WAYNE Swan and Malcolm Turnbull will face heated demands to resign today.
Turnbull censured as ute-gate escalates
Federal police are investigating a link between the Treasury official at the centre of the OzCar affair and a former senior adviser in Malcolm Turnbull's office, according to media reports. - the most likely scenario being that a rude Rudd has upset someone so much they made the email to implicate the PM, not knowing he would do that with his defence of Swan. - ed.
'MP's rape victim had breakdown'
A WOMAN who alleges she was raped by senior Victorian MP Theo Theophanous had a breakdown and was admitted to hospital after the incident, a court has heard.
Tragic teenage face of Iran's crisis
A graphic video of young girl dying after being shot through the heart has rallied protesters in Iran and added to the chorus of condemnation of Tehran's crackdown from the West.
Taxpayers foot bill for Fadi Ibrahim's police protection
Taxpayers are reportedly paying $120 an hour for the police protection of shot underworld figure Fadi Ibrahim.
Stamp duty on home loans to be scrapped
STAMP duty on housing loans is set to be abolished in Australia.
Dozens witness terrifying armed robbery
Shots have been fired during a robbery on a cash-in-transit van at North Sydney.
Steve Jobs received liver transplant
Apple CEO Steve Jobs, whose recovery from pancreatic cancer appeared less certain when he had to take medical leave in January, received a liver transplant two months ago but is recovering well.
Record bashings by stressed-out wives
WOMEN are becoming more violent towards their partners using guns, knives, boiling liquids and irons to attack them.
JAIL BIRD: NRL star gets eight months
Shamed NRL star Greg Bird has been jailed for at least eight months for glassing his American girlfriend in the face.
Andrew Symonds tackles footy dream
FORMER Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds has made a surprise club rugby league debut.
Love cheats let fingers do philandering
SHANE Warne isn't the only Australian to land in hot water by texting, with love cheats most likely to be caught out via SMS.
=== Comments ===
AWAIT THE GREAT TAILGATE DEBATE
Tim Blair
Phil Coorey reports:
Godwin Grech, the public servant caught in the political maelstrom over OzCar, was being “looked after” over the weekend, Government sources say. “There were steps taken to make sure he was OK,” a source said.
The Herald has been told Mr Grech was afforded Federal Police protection as well, in the event there were any threats against him.
The Feds know their lefties well. Further from Coorey, whose Taligate analysis is sharp, particularly on matters tactical:
By calling in the Federal Police [to investigate the mysterious Email of Doom], however, Rudd has inadvertently done Turnbull a favour. The investigation gives the Opposition the convenient excuse that it would be inappropriate to comment.
Not that Turnbull himself has displayed tactical brilliance. Today’s Daily Telegraph editorial:
For a lawyer, Turnbull acts with unusual haste when it comes to evidence. Prior to all the facts being in - and without that crucial email - he demanded that both Rudd and Swan stand down …
Turnbull’s rush to a resignation demand reflects badly on his political judgment. At the time of his initial press conference, Turnbull held all the aces and the Government was staring at a hand that looked more like a foot.
The political poker match has now shifted and Turnbull’s bluff is being called. He’s played a potentially winning hand very poorly. For this, Malcolm Turnbull can blame nobody but himself.
Of Godwin Grech, Steve Lewis writes:
Last Friday, on the day the story was published , Mr Grech - appearing distraught and extremely nervous - appeared before a special Senate hearing, to confirm key elements of these allegations.
Yes, he did recall a “short email” from the Prime Minister’s office, surrounding the fate of Mr Grant. His testimony, however, was cut short by his Treasury senior and by a Senate committee chaired by Labor Senator, Annette Hurley.
In the interests of full transparency, Mr Grech should be allowed to deliver his testimony - without being pressured by those fearful about what he may ultimately disclose.
Let the man talk. It might be news to Lindsay Tanner, by the way, that Grech has lately been physically unwell. Ahead of today’s Parliamentary frolics, Gerard McManus chops Tailgate down to essentials:
The Government is trying to turn claims that senior officials had done favors for a friend of the Prime Minister into a question of the existence of one alleged email.
This is despite considerable evidence by Mr Grech and Ford Credit before a Senate committee last week that officials went out of their way to help Mr Grant find finance.
I’ll be in Canberra today – disguised as Mr Car – to watch Question Time. Column tomorrow.
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THEY WANT TO STAY IN WORK
Tim Blair
Meraiah Foley of the New York Times uncovers Australian anxiety:
On the windswept streets of Newcastle, the world’s largest coal port and a hub of Australian heavy industry, people get nervous when asked to give their opinions on climate change.
Sure they do. Newcastle residents are practically as neurotic and jittery as Manhattanites. None are identified, however, nor are their nervous qualities described … so Meraiah fleshes out her piece with words from a Greens senator, a green activist, and this guy:
Chris Beverley, a 52-year-old who works as a security guard at a power station and describes himself as a “greenie vegetarian,” said he supported the government’s plan and “couldn’t give a stuff” if it costs him his job.
But, he added: “Nobody thinks like me. They’re all worried about climate change, but at the same time they want to pay the mortgage, and they want to stay in work.”
Good. They can take Chris’s job.
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HAIL TAILGATE
Tim Blair
Besides providing kilotons of entertainment, Australia’s favourite Gate-suffixed ute scandal is protecting us from carbon laws:
Labor’s plans to have its carbon pollution reduction scheme approved by parliament are certain to be dashed in the final sitting week before the winter break.
Debate on the 11 bills introducing an emissions trading scheme in mid-2011, due to begin on Monday, was to have been the main focus before the six-week break …
But the opposition is expected to direct its focus on using question time in both the Senate and the House of Representatives to drill the government on the OzCar scandal and whether preferential treatment was given to a Brisbane car dealer friend of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
Thank you, Tailgate. Thank you from all of us.
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SOMEONE PLEASE TELL THEM THAT BLUE INDICATES COLD
Tim Blair
British pop trash are painting their faces blue. This apparently means that global warming is real.
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SIGNS OF SYDNEY
Tim Blair
It shouldn’t be necessary to publish a guide that tells people where they live, but have you wandered around Newtown lately? Some of those bunnies don’t even know what country they’re in. A few of them need help narrowing it down to a particular solar system.
So, as a public service to location-puzzled readers, here are your infallible multipoint instructional Top 25 Signs That You Live in Sydney:
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AN INCONVENIENT SHELF
Tim Blair
The Crossword bookstore at Bangalore’s Garuda Mall has Al Gore figured out:
Via Rajan Rishyakaran. Meanwhile, in waterless, incinerated Sydney:
Sydneysiders can again use sprinklers and watering systems, with rising dam levels prompting the NSW government to lift tough water restrictions …
NSW Water Minister Phil Costa said the new rules end five years of tough drought restrictions …
And five years of warming alarmism.
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