The Australian

features a report on a new regional pact on greenhouse emissions on
today’s front page. The alliance includes Australia, the US, China,
India and South Korea and is set to replace the controversial Kyoto
climate protocol. Meanwhile Alexander Downer has won an historic
seat at the inaugural ASEAN
East Asia Economic Summit in December after Malaysia and Burma formally
dropped any objections. And a World Bank report obtained by The Oz reveals that East Timor’s government
has been warned to tackle corruption or face civil conflict and raises
concerns over the country’s ability to manage up to $40 million a year
in revenue from the oil-and-gas-rich Timor Sea.

The Sydney Morning Herald
leads with the state premiers’ request that John Howard convene a heads
of government meeting to review Australia’s preparedness to deal with a
terrorist attack, warning that the London bombings mean the prospect of
an attack on home soil “is even more real.” The SMH also reports that Australian banks are considering adopting US style of risk-based pricing for credit cards,
where different consumers pay different rates for the same product
based on their perceived credit risk. And a KPMG report says there is
a “drought” of Australian men in their 30s
caused by skilled young males gravitating to big economies in the
Northern Hemisphere, turning a traditional surplus of 30-something men
into a deficit

The Age
focuses on the decision to stop feeding Maria Korp – the woman in the
car boot – from today, provoking an ethical backlash and opening the way
for a possible murder charge against her husband. The paper also
says the latest annual survey by Graduate Careers Australia reveals
that a university education is now required for lower paying jobs. And consumer groups have attacked the government over its obsession with privatising Telstra and say the public will pay the price for privatisation.

The Herald Sun devotes its front page to the controversy over Mari Korp, “STARVING TO DEATH,” once her life support is withdrawn today. The Hun also
says that more than eight million workers will lose their automatic
right to meal breaks and paid public holidays under the government’s
new industrial relations reforms.

The Daily Telegraph
splashes with the self-confessed Sydney criminal who claims the drugs
seized from Schapelle Corby’s luggage were meant for him and two Qantas workers who checked in Corby’s boogie board bag, will testify there was nothing suspicious about her luggage.

The Courier-Mail
splashes with “Beattie’s power grab” following the Queensland premier’s
move to take over the Treasury portfolio in an effort to end the
turmoil in the Labor Party – making himself the most powerful premier
since Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen. The Advertiser reports
that the state government’s new anti-fortification legislation, to
allow councils to demolish the clubroom fortresses of outlaw motorcycle
clubs, has been labelled “inadequate” by the opposition. The Mercury
reports that Tasmania has been identified as the most homophobic state
in the nation according to a national study of homophobia. And The West Australian
says the state government may be facing a wages blow-out in the public
sector after teachers, police and public service unions said they would
demand a big share of the record $1 billion budget surplus in coming
pay negotiations.