Super funds have just seen the sixth straight month of gains after six months of falls, says Shane Wright. But not before the uncertainty of the market has changed retirees’ approach to their superannuation.
September, 2009
Going gangbusters: the secret to Packer’s Macau success
After struggling initially, Packer’s $3 billion Macau casino venture is finally making headway. The secret: providing credit that no-one else can — overseen by a man with an alleged triad gangster past.
How the CIA’s interrogation tactics damage the brain
Waterboarding and other “enhanced interrogation” techniques used on terror suspects by the CIA can badly damage the brain, actually making it harder for victims to recall information and tell the truth, according to a new report.
The secret Clinton interviews
USA Today has the scoop on details of a new book that will publish eight years of secret interviews between Bill Clinton and author Taylor Branch. Including tales of Monica Lewinsky, and a drunk, naked Boris Yeltsin’s search for pizza.
Ablett’s Brownlow: a win for excellence and genetics
A truly deserved Brownlow Medal win for the man who could have taken it out three times by now, says Rohan Connolly. This was the climax of “sustained excellence by the AFL’s pre-eminent on-baller”.
Aussies love ETS, hate early
elections
It’s Newspoll Tuesday, and the ALP keep a steady two-party preferred lead of 55-45. Meanwhile, a clear majority of Australians support Rudd’s emissions trading plans, but few are enthusiastic about going to the polls early to get it passed.
Palin makes her international debut
Sarah Palin is going global. The former Alaskan governor gave her first overseas speech to a group of investors in Hong Kong yesterday, telling them China “rightfully makes a lot of people nervous”, as well ascr discussing human rights, Reaganomics, Tibet and moose.
Breakfast Media Wrap: Rudd’s emissions trading back flip as media concentrates on gowns
The pick of this morning’s media
leaked How we discouraged Pacific Islands from tough emissions stance
The extent to which the Rudd Government prevented small island states most at risk from climate change from voicing their support for tough carbon reduction targets has been confirmed in a leaked document.
Garbage in a designer box? Sold!
Further proof of the ‘people will buy anything as long as it’s in pretty packaging’ theory, a NY artist has been selling actual rubbish in a classy clear cube. Over 1,200 have been sold.
Further scandal taints Hottest 100: did they miscount the votes?
Triple J’s Hottest 100 was widely panned recently for its notable lack of female artists. Two ABC journalists have found that votes were manipulated in order to support CD sales, yet their investigation has been censored by the ABC. Are their findings true?
There’s no opting out of the Natural Contract
In the future, will we — those who failed to act on climate change — be viewed in the same light as slave owners? The Natural Contract will become as common as the Social Contract, writes Bronwyn Lay.
No winds of change in Germany, just storm clouds slowly gathering
It’s German elections time! With a fairly robust economy but unfairly distributed wealth, it’s a murky political mood in Germany. The Economist examines a country not pining for change, just stability.
Maureen Dowd: unhappiness is a woman’s lot
This weekend opinion piece from Maureen Dowd is the most emailed story on The New York Times website right now. Her question: Did the feminist revolution end up benefiting men more than women?
How Geoff Dixon earned $11 million in 9 months
As profits took a tumble, former Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon earned almost $11 million for nine months’ work in the last financial year, four of them as a consultant. Current CEO Alan Joyce must be looking on wistfully.
The world’s most carnivorous countries
There is a strong correlation between the amount of meat a country consumes and its economic development. GOOD has a lovely cow-shaped graph identifying the countries eating the most and least pounds of meat on a per-capita basis.
Mungo MacCallum: Rudd making the best of the available talent
Some sage advice for politicians: not all the good people in the House sit on one side, and the enemy is often the people sitting around you.
Democrats’ brave foray into 21st century hits a snag
The Australian Democrats’ new website was unceremoniously pulled offline last week after a factional flame war flared between the Christian Centrists and more progressive party members, tells a Democrats insider.
Talk of the foyer: snubbed playwright invited in from cold
It’s the worst-kept secret of the 2010 theatre season: Joanna Murray-Smith will finally get a show on at the Sydney Theatre Company after years in the wilderness.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Crikey’s Ron Walker crush exposed
Reader tell Crikey they’re sick of reading about Fairfax CEO Ron Walker, tackle some icy science and some clarification from an ever-changing new media user.
Foreign buyers blow out the housing bubble
The causes of Australia’s ever-inflating housing bubble are many but one hasn’t received a lot of attention: the influence of overseas buyers since the government relaxed its foreign property investment rules.
