Life after Julia. I would suggest that Crikey contact the back-room power brokers about murmurings and possible manoeuvring to oust our first female PM post-election due to a deficient performance against an average opposition. Unlike others I can assure Crikey, Bill Shorten will not be the chosen one. Look a little further left …

Garrett loves the arts after all. Peter Garrett did push for arts spending as part of the second and third stimulus packages in late 2008 and early 2009, despite what your “Sydney arts insider” said yesterday. A long list of potential projects was prepared, drawing on ideas from DEWHA and those submitted by the states. Budget officials scrutinised it. But it didn’t happen — the PM, Gillard, Swan and Tanner opted to go for stuff that was much bigger and didn’t look so bitsy. Not Garrett’s fault, poor man.

Fairfax report brings change. The Bain and Co investigation into the future structure of Fairfax Media is causing nervous whispers at the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. With the release of the report imminent, CEO Brian McCarthy is expected to use it as an excuse to make a series of sweeping changes across senior management ranks at both papers to stem declines in profits and circulation to reinvigorate Fairfax’s mastheads.

Movement in pharmacy lobby circles. Could it possibly be true? The final three shortlisted candidates for the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia — current burr in the side of the all-conquering Pharmacy Guild of Australia — CEO gig includes former guild executive director Kieran Schneemann? What is the motivation for the not insubstantial, highly placed push for his appointment?

Time for a new strategy. The Brisbane Lions are currently second last on the AFL ladder. Perhaps it’s no surprise they are searching for a new strategist in today’s Australian Financial Review…

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