The adventures of the Shen Neng since it ran aground on the Great Barrier Reef shine a light on the clash between coal exports and the environment and the tourism industry in central Queensland.
May, 2010
Mungo MacCallum: Australia’s road to recovery: falling arse-first into surplus
The first reaction to the Budget was ho, and the second was hum — which was exactly the way Kevin Rudd and Wayne Swan wanted it. The headline they were hoping for might have read: “Very quiet Budget, not many hurt.”
Labor always planned to shut the Greens out of the ETS
The ALP has, predictably, started a major campaign against the Greens, trying to blame the party for the collapse of its appalling emissions trading scheme, writes Tim Hollo.
When is a car bomb not worthy of condemnation? When the target is the CFMEU
The reason a terrorist-style attack on its NSW headquarters can be ignored is because the union represents a danger to the political and media elites, writes a former CFMEU insider.
Dishonest airport security still based on low-setting gambles
There is no doubt more could be done to tighten security at airports. But that isn’t the Australian way, which is to insist on compliance with standards that are more about appearance than effect.
Show me the money: Deakin Uni staff ‘bullied’ in pay battle
Staff at Deakin University are still waiting on a promised pay rise, amid accusations the vice-chancellor is trying to “bully” them. Elizabeth Redman reports.
Fear of democracy extracts its price in Bangkok
How did a modern, prosperous, thoroughly Westernised country descend into a spiral of violence and chaos? Because a system in which only “the right people” are allowed to get elected is not democracy.
Gays and theatre: maybe they should just stay in the closet
If we fail to believe a gay actor in a straight role, is our closed-mindedness at fault, or is it simply miscasting?
So why is Kevin Rudd suddenly the problem?
Rudd’s appeal to voters has collapsed as spectacularly as Labor’s vote. Part one of Bernard Keane’s special report into what’s really behind Labor’s plummeting poll numbers.
Guthrie case points the finger at News’ upper echelon
The real import of the Guthrie case is what it says about the management of Australia’s largest newspaper company, and the exercise of judgement at the top.
Business As Usual: Myer sales flat … Doubts on US consumer-led recovery … Euro hits another low …
Doubt on the strength of the US consumer-led recovery … US interest rates still falling … The euro hits an 18-month low … Spain looks inflation in the eye … More US banks bite the dust … British Airways cops it in the neck …
House prices still on the up while loans head down
Property watchers continue to question the bizarre set of circumstances that has led to house prices continuing to rise but loans to finance property purchases falling.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Revenue, tax and savings
Crikey readers weigh in on tax, News Ltd and Naplan.
Morning Market Report: New European concerns see markets down
There are concerns that the EU and IMF’s rescue funds may not be successfully distributed.
Daily Proposition: The exhibition you don’t need a black skivvy for
This Sydney Biennale — the 17th exhibition of contemporary art — is the largest ever. And unlike most exhibitions of its kind, it’s remarkably free of pretension, yet full of wonder.
Media briefs: The parting shot at gossip-mongers … The Age’s dodgy graphs
A departing 2GB exec takes a swipe at news leaks, The Age plays up circulation with some dodgy graphwork, Nine finds the grittiest backdrop its studio can offer for Thailand reporting, and other media snippets.
Political snippets: Put Rudd’s poll figures in perspective
There’s no evidence there to support Labor changing its leader, but there’s plenty to support global warming. Plus: limiting the liability of oil explorers, a rare piece of praise for The Oz on Aboriginal affairs and more political tidbits.
Video of the Day: This is Alabama: we speak English
Another golden ad from the US gubernatorial race (it’s the gift that just keeps on giving): Tim James wants drivers license exams to be run in one language, and one language only…
Tips and rumours: Tips and rumours: System waste at Superpartners
Has Australia’s largest superannuation administrator accidentally turned its pockets inside out for a prize lemon? Which architect of the Your Rights @ Work campaign is presiding over a workplace where employees are being bullied? Plus more hot tips from Crikey readers.
Macklin’s twists truth on income management
Jenny Macklin has dismissed a new study revealing the government’s income management policy is not making an impact on tobacco and health food sales in indigenous communities. The study’s authors hit back.
First Dog takes a day off so here is a cartoon about the footy
Griff is out and we might end up 4 and 4!
Crikey Says: Rudd’s going nowhere, but Libs’ instability haunts
If Rudd can’t derail the Julia Gillard-for-PM bandwagon, the Labor Party could start looking a lot like the Liberal Party during its bitter Costello-Howard imbroglio years.
Cricket’s biggest controversies
The game itself may be often long, tedious and uneventful, but the sport of cricket has a colourful and controversial history. From the multi-million dollar fraud that was the Caribbean league to last year’s Pakistani shootings, a look at the game’s dark side.
