Labor’s very own cake shop. If the Prime Minister thought she was going to reassure people with her “no carbon tax on petrol for the ordinary people” declaration at the weekend then she should think again.

The idea that Australia will have a dual system of fuel taxation depending on the size of a business running vehicles will become Labor’s equivalent of the Liberal Party’s GST tax on cakes that contributed to the political death of John Hewson.

Talk back radio this morning showed confusion rather than clarity the outcome of Julia Gillard’s initial efforts at explanation.

Putting a roof over heads. Normally it takes a succession of interest rate rises to subdue the growth of the Australian housing industry but not, it appears, this time.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics figures for May show a continuing decline. The trend estimate for total dwellings approved fell 1.2% in the month and is now showing falls for seven months. The seasonally adjusted estimate for total dwellings approved fell 7.9% following a fall of 0.3% in the previous month.

Hardly signs of an economy growing out of control.

No such sign either in the ABS retail sales figures for May that were also released this morning. Australian retail turnover fell 0.6% in May, seasonally adjusted, following a rise of 1.2% the previous month.

Turnover fell in Other retailing (-1.6%), Food retailing (-0.4%), Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (-1.8%), Department stores (-1.4%) and Household goods retailing (-0.2%). Turnover rose in Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (0.4%).

No change tomorrow. With statistics like those today it is no surprise that official interest rates are expected to remain unchanged again when the Reserve Bank Board meets tomorrow.

The probability of no change has increased steadily at Betfair and the Crikey Indicator now rates it as a 96% probability.

Censorship revived. The desire of some politicians to control every aspect of life continues unabated. Last week there was the suggestion by a parliamentary committee to have a classification system in art galleries to stop an occasional person being outraged by a picture. Today comes the news of a proposal for random audits of billboards and sports sponsorship with outdoor advertising deals to be scrutinised  and complaints by people easier to make.

“No one can avoid outdoor advertising,” committee chairman and Labor MP Graham Perrett wrote in the report. “The right to enjoy the amenity of a space should not be compromised by an advertiser’s array of inappropriate images … it is time to reclaim our public spaces.”

The committee recommends the advertising industry continue to self-regulate through its Advertising Standards Board, but warned that it will be closely monitored.

“The committee believes the advertising industry has had many chances to prove that self-regulation works, and asserts that this is the last chance.”

The end remembered. They gathered at Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris yesterday and lit candles on the grave of Jim Morrison to mark the 40th anniversary of his death. The Doors’ keyboard player Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robby Krieger were there remembering the end.

This is the end
Beautiful friend
This is the end
My only friend, the end

Of our elaborate plans, the end
Of everything that stands, the end
No safety or surprise, the end
I’ll never look into your eyes…again

Don’t call them girls games. Anyone who, like me, has been watching the women’s World Cup soccer will never again use the description “girls game” to describe a sporting contest without physical contact. Last night’s game between the Matildas and Equatorial Guinea was a very physical, and often quite spiteful, encounter.

And as for the referee: have a look at this handball incident where Australia was not given a penalty.