How to kill five hours at Parliament HouseThere’s nothing quite like watching senators discuss Serious Government Business while licking the ice-cream drips off a white chocolate Magnum. Crikey’s intrepid writer writes from the House.
Federal budget
Crikey Says: So where does the end of Budget week leave us?
So far the Government’s stimulus strategy seems to be working. But at some point Kevin Rudd will run out of excuses to spend.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Reflections on the Budget and Matthew Johns
Budget 09, Matthew Johns, journalist shield laws and house foreclosures — is the nothing Crikey readers won’t chat about?
Political snippets: Budget? What Budget? What Australians actually read
Labor’s third party endorsement hypocrisy, Budget passes Australians by and remembering other temporary federal government decisions.
Talkback wrap: the nation digests Budget 09
Caller Michael says the word politics comes from two Greek words meaning “many parasites,” and Caller Nev says that he’ll put his faith in his “old Labrador bitches because they’re the only true believers left.”
Image wrap: Swan’s Budget has character. Apparently
For the nation’s newspaper editors, one of the most pressing items on the list of Federal Budget coverage considerations is the front page image…
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Budget 09, created like no other chocolate
Crikey’s readers weigh in on Budget 09. And more about Cadbury’s chocolate block changes.
Budget 09 leaks: a Crikey list
This year, with a GFC-affected Budget, leaks are being used to help people — especially higher income earners — adjust to the idea that it won’t just be bonuses and handouts.
podcast Canberra Calling: Props to the Press Club for the Pinot Noir… pity about Malcolm’s performance.
Who cares about the budget, how bad was Malcolm Turnbull today?
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Mark Latham … the Budget … G20 … Therese Rein …
CRIKEY: In yesterday’s Crikey Mark Alridge was incorrectly attributed the byline of ‘South Australian Independent Legislative Councillor’ but he is not currently a member of parliament. The mistake was made in the subbing process. Mark Latham: Niall Clugston writes: Re. Yesterday’s editorial. What is it about Mark Latham that he brings out all this compulsive psychobabble? […]
The ugliest Budget in decades way behind schedule
The Budget process is significantly behind schedule, according to sources in the Canberra bureaucracy, delayed by the continuing collapse in revenue projections and the need to find all possible savings, writes Bernard Keane.
It’s time to use Indigenous health resources better
When services are not designed with the needs of Indigenous people in mind, they are less likely to be effective in engaging with them, writes Dr Tamara Mackean.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Comments, corrections, clarifications, and c*ckups
Liberal leadership anagrams … “mean” testing … Ministerial demands not unreasonable … The Age and St Kilda …
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Economy
Turnbull gave an excellent performance yesterday. Turnbull’s ego, however, remains at large, unstoppable and, probably, untameable, writes Bernard Keane.
The Media Monitors’ Top 20
In the week immediately following the Rudd Government’s first Budget, there was lots of coverage for Rudd, Swan, Nelson and… Wheatley, writes Patrick Baume.
The $25 billion debt expansion and tax cut that wasn’t in the budget
Yesterday we discovered the Rudd government’s media manipulation extended to actually delaying important debt and tax announcements until after the budget, writes Stephen Mayne
Crikey Says: Crikey Says
It’s hard to imagine that depriving old people of money will be anything but a plus for the Rudd government.
Comitatus: What do the budget polls really tell us?
The two things you can guarantee from any federal budget are whining special interest pleaders and, of course, polls - no budget is complete without a poll or three, writes Possum Comitatus.
Pensioners can’t see the Budget benefits for the myopia
It’s amusing (or sickening, for those with weak stomachs) to have pensioners stripping in protest, but this is a powerful lobby group that is, courtesy of our demographics, growing remorselessly, writes Bernard Keane.
Alcopops are one thing, but what about the Reserve Bank?
We’re been deluged with alcopops coverage, but why isn’t a completely irresponsible raid on the Reserve Bank being debated? asks Stephen Mayne.
Fighting climate change — a job for Budget 09?
Last week’s Budget wasn’t really green, or even greenish. Will Budget 09 take the environment more seriously? asks John Connor, CEO of the Climate Institute.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Comments, corrections, clarifications, and c*ckups
The budget, alcopops and Brendan Nelson … judicial independence … the US and isolationism … baby bonus … Israel …
Mungo: Nelson joins the list of Budget losers
The budget came and went and was a bit of a non-event, but there are still winners and losers, including the leader of the Opposition, writes Mungo MacCallum.
Iemma tries to crash through electricity privatisation
Unions are threatening to crash Morris Iemma’s party after he attempted to rush through his electricity privatisation bill , writes Alex Mitchell.
