Defence keeps public servants waiting? It’s not just ASIO that is hopelessly behind with security clearances. You should ask the Defence Department how many prospective public servants are waiting for security clearances and how long on average are they having to wait …

The relationship behind the bull fight. A group of protesting cows may have descended on Victoria’s parliament house this morning to force the Baillieu government’s hand on alpine grazing but readers should probably be reminded of the background to the debate. Ted Baillieu’s brother-in-law Graeme Stoney (a former Liberal upper house MP) is an executive officer of the Mountain Cattlemen Association, the chief spruikers for the archaic practice that apparently reduces bushfire risk.

This Age story from 2006 on the AWU-aligned Jubb family shows how Robyn Jubb married Ted Baillieu and Wendy Jubb shacked up with Stoney. The rural duo currently run their own “unique accommodation” service outside Mansfield.

Radiating planes bound from Tokyo. Should airlines be scanning their planes for radiation flying between Australia and Japan? Some are, screening passengers, crew, bags and aircraft, but others aren’t. While companies are sending people to Tokyo with personal radiation level monitoring devices but some airlines refuse to …