While politicians and the media laud Australia’s “world-beating” property market, precious capital is being greedily soaked up by an asset class that confers minimal economic benefits.
February, 2010
Companies going for gold by massaging the message
Australian companies again are at it with carefully constructed slants on their results — this morning, AMP and Qantas posted new takes on the corporate slither.
Morning Market Report: Dow up on positive economic comments
The Dow was up 51 on positive economic comments, the FOMC Minutes and a fading Greek issue.
Media briefs: Conroy’s cosy relationships, NY Times on the iPad, small-town Age revolt
More revelations about Stephen Conroy budding up with media executives lead today’s media briefs, along with a small-town Age revolt, how the New York Times is grappling with the iPad and the advertising-unpopular Glenn Beck.
Revealed: The $58m share portfolio that can topple Brumby
After the surprisingly large 12% swing against Labor in Saturday’s Altona by-election, Victorian Liberals are suddenly feeling they are in the contest at the November state election — and Ted Baillieu has an ace up his sleeve…
Political snippets: Australia’s futile but feel-good letter to Malaysia
A letter from Australian pollies to the Malaysian government has done little but piss people off, dodgy Pinot Noir, and New Zealand Telecom sets new standards for poor customer service.
This day in Crikey: Sunday, February 18, 2001
Sunday, February 18, 2001: The Official Crikey Register of Journalist Couples
Happy birthday from … Gillard, Bishop, Hunt, Tanner, Milne — and Matt Preston!
A stellar line-up of political and media heavy-hitters sing Crikey’s praises (well, most of them) to celebrate our 10th birthday. Here’s Greg Hunt, Julie Bishop, Julia Gillard, Lindsay Tanner, Phillip Adams, Jon Faine — and Matt Preston!
Margaret Simons: Crikey still meeting the challenge
Crikey has what so many traditional publishers want — the hybrid model whereby some content is paid for by the viewer, and other content is free.
Naked Aboriginal kids on postcards: the line between art and exploitation?
You can buy postcards featuring naked Aboriginal kids in newsagencies and Australia Post shops across the country. Why aren’t these pictures treated with the same outrage as Bill Henson’s photos of naked teens?
Tips and rumours: Tips and rumours: No friends for Brumby?
While lunching at the European, an upmarket eatery across the road from the Victorian Parliament, I found myself sitting at a table immediately behind a gaggle of state Labor pollies. Were they talking about booting Brumby?
Daily Proposition: In this play, you are the star
You walk into a café. You take a seat with a friend, or a stranger, and you put the headphones on. A voice instructs you through a series of short scenes where you inhabit certain roles. It’s all part of Etiquette, a play where YOU are the star.
Confusion underlies Qantas’ underlying profit report
Qantas’ ambush introduction of underlying profit metrics, rather than traditional profit metrics, in its presentation and Q&A is likely to be a tougher sell to fund managers than it was to the media.
Crikey Says: Is Murdoch lining up behind Tony Abbott?
Has Tony Abbott done a deal with Rupert Murdoch? Is the Murdoch press in Australia about to change horses, as they just did recently in the UK, and back the conservative political party in an election year?
Why Africa will be the next big economic boom
You wouldn’t read about it, but Africa is set to become the new China and India, predicts Jerry Guo, with a burgeoning Middle Class and a growing appetite for consumer goods.
Antony Green: Why Labor will lose Franklin
Antony Green profiles the Tasmanian state division of Franklin, where new boundaries and a high-profile Liberal Party campaign look set to unseat at least one of the three sitting ALP members.
Warning: Akerman’s global warming quote logic will melt your mind
News Limited columnist Piers Akerman is at risk of being sued for defamation after today revealing he misquoted the former head of the IPCC while accusing him of promoting climate change alarmism. However, Akerman is not conceding that he made a mistake, but is triumphantly flourishing a different quote as evidence of his vindication, writes Crikey intern Matthew Knott.
Who’s the “best party to manage”? Who knows
The media loves when pollsters ask “best party/leader to manage” questions, but, as Possum Comitatus explains (via graphs and words like “Coefficient Value”), they don’t actually tell us anything.
Why we still haven’t moved on from Pauline Hanson politics
Climate change has become the new immigration in Australian politics. Tony Abbott isn’t really a climate sceptic, he’s just using the climate change scepticism to his own political advantage.
How Australia ended up with five terrible, govt-funded TV stations
Australians once had a chance to get new and original TV channels. Instead, we got repeats of Alf and something called “Slamball” — and we’re now paying for the privilege. Peter Martin explains how the networks pulled it off.
How to hide your company data from prying Chinese eyes
The Stern Hu and Google affair have Aussie businesses petrified over how to protect their information from the Chinese government. Companies are adopting strict security measures, including travelling without their laptops and Blackberries.
Fake Steve Fielding: The devil and Peter Garrett
“You can take the devil music out of the boy but you can’t take the boy out of the devil music” says Fake Steve Fielding: Peter Garrett brought rock and roll into Parliament — and now four tradesmen are dead.
