An emissions trading mongrel brings early election speculation

THIS MORNING’S FRONT PAGES

POLITICS AND ECONOMICS

Australia

Leadership

Nathan Rees sharpening the axe – Emergency Services Minister Steve Whan is tipped to become the new police minister as Nathan Rees and his backroom masters try to save his premiership – Sydney Daily Telegraph

John-Paul Langbroek loses four more staff – Another four staff have left Queensland Opposition Leader John-Paul Langbroek’s office after last week’s forced resignation of his chief-of-staff over the billboards blunder – Brisbane Courier Mail

China and Rio Tinto

Rio’s Hu owned $17m villas, say media reports – Sydney Morning Herald

Xinhua’s verdict: a film full of ignorance – China’s verdict on the controversial documentary on Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer was delivered yesterday by official news agency Xinhua: “A film full of ignorance and prejudice” – The Australian

China blocks Rio spying claim – China has distanced itself from claims in an online article that Rio Tinto spied on Chinese steel mills for six years and cost the nation $US100 billion ($120bn). The online report was removed from the internet yesterday and major state and Communist Party media organs cast doubts on its authority – The Australian

Call for press club ban: Chinese pressure media – The Chinese government tried to pressure the National Press Club into cancelling a nationally televised speech by Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer, scheduled to take place today – The Australian

Aboriginal affairs

State makes ‘new stolen generation’ – Queensland’s reformed child protection system is creating a new “stolen generation”, says a group of concerned Brisbane elders – Brisbane Courier Mail

Economic matters

Housing industry upturn a false dawn, says BIS Shrapnel – Brisbane Courier Mail

Outlook bright for youth jobs – Adelaide Advertiser

Opinions

Politics of envy with Coalition alternative – Piers Akerman in the Sydney Daily Telegraph says one doesn’t have to be a supporter of the human-induced global warming theory to see the beneficial differences between the proposals contained in the Frontier Economics report presented yesterday and the Labor Government’s scheme which will go to the Senate on Thursday.

Rudd is facing a great wall – Malcolm Colless in The Australian writes that warnings by China about the safety of its citizens studying in Australia are further evidence that the Chinese leadership is turning up the diplomatic heat on the Rudd government.

Diplomats must pull their heads in – Greg Sheridan in The Australian writes that it is now surely time the Rudd government told the Chinese to stop interfering in domestic Australian politics and culture.

Elsewhere

Afghanistan

Taliban gaining upper hand in Afghanistan – The Australian

BUSINESS

Felix Resources lines up $3.9b bid from Yanzhou Coal – Brisbane Courier Mail

ENVIRONMENT

Maybe the Opposition Leader is preparing himself for a return to full-time journalism after a failure in the world of politics. More likely just another dull and boring sub editorial mistake of the kind that are the bane of every journalist’s life. But whatever the reason there’s the Malcolm Turnbull by-line

Liberals and Turnbull warned over climate laws – Sydney Daily Telegraph

Turnbull says Coalition ETS proposal is greener and cheaper – Melbounre Herald Sun

Minister Wong savages Liberal Turnbull’s plan – Adelaide Advertiser

Coalition’s emissions trading plan a ‘mongrel’ – The Australian quotes the minister

MEDIA

Viewers reject fallen Idol by switching off in droves – Parents have turned their backs on the new family-friendly Australian Idol, with Sunday night’s season debut shedding up to 20 per cent of last year’s audience – Sydney Daily Telegraph

Worker faces the music after bagging boss on Facebook – latest viral hit – Geelong Advertiser

LIFE

Domestic violence

Greg Inglis charged with bashing lover Sally Robinson – Sydney Daily Telegraph says the career of Melbourne Storm superstar Greg Inglis was last night in turmoil after his arrest over the alleged assault of his girlfriend.

League’s other poster boy charged – Greg Inglis, who was last month awarded the Wally Lewis Medal as State of Origin player of the series, will appear in a Melbourne court tomorrow after being charged with recklessly causing injury and unlawful assault to his long-time partner, Sally Robinson – Sydney Morning Herald

Storm act swiftly to stand down Inglis – Sydney Morning Herald

Greg Inglis charged with assault of girlfriend – Brisbane Courier Mail

Greg Inglis storm another body blow to rugby league – Brisbane Courier Mail

Hendra virus

Fears for 30 as Hendra virus hits – Up to 30 people may have been exposed to the potentially deadly Hendra virus after tests confirmed it killed a horse on a stud near Rockhampton.  Veterinary staff and workers at the Cawarral horse stud at the centre of the latest outbreak face an anxious wait of several days to learn if they are infected – Brisbane Courier Mail

Style

They Must Be Stars Because They Get So Much Press, but What Is It They Do Again? – Washington Post

Hypocrisy

Anglican Bishop of South Sydney ‘a slum lord’ – A bishop and his wife who campaign for the homeless are being called before a tribunal for allegedly making their own tenants live in housing the tenants describe as a “slum” – Sydney Daily Telegraph

UFOs

Proof? NT UFOs filmed on video – Alan Ferguson has been claiming for more than 12 months that unidentified flying objects have been circling above his home in Acacia Hills, south of Darwin. And now he says he has the pictures to prove it – Northern Territory News

The punt

Star City Casino dealer’s bad hand over cheating allegations – Sydney Daily Telegraph