www.breakfastpolitics.com

FRIDAY

Harry falls on his sword for the good of the party, Peter Hartcher SMH
Not pretty but lethally effective Gillard move secures Labor in office, Michelle Grattan, Age
"Now the Slipper's on the other foot", Laura Tingle AFR
It's effectively given Labor two more votes on the floor of the House, Dennis Atkins, Courier Mail
The killing season claims Tony's hopes of toppling minority Gillard Govt, Mark Kenny, Advertiser
Lib turncoat secures Labor "in an embarrassing blow to Tony Abbott", Simon Benson, Telegraph
Gillard powerplay "has fireproofed her government", Michelle Grattan & Katharine Murphy, Age
"It's a masterstroke", Phillip Hudson, Herald Sun
Gillard Govt is now likely to go full term - the PM's had a great month! Graham Richardson, Telegraph
"Labor goes into next year breathing a lot easier", Phillip Coorey SMH
"As far as gamechangers go, they don't come much bigger", Simon Benson, Telegraph
Labor's chances of serving full 3 year term increase dramatically, Phillip Coorey & Lenore Taylor SMH
"The realignment has shaken the opposition", Matthew Franklin, Australian
"The Liberals aren't laughing", Alison Rehn, Telegraph
The LNP's contribution to Slipper's defection is considerable, Steven Scott & Anna Caldwell, Courier Mail
"Bowing out with a bang: the inside story", Geoff Kitney & Laura Tingle AFR
Lib turncoat likes his perks, Steve Lewis, Telegraph
Harry returns with honour to his second family, Michael Gordon, Age
"Speaker trick an oldie but a goodie for Labor", Anne Twomey SMH
It was nearly Speaker Oakeshott, Daniel Flitton, Age
There's always a Qld rat in the ranks, George Megalogenis, Australian
Wilkie still has high hopes for pokies bill, AAP/Mercury
Outgoing CBA chief: Get ready for GFC II, Liz Knight & Eric Johnston, Age
Consumers must've sensed it - retailers expect grim Xmas, Michael Evans & Eli Greenblat, Age
Yes, people are stuffing cash under mattresses, Malcolm Maiden, Age
Labor must withdraw its new Indigenous truancy bill, Pat Turner, Age
Gillard doesn't rate highly in Pommie PM's Xmas card list (we're devastated), AAP/Age
OECD: A carbon price is essential to combat global warming, David Wroe, Age
Unhappy Labor ex-Premier: My sister has to cancel her Lisbon lesbian marriage plans, Rachel Wells, Age
"Former Labor MP sacked from water buyback agency", Royce Millar, Age
BOF imposes political reality on his cabinet over power sell-off, Andrew Clennell, Telegraph
Opposition applies pressure over Australia Network decision, Christian Kerr, Australian
On free speech, Kyle Sandilands & the media inquiry, Richard Ackland SMH
Phone hacking trigger "intense anxiety & paranoia" in Siena Miller, inquiry told, Bloomberg/Age
It took a year but TGA finally bans shonky diet nasal spray, Julia Medew, Age
Carrots & sticks get bigger in push to get children fully immunised, Mark Metherell SMH
Greens & Coalition: Stop pursuing Medicare-rorting dentists, Mark Metherell SMH
"Teacher reward scheme slashed", Jewel Topsfield, Age
"Pacific women suffer in terrible silence", Virginia Haussegger, Age
Krygyzstan Pres: Afghan economy could collapse after troop withdrawal, Rick Gladstone, Age
PM to induct Kylie into ARIA Hall of Fame, Kathy McCabe, Telegraph

Canberra weather: 18, rain at times, BoM

International:
Things to be happy about, Charles Kenny, Foreign Policy
"Fifteen things political junkies should be thankful for", Jonathan Bernstein, New Republic
Menopause - it's AWESOME! Roseanne Barr, Daily Beast
"Children of the Hyphens", Rebecca Tuhus-Dubrow NYT
"New speaker in Australian parliament strengthens Labor's grip on office", AP/Guardian
"Wei-diplomacy", An Baijie, China Daily

THURSDAY

Harry Jenkins resigns as Speaker, Ben Packham, Australian
Slipper to step up into role (bring back the wig & robe, Pete), ABC Online
Four years ago today John Howard & his govt went down the gurgler, Phillip Hudson, Herald Sun
Abbott, who should be on top of the world, is looking like a One Trick Tony, Steven Scott, Courier Mail
MRRT is a "Very Big Achievement" though Gillard again muffs clean delivery, Dennis Atkins, Courier Mail
WA will escape mining tax royalty claw back, Katharine Murphy, Age
MRRT will require further work down the track, Elizabeth Knight SMH
A standalone WA would be one of world's Top 50 economies, Shane Wright, West Australian
Coalition frontbenchers citing sovereign risk ought to wash their mouths out, Mark Dreyfus SMH
"4th people smuggler's boat in 3 days has carried the 701st passenger this month", Kirsty Needham, Age
"Kevin Rudd...a blinking meerkat in a purple tie", Katharine Murphy, Age
GQ names Adam Bandt Politician of the Year, Jacqueline Maley SMH
Sinodinis calls for a "big Australia", Phillip Coorey SMH
Bill Kelty: Unions have to accept that super isn't a "free good", Matthew Franklin, Australian
"I am woman, hear me roar...except in the boardroom", Kristy McSweeney, The Punch
"Homophobic legislation is out of date", Jane Fynes-Clinton, Courier Mail
"Fluoro pink drag queen scales high-rise", Megan Palin, NT News
ACMA: Alan Jones breached radio code with factual inaccuracies & bias, AAP/Telegraph
Holden cancels Sandilands sponsorship after on-air mauling of female journalist", Deborah Snow, Age
Hate speech Exhibit A: Kyle Sandilands, Miranda Devine, Telegraph
"Sack bloody Kyle Sandilands. Lance the boil." Tory Shepherd, The Punch
O'Chee News Ltd claims in US lawsuit against company, Dylan Welch, Age
Elle Macpherson aide's "life ruined" by phone hacker, James Robinson & Lisa O'Carroll, Age
"James Murdoch quits UK newspaper boards", Emma Alberici, ABC Online
Mockridge replaced James Murdoch on the boards, Reuters/Age
Tim Flannery, Ray Hadley stoush simmers, Joe Hildebrand, Telegraph
"Fresh corruption claims rattle RBA", Richard Baker & Nick McKenzie, Age
Auditor-General to examine awarding of Australia Network contract, Daniel Flitton, Age
Melbourne Uni trims jobs, Andrew Trounson, Australian
We have to think differently about universities, Ed Byrne, Age
Expert reaction to Ed Byrne's uni argument, Matthew Thompson, The Conversation
UQ academic: VC should step down immediately over enrolment scandal, Des Houghton, Courier Mail
Prof Michelle Simmons named NSW Scientist of the Year, Deborah Smith SMH
Alan Joyce unavailable for further Senate committee questions, Kelly Burke & Matt O'Sullivan SMH
Sheldon flags possibility of more industrial action at Qantas, Jessica Wright & Kelly Burke, Age
BOF wants to sell generators, keep poles & wires, Andrew Clennell & Kate Sikora, Telegraph
Parl committee calls for Washington monument guidelines to be adopted by Canberra, Ross Peake CT
"Australia's Jews urged to take a more critical line", Barney Zwartz, Age
"Gillard bows to US on submarines", AFR
Woody Allen & Mia Farrow's son Ronan is a Clinton adviser, Matt Buchanan & Scott Ellis SMH
Almost exclusively male PNG parliament reserves 22 seats for women, Jo Chandler, Age
We were right to go into Afghanistan but now it's time to go, Tom Switzer, Age
Greens call for kitty curb, Meryl Naidoo, Mercury
Michael O'Connell, Australia's lost modernist, Rosemary Sorensen, Australian
The biographical turn in film, Mick Lasalle, Age
"The joy of bad sex", Paul Sheehan, Age
"Lazy", Sam de Brito, Age

Canberra weather: 19, possible shower developing, BoM

International:
"Marines in Darwin: Trashing the Lombok Treaty", Duncan Graham, Jakarta Post
Daniel Radcliffe: "Celebrity is horrible", Telegraph
"Murdoch's News Corp accused of trying to bribe Australian senator", AP/Guardian
Starbucks baristas mutiny over having to clean toilets, Anne Barnard NYT
What Icelandic waitresses can teach us about the GFC, John Lanchester NYRB
Darkness has fallen in Athens, James Meek LRB

WEDNESDAY

Greens do deal on mining tax, but states will miss out, Phillip Coorey SMH
Mining tax passed House very early this morning, Phillip Hudson, Herald Sun
Govt will somehow claw back $20 million a year to pay for Andrew Wilkie, Katharine Murphy, Age
WA affronted by independent attack on royalties, Gareth Parker et al, West Australian
Why mining matters (& it really does), Ross Gittins, Age
Mining tax now becomes Tony Abbott's problem, Annabel Crabb, The Drum/ABC Online
"Gillard: from tatters to a purple patch", Laura Tingle AFR
Purple? More like mauve, Andrew Bolt, Daily Telegraph
Despite their lead, some Libs are "a little toey", Dennis Atkins, Courier-Mail
Abbott under fire from his own backbench, again, for policy on the run, Phillip Coorey SMH
"Tony Abbott testy as MPs want say", Phillip Hudson, Herald Sun
Abbott told to "tone down negativity", Simon Benson, Daily Telegraph
Consultation? Bah, humbug! AAP/West Australian
Police investigate Bill O'Chee's claim of News Ltd pressure for vote, Dylan Welch SMH
Ex-Labor MPs windfall from Vic Labor's water loophole, Royce Millar, Age
Senator Arthur Sinodinos to give his first speech today, AAP/West Australian
PM's next test: Make uranium attractive to women, Malcolm Farr, The Punch
TWU won't rule out further strike action at Qantas, Jessica Wright & Kelly Burke, Age
Twitter provides perfect forum for disgruntled Qantas customers, Nic Christensen, Australian
NSW police take to the streets for IR campaign, Anna Patty SMH
Serco docked $15 million for poor management, but will hardly dent their fees, Kirsty Needham, Age
Barack Obama has locked in the Left, Peter Costello, Age
Clive Palmer says Obama visit a "poke in the eye" for our real ally, Peter Ker, Age
Australia to train a crack new marine force, Nick Butterly, West Australian
Defence should probably learn to use Google, Fiona Hudson, Herald Sun
Brendan Nelson, our man in Brussels, Peter Wilson, Australian
Are women really racing against time, or do they work smarter? Bettina Arndt SMH
Canberra can look forward to a Summernats Parade, Michael Inman & Christopher Knaus, Canberra Times
Tasmanian visits Canberra, Tony Wright SMH

Canberra weather: 20, possible shower, BoM

International:
South Africa has new secrecy laws, some of the world's toughest, Charlayne Hunter-Gault, New Yorker
SA media is running its own campaign against the bill, Verashni Pillay, Mail & Guardian
News Ltd inquiry hears from its first real celebrity victim, Sarah Rainey, Telegraph
Canada rejects breast screening, mammograms for women in 40s, Rosie Mestel, LA Times
Thailand's first female PM should be less ladylike, more mum-like (i.e. organised), Prapai Krasornkovit, Bangkok Post

TUESDAY

"Julia Gillard overtakes Tony Abbott as preferred PM", Phillip Hudson, Herald Sun
Labor clinches mining tax, Phillip Coorey & Ben Cubby SMH
It's another notch on Gillard's "decision & delivery" year belt, Michelle Grattan, Age
Everyone's claiming their share of the mining tax win, Jacqueline Maley SMH
We Greens still have a few thoughts on the mining tax, Sarah Hanson-Young, Age
I don't agree with Paul Cleary's book on the mining boom, Stephen Kirchner, The Conversation
Feds seek to bring NSW into line on mining royalty, carbon tax moves, Simon Benson et al, Telegraph
WA could get some attention on the same score, Shane Wright & Andrew Probyn, West Australian
Albo to announce sensible reform of truckies pay & conditions, Phillip Hudson, Herald Sun
"Rich nations give up on climate treaty", Fiona Harvey, Age
I'm not giving up on gay marriage, Elizabeth Skinner, Age
Rare bipartisanship between Gillard & Abbott continues on Afghanistan, Michelle Grattan, Age
Tony offers a few suggestions on spending cuts for govt mini-budget, Richard Willingham, Age
NSW A-G Greg Smith describes Daily Tele & 2GB audience in plain words, Andrew Clennell, Telegraph
"Norwegian mass killer 'no madder than John Howard'" - playwright, Aleks Devic, Herald Sun
The developer, the Obeids & Eric Roozendaal's very good Honda deal, Kate McClymont SMH
Bligh-Newman debate will be interesting on Friday, Dennis Atkins, Courier Mail
Latest poll shows Tassie Labor still down in the dumps, David Killick, Mercury
Dysfunctional federal-state relations are stopping many problems being solved, George Williams SMH
Qantas dispute: It's over to the umpire now, Kelly Burke et al SMH
"Setback for unions in Qantas row", Ben Schneiders & Andrew Heasley, Age
Big job losses at Sydney Uni as budget woes grow, Jen Rosenberg SMH
Heinz CEO: Coolworth's own brand behaviour is destroying us, Eli Greenblat SMH
Industrial output remains under pressure according to NAB survey, Tony Grant-Taylor, Courier Mail
"Skills crisis reaches breaking point", Christopher Russell, Advertiser
What business really thinks about gender equity, Catherine Fox AFR
Regional papers close as march of internet continues, Debra Jopson SMH
Euro, US markets took a serious pounding overnight, Reuters/Age
Big Tobacco launches legal fightback against plain packaging law, AAP/Age
"Hands off my Smarties, Bob Brown", David Penberthy, Herald Sun
Roxon: We're not too close to the Pharmacy Guild, Mark Metherell SMH
"Kids told to join Team Australia", John Masanauskas, Herald Sun
"Skipper abandons boat people, dies", Kirsty Needham, Age
Outcry nixes royal pardon for Thaksin, Lindsay Murdoch, Age
Australia-US Alliance has become a group hug, Gerard Henderson SMH
"Australians are intrepid travellers", Kevin Rudd, Telegraph
China's ability to cow close neighbours into silence cracks, Peter Hartcher SMH
The era of incivility has costs for us all, Peter West, Age
Buckley's big chance, Jon Pierik, Age

Canberra weather: 17, rain at times, BoM

International:
Obama's Pacific spin took him back to familiar places - Indonesia, Australia, Hawaii, Jackie Calmes NYT
Chelsea Clinton joins NBC News, Gabriel Sherman, New York
"The Wall Street disconnect", Matthew Goldstein & Jennifer Ablan, Reuters
Gail Kelly: We have to work on "win-win" relationships in China, Andrew Browne WSJ
"Fashion editors love a 'strong woman'": Here comes The Thatcher Look, Hadley Freeman, Guardian
Andy Warhol accounts for 17% of the contemporary art market, Tim de Lisle, Intelligent Life

MONDAY

Cracks appear in coalition ranks over mining tax (many support it), Phillip Coorey SMH
Apart from anything else, "Joe needs the money", Phillip Coorey SMH
"Gillard eyes tax triumph", Shane Wright, West Australian
Swan: Coalition economic team has become "a laughing stock", Patrick Lion, Telegraph
"Shock & awe in the war over ore", Malcolm Farr, The Punch
Abbott wants carbon tax modelling redone & parliament extended to debate it, Chris Johnson CT
Former adviser says "Plan B" needed on climate change policy, Lenore Taylor SMH
"Plea to save the Coorong", Clare Peddie & Catherine Hockley, Advertiser
Prince Phillip: Wind farms are reliant on subsidies & are "absolutely useless", Telegraph
Gillard is doing it her way on the international stage, Daniel Flitton, Age
Gillard, SBY bilateral goes well, Peter Alford, Australian
Indonesia to join Australia, NZ in breakthrough regional trade agreement, Geoff Kitney AFR
Gillard gives SBY Hercules help, Simon Benson, Telegraph
SBY: Why don't you invite Chinese to join in Aus-US manoeuvres off Darwin? Tom Allard, Age
Senior ADF officer to be court martialled for spanking sailor, Deborah Snow & Anne Davies SMH
Gillard to deliver parliamentary statement on Afghanistan today, Daniel Flitton, Age
Afghan army chief in Oruzgan province wants diggers to leave (& leave gear behind), Dan Oakes, Age
On "Diggerworks", Jason Clare, Herald Sun
Digger talks for first time about turncoat killing at Sorkh Bed (Pacemaker), Dan Oakes, Age
It'll be a challenging final week of parliament for PM, Simon Benson, Telegraph
Faulkner: "We are a small party getting smaller, we are an old party getting older", Phillip Coorey SMH
Left to hang tough on gay marriage, uranium & refugees at conference, Michelle Grattan, Age
Left to go to conference all guns blazing over gay marriage, uranium, David Uren, Australian
Julia's Left days are long behind her, Andrew Bolt, Herald Sun
India's not the responsible nuclear citizen it purports to be, Gavin Marshall, Age
Galaxy Poll: Even 56% of Queenslanders oppose uranium sales to India, Steven Scott, Courier Mail
It's deadline day in the Qantas dispute talks, Dan Harrison SMH
I think Alan Joyce should be named Australian of the Year, Amanda Vanstone, Age
Mystery of Ansett's missing accounts & huge (hidden) administration fees continues, Michael West SMH
Shorten's retrospective transfer pricing proposal has business jumping, Adele Ferguson SMH
"Heart of darkness - entering the Eurozone's end game", Harald Sander, The Conversation
Internet commerce will help keep prices down, Ross GIttins SMH
"A letter to the reader", Peter Fray SMH
Hugh Grant, JK Rowling, Gerry McCann to testify at hacking inquiry, AP/Age
Australia's 60,000 illegal immigrants dwarf the 4,700 boat people, Peter Mickelburough, Herald Sun
"Greens bill bans X-rays of people smugglers", Michael Gordon, Age
"Let's deport this terror boss", Alan Howe, Herald Sun
We're an Indian Ocean country as well as a Pacific one, Richard Marles, The Punch
"Tyrants' club turns on Syria", Shashank Joshi, Age
Tiger Woods resurrects career & reputation at Royal Melbourne, Brent Read, Australian
Fred Couples looks like a genius picking out of form Tiger, Peter Stone, Age
George Michael to tour again in 2012, Telegraph

Canberra weather: 25, partly cloudy, BoM

Best from the Weekend:
Obama announced "a serious rebalancing of US foreign policy" on this visit, Laurie Oakes, The Punch
It's back to the grindstone for Gillard, "glowing from Obarama", Michelle Grattan, Sun Herald
Julia & Barack have quite a bit in common, Annabel Crabb, ABC Online
The case for marriage equality, Penny Wong, Age
10%+ of fathers are now stay-at-home dads, Adele Horin SMH
"The high price of male silence on violence against women", David Penberthy, The Punch
Itai Gondo feels Roebuck has robbed him of his day in court, Peter Badel, Courier Mail

International:
Listen up. This is what the new EU will look like. Thomas Darnstadt et al, Der Spiegel
Wen & Obama keep things on track, China Daily
PI hired by NotW may become key plaintiff witness, Jamie Doward & Silvia Suarez Jimenez, Guardian
Allegations emerge that News Intl uses negative coverage as a weapon, James Robinson, Guardian
Progressives, need a new idol? Try Elizabeth Warren. Rebecca Traister NYT
Writing: "If it was easy, everybody would do it." Jeff Lindsay WSJ