Wayne Swan discusses his new book, Postcode: The Splintering of a Nation - Rich and poor drifting apart Swan book launches debate on the poor : The richest 10 per cent of Australians enjoy almost half the country's total household wealth
Eye on Politics & Law Lords: Former ABC staffer Stephen Feneley writes at Crikey
Moonlighting as Crikey's media correspondent, Christian Kerr has brought attention to one of the least talked about drawbacks of Aunty dumbing down – the dumber it gets the more it costs.
At the same time as ABC Radio boss Sue Howard is paying big bucks for intellectually light talent on the local network, Radio National is facing a major crisis because of a one million dollar shortfall. Sue Howard controls the budgets for both radio networks.
Here's my suggestion: a salary cap of $150,000 a year for all on-air personalities across all ABC networks (yes, that means a more than 50% cut in pay for you, Kerry). Also, no-one at the ABC should be earning more than the prime minister, which would see Russell Balding taking a dive in pay of more than $100,000. The money saved from those two initiatives would more than solve Radio National's funding crisis and there might even be enough money left over for a much needed boost to the quality of research on the local radio network. This is something the ABC board could insist on. If those suffering a pay cut don't like it, they can leave, which probably would result in the ABC sounding more like the ABC should sound. How likely is it this would ever happen?
• There's probably a better chance of Andrew Bolt being offered a gig on 774 ; David Bowman pays tribute to Allan Ashbolt, who died last week The lion of the ABC [Bizarrely, Australia is giving a generous welcome to Pakistani dictator Pervez Musharraf. This despite a chilling tale from Nicholas Kristof, reporting that Musharraf has just ordered the detention of a gang rape victim who works to raise awareness of violence against women. Full text of the Kristof article over the fold Calling a Dictator a Dictator ; An anti-pokies group has signed up 200 problem gamblers to help challenge the legality of gaming machines in a class-action cas Duty of Care: Class case to battle pokies ]
• · WAYNE Swan is one of the hard men of Labor politics, but writing a book about the distinctly unfashionable subjects of poverty and disadvantage in Australia suggests there is more to him than that Down-home politics ; In recent years governments across the world have retreated from the task of nation-building and creating social justic Hands-off policies betray families; The operation and culture of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs has been condemned Rau report damns department culture ; Detention didn’t deter, argues William Maley Government’s policy has been built on a myth ; Political meddling in the sentencing of criminals is creating all manner of muddle and unfairness Crushed in a pincer of politics and sentiment
• · · Thick vs. Think Tanks John Roskam, new IPA boss ; Deakin University law academic James McConvill criticises the lack of intellectual life at university Delusions of intellectual grandeur ; Tax haven promoter a smooth operator
• · · · Policymakers must do their homework Going With the Flow ; Generation where less is so much more Water prices to rise
• · · · · I have a disclosure. I know Doug Wood. At least I have met Doug a few times many years ago. That on its own put me somewhat closer to his kidnapping than if it had been someone else When evil happens to good people ; The report includes stories of widespread abuse and bullying, rapes, racism, drug use and flawed and inadequate prosecutions and investigations into cases Defence Force justice system under fire ; The military justice system has failed the personnel it is meant to protect and must be fundamentally overhauled, a bipartisan parliamentary committee has found Lid lifted on rank injustice
• · · · · · Tim Blair takes umbrage at a claim by Michael Gawenda that most Americans are creationists Tim Blair - pointy-headed liberal ?; James Surowiecki on how companies prepare for a crisis In Case Of Emergency
