INDEX TO EARLIER DAILY OWL
Wednesday 25 February 2009
The pick of the morning’s stories
What the papers say about politics and economics - the stories
The Australian:
- Top adviser bucks Anna Bligh on early poll - Andrew Fraser and George Megalogenis write that the Queensland Government’s top investment adviser has undermined Premier Anna Bligh’s justification for an early election, saying there is no evidence political instability has hindered business investment in the state.
- Bligh links payroll cuts to trainees - Andrew Fraser writes Anna Bligh has pledged payroll tax initiatives to keep apprentices employed during the global financial crisis, to match initiatives aimed at small business that were announced last week by the Liberal National Party.
- Battle lines drawn on either side of Brisbane river - Michael McKenna says the Liberal National Party will scrap the planned $1.1 billion Queensland Children’s Hospital in a bid to win over voters in Brisbane’s north who are concerned about the centralisation of pediatric services on the south side of the river.
- Opposition backer Clive Palmer sues Premier, Treasurer - Andrew Fraser and Michael McKennareport that Queensland’s richest man and the Liberal National Party’s chief benefactor, Clive Palmer is going ahead with his threatened legal action against Premier Anna Bligh and Treasurer Andrew Fraser.
- Single-issue party wants the sun to shine on - Natasha Bita looks at the Daylight Saving for Southeast Queensland Party (DS4SEQ) with the aim not so much to win seats in parliament, but to force Labor or the LNP to support daylight saving.
- One Nation on slide but Pauline Hanson may rise - Padraic Murphy saus Pauline Hanson yesterday confirmed she would try again to return to parliament, this time as an independent at the Queensland election.
- Crisis as sub crews prepare to abandon ship - Cameron Stewart describes how the navy’s submarine fleet is in danger of becoming unsustainable because of a chronic shortfall of qualified sailors, with almost half of all submariners wanting to leave the navy as soon as possible, according to a confidential Defence report.
- Global crunch could scuttle sale of submarine builder ASC - Patrick Walters says the global financial crisis could force the Rudd Government to jettison long-held plans to sell the commonwealth-owned submarine builder ASC.
- Kevin Rudd steps in over SAS pay - Patrick Walters reports Kevin Rudd has been forced to directly intervene in a damaging defence force pay issue involving SAS soldiers who have been made to repay tens of thousands of dollars in special allowances the Defence Department deemed they were not qualified for.
- Millions of dollars in excise may be refunded as alcopops bill facing defeat - Siobhain Ryan says the risk that the federal Government will have to refund hundreds of millions of dollars from its alcopops tax hike escalated dramatically yesterday after the sole Senate crossbencher to back the measure withdrew his support.
- Kevin Rudd reshuffle to see Mark Arbib rewarded twice - Denis Shanahan says Mark Arbib will become one of Kevin Rudd’s parliamentary secretaries.
- Work bill inflames fire union - Ewin Hannan says the United Firefighters Union has issued the warning and demanded that the Senate make amendments to the Fair Work Bill to ensure the entitlements of professional firefighters are not undercut.
- Rees the next Premier facing threat to AAA rating as tough times continue - Imre Salusinzky says NSW is in danger of suffering the same fate as Queensland and losing its prized AAA credit rating, a downgrade that would add about $100 million to the state’s annual interest bill.
- Premier Bligh takes weighty issues in her stride - Andrew Fraser goes on the trail with Anna Bligh
Sydney Morning Herald:
- Sacrifices must be shared, says Rudd - Peter Hartcher and Phillip Coorey chat with the Prime Minister who tells them there is no end in sight to the global economic downturn and chief executives should join workers in exercising wage restraint.
- Threat to wildlife may halt South Coast project - Marian Wilkinson writes that one of the most bitterly fought housing developments on the South Coast is almost certain to be halted by the federal Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, who has made a preliminary decision to reject a proposed 1200-lot estate at Jervis Bay.
- Super seen as rort for the rich - Adele Horin reviews an Australian Institute report The Great Superannuation Tax Concession Rort released today.
- Fertility law change puts spotlight on donors - Kate Benson says Sydney fertility clinics are scrambling to amend draft regulations which could force anonymous sperm donors into being identified against their will.
- Minister faces more questions on donations - Andrew Clennell writes that a political donor to the Minister for Fair Trading, Virginia Judge, was appointed two years ago by the former premier Morris Iemma to the government’s Community Relations Commission.
- Hanson back as financial crisis divides poll rivals - Cosima Marriner describes how billionaire and Liberal National Party backer, Clive Palmer, threatened to overshadow the LNP’s campaign start by calling a news conference for an unspecified reason, while the serial candidate Pauline Hanson surprised no one when she confirmed her intention to contest a seat.
- Bonanza to NSW in project fees - Heath Gilmore explains how the Rees Government will make tens of millions of dollars in administration fees from the Federal Government’s $14.7 billion stimulus hand-out for school construction projects.
- Charities are ready to help swamped DOCS - Crispin Hull finds charities that deliver direct help to many thousands of children a year in Australia are deeply concerned that the critical Wood Child Protection recommendations will not be fully implemented and instead watered down because the Government will wilt under pressure from public sector unions and others resisting change seeking to defend their territory.
Melbourne Age:
Sydney Daily Telegraph:
- Cancer victim denied help but there’s care for pets - Gemma Jones and Xanthe Kleinig say the State Government is funding a $275,000 trial to cure cancer in dogs but can do little to help dying Sydney cancer sufferer Pauline Talty.
- Councillors fight over the crumbs - Joe Hildebrand writes that a Greens politician has been told to stop bringing her husband to council meetings because he eats too much of the food. Waverley councillor Prue Cancian was told not to bring her activist husband Chris Maltby to meetings because the ratepayer-funded catering could not sustain it.
- Rees will dine alone after business fundraiser snub - Rhett Watson and Simon Benson claim the big end of town has walked away from the Rees Government, with key industry and business figures refusing to attend a $10,000-a-table dinner for the NSW Cabinet on Thursday night.
- Divorce adds to the impact of global warming - Steve Fielding - Family First senator Steve Fielding told a Senate hearing yesterday that divorce led to a “resource-inefficient lifestyle” and it would be better for the planet if couples stayed married.
Brisbane Courier Mail:
What the papers say about politics and economics - the opinions
Sydney Morning Herald:
- R-word lacks clear definition - Jessica Irvine gives an economics lesson
- Sink or swim in sea of trouble - Peter Hartcher explains with some common examples what the experts predict is going to happen in Australia as the global financial troubles grow
- Emission impossible: the sad truth - Ross Gittins thought he knew a fair bit about Kevin Rudd’s proposed carbon pollution reduction scheme, but has been surprised and disappointed to discover it’s impervious to voluntary efforts to reduce our emissions.
Melbourne Age:
The Australian:
- Pauline dances into limelight - Sean Parnell says while Australia’s most controversial politician has yet to outline her plans for the March 21 poll - namely, what seat she is seeking - her decision to run is surely a cynical attempt to maintain a public profile and make some money at the same time
- Tough love a hard sell - Janet Albrechtsen exchanges views with David Williamson
Sydney Daily Telegraph:
- RIP Rees and labor - killed by their own incompetence - Simon Benson deeclares this Government’s natural inclination to allow politics, even bad politics, to dominate over good policy shows that not only do they have an image problem they now have a substance problem. Labor in NSW has no story to tell. It has no money. And what principles it once had are rapidly being eroded.
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