Crean to be PM next week! It’s not the first time we’ve heard this — Mark Kenny wrote on Tuesday he tops a list of replacements. But still seems far-fetched to us. Anyway, we report, you decide:
“An overheard conversation in the Qantas Chairman’s Lounge yesterday between two federal Labor MPs, both ministers, unearthed the startling revelation that Simon Crean will be PM by Wednesday of next week! There was much swearing and dropping of “f” words in a brutally frank discussion on the current state of the federal ALP.”
Sheep processors in Kuwaiti hands? Lots of new information on the foreign land raiders, helped along by Crikey‘s initial look and who’s who yesterday, with Bob Brown yesterday calling for a register of interests. Kuwait may feature prominently; it’s our largest live-sheep export market and, according to one tipster, investors from the Arab nation are buying sheep farms to control the Australian end of the supply chain. We’re investigating — email us your information or anonymous tips.
Privacy concerns at Sydney Uni. Stung badly by the findings of a massive privacy breach this week, we hear the University of Sydney is courting controversy yet again on the privacy front. It’s compelling students who want access to disability services on campus to sign what Crikey hears is a “most extraordinary, almost plenary” consent form, which allows the uni to share personal health information about students. “That places students who desperately need those disability services in a bit of a pickle,” our mole says, “since signing that consent form is a pre-condition of getting those services.” Do you know more?
Not all black and white in paper war. Melbourne’s favourite paper the Herald Sun seems to be making a pitch for readers down the Princes Highway with newsagent posters proclaiming: “Your Geelong newspaper”. So what does News Limited stablemate The Geelong Advertiser think about it? Any tension may have been inflamed this week, says one media watcher, by the Hun‘s publication of a zebra foal picture (left) supplied only to the Geelong tabloid, gazumping new editor Nick Papps‘ idea for a “name that baby” competition (right) for his readers.
Apparently a very unhappy editor has made his views known up the highway where investigations continue. Still, do the papers really compete? Locals tell us the Addy always wins down Geelong way because only it has local movie listings.
Foreign ownership is a very emotional issue as is fracking for gas on prime farmland so watch the Greens vote double overnight as this is a winner. Then watch the lily-livered majors grow a conscience at light speed. The beauty is that if it all ends in tears which it may, they can blame it on the Greens. lol
I have actually been approached by the ALP to take over from Gillard during the winter recess. Can Crikey please report that as its at least as credible as the above tip.
I have it on excellent authority that Tanya Plibersek will be giving up her seat of Sydney to allow Mark Latham back in as an MP. Once there the mighty Mark will marry Clover Moore on a bike path in Kent Street and get a light rail to Mac Fields “shovel ready”.