2UE wants Clover gone. Has Sydney radio 2UE, the ratings-losing shock jock network that has rebranded as a hard-right station this year, launched an on-air jihad against lord mayor Clover Moore? That’s the word from insiders, who say editorial staff have received clear orders from management to go after the independent pollie in the lead-up to the 2012 Sydney City Council elections. The station is on the drip from the NSW Liberals who desperately want to take power at town hall and despise the left-wing, bicycle-loving Moore.

Moore has been in the sights of most 2UE hosts for some time. One example: breakfast attack dog Jason Morrison called her “one piece of work” in a June 30 rant, saying of Sydney: “I happen to dislike the fact that you’re gradually destroying it.” We’re keeping watch; let us know if you hear anything.

Yes, minister on airport traffic. Seems we tipped off federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese’s office last week with rumours of staff shortages at air traffic control in Brisbane. An insider reports calls were made to Airservices Australia, which made its own inquiries at the Brisbane Airport tower: “The rumour suggests the phone call made it all the way down to the one controller who was answering the phone in their capacity as a supervisor, and at the same time manning two separate roles that would normally have been staffed by two air traffic controllers. Short staffed? No minister. Everything is just fine.”

Toll roads seek carbon compo. Will Labor’s carbon tax mean we’ll drive less, even with fuel excluded? At least one toll road operator believes so — apparently it has lined up lawyers and consultants to battle with its state government for compensation. We’re looking into the matter, but tip us off if you know more.

Another Ten Network casualty. Lachlan Murdoch’s broom sweeps again: another senior Ten executives is going, possibly one of the few remaining from the days of Grant Blackley as CEO and Nick Falloon as chairman. Ten’s head of corporate affairs, Jeannette McLoughlin, sent out an email this morning announcing she was departing the network from this Friday.

Qantas gives up the Big Apple? A quiet word from Qantas: apparently the company could drop its New York services altogether, with Jetstar to run exclusively on the Auckland-Los Angeles route.

Carbon tax breaks overstated. A Melbourne tax agent does the sums on the carbon tax:

“The tax-free threshold will be increased from $6000 to $18,200, but the low-income tax offset/rebate will fall from $1500 to $445. The net result: after the change, people on annual incomes of $20,542 will pay no tax; at present, people on annual income of $16,000 pay no tax.

“This real change in tax-free income will be $4542, not the $12,200 the government ($18,200 minus $6,000) is emphasising. They have given with one hand (increased the threshold) but taken away with the other (lowered the income tax offset). But the government has only mentioned publicly the giving, not the taking.”