Van Onselen: Make a damn decision, TonyTony Abbott has changed his election strategy, and is now trying to keep quiet so as not to frighten the horses. But the flip-flops are exactly what Labor wants, writes Peter van Onselen
June, 2010
US and Turkey no longer pals?
Turkey — along with Brazil — voted no for tougher sanctions against Iran by the UN, but the sanctions were passed. Is it the relationship between the US and Turkey — long-term allies — now tarnished?
revealed 
How Iran gets ships through the sanctions
Iran is obtaining military technology by using shell shipping companies and changing ships names to obscure the true owners of its freighters and to help go under the radar of UN sanctions.
Won’t someone think of the billionaires?
Daily Media Wrap: Kevin Rudd was faced yesterday with 2000 RSPT protesters, led by billionaire miners Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest and Gina Rinehart. Was commie Rudd scared into submission?
Iran hit with tougher sanctions
The UN Security Council has voted to put new, tougher sanctions on Iran, in protest to its nuclear program, with even Russia and China voting in favour. But will the sanctions work?
PHOTO GALLERY: Rotting Asian cities
An amazing look at decaying urban areas across Asia, from the ruins of Battleship Island in Japan — once full of coal miners, now full of smashed windows and rotting books — to Hong Kong’s Walled City.
Authors will become as obsolete as blacksmiths and milkmen
Why would you bother paying for content when nearly everything is online for free? Paying for internet content is generational and the next generation won’t pay, says Dilbert creator Scott Adams.
Lesbians make better parents
Here’s an article for those who doubt gay parents. Children of lesbians are more likely to have high self esteem, higher academic results and less likely to have behavioural problems than kids with heterosexual parents.
Antony Green: An August election?
The federal election has to be over by the end of October. News that Victoria is implementing automatic electoral enrolment for 18-year-olds is making a August election sound possible, says Antony Green.
revealed Former Rudd adviser: The real reason Kevin didn’t attend John Button’s funeral
For months Kevin Rudd has been chastised for choosing to see Cate Blanchett and her new baby, rather than attending ALP heavyweight John Button’s funeral. Former Kevin Rudd adviser Annie O’Rourke explains what happened.
Why are taxpayers paying for coal trains?
One thing that stood out in the QLD budget was $864.2 million for coal network track works and new and upgraded locomotives and wagons to support coal haulage across Queensland. John Hepburn explains.
New Pollytrends and the great convergence
Running both the Coalition and ALP lines together, we see the great convergence with the two party preferred vote. Possum Comitatus has the Pollytrends data.
Theatre review: The Threepenny Opera, with a cosy bite
Will any future production of The Threepenny Opera ever outshine Mac Tonight for political and moral poignancy? Andrew Furhmann reviews the knife-wielding sold-out Melbourne show.
Can the White House kick out a reporter from the press corp?
The resignation of Helen Thomas has raised questions of whether the White House can decide press corps credentials. It’s not easy to get a pass, but only security concerns can take it away from you.
Everybody calm down, Kevin will win
The panic about Kevin Rudd’s polling is unnecessary. Yes, the ALP need to work harder at policy and stop with the negative politics, but Tony Abbott is still an unlikely pick for PM, says Mark Bahnisch.
NSW Budget shock
NSW has long been the epicentre of Australia’s growing crisis of housing undersupply. Belatedly, the NSW Government has produced some sensible policies to redirected demand and stimulate supply.
Helen Thomas retires in disgrace: a Crikey wrap
Journalism legend Helen Thomas was forced to retire on Monday amidst controversy surrounding her comments on Israel. Nicolas Bradley brings you a wrap of the best commentary on Helen.
Talking the Town: Alan Reid’s life, a history of Oz political journalism
Reading a biography of the controversial and legendary Australian journalist Alan Reid, it’s hard not to be nostalgic for the days when journos chain-smoked at their desks and wore hats.
Getting Tiger Woods here again defies common sense
To go cap in hand and beg Tiger Woods’ management company for a second visit is a tawdry and faintly obscene move by the Victorian government, writes Charles Happell.
‘Cultural change’ comes to APN — print and online to merge
Workers at APN News & Media are being briefed this week on major structural changes to which will see the print and online division merge under a new banner — Australian Regional Media.
David Marr’s anger hypothesis is torturously argued
Kevin Rudd should be judged on the public benefits of his actions, not on a whole bunch of inferences from his biography and cherry picking by David Marr in his Quarterly Essay on Rudd.
Qld budget: gov should be hauled over the coals for corporate welfare
The Queensland and New South Wales state Budgets yesterday had nothing particularly in terms of climate change.
Carry on farce coming soon to a Tiger screen near you
Tiger has replaced its 20 kilograms for $20/25 checked-bag option with a $45 for 25 kilograms up-size offer, and seems to be moving towards a charge for some carry-on items as well.
Life under NT’s profit-based royalty regime: Xstrata has no complaints
Under the Northern Territory’s profit-based royalty regime, Xstrata’s McArthur River mine has only paid royalties for 2 years out of the 15 years it has been operating.
Peter Carey’s a snob: Bryce Courtenay in defence of popular storytelling
“Peter Carey is a perfect example of that kind of inane literacy snobbery,” Bryce Courtenay tells Crikey, in defence of popular culture and “show-offs” like the Booker Prize winner he says have hijacked the cultural debate.
