Julia Gillard has put her authority on the line on same-sex marriage at the Labor national conference. But it was completely unnecessary.
December, 2011
Mind Games: Better Access for some, but reforms put others offside
Patrick McGorry and Ian Hickie may be considered revolutionaries by some, their headspace initiative and radical system reforms will come at a cost to some patients.
The Power Index: lobbyists, business’ leading voice Ridout at #2
In theory, Heather Ridout shouldn’t be near the top of our lobbyist list. Manufacturing — her power base — is in decline, and her organisation Ai Group is by no means the biggest or most representative employer group out there. Yet, by sheer force of personality and bloody hard work, she’s become the voice of business in Canberra. Politicians respect her, […]
Why the US Fed is still the kingpin of banks
Shades of 2008, and why the US Federal Reserve is still the banker to the world: much to the chagrin and humiliation of Europe.
Under attack, McKinsey dumped from rainforest role in PNG
Controversial global consultancy McKinsey & Company has been dumped from giving advice on how to reduce emissions from rainforests in Papua New Guinea, writes freelancer David Ritter.
As smoke clears from WA, it’s time to look at what didn’t burn
The damage from fire is routinely underestimated. The impact on people beyond “fire victims” has never been acknowledged, writes Crikey naturalist Lionel Elmore.
Food fights: industry hungry for debate on regulation
The debate over food regulation is set to escalate. It’s a struggle between an industry working hard to protect profits and health advocates worried about obesity and disease, says Public Health Association CEO Michael Moore.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Beware retailers, respect the Sigmoid Curve
Crikey readers have their say.
Morning Market Report: US markets have best day since 09
Dow Jone has its best day since March 2009 on coordinated action by 6 central banks to lower the cost of emergency dollar funding.
Media briefs: Stevens to The Oz … Subway to sub … Leveson latest …
Matthew Stevens joins The Australian business exodus to the Australian Financial Review. Plus, an Oz sub with your sub and other media news of the day.
Power Shots: Power Shots: Ridout on carbon … ACCC v Metcash … Greiner marks O’Farrell …
Ridout: fix the carbon price, don’t repeal it. Industry leader Heather Ridout is no fan of Julia Gillard’s carbon tax, but she says Tony Abbott’s plan to repeal it would do more harm than good. ”We don’t need uncertainty on top of uncertainty,” the Australian Industry Group chief executive told The Power Index. “Our members really want to get […]
Political snippets: The bright side of bad housing data
Today’s Australian Bureau of Statistics figures means there are more skilled trades people available to help cope with the boom in mining industry construction.
Video of the Day: Gillard on gay marriage, circa 2010
With Labor’s conscience vote on gay marriage looming on the horizon, now’s a good time to recap on Julia Gillard’s position on the issue in the lead-up to the 2010 election.
Tips and rumours: Tips and rumours
No civil unions for MP of gay son. Four Labor Party MPs exercised their conscience and voted against the majority of their party on civil unions legislation during a heated debate in Queensland Parliament last night (the bill still passed, without any Liberal-National Party support, 47 to 40). One of those was a particular surprise to […]
Crikey Says: Unpicking the arguments around the MDB
A common theory in politics is that if no one’s happy about a particular piece of reform, you’ve got it right. That might play well for the politics, but that can’t be said for the policy when it comes to the latest iteration of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
Summer reading: 
Beauty under the hammer: bidding for pleasures at art auctions
Ever wondered what it’s like to bid at an art auction? W H Chong walks through the experience and explains how he snagged a beautiful bargain.
Zuckberg’s methodology: launch, apologise, wash, dry, repeat
The pattern for how Facebook rolls out changes and how Mark Zuckerberg responds to them, often with half-baked apologies, has been finessed over the years. Liz Gannes takes a look back.
Heather Ridout: the saintly lobbyist
By sheer force of personality and bloody hard work, media-friendly lobbyist Heather Ridout became the voice of business in Canberra. Politicians respect her and her fellow lobbyists talk about her as if she’s a saint, writes Matthew Knott.
Gingrich takes aim at media, lambasts “gotcha” journalism
During the latest Republican debate, Newt Gingrich quickly made it clear who he believes his real opponent is: the media. Gingrich harped on and on about media reportage and fired missives at the debate moderators, reports Kendra Marr.
film reviews The Ides of March — a vote for George Clooney
The title might sound pompous, but director and star George Clooney’s The Ides of March is a thoroughly accessible and compelling take on back room machinations in the lead-in to an important US Democrat primary, writes Luke Buckmaster.
Essay: toward a jurisprudence of conscience
Ever since German and Japanese surviving leaders were prosecuted after World War II at Nuremberg and Tokyo, there has been a wide abyss separating the drive for criminal accountability for crimes against peace, writes Richard A Falk.
Rainbow rights: gay marriage in the spotlight
Crikey media wrap: Gay couples in Queensland can now officially register their relationships after a late-night intense state parliamentary sitting. The news comes as ALP delegates prepares to debate gay marriage this weekend at the national conference.
