The gurus at Infrastructure Australia should be asking some hard questions because something seems terribly wrong with the cost of rail construction in NSW, writes Gavin Gatenby.
State & Territory
Springborg’s stuff ups summoned the ghost of Joh
The ALP exploited Springborg’s ineloquence to the hilt during the campaign, and it worked, writes Bernard Keane.
Richard Farmer’s political bite sized meaty chunks
Meaty snippets from the home of government by Richard Farmer.
The LNP takeover was the root of Liberal woes
A 3.5% swing is, in the end, a poor justification for the Nationals’ takeover of the Queensland Liberal Party, writes Bernard Keane.
Lance Armstrong, $3 million and the silence of the Rann
Crikey understands that Lance Armstrong pocketed up to $3 million in cash for his recent visit to Adelaide, reports Bob Gosford.
Is the LNP sleepwalking to defeat in Queensland?
There’s alarm within LNP ranks at both the policy direction of the party and the lack of former Liberal Party members willing to assist in the campaign, reports Bernard Keane.
Theophanous no match for Vic police offensive
Theo Theophanous, the Victorian government MP who has been charged with r-pe, has been busy using the media to defend himself against his accuser, but he may regret the strategy, writes Greg Barnes.
Former NSW Police Commissioner back on the beat
Just when you thought the NSW Police headquarters was a Ken Moroney-free zone, the former police commissioner is back, reports Alex Mitchell.
Noosa’s two-headed fish: farm spraying goes nuts
As the Australian Tourist industry struggles the popular Noosa River in Queensland is being threatened by bureaucratic inaction to stop the use of agricultural chemicals killing and deforming its fish, reports Lionel Elmore.
Frome by-election: Can Brock close the gap?
Every so often, a by-election result signals a seismic shift in the electoral landscape, writes William Bowe.
NSW gov plastic cup initiative putting women at risk of drink spiking?
The NSW State Government this week issued a release warning party goers of increased drink spiking incidents despite having industry advice that an introduction of plastic glasses would increase spiking incidents, reports Nick Pickard.
John Daly: A waste of taxpayers’ money
What global financial crisis? State governments are happy to spend their money an obese, chain-smoking, temper tantrum throwing golfer who can’t play golf, writes Charles Happell.
Perth has a full time mayor — why can’t Melbourne?
Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle was officially sworn in today but appears to be standing firm in his refusal to relinquish his “day jobs”, reports Michael Griffiths and Andrew Crook.
Scrymgour: I support teaching regional Aboriginal languages
I believe that schools have an important role to play in teaching regional Aboriginal languages and thereby ensuring their survival. writes Marion Scrymgour.
Activism is not a crime, so why the snooping?
A democratic society should actively encourage community organising rather than viewing it as some kind of gateway to crime, writes Jeff Sparrow.
NT classrooms limit indigenous languages to 1 hour a day
The NT Minister for Education, Marion Scrymgour, recently announced that indigenous languages can not be used in NT classrooms, except for one hour a day in the afternoons, writes Samanti de Silva.
Rees driving NSW government into the ground
Rarely do you get the opportunity to see a government disintegrate before your eyes. In NSW, we’ve already seen one this year and now we’re watching a second, writes Alex Mitchell.
SA MP can’t rule out the existence of aliens in the Simpson Desert
SA Environment Minister Jay Weatherill was forced to address parliament Tuesday on the issue of extraterrestrials in the Simpson Desert owing to rumours circulating the interwebs that the closure of national parks to tourists this summer was due to the “presence of aliens”, reports Eleri Harris.
Forget Henson, politicians are partial to playground trawling too
How does Ms Pike justify her practice, and that of her colleagues in parliaments right across Australia, eagerly rushing off to schools, particularly at election time, so they can be photographed with unsuspecting kids who can’t vote? asks Greg Barns.
Ronan Lee and the Greens, strange bedfellows indeed
The Greens are buying themselves trouble with Queensland MP Ronan Lee, writes Bernard Keane.
No use planning for climate change without acknowledging peak oil
Last Wednesday, the Australian Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas wrote to Professor Ross Garnaut, noting the inconsistency in his Supplementary Draft Report in dealing with the possibility of Australia reaching Peak Oil, reports Edwina Blight.
Abortion in Catholic hospitals: what would Jesus do?
What would Jesus do…if he was the CEO of a catholic hospital confronted with the proposed new abortion laws currently before the Victorian Parliament?
The Government must pay Cranbourne residents
There will certainly be class actions arising out of the methane gas leaks in Cranbourne, an outer suburb of Melbourne. At the moment, 230 homeowners have been advised to relocate and up to a thousand may be affected, writes Peter Faris.
The NSW Labor party implodes
The NSW Labor Party, long-described as the “natural party of government” in the premier state, has self-destructed under a tsunami of broken promises, scandals, incompetence and factional warfare, writes Alex Mitchell.
How close did WA Nats come to falling in with Labor?
How close did the WA Nationals really come to an historic deal to keep Labor in government? asks Poll bludger William Bowe.
