THE PICK OF THE MORNING’S STORIES
Medical response in chaos in swine flu pandemic – The Australian
Two Victorian men with swine flu fighting for their lives – Melbourne Herald Sun
Gossip and mistrust replace progress at Bonn as campaigners fear the US will settle for deal with China – The Guardian, UK
POLITICS AND ECONOMICS
AUSTRALIA
Economic matters
Rebuilding our economy – George Megalogenis takes an in depth look
Call for probe into schools stimulus – Opposition education spokesman Christopher Pyne yesterday referred the program to the Commonwealth Auditor-General, describing it as a “chaotic mess” – Melbourne Age
Schools infrastructure fund under fire – The Australian
Rules bent as ‘facelift’ funds spent on laptops – The Australian
Asian investors play house in Sydney – Australia’s mansions and mines are catching the attention of cashed-up foreign investors – particularly from Asia – Sydney Morning Herald
Health to get $15 billion in NSW Budget – Sydney Daily Telegraph
State Treasurer prepares his second Budget, a grim task – Brisbane Courier Mail
Interest rates
CBA rate rise selfish, says Swan – Melbourne Age
CBA rate rise threatens recovery, says Swan – Sydney Morning Herald
Markets rule out rate cut by Reserve Bank – Melbourne Age
Greedy bank grab threatens property market – Melbourne Herald Sun
Commonwealth Bank of Australia rate hike hits recovery, says Kevin Rudd – The Australian
Higher interest rates recession dodger – Michael Stutchbury puts the CBA decision into a more sympathetic perspective – The Australian
A hint of strange things
Global watchdog wants bank to ‘come clean’ – corruption watchdog Transparency International wants the Reserve Bank of Australia to “come clean” about large payments made by its subsidiaries to foreign middlemen – Melbourne Age
Madden defies factional push – Victorian Planning Minister says he intends to stay an upper house member – Melbourne Age
Leadership
Costello’s intent still inscrutable – Melbourne Age
Is Kevin the new Barry McKenzie? – Annabel Crabb in the Sydney Morning Herald
Battle for the wooden spoon – Nathan Rees is holding power through a dearth of talent and opportunity, writes Andrew Clennell in the Sydney Morning Herald
Sartor launches bid with attack on Premier – Sydney Daily Telegraph
Industrial relations
Pharmacists asked to swallow bitter pay pill – a deal being pushed by the Pharmacy Guild is looked at by the Sydney Morning Herald
Anna Bligh at war with unions over public sector wages cut – Brisbane Courier Mail
Political life
How sexism, stigma and scandal destroyed my political career: Paula Wriedt – The Australian
Racial relations
Australia’s image marred in India – The Australian
Harris Park – the town where race collides – Sydney Daily Telegraph
Opinion
Only a leading man will do for the Kooyong set – Michelle Grattan in the Melbourne Age looks at the Liberal pre-selection for the seat of Kooyong
Wind of recession is still blowing in our direction – wrns Ross Gittins in the Melbourne Age
If the stars align – Attaining political leadership is an inexact science — it’s a matter of being the right person, at the right time and having a bit of luck. is the opinion of Shaun Carney in the Melbourne Age
Just who in heaven’s name is Kevin Rudd? – Tony Wright goes searching in the Melbourne Age
Joel Fitzgibbon tells of his death by a thousand cuts – Peter Hartcher gives the details in the Sydney Morning Herald
Fix it, don’t break it – is Paul Kelly’s advice on what should be done to the financial system – The Australian
Too much spin will make voters sick – Lenore Taylor in The Australian describes political spin as being a bit like make-up, it works best when no one notices it.
Watch out for partisan manoeuvres – Peter van Onselen warns that the appointment of Joseph Ludwig as Special Minister of State makes it more likely that Labor will descend into partisan advantage when it comes to entitlements, an area for which the special minister is directly responsible – The Australian
Lot of hot air – fair dinkum – Laurie Oakes in the Melbourne Sun and the other News tabloids writes that Kevin Rudd talks as though he really thinks there is a chance the Coalition will cave in and pass his emissions trading scheme legislation through the Senate. Maybe Malcolm Turnbull should spell out the Liberal Party attitude in language the Prime Minister can understand. “Stick your head up a dead bear’s bum, Kev.”
ELSEWHERE
Elections
Iran election rivals both declare victory – BBC News
BUSINESS
U.S. Economy: Consumer Sentiment, Import Prices Rise – Bloomberg
Minister warns on energy leases – use oil leases or lose them is the warning – Melbourne Age
Rudd gets tough on delays to oil and gas development – Sydney Morning Herald
Telstra split is needed: ACCC – Melbourne Age
ENVIRONMENT
US says it will not demand binding carbon cuts from China – The Guardian, UK
Gossip and mistrust replace progress at Bonn as campaigners fear the US will settle for deal with China –
Despite the hardened scientific view since Kyoto, the deal at Copenhagen risks being another messy compromise – The Guardian, UK
Greenhouse pledges way too low: UN – Melbourne Age
Climate progress raises pressure for 15pc cut – The Australian
Scientists warn of gaps in ice monitoring – Melbourne Age
Journey to a hostile climate – why people aren’t acting on climate change – Melbourne Age
Beachfront residents on own against sea rise – owners of beachfront homes will get little protection or compensation from the State Government if their properties are threatened by rising sea levels caused by climate change or coastal erosion, under a plan in the course of being developed – Sydney Morning Herald
MEDIA
Crikey: Education yarn takes a turn for the bizarre – The Australian
Internet free ride soon over is the prediction of one US website owner – Melbourne Age
National Times set for online relaunch – The website will replace the opinion section on news sites including theage.com.au and will feature the best of Fairfax’s opinion writing, commentary and analysis, coupled with guest commentaries from politicians, academics and other public figures, the publisher said in a statement – Melbourne Age
Government retains media buyer of Howard years – Universal McCann keeps the job – Melbourne Age
Free TV demands controls on internet output – The Australian
LIFE
Swine Flu
Cancel mass events to contain flu: WHO – Melbourne Age
Swine flu controls to stay despite rising tally – Sydney Morning Herald
Medical response in chaos in swine flu pandemic – The Australian
Two Victorian men with swine flu fighting for their lives – Melbourne Herald Sun
Abortion
Anti-abortion group barred from schools – Sydney Morning Herald
Drugs
Pill press ban planned as drug war hots up – Brisbane Courier Mail
Motoring
Big parking fines fund footpaths – Fines to hit $500 – Brisbane Courier Mail
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