A cash splash for politicians

THIS MORNING’S FRONT PAGES

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POLITICS AND ECONOMICS

Australia

Economic matters

Push for bank aid exit plan – The Rudd government is under pressure to bring its banking guarantees to an early end, now the banks are clearly out of danger and able to raise funds on their own – The Australian

Leadership

Kevin Rudd peddles influence at the United Nations General Assembly – Australia’s diplomatic superman, Kevin Rudd, continued his quest to influence the world yesterday while the globe’s real political superstar, Barack Obama, was hosting leaders across town – Melbourne Herald Sun

Kevin Rudd spruiks merits of G20 to the UN – The Australian

Lurks and perks

MPs’ 3% rise wins chilly response – Melbourne Age

Barnaby Joyce calls for Kevin Rudd to be paid $1million – Outspoken Senator Barnaby Joyce has called for Kevin Rudd’s salary to be almost trebled to $1 million as parliamentarians defended another pay rise. The Remuneration Tribunal’s decision to boost the base salary of federal politicians next week to $131,000 – an extra 3 per cent – comes just months after the Australian Fair Pay Commission refused to give 1.3 million workers on the lowest wage one cent extra – Brisbane Courier Mail

Politicians get a pay rise – Kevin Rudd’s freeze on politicians’ pay has ended, clearing the way for the nation’s 226 federal representatives to obtain a 3 per cent rise – their first in more than two years – Adelaide Advertiser

Elections

Corporate heavyweights enter the battle for Bradfield – The frontrunner for the Bradfield preselection, Paul Fletcher, has unveiled a list of more than 40 high-profile endorsements in a bid to see off his nearest rival, David Coleman, as the numbers tightened in the run-up to tomorrow’s preselection ballot – Sydney Morning Herald

Immigration

Secret Defence base plan for boat people – Secret plans are being drawn up by the Rudd Government to use Defence bases to house an expected surge in unlawful entrants coming to the country – Brisbane Courier Mail

Law and order

Cocaine gang had security clearance – The Federal Government granted unrestricted airport security passes to alleged members of a cocaine smuggling syndicate linked to the Bra Boys surf gang, despite police intelligence that showed the men had criminal connections and convictions – Sydney Morning Herald

Kerry Shine under scrutiny over judicial appointments – Former attorney-general Kerry Shine is facing more questions over his judicial appointments after handing a $300,000-a-year post to the sister of a close friend who helped him get elected – Brisbane Courier Mail

Union calls for harsher penalties on police attackers – Brisbane Courier Mail

Victims’ group wants new court protection – Defendants should be banned from court while their victims give evidence, to avoid intimidation during the trial process, the Victims Support Service says – Adelaide Advertiser

Jail as rehab doesn’t work: prison boss – West Australian

Victorian police investigate sex assault at care home – Melbourne Age

High-powered police cars in WA face budget axe – West Australian

Foreign Affairs

Please explain, envoy asks AFP on Balibo probe – Indonesia’s ambassador has asked the Australian Federal Police to explain why it is investigating the killings of five Australian-based journalists at Balibo nearly 35 years ago – Melbourne Age

Brumby gives calming message to Indian students – Victorian Premier John Brumby has opened his mission to save Victoria’s biggest export industry with a straight bat – Melbourne Age

Transport

Fourth tunnel planned to ease gridlock in Brisbane’s west – A fourth major road tunnel in Brisbane has been proposed as part of the Bligh Government’s strategy to prevent looming gridlock in the city’s west – Brisbane Courier Mail

Lobbying

Coalminers recruit Kevin 07 guru Neil Lawrence to shaft ETS – The Australian

Local government

Walkerville, Prospect consider merger – The mayors of Adelaide’s two smallest councils have resisted calls to merge but remain “open-minded” about the formation of super councils – Adelaide Advertiser

Opinions

Copenhagen isn’t the only place needing a grand climate deal – Michelle Grattan in the Melbourne Age writes that while the gung ho climate sceptics would be happy with an election any time soon, most in the Opposition, and especially marginal seat holders, are likely to put electoral caution first. At least, that will be what Turnbull is banking on when it comes to selling his amendments to the party room for the November Senate vote.

Time we realised our pollies deserve more than a cracker – writes Phillip Hudson in the Melbourne Age as he asks: Who will have the political mettle to clean up the way MPs are paid?

What a pile is this talk of reform – Richard Ackland in the Sydney Morning Herald writes that it’s funny how the expense of litigation keeps rising, the length of trials is steadily on the up and up, access to ”justice” is further away than ever and the gobbledegook increases.

Big step forward on climate treaty, but obstacles remain – is the verdict of Nicholas Stern writing in the Sydney Morning Herald

Banks keeping recession at bay – writes Michael Stutchbury in The Australian

PM yearns to lead world on climate – Dennis Shanahan believes Kevin Rudd could solve the problem of the Coalition blocking his emissions trading scheme bill in the Senate almost instantly by simply agreeing to delay the vote from the end of November until the beginning of February next year. A relatively minor delay would kill much of the opposition in the Liberal ranks and ensure the passage of his Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme bill, even if the Nationals split and continued to vote against it – The Australian

Conroy wins, taxpayers lose – Henry Ergas writes in The Australian that casino capitalism is dead; long live casino socialism.

One-child policy aborting our growth – Dan Ryan writes in The Australian that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has no view on whether China’s one-child policy is a good thing or a bad thing. This viewpoint needs to change. It is incoherent, it makes no sense economically, it poses long-term strategic risks to Australia and it tarnishes the otherwise good name our country has in sticking up for human rights across the world.

Grand vision, sound strategy – KIevin Rudd’s ambition for Australia and the G20 is vaulting. At one level it is almost absurd in its grandiosity. And yet it is sound. If it succeeds, it will put Australia at the institutional heart of global governance for the first time – Greg Sheridan in The Australian

Elsewhere

Iran

Russia’s president pledges to help U.S. nudge Iran on nuclear issue – U.S. officials said they regarded Medvedev’s comments, after meeting Obama on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, as a major shift in Russia’s position just a week before six major powers are to meet with Iranian officials in Geneva – Los Angeles Times

UN Security Council adopts nuke curbs – World powers early today adopted a landmark resolution seeking to rid the planet of nuclear arms at an unprecedented Security Council summit hosted by US President Barack Obama – The Australian

Obama wins passage of nuclear nonproliferation resolution at U.N. – The vote by the U.N. Security Council is the first step toward Obama’s goal of global nuclear disarmament – Los Angeles Times

Gulf states pitch in to help break Iran nuclear impasse – On the eve of Barack Obama’s plea to the world’s leading powers to sign up to an ambitious plan to control the spread of nuclear weapons, it has emerged that Gulf Arab countries will play a new role in the race to stop Iran’s nuclear program – Sydney Morning Herald

BUSINESS

Lynas’ $500m China deal collapses – Lynas Corp’s proposed $500 million funding deal with China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group has collapsed after the Foreign Investment Review Board balked at the terms of the deal – The West Australian

090925GEFIRB Brakes put on Chinese investment – Australia’s foreign investment watchdog has sent a blunt signal to Beijing that state-owned Chinese companies trying to acquire bigger stakes in Australian mining assets will face further knockbacks – Melbourne Age

David Jones sets up for match with Myer – Melbourne Herald Sun

ENVIRONMENT

UN praise for prawn recovery – Strong growth and sustainable management of the state’s prawn industry over the past five years has seen it recognised on an international scale – Adelaide Advertiser

GM canola found outside containment area – Sydney MOrning Herald

MEDIA

Anger over Packed to the Rafters’ smutty scenes – Melbourne Herald Sun

Pedophiles trawling social networking sites for details posted by parents – Melbourne Herald Sun

Station won’t ban Hunt – Yibbida, yibbida –the fat lady has not yet sung for Rex Hunt. – The larrikin football commentator looks set to stay at 3AW next year despite rumours his contract might not be renewed due to falling ratings – Melbourne Herald Sun

‘Crazy Noonga’ website sparks racism outrage – A website set up by a Perth student about a fictional Aboriginal character has been shut down and is being investigated by police amid racism claims. The website, which Radio 6PR reports was created by a 19-year-old Curtin University student, features audio excerpts of a character called “Nigel the crazy Noonga”, who prank calls businesses and fast-food outlets with a fake Aboriginal accent – Melbourne Age

LIFE

Religion

Eels’ hopes come from on high – Not since Lazarus has there been such an unlikely back-from-the-dead tale. So it should come as no surprise that a helping hand is guiding Parramatta’s amazing run toward the NRL’s highest prize. The Eels ascension to tonight’s preliminary final against the Bulldogs has been blessed by two of the most influential figures in Australia’s fastest growing church, Hillsong – Sydney Daily Telegraph

Discipline

Smacking can lower children’s IQ, research claims – Sydney Daily Telegraph

Real Estate

New home sales posted largest monthly increase in over three years in August – Sydney Daily Telegraph

Sellers put grand final bogy to test – It may not sound like many, but the 137 Melbourne homes for auction this weekend represent a record for grand final day. But old real estate conventions and the market are being transformed by government stimulus measures, the first home buyer grants and relaxation of foreign investment laws. This weekend will be the last before grants are scaled back – Melbourne Age

The drink

Brendan Fevola is battling to save his career at Carlton Football Club – Melbourne Herald Sun

Crown Casino being investigated for serving alcohol to Brendan Fevola during booze-up – Melbourne Herald Sun

Boot Brendan Fevola out – Melbourne Herald Sun editorial tells the footballer “You deserve to be dumped by the Carlton Football Club for years of drunken behaviour that even for you went over the top at the Brownlow Medal night at Crown.

The fags