The new Prime Minister has returned to work full of energy for a busy year of reform. Oh, and significantly hairier, writes Thomas Hunter.
Sms tips
Nelson? He might as well reign until September
Four Corners returns mid February with a “whither the Liberals” program that looks at the defeat of the Howard government and directions for the future, and details are already slipping out.
Federalism breakthrough: states say yes to cash
The very first day the PM is back at work the states say yes to $150 million extra cash. So there’s the federation fixed? And end to the blame game? Christian Kerr investigates.
CEO Scott succumbs to Centro turmoil
Andrew Scott, the chief executive of troubled shopping centre owner Centro Properties Group has resigned and will be replaced by the head of the group’s US business, writes Glenn Dyer.
The year in Crikey illustrations
Everyday we claw desperately at our brains for inspiration, hoping to produce something faintly witty for the main Crikey webpage illustration. Sometimes we come close to funny.
Half empty or half full
They’re not a happy lot in Senegal. Fifty-three per cent of the population say 2008 will be worse than 2007, according to Gallup International’s Voice of the People End of the Year Survey.
Rundle’s final morning doggerel
There was a PM of a mind
The past should not be left behind
We did but see him passing by
Yet never really knew the guy
Christmas cheer, public service style, part 1
What’s a nice way to finish off the year? How about being told that the end of the world is nigh? Victorian pencil pushers are being treated to a special kind of Christmas cheer, with this season invitation doing the rounds, writes Christian Kerr.
Is Janet a Heffer?
The Liberal post mortems may have only just begun, but it’s never too early to start thinking of the next election, writes Christian Kerr.
Second-hand factoids as harmful as second-hand smoke
Might media outlets and health organisations try to actually read the original research material they are quoting? Second hand quoting is just as harmful as second hand smoke, writes Becky Freeman.
Labor to extend parliament sittings but will it matter?
So, parliament is going to sit five days a week, says the new Labor government. The manager of government business, Anthony Albanese, says this unprecedented move is in the interests of greater accountability and scrutiny. But will this really be the case? Norman Abjorensen investigates.
Kevin11 or Maxine14?
The federal parliamentary sitting schedule for 2008 is out. It’s never too early to think of the next election, and now we have a sitting schedule we can start plotting dates, writes Christian Kerr.
AMP IT staff go to Bollywood
A Crikey reader alerted us to a very strange video….
Tips and rumours
“MBF management to avoid NIB’s public scrutiny?” …not if Crikey comments on this explosive post!
Which local news website has the worst “privacy” policy? It has to be News Ltd. Read this little extract:
We or any of our Australian related companies may contact you by any means (including by SMS or e-mail) in the future […]
More and more Crikey political Lookalikes
More political lookalikes from sharp-eyed Crikey subscribers.
John Howard: the achievement
When John Howard returned as leader of the federal parliamentary Liberal Party on January 30 1995 his party was in power in every state and every territory.
More Crikey political Lookalikes
Julie Bishop and Page 3 girl Sam Fox? Julia Gillard and Rainbow Zippy? You decide…
McKeeeeeew…
Really? Maxine McKew in her Sharon Stone moment?
Public servants on a hiding to nothing
You need a pretty thick skin to be a public servant dealing with Aborigines these days as the rape case of the 10 year old Queensland girl illustrates so terribly, writes Richard Farmer.
US markets plunge as Fed cuts rates
The US Federal Reserve announced its latest 0.25% cut in the Federal Funds rate overnight, but like a bunch of drunks on a bender, the desperates on Wall Street wanted more, reports Glenn Dyer.
A last word on Conrad Black … from Rodney Adler
Casting around yesterday for people to write on the demise of Conrad Black, we immediately thought of Rodney Adler…
Al Gore, Nobel laureate: The climate challenge, in his words
“He came, he saw, he helped to save the planet.” Not a bad epitaph, and one that Al Gore might humbly argue against should he achieve his goal of saving the planet from its polluting inhabitants.
Cricket in crisis: Call in the handicapper
Cricket looks like it’s in crisis for the forseeable future (and it’s not just the almost gameless December). What can be done to make Test cricket a test once again? asks Norman Abjorensen.
US and Europeans are stingy, say Balinese cabbies
Tonight my friend Wayan, a taxi driver, told me a rather disturbing story about the impact of the UNFCCC on local working men, writes Bali conference attendee Brent Hoare.
Abjorensen: Iemma fakes Labor values because he can
The Falangist Party that goes by the name of Liberal in NSW is presumably in favour of the privatisation plans for the State’s electricity industry, writes Norman Abjorensen.
