Crikey writers Christian Kerr and Stephen Mayne have spread their
wings. Both now write weekly columns in Crikey’s sister publication, The Reader
.

This week in his Reader column Christian Kerr looks at a possible role
for the decimated Democrats in continuing their work as the “lie
detectors” of federal parliament. The Democrats are the proof readers
of Australian politics, and while “dotting the ‘I’s and crossing the
‘T’s” mightn’t be the sexiest slogan, Kerr says it will at least
demonstrate “a more practical, positive focus than the dreams of the
Greens.”

Stephen Mayne wonders where all the new entrepreneurs have gone, and
uncovers the bad news about why Australia has so few successful young
companies. A government licence or soft regulation is all too often the
key to corporate success in Australia, and he argues we need to “break
down the barriers to entry, and facilitate greater competition
throughout an economy increasingly dominated by big corporates.”

If you’d like to get three free sample issues of The Reader
– the magazine that brings its readers ‘intelligence from everywhere’ – click here
. You may get a surprise.