Pulling policies out of … oh never mind. What do you give the Shadow Treasurer who has everything? A staff! “Applicants should have a keen interest in economic policy” … ah well, that would make one of you.
Sms tips
Don’t blame DFAT — they don’t have a brief
If you think Wong and Rudd have been having a difficult time with the UNFCCC negotiations in Bali, pity DFAT titan Jan Adams, Australia’s Ambassador for the Environment, writes a UNFCCC insider.
The quest for Brendan’s earring
Paul Keating says he liked the Liberal leader Brendan Nelson better when “he had the ring in his ear”. Tim Fischer disagrees. “I prefer him without the earring,” the one-time deputy PM said last week. But what is the story of the earring? Christian Kerr finds out.
AFR’s ads – and the winner is … chauvinism
Crikey hears some Financial Review insiders were nonplussed with the sexism of the winning entries in AFR.com’s “Write our next ad” competition.
New government: It’s not the gloss, it’s how long it lasts
The ministerial code of conduct is finally out, lobbyists will be registered, there’s a new era at the Reserve Bank and the already more than ample egos down at Treasury must now be pumped up close to bursting. Welcome to Kevin’s Age of Change, writes Christian Kerr.
Nine planning a power move in crucial 5.30pm slot
The Seven network is battening down the hatches for a counter attack from Nine in the most significant timeslot of the evening: 5.30pm, reports Glenn Dyer.
Switching off the 6pm news
Viewer are switching off the 6pm news bulletins on Seven and Nine and their 6.30pm “current affairs” programs, and the ABC is the chief beneficiary, writes Glenn Dyer.
Brendan Nelson on drugs …
Harm minimisation? A need for new strategy in the war on drugs? Dr Nelson thinks so. Or thought so.
Michael Kroger, your nation needs you
Jeff Kennett is right. Michael Kroger should get out of the counting house and into the bear pit, writes Christian Kerr.
Rates on hold as RBA joins spooked central banks
The Reserve Bank has joined central banks around in the world in being caught badly short by the rapid worsening in world financial markets over the past few weeks, writes Glenn Dyer.
Pascoe: Nice work, Guvna
There is a tide in the affairs of man which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. Or, in the case of today’s Reserve Bank information revolution, greater independence, writes Michae Pascoe.
Howard, Costello and the RBA’s polite opinions
Central banker speak is very different to political speak. Very different indeed. It’s all very polite, but the suggestion is clear. John Howard and Peter’s Costello’s political spending helped raise rates. Look under the heading Domestic Economic Considerations, writes Christian Kerr.
Give us a break Julia
We learned this morning what Labor means by not playing the blame game. The new Federal Government rule is that the Labor administrations in every State and Territory were not responsible for any policy failures, writes Richard Farmer.
From the desk of Dave Grooper MHR
(click to enlarge)
St Kevin’s Letter to The Electorates
Chapter 07, verses 23-28: Though I speak with the tongues of Australian working families and of fair-minded citizens everywhere, and have not votes, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal, etc.
The polls must have turned
Now they’re not having an evacuation - check out the memo for the scheduled (and now cancelled) securit y drill for Pailiament house…
Bronwyn Bishop: but think of the children!
Bronwyn Bishop has sent the letter below to her constituents. In it, she expresses her concern that “our youth have never experienced a socialist government…”
What do you mean you couldn’t read our broadband promise?
Website design and evaluation firm Hiser have bought into the election campaign with an unintentionally hilarious media release – or one they are playing it straight with, anyway, writes Christian Kerr.
Alas, the “narrowing” will be too late for Howard
This poll-mix, which includes the just-released Morgan, is fortnightly, and stretches back to the last weeks of Kim Beazley’s leadership, writes Peter Brent.
The polls so far: charting the great divide
Mumble Elections’ Peter Brent provides you with the ultimate poll of polls, tracking all the polling since 14 October.
Possum: The Libs will catch Labor … in July 08
“The Narrowing” is surging strongly, placing the Coalition within reach of victory on or about the 28th July 2008, writes Possum Comitatus.
The last word on rates is two little pictures
Two diagrams are worth more than every word on this subject that will be written over the next 3 weeks.
Life after Politics: the proof
Something for John Howard to chew on? Reason to dust off the old box Brownie?The only thing that worries us in all this is the dress requirement for Mr Fraser’s opening: ”corporate attire”? Whatever can this mean?
Will Mark Vaile take a lie detector test over AWB?
Peter Warner, a farmer from Nabiac, told Mark Vaile he would pay $5,000 to Legacy if the Nationals leader took a lie detector test over AWB. So will he?
