You have to almost admire the hide of Rupert Murdoch, managing on the one platform to demand major tax cuts and that the government spend $10 billion to $12 billion on broadband that will just happen to help his own business. As one of the world’s biggest content providers, there’s plenty of self-interest riding for Rupert.

The one sure thing that follows yesterday’s sermon on the state of the nation from the most influential ex-Australian is that the majority of Australia’s newspapers will slavishly follow and push the divine wisdom. And, given the way the media circus works, they in turn will play a major role in shaping the opinions promulgated by the nation’s shock jocks and chattering classes. Indeed, Rupert’s editors will fall over themselves in their attempts to be the most loyal to their master’s wisdom.

Unfortunately, Rupert Murdoch is just a successful business man. Whatever barrows he chooses to push contain no particular brilliant insight – other than a regular dose of the aforementioned self-interest.

The greenies might well be delighted to have old Rupe on side now in the greenhouse crusade, but remember that his last big campaigns have been invading Iraq and supporting George W Bush – the worst US president in living memory and a good bit more.

Never mind. The editors and loyal hacks have their orders. Savage Costello on tax rates, push for government subsidy of the internet, take out greenhouse insurance.