Saturday, 30 August 2008
The CASA special audit of Qantas has been completed and will be suppressed on the grounds of being ‘commercial in confidence’, writes Ben Sandilands.
Australian Public Service Commissioner Lynelle Briggs has declined to undertake an investigation of allegations that the Department of Health and Ageing lied to a Senate Committee, reports Bernard Keane.
Q&A with Tony Jones...
More than 70 per cent of Australian general practitioners regularly see drug company sales representatives, writes Ray Moynihan.
We wrap up the week in celeb gossip each Friday for your edification.
Links from around the world on news about the environment, climate and the natural world.
We link to our favourite articles on the web.
Crikey publisher Eric Beecher and Melbourne's 3AW morning host Neil Mitchell enjoyed a lively exchange today.
The Don was not a dirty leftie ... iPhone 3G - already with pictures! ... Extracts from Bloomberg's premature Steve Jobs obituary ... Breaking the email compulsion ... Spam of the Day:
The export boom in the United States and the mining investment boom in Australia are simply stunning, writes Alan Kohler.
Don Bradman ... Kevin Rudd ... Fairfax ... Macquarie Bank ... Woolworths ...
That’s conventions: events tailor-made to give the impression nothing can stop the men – and they stubbornly remain men – at their centre from surging to victory...
Barack Obama's speech to the DNC
Rundle liveblogs from the DNC
The Obama/Costello edition podcast
Crikey's US correspondent Guy Rundle is covering the 2008 presidential race right down to the wire.
Pepsi Centre goes ape for the Comeback KidTen minutes into Bill Clinton's nervously awaited speech to the convention, he finally cracked it to say those two little words necessary to seal up the breach below the Democratic waterline: "he's ready"...
DNC Primer: Welcome to DenverGuy Rundle's guide to the Democratic National Convention
Phew, there's an old white guy in da houseGood choice? It certainly balances the ticket, while making it less exciting...
WANT MORE? VISIT THE RUNDLE CAMPAIGN ARCHIVE HERE
VIDEO: Guy Rundle reports from the US campaign trail!
The Southeast Homeschool Expo - Exclusive video coverage Netroots Nation - Interview with Elise from Daily KOS Netroots Nation - Interview with Jim Hightower from Hightower Lowdown
The thing I've never really understood about this sell off is Costa's ranting about how irresponsible it would be to block the sale, that NSW needs the money for new infrastructure. The question for me is "why isn't there any money?". They're running a business and should know that infrastructure needs to be replaced at some time, so why not put some money away or just borrow like every other business? It shatters Costa's credibility as a Treasurer. What was he going to do next year? Sell the Harbour Bridge? If he can't manage the biggest economy in the country to include a revenue stream for infrastructure replacement he's virtually incompetent. I won't miss him.Evan on NSW power privatisation dead: Any life left in Iemma? (2 comments)Genius politics - Rudd's education proposal is compelling because it is based on common sense and resonates with the average person - in the real world, who isn't accountable at work / home etc ? However, executing on these ideas will be a different proposition altogether! On a separate topic, I know "Iraq" is a rally point for many Crikey comments, so it was good to see one of the contestants on Australian Idol Tues. night sob to camera (after being told her voice was "vulgar" and that she would not be progressing to the Top 100 singers by Marcia Hines no less): "We've had the bombing of Iraq AND NOW THIS. I hate Australia" Pure gold - moral relativism makes it onto Australian Idol - pop culture eating itself ! Jack on Finally, the beginning of a narrative (2 comments)
NCB [Noel Crichton-Browne] starts this article despairing that the campaign has "descended into a contest of personal abuse and sleaze," and then systematically reheats all the old smears against Carpenter and Logan in an attempt to mitigate the damage done by Buswell. "Breathtaking hypocrisy" indeed, from the man drummed out of the Liberal Party for telling a journo he would "screw her tits off." Why is Crikey giving this man a platform? Skink on WA election getting personal and sleazy (1 comment)
A Crikey series of articles looking at whether the ABC is fulfilling its charter as a public broadcaster, what it should be doing and how to move forward.The ABC: Outsourcings "R" usWhat does the ABC's Charter actually mean?ABC and SBS look to the future (and hope it's cashed up)
29 Aug 2008
Rundle: We've just seen one of the great American speeches
SMH shows Mike Carlton the door
Dyer: interest rates will fall next week
WA Election gets down and dirty
Next Crikey Email 1300 hrs 1 September
So it is that every year, our shaman gather in Canberra. Like priests before a ritual they are sealed off from the profane world in a special retreat (‘the lock-up’) and bonded together in a sacred pact, which sets them off as a distinct group against the rest of their people.
