In today’s chunky bits: tourists covered with oil, a beautiful straight bat, how confident consumers vote and more.
Stephen Smith
Follow Crikey’s latest coverage of Stephen Smith. Crikey’s Stephen Smith coverage includes independent news, blogs and commentary.
Political snippets: Richard Farmer’s chunky bits: we’re feelin’ good again about financial prospects
Who will Rudd replace if Labor wins?
In an entirely minimalist pre-election reshuffle, Julia Gillard has shifted Trade Minister Simon Crean to her former portfolio, with Foreign Minister Stephen Smith picking up Crean’s workload, reports Bernard Keane.
Australia vs. Israel: round one
Daily Media Wrap: The Government has booted an Israeli diplomat out of Australia over the use of fake Australian passports. A bold act of diplomatic bravery, or just bowing down to the Arab world? This one’s just heating up.
New tensions for Australia and Israel
Diplomatic relations between Israel and Australia are under new pressure, with news that three Australian passports were used in the Mossad assassination of a Hamas official. What now for Australia and Israel?
Australia rolls out the welcome mat for war criminal retirees
If Canberra fails to take its global responsibilities seriously, another chapter will be added to the already dismal history Australia has of allowing sanctuary to killers, brutes and generals.
Stephen Smith & Julia Gillard: 2009’s sexiest politicians
The winning team of our Foreign Affairs Minister and his substantial pelt have taken out the trophy two years in a row. And Prom Queen? Everyone’s favourite redhead wins the twin set of tiara and sash for 2009’s Sexiest Female Politican,
Guy Rundle: Politicians try to patch up a leaky boat of their own making
The government’s current problems with the Oceanic Viking stem entirely from its being too-clever-by-half – it’s of a piece with Ruddism, the idea that a series of brilliant technical decisions can serve as policy.
Coorey: The Rudd government’s quiet achiever
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith is one of the success stories of the Rudd government, first carefully manoeuvring China and Australia tensions and now balancing the asylum seeker issue, writes Phillip Coorey.
Crabb: How Rudd’s buttocks fear the wedgie of ‘01
Kevin Rudd and Malcolm Turnbull are just play fighting. In essence, they agree on asylum seekers. Except, its just easier for Turnbull to talk about leaky boats than farting climate change cows, says Annabel Crabb.
Rundle: The last grouper lost at sea
Greg Sheridan’s attacking piece in today’s Oz mentions treacherous leftie Stephen Smith. What, members of the government have differing opinions? gasps Guy Rundle.
Guy Rundle: Asylum at last from the sado-conservatives
It’s a measure of how debased Australian politics became in the Tampa years that we can now be surprised that a government would confront its opponents with the fact that they imprisoned children, and score points from it.
Oakes: Tough talking Rudd misses the real baddies
Rather than “beating the anti-asylum seeker drum’, Kevin Rudd should criticise the Sri Lankan government for their treatment of Tamils. That might improve conditions and decrease refugees, argues Laurie Oakes.
Desperation weakens Tamils’ roar
So, the Tamil Tigers aren’t as mischievous as they once were, Mr Ruddock? As Jake Lynch explains, Tamil refugees are still being persecuted and living in horrific camp conditions.
The Media Monitors' Top 20: Turnbull is leader of media
Not sure if Malcolm is a Kipling fan, but if he is one can imagine a fair bit of If, Gunga Din and of course The Man Who Would be King running through his mind at the moment.
Afghanistan to become Obama’s Vietnam?
It’s crunch time for Barack Obama as allies begin to fade for the “forgotten war” in Afghanistan, writes Geoffrey Garrett. Should he launch a full scale surge of troops, or consider a withdrawal?
Who will be the next ambassador to the US?
Obama’s pal Jeff Bleich was announced as the new US ambassador to Australia. Dennis Atkins speculates on the contenders for the plum job of Australian ambassador to the US.
Oops, there goes the relationship with Indonesia
The roller-coaster that is the Australia-Indonesia bilateral relationship is again plummeting.
Political snippets: Campaigning for second preferences
Preferences set to play a big role in NSW politics, the two very different perspectives of Stephen Smith and Bob Brown, and the on-again off-again romance between China and Australia.
The Media Monitors' Top 20: Stephen Smith in top five
The Airlines PNG crash and icy diplomatic conditions with China took Stephen Smith up ten places to a rare appearance in the top five, while Wayne Swan dropped off.
The Media Monitors' Top 20: Costello keeps himself in the news
Peter Costello and Anna Bligh are among the most talked about politicians this week, with Anna Bligh up to third spot, thanks to her anti-corruption reforms this week.
The Media Monitors' Top 20: Hu gives Smith, Bishop and Crean a boost? Exactly
The Stern Hu arrest has unsurprisingly launched Stephen Smith, Julie Bishop and Simon Crean way up the list in the battle for political media airtime.
74 asylum seekers, location unknown
Foreign affairs minister Stephen Smith told Lateline that an Australia-bound boat with up to 74 asylum seekers was being rescued by Indonesia. But that information was wrong, which we know thanks to an SMS.
People smuggling crackdown: proceed with caution
In seeking Malaysia’s help to crack down on people smuggling, the federal government needs to make sure that it doesn’t make things worse for asylum seekers, says Andrew Bartlett.
