www.breakfastpolitics.com

MONDAY

GONE SURFING...

At Breakfast Politics we're averting our eyes from the unfolding public policy train wreck that is the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme and going on early summer hols. Our view of the CPRS hasn't changed since February. Our Christmas wish is that politicians of all hues might think again and adopt a carbon tax instead: simple, effective, neutral, no rent-seeking & no financial instruments attached! Please. See you in February.

Canberra weather: 36, hot, windy, BoM

Best from the Weekend:
Nick Minchin, a Liberal doing Labor's own work... Laurie Oakes, Herald Sun
Just as hairline cracks had started showing in Rudd, Glenn Milne, Sunday Telegraph
Polling reveals KRudd as our first "pregnant negative" PM, Michelle Grattan, Sun Herald
Public popularity is Rudd's only real asset... Annabel Crabb SMH
But don't confuse that with real authority or power, Paul Kelly, Australian
Bligh thinks Garrett has it in for Queensland, Dennis Atkins, Courier Mail

International:
"World leaders agree to delay a deal on climate change", Helene Cooper NYT
It's official: Copenhagen is a fizzer, Peter Nicholas & Don Lee, LA Times
APEC leaders reject protectionism, AFP/Straits Times
APEC leaders to push for Doha Round deal by end 2010, China Daily
Obama's half-brother: Our father was a wife-beating drunk, David Eimer, Daily Telegraph
Umberto Eco guest curates at the Louvre, Cristina Carrillo De Albornoz, Art Newspaper

Portsea Back Beach: Here's hoping the waves are great over summer & that we all get plenty of them!

 

© Chris Wallace 2009

FRIDAY

Peter Walsh: Rudd an "economic illiterate, egomaniac", Christian Kerr & Matthew Franklin, Australian
"End the jihad on neo-liberalism", Henry Ergas, Australian
Some of Oceanic 78 to accept Australian offer, Stephen Fitzpatrick & Paul Maley, Australian
Offer of settlement in Australia in 4-6 weeks seems to work, Tom Allard & Phillip Coorey SMH
Gillard hangs tough, local Tamils say take the deal, John Ferguson, Herald Sun
Turnbull: Speedy special deal an "act of weakness", Yuko Narushima & Tom Allard, Age
Ruddock: A "diabolical" precedent that will bring more, Samantha Maiden, Courier Mail
Professor: Sri Lankan Navy forcing Tamils to flee in our direction, Amanda Hodge, Australian
"What gain in stopping the boats?" Suvendrini Perera SMH
Bill so far to top $1m today, Sue Dunlevy, Telegraph
MUA gets hate email over asylum seeker support, Brendan Nicholson SMH
Labor, faux tough, Sophie Mirabella, The Punch
"Weak opposition makes Rudd look strong", Laura Tingle AFR
Rudd never actually does anything, John Roskam AFR
Tanner: It's "nonsense" to oppose "Big Australia" concept, Ari Sharp SMH
We might burst at the seams, Andrew Bolt, Herald Sun
The misery behind the exodus, Matt Wade SMH
"Join Oz, NZ - it's for the best", Bernard Lagan SMH
Kiwis are behind the rise in Australia's IQ, Colin Espiner, Christchurch Press
Rudd's federalism plan under strain, Michelle Grattan, Age
Emerson says any move to abolish states will fail, AAP/Herald Sun
Pyne: I didn't call Nick a fruit-loop, Advertiser
WA ALP pushing "failed star"  for Fed seat, Peter van Onselen, Australian
Rudd wants closer military ties with India, Matthew Franklin, Australian 
But says no to uranium sales, Matthew Franklin, Australian
Rudd reassures India over student attacks, Advertiser 
Kevin is the man, Greg Sheridan, Australian 
I reveal my inner hippie, David Gazzard, The Punch
"St Paul's shames uni, church", Richard Ackland SMH
"Colleges don't cause misogyny in young men", Tamzin Byrne, The Punch
Educators split over revealing school rankings, Anna Patty SMH
Gillard: Its opponents want "happy, illiterate, innumerate children", Natasha Bita, Australian 
Was Rudd Government ever serious about changing book import regime? Malcolm Maiden, Age
"Rudd hits wall on reform", David Crowe AFR
Science, child care victims of uni cost cuts, Heath Gilmore SMH 
No-one will invest in new power capacity until carbon price is known, John Daley AFR
Traveston Dam: Put yourself in Garrett's shoes... Tor Hundloe, Courier Mail
Bligh: Feds should pay for Qld desal plants in wake of dam decision, Andrew Fraser, Australian
New Brit High Commissioner surprised we're debating climate change, Jonathon Pearlman SMH 
Rudd insulted you too - 1,300 of you told me so by email, Andrew Bolt, Herald Sun
MUA targets oil & gas sector for big pay, allowance hikes, Ewin Hannan, Australian
Gillard intervenes on Qantas award deal & tells it to start again, Kirsty Needham SMH
Unhappy engineers to hit Qantas, Jetstar with industrial action today, Andrew Heasley, Age
Part-time jobs growth is holding unemployment rate down, David Uren,Australian
Who are these cashed up independent contractors, now 9% of workforce? Ben Schneiders, Age
Job figures will add to rates pressure, West Australian
Economy's resilience a nice surprise, Michael Stutchbury, Australian
Govt has been brilliant at articulating GFC issues, Jessica Irvine SMH
Super review: Funds are failing in their duties to members, Sally Patten & Barrie Dunstan AFR
AMA baulks at 'dob in a doctor' plan, Natasha Wallace SMH
Mistakes will cost doctors pay under new plan put to Roxon, Nick Miller, Age 
Health Ministers push breasts over bottle, Renee Viellaris, Courier Mail
Stimulus package generates mini-boom in art sales to doctors, dentists, Michaela Boland, Australian 
Garrett forces building owners to disclose energy efficiency ratings, Steve Lillebuen, Herald Sun
UN: Australia must do more to head off mass extinctions, Tom Arup SMH
Global RSPCA-equivalent condemns Australia over ritual slaughter, Lorna Edwards, Age
Court denies Betfair access to states' law making process, Joel Gibson SMH
New consumer laws may give strapped homebuyers an out, Imre Salusinszky, Australian
High Court finds freezing of criminal assets in NSW to be illegal, Joel Gibson SMH
Proceeds of crime law mugged, Michael Pelly, Australian 
The judgement, French CJ et al, High Court of Australia
"Law Council in 'power grab'", Chris Merritt, Australian
Government hands over 88 year old war crimes accused Charles Zentai, AAP/SMH
Rudd pressures Dutch to stay on in Afghanistan... Katharine Murphy, Australian 
Declaring we will, Malcom Farr, Telegraph
Pacific states to pressure Rudd for tough greenhouse target, Mark Dodd, Australian 
Smith calls on China to fasttrack Stern Hu case, AAP/West Australian
Smith: International community could do more on Burma, AAP/West Australian
Barnett bans "B(oom)" word but things are picking up in the West, Nicolas Perpitch, Australian
"Bligh spurns mutiny talk", Andrew Fraser, Australian 
Tasmania's Bartlett dives in poll - now at 28% approval, Michael Stedman, Mercury 
NT police raid Nitschke's office, NT News
Aussie doctors in mesothelioma breakthough, Adam Cresswell, Australian 
"From Dreamtime to the big time: Aboriginal artists on the rise", Kellie Hush SMH
Has Ned's noggin finally been found?, Fiona Hudson, Telegraph

Canberra weather: 28, fine, mostly sunny, BoM

International:
Um, is it really a good idea to let Aceh legislate sharia law? Bachtiar Effendy, Jakarta Post  
"Cutting edge incompetence", Yulia Latynina, Moscow Times 
Early Warhol screenprint fetches $US43.7m at auction, Carol Vogel NYT
Intestinal bacteria plays key role in weight gain, Thomas H Maugh II WSJ
Harvard Women's Hockey loses to Clarkson 2-1 in opening home game, Harvard Crimson
"Who reads Paul Auster?" Bill Broun TLS