THE PICK OF THE MORNING’S STORIES
POLITICS AND ECONOMICS
AUSTRALIA
Political life
Bill may fell Greens chief – Unless Greens leader Bob Brown finds almost a quarter of a million dollars in the next three weeks he will be out of the Senate reports the Melbourne Age
Legal bill may cost Bob Brown his seat – The Australian
Ludwig to keep bastards honest – promises to maintain the good work of his predecessor by new Cabinet Secretary – Melbourne Age
Workout shots irk Kevin Rudd – Melbourne”s Herald Sun reports Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is believed to be upset about a magazine photo spread of his wife, Therese Rein, taken without her permission during a private gym session.
Cost of South Australian MP chauffeured vehicles skyrockets – Adelaide Advertiser
Diplomatic life
Vatican’s man Tim Fischer costs Australia millions – Sydney Daily Telegraph finds taxpayers will pay $372,000 a year to rent a flat and office space in Rome for the new ambassador to the Vatican, former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer.
Privatisation
Labor lays ground for sale of Medibank – Sydney Morning Herald
A hint of strange things
Huge land deals ‘illegal’ – says advice to NSW Planning Minister as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald. Companies involved have been big donors to Labor Party election funds.
NSW RailCorp boss escorted from her office by security – RailCorp chief information officer Vicki Coleman has been stood down after allegations were made to ICAC reports the Sydney Daily Telegraph
Leadership
Sartor and Della Bosca target NSW Premier Rees – the Sydney Morning Herald reports on the leadership challenge speculation
Security
In times of trouble, politicians will hunker down in a bunker – A security control centre is being considered for a bunker cut deep into the rock under Canberra’s Parliament House – Sydney Morning Herald
Transport
French in the lead to run Sydney ferry service – Sydney Morning Herald
Health
Mental health linked to dietary habits – Sydney Morning Herald
Education
Minimum time set for key primary school subjects – Adelaide Advertiser
It’s time to pass the buck – Education Minister Julia Gillard today will reveal projects approved under the Rudd Government’s $1.4 billion education boost reports the Melbourne Herald Sun
Moslems
Kevin Rudd urged to tackle extremists – The Australian
Industrial relations
Top union official hits out at Gillard – Melbourne Age
AWU chief Paul Howes blasts government ‘stormtroopers’ – The Australian
SA Government signs up for national IR system – Sydney Daily Telegraph
CFMEU’s involvement may scupper Victorian state ALP pact to heal factional split – The Australian
Defence
Hardheads set to whip defence into line – Sydney Morning Herald
Obesity
Health groups want ban on junk-food marketing ploys – Melbourne Age
Privacy
Health card plan sparks privacy concerns – Melbourne Age
Superannuation
Share crash forces superannuation reform – The Australian
Opinion
Kevin Rudd’s plan for Australia as diplomatic powerhouse to cost millions – Ian McPhedran in the Sydney Daily Telegraph adds up the cost of new diplomatic initiatives that are part of Australia’s campaign for a seat on the Security Council
Kevin Rudd to strike while numbers are hot – Malcolm Colless in The Australian reckons that the options available to the Rudd Government to pay off debt are fraught with political and economic dangers
Gillard and Bligh fight the counter-revolution – writes Lenore Taylor in The Australian
ELSEWHERE
Elections
Opposition poll throws doubt on Indonesian President’s re-election ‘cakewalk’ – Melbourne Age
Lebanese say no to Hezbollah – The Australian
Humility wins the day for Gordon Brown as MPs back down – London Times
Opinion
Result a disaster for social democrats – Greg Sheridan in The Australian reviews the European parliamentary election.
BUSINESS
Worst of financial crisis over, says Bank for International Settlements – Melbourne Age
Bank of England to extend quantitative easing – Financial Times of London
Nobel Winner Krugman Sees U.S. Recession Ending Soon – Bloomberg
ENVIRONMENT
Tempers flare as scientists defend the solar debate – Sydney Morning Herald reports some reaction to comments by Senator Steve Fielding on the cause of global warming
China calls on substantial co-op with U.S. on climate change – Xinhua
Green wedges threatened – Brumby tackled on urban sprawl – Melbourne Age
MEDIA
Stretching the truth: When magazines are less than truthful – Sydney Morning Herald
Obama and the tactics of truth – Gerard Henderson gives yours truly Richard Farmer a little touch up in passing in the Sydney Morning Herald
Apple unveils new version of iPhone – Company cuts price of 3G model to $99 – Financial Times of London
LIFE
Cycling
A heads-up from the ‘helmet lady’ – Chicago Sun Times
Sexual harrassment
Stuart faces claims as Zappia stands down – A rugby league chief executive stands down and the woman involved says she was questioned by the Cronulla coach Ricky Stuart after filing her sexual harassment case reports the Sydney Morning Herald
Racial violence
Indian man assaulted in Harris Park – Sydney Morning Herald
Legal aid
Legal aid centres struggling – Melbourne Age
Swine flu
Swine flu panic hits NRL games – Sydney Daily Telegraph
Rugby league king-hit by swine flu – The Australian
Motherhood
Mums beg for milk – Adelaide Advertiser
The sexes
Men-only clubs get Rudd cold shoulder – The Australian
Horse racing
Animal rights protesters jump on racegoers – The Australian
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