups

Burma and the media ... the Republic debate ... Brendan Nelson's polling ... Israel ...

• republican-debate,
• burma,
• brendan-nelson,
• israel

Crikey Says

Someone should pretty quickly get some Liberal eyes back on the ball.

• Politics-government,
• federal-budget,
• ted-baillieu,
• liberal-party