www.breakfastpolitics.com

FRIDAY

Brumby takes it up to Rudd in health stoush, Misha Schubert & David Rood, Age
Premiers want Henry Report before playing ball on health, Matthew Franklin, Australian
Abbott's parental leave plan "smacks a little of Medicare Gold", Michelle Grattan, Age
I don't care. I like his plan. Sue Dunlevy, Telegraph 
It's a calculated grab for the women's vote, Dennis Shanahan, Australian
Abbott will let Rudd's parental leave bill pass, Phillip Coorey SMH
Rudd: Get out of my road, Tony, Matthew Franklin, Australian
"Where are the women warriors on paid maternity leave?" Sophie Mirabella, The Punch
Tony's policy announcement took me - and others - by surprise, Elaine Henry, The Punch
Pull the trigger, Kevin, Jessica Irvine SMH
Rudd will be re-elected, but Labor v Greens will be interesting, Nick Dryenfurth, Australian
Rudd & Abbott both choose big business & premiers as whipping boys, AFR
I find Tony nearly as stimulating as Lara Bingle, Rocco SMH
What do Peter Slipper & Lara Bingle have in common? Samantha Maiden, Australian
"Boffa's biff over trash talking Tony", Jacqueline Maley SMH
Is it really so hard to negotiate, people? Sarah Hanson-Young, Australian
Rudd's trying to paint Abbott as negative & nay-saying, Dennis Shanahan, Australian
Hockey hits out at security camera privacy encroachments, Phillip Hudson, Herald Sun
Maurice Newman has raised legitimate questions about media bias, Geoff Elliott, Australian
Robyn Williams: Newman is wrong, Amanda Meade, Australian  
RBA: Banks are coining it, Eric Johnston, Age
"Stimulus drove up interest rates", David Uren, Australian
Watch out! It's raining free hot water systems, Katie Bice & Ben Packham, Herald Sun
"Govt's free hot water system program...a disaster", Padraic Murphy & Katie Bice, Herald Sun
210,000 households waiting for green reward cards...keep waiting, Phillip Hudson, Herald Sun
"PM wastes our billions", Andrew Bolt, Herald Sun
Cost of batt fix to be covered from within batt budget, Phillip Coorey SMH
Opposition begins pursuit of Rudd over batt mess, Tom Arup, Age
Swan: We can't know precisely how much clean up will cost, Phillip Hudson, Herald Sun
But certain that clean-up is going to cost very bucks, Renee Viellaris, Courier Mail
UN is to review its own climate body, Leigh Dayton, Australian
Telstra split bill may fall over in Senate, Elizabeth Knight SMH
Conroy will press ahead even if Telstra doesn't do commercial NBN deal, AFR
Scientology 1, Senate nil, Damien Murphy SMH
Govt may tighten rules on ex-minister lobbyists, AFR
Dead man is on this month's SA election ballot paper, Dennis Atkins, Courier Mail
What next in Adelaide? Abolition of the right to silence? Richard Ackland SMH
Women still not rated as highly as men at the bar, AFR
Teachers give new national curriculum a "D", Anna Patty SMH
IFSA study: Mothers end up with worse super, Lucy Battersby, Age
Adding super to paid parental leave would help, Lema Samandar, Herald Sun 
I'd like corporate Australia to pay their fair share of tax, Jo-anne Schofield, The Punch
ACCC: Sydney Airport is a shocking price-gouger, Andrew West & Matt O'Sullivan SMH
Tullamarine exploiting you on parking fees, too, Ari Sharp, Age
There are a few Brumbys on the public payroll, Stephen McMahon, Herald Sun
Qld LNP MPs chugalug as bill debated, Steven Wardill, Courier Mail
It's goodbye to tie-dyes for Tassie Greens, Sue Neales, Mercury
Hurley gives evidence at Doomadgee inquest, Peter Michael, Courier Mail
Hurley: I fell, Tony Koch, Australian
"Remote housing initiative at crisis point", Natasha Robinson & Lex Hall, Australian
HMAS Sirius gets zapped by Warramunga, Cameron Stewart, Australian
Jakarta's people smuggling laws could be years off, Stephen Fitzpatrick & Mark Dodd, Australian
"Israel keeps stretching the friendship", Paul McGeough SMH
Mossad faking passports? Big woop... Alan Dershowitz, Australian
Britain to go to the polls on May 6, Paola Totaro, Age
Sydney's Norrie officially recognised as androgynous by NSW Govt, Joel Gibson SMH
Exercisers: Mix it up or get injured, Reuters/SMH
Hazlenut shortbread melts, mmm... Rochelle Smith, West Australian
Clarke's behaviour shows he's exactly right to captain Australia, Kate Seear, Age
Gough & Comrade Malcolm. Oh brother... Jason Steger, Age
Madge, Lourdes to launch "Material Girl" fashion label, AAP/West Australian 
Laura Davies has "perfect start" at Australian Open: a five-under-par 68, Andrea Petrie, Age
Art's the thing, as NGA's Paris blockbuster shows us, Alison Rehn, Telegraph

Canberra weather: 21, partly cloudy, BoM

International:
SBY gets standing ovation in Australian parliament, Jakarta Post
Thaksin's family leave Bangkok ahead of supporters' rally, Bangkok Post
Forbes Rich List: Only US now has more billionaires than China, China Daily
Jackson re-signs with Seattle Storm, oursportscentral.com
What the History channel pays for programming , Peter Hamilton, documentarytelevision.com
"The art park that rivals MoMA", Judith H Dobrzynski, The Art Newspaper

THURSDAY

Ministers pound Abbott over Senate obstruction, Michelle Grattan, Age
Labor Famous Five wheeled out to whack Abbott, Phillip Coorey SMH
Rudd Govt is at war with Senate, Phillip Hudson, Herald Sun
Truth is, Labor could get parental leave bill through any time it wants, Misha Schubert, Age
Dutton: Govt could've got dental plan up, too, if not so stiff-necked, Mark Metherell SMH
Given My School, My Uni, My Hospital...why not My MP? Stefanie Balogh, Courier Mail
Abbott's parental leave plan could cost big firms as much as ETS... Lenore Taylor & Jacob Saulwick SMH
And women workers may suffer employer backlash from it, Julia Thornton, The Punch
Could it make companies not want to employ women? Daniela Elser, The Punch
One man's "great big new tax" is another's "modest levy", Caroline Overington, Australian
Tony torso alert: "mate, the fur has to go", Barry Doyle, NT News  
Govt gives small country footy team 17 hot water units. Why? Padraic Murphy & Katie Bice, Herald Sun
Sporting organisations must fix under-representation of women, Kim Toffoletti, Age
Gillard backs ASU gender pay gap test case, AAP/Mercury
Be a Blackburn, not a Bingle, Jill Singer, Herald Sun
SBY: Let's drop our negative stereotypes, Phillip Coorey & Hamish McDonald SMH
SBY confronts "obsolete stereotypes", Paul Kelly, Australian
Straight talking SBY, Peter Hartcher SMH
Down with "preposterous mental charicatures", Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Age
Things you didn't know about SBY: He's an accomplished crooner... Damien Murphy SMH 
And does a nice line in self-deprecation, Samantha Maiden, Australian
SBY to make peoplesmuggling an offence, Katharine Murphy, Age
Rudd to make clemency plea personally over Bali 9 drug runners, Ben Packham, Herald Sun
The Canberra press gallery is hopeless, Greg Sheridan, Australian
Maurice Newman: Media (incl ABC) suffers from groupthink, Julian Lee, Age
ABC Chair Newman puts journos on notice: Be open, Amanda Meade & Geoff Elliott, Australian
Brumby to feds: Here's a plan to solve doctor shortage, Paul Austin & Misha Schubert, Age
The Rudd-Brumby hospitals fight is crazy, Paul Austin, Age
Rudd's "half-pregnant" hospital plan, Arthur Sinodinos, Australian
Unfortunately, marginal tax rate cuts are out of fashion, Robert Carling, Australian
Isobel Redmond fluffed her Canberra trip yesterday, Dennis Atkins, Courier Mail 
Redmond's dawn raid on Canberra backfires, Mark Kenny, Advertiser 
Rich schools (like Radford) get crisis dough but poorest NT schools don't. Huh? Justine Ferrari, Australian
Combet: Foil fix to cost up to $100m, Tom Arup, Age
Environmental benefits of insulation scheme overstated in first place, Hedley Thomas, Australian
Wong outlines green loan problems, Nicola Berkovic, Australian
(Foolishly) I believe only nuclear power can save us, James Hansen, Australian  
Telstra split bill reaches Senate, Ari Sharp, Age
33 top river scientists agree on what should happen with Murray... Peter Ker, Age
As Lib-Nat split emerges over river takeover referendum, Lenore Taylor & Phillip Coorey SMH
Best rains in desert for 30 years, Nicky Phillips SMH
DEEWR: Howard's welfare-to-work changes failed in key respects, Adele Horin SMH
Darwin about to host Christmas Island spillover, Yuko Narushima, Age
On duty NT cop charged with drunk driving - in a police car, Daniel Bourchier, NT News
265 visa apps rejected over rogue regime links, Mark Dunn, Herald Sun
RBA: House prices to continue rising until supply constraints fixed, Peter Martin, Age
"Renovation boom masks shortage of new houses", Michael Stutchbury, Australian
"Homelessness is a complex problem", Lindsay Tanner SMH
Investors think deals like NAB-AXA make banks too powerful, Adele Ferguson, Age
"Super funds lash out at Labor reform agenda", AFR
Auditor-General: ADF armaments include a lot of fizzers, Dan Oakes, Age
Don't go to Bangkok this weeked - big demos forecast, Ben Doherty, Age
I'm so glad "The Hurt Locker" won at the Oscars, Miranda Devine SMH
Oh dear, Sarko & Carla both rumoured to be having affairs, Herald Sun
About your moody adolescent... Julie Robotham SMH

Canberra weather: 21, mostly sunny, BoM

International:
"Rudd seeks redemption from Susilo visit", John Lee, New Straits Times
Good governance found wanting at IMF, Kevin Rafferty, Japan Times
"Family leaps to death after losing asylum bid", Alexandra Odynova, Moscow Times
Yeats & Oedipus, Michael Silk TLS
Alexander McQueen's Hieronymous Bosch-inspired last hurrah, Suzy Menkes NYT
A fruity selection of Anglo-French sledges & snubs, Stephen Clarke, Times

WEDNESDAY

High five, Tony! Parental leave plan would make us a top taxer, Michael Stutchbury, Australian
A generous view: Abbott has made the govt look stingy, Peter Van Onselen, Australian
"Internationally groundbreaking": is that what you really wanted, Tony? Stephen Lunn, Australian
Abbott has trashed the Liberal brand, Peter Hartcher SMH
Uh oh: "Sometimes it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission", Phillip Coorey SMH
Did someone mention Mark Latham? Yes, Lenore Taylor SMH
Plus Mao. Plus Maggie, Malcolm Farr, Daily Telegraph
Abbott defends plan & apologises in one breath, Matthew Franklin, Australian
Abbott makes Barnaby Joyce sound sensible, Michelle Grattan, Age
This suggests Abbott thinks he can't win, Shaun Carney, Age
Unions, Greens, women lavish praise on Abbott, Misha Schubert, Age
Tony (goes rogue) in Wonderland, Tony Wright, Age
How did Tony blow it? Let me count the ways, Andrew Bolt, Herald Sun
Senate could derail current parental leave plan, Phillip Hudson, Herald Sun
Time to reform incentives for all parents, working & stay at home, Jessica Brown, Australian
Try appealing to parents, not just women, Leslie Cannold, Age
Superannuation did not bankrupt us: nor will parental leave, Julia Perry SMH
Business now has to choose lesser of two evils, Peter Van Onselen, Australian
Abbott & Rudd both leave colleagues in the dark, Dennis Shanahan, Australian
PM "throws billions to the wind", Malcolm Turnbull SMH
Health rebate defeat provides another poll trigger, Sid Maher, Australian
SBY won't support Rudd's Asia vision..., Mark Dodd, Australian
Despite receiving one of Australia's highest honours, Kirsty Needham SMH
Indonesia can take tough talk on Papua, Marc Purcell, Age
Bali bomb suspect may be dead, Stephen Fitzpatrick, Australian
"Job ads rise signals slump is over", David Uren, Australian
Booming jobs market bad news for borrowers, Peter Martin SMH
Insulation debacle has cost at least 1500 jobs, Tom Arup SMH
Now MPs fear Rudd's social housing juggernaut, Royce Millar, Age
Union strike rate has tripled in a year, Amanda O'Brien, Australian
Unions outsource their own recruitment, Ewin Hannan, Australian
NSW won't sign hospitals deal before Henry tax review, Matthew Franklin, Australian
For any credibility, govt must release Henry tax review now, Paul Kelly, Australian
Small is beautiful, Ross Gittins SMH
Maths & science studies at a dangerous nadir, Luke Slattery & Nicholas Perpitch, Australian
VCs spooked by govt's uni regulator plans, Andrew Trounson, Australian
Glitch could render 6000 student visas invalid, Bernard Lane, Australian
"Stop calling them dodgy colleges"..., Mike Riddiford, Australian
Alright: shonky colleges should be axed, Andrew Trounson, Australian
Actually one in five colleges are visa factories, Dan Harrison, Age
School principals want govt to turn on new computers, Pia Akerman & Nicolas Perpitch, Australian
Diggers may take over Dutch command in Afghanistan, Ian McPhedran, Herald Sun
Faulkner goes to war on Defence extravagance, Linton Besser & Dan Oakes SMH
Defend your country & get a boob job too, Linton Besser SMH
How does Defence get so much money to spend? Mark Thomson SMH
US & EU beef about import delays, Nicola Berkovic, Australian
Ex-Lib MP admits drought relief is life support for some terminal cases, Matthew Franklin, Australian
Farmers hail autumn rains in NSW, Vic, Paul Sellars et al, Weekly Times
Don't dismiss the Top End water dreamers, Paul Murray, West Australian
Midwives still fighting to save homebirths, Kate Benson SMH
Yet another love letter to Julia Gillard, Andrew Bolt, Herald Sun
Qld scraps solar scheme for being too popular, Sean Parnell, Australian
Bligh wins unwanted praise, Steven Wardill & Brian Williams, Courier-Mail
SA parties scrap for the underdog tag, Michael Owen, Australian
SA voters ready to give Rann a fright, Dennis Atkins, Courier-Mail
Labor MP Jodie Campbell drops assault charge, Nick Clark, Mercury
Dubai assassins steal another Australian identity, Rick Fenely et al SMH
Keating lashing "shocks" property developers: what did they expect? Vikki Campion & Edith Bevan, Daily Telegraph
NSW artists must pay for bureaucrats to censor their work, Andrew Clennell SMH
China insults Robert Dessaix, Jason Steger, Age
A plea: keep religion out of politics, all of you, David Penberthy, Punch
Pup must choose: love or leadership, Peter Roebuck SMH

Canberra weather: 21, fine mostly sunny, BoM

International:
Icelanders should not have to pay back European savers, Der Spiegel
Muslims must not smoke, says Indonesia's biggest Muslim group, Arghea Desafti Hapsari, Jakarta Post
Saudi women have more to fight for than head coverings, Maha Akeel, Qatar Morning Post
Thanks for the US$45 billion: now cough up, Citibank says, David Lazarus, LA Times
Steve Martin vs Alec Baldwin: who won? Eric Spitznagel, Vanity Fair

TUESDAY

"Our shared destiny", Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono & Kevin Rudd, Age
Indon PM arrives today: drugrunners' families hope for clemency, Kirsty Needham, Age
So do 240 asylum seekers stuck in Indon port, Yuko Narushima, Age
No deal yet on asylum seekers though, Brendan Nicholson, Australian
Indonesia has defied the doomsayers, Peter Hartcher, Age
Thai PM likely to cancel Australian trip, Ben Doherty, Age
Time to revive the international community, Bruce Grant, Age
PM's plan for Obamas: fun & furry animals, Phillip Hudson, Herald Sun
Plus some heavy talk on what Diggers can do, Rafael Epstein, Age
Defence spends billions on gyms, furniture, relaxation, Linton Besser SMH
Spending is out of control, despite promises, Linton Besser SMH
Defence accounts list unaccounted "stuff", Linton Besser, Age
Newspoll: SA Libs level with Labor on 50-50 2PP, Michael Owen, Australian
Mike Rann will stop staying sorry & starting getting feisty, David Nason, Australian
Pregnant with a job? You could earn up to $75K, Phillip Coorey & Jacob Saulwick SMH
Abbott's surprising family stance: cash, but not for all, Matthew Franklin, Australian
Unions don't believe it, Christian Kerr et al, Australian
Nor do Abbott's coalition colleagues, Samantha Maiden, Australian
Abbott: "It's pro-family, pro-child, pro-mother", ABC Lateline
"No new taxes" was last month's promise, Ben Schneiders & Michelle Grattan, Age
Converted ladies' man will soak the rich, Phillip Hudson, Herald Sun
Big spending will hurt Abbott, Michelle Grattan, Age
At least we have consensus on paid maternity leave, Peter Hartcher SMH
ACTU brings back Tragic Tracy, Dennis Atkins, Courier-Mail
Union IR campaign is a smokescreen for Rudd's failures, Malcolm Colless, Australian
Abbott unlikely to change views on homosexuality, Matt Johnston, Herald Sun
Howard: Abbott does not take himself seriously & that's a Good Thing, David Penberthy, Daily Telegraph
Abbott really does have people skills, Gerard Henderson, Age
PM should learn from his least favorite economist, Oliver Marc Hartwich, Australian
Rudd still has ticker, & that's official, Phillip Hudson, Herald Sun
Belinda Neal is disappointed but defiant, Phillip Coorey & Saffron Howden SMH
Govt reinstates beef imports ban over mad cow fears, Nicola Berkovic, Australian
Meateaters determine govt policy, Alison Rehn, Daily Telegraph
Meat-eating talkback radio listeners, Jacob Saulwick SMH
Family Court allows 11 yo girl to be sterilised, Caroline Overington, Australian
Welfare management should be a voluntary step, Clare Martin, Australian
Growth is just as risky as last year's crisis, Michael Stutchbury, Australian
Rudd hits the road to sell hospitals plan, Matthew Franklin, Australian
Nursing homes side with states on health plan, Adam Cresswell, Australian
Victoria wants billions of dollars for hospitals, Paul Austin & Michelle Grattan, Age
Tas Premier is already spending health money, Matthew Denholm, Australian
PM's hospitals plan critical for Tas Labor's future, Matthew Denholm, Australian
Dodgy college crackdown due for release today, Andrew Trounson, Australian
Dubious schools will pay higher levies under plan, Dan Harrison, Age
Rain & prudence may delay Qld desal plant, Sean Parnell & Sarah Elks, Australian
Qld waters rise yet restrictions could remain, Steven Wardill, Courier-Mail
NSW Libs in-fighting this week directed at leader, Adam Walters, Daily Telegraph
WA union wants disabled pupils out of classrooms, Bethany Hiatt, West Australian
Bigelow wins Oscars for best movie, not best woman, Karl Quinn, Age
Why ethnic minorities succeed (a theory), Tim Colebatch, Age
John Howard can be the world's best umpire, Ross Brundrett, Herald Sun
Pup & cricket the latest victims of the fool Fevola, Will Swanton SMH

Canberra weather: 22, fine partly cloudy, BoM

International:
Australians in post-war Japan, with some credulous assertions, Jeff Kingston, Japan Times
Could modern theatre even consider the ambiguities of war? No, David Aaronovitch, Times
Why the blue people didn't win, Alex Ben Block, Hollywood Reporter
Plagiarism is good - for Oscars frocks, Karl Raustiala & Chris Sprigman NYT
Mulled wine's health claims, JoongAng Ilbo

MONDAY - IWD/Canberra Day/Labour Day edition

Congratulations Canberra Capitals, WNBL Champions for a record 7th time!

Full Breakfast Politics will be served tomorrow morning. Meantime, the latest Age/Nielsen Poll is the only political story you can't live without. It's International Women's Day. Read Caroline Overington on the 40th anniversary of Germaine Greer's The Female Eunuch - and, of course, Germaine Greer herself on how she wishes TFE had been succeeded by "a tide of better books".

Then immerse in reports of two brilliant sporting contests from the weekend: a history-making WNBL final in Melbourne (the lead changed 23 times) and historic Australian Ladies Masters title at Royal Pines in Queensland. Be inspired. Get off the couch, get fit and take action - personal, social, political, environmental - today!

Canberra weather: 24, showers, clearing later, BoM

Best from the Weekend:
Canberra Capitals becomes the winningest team in WNBL history, Davin Sgargetta SMH
"It sent the crowd into raptures..." Chris Dutton CT 
How to beat the Boomers, Carrie Graf CT
Caps Grand Final gallery, CT
Karrie Webb wins record 7th Australian Ladies Masters title, Mike Wood, Australian
Gutsy Katherine Hull comes second - again, Peter Stone SMH

International:
Australian pol declares taxpayer bucks for Jackson "a sound investment", Jayda Evans, Seattle Times
"Webb blows away field at ANZ Ladies Masters", Seattle Post Intelligencer
Hull: Webb played "flawless golf", Dennis Passa AP
IWD: "How far have we got?" Emily Dugan, Independent
Bangladeshi men in IWD protest over acid attacks against women, Daily Star
"Women can & must be allies", Patricia L Hunter, Seattle Times