The integrity of the nation's top sporting codes is in question after a year-long investigation revealing widespread doping and organised crime links.
Crisis: DRUG-CHEATING athletes have been warned they will face automatic bans of four years if they fail to turn themselves in by the end of the year.
Nico: Political dopes.
Shut it: The ABC reports retiring Labor Senator Chris Evans has hit out at his colleagues, telling them to "shut up" and stop leaking to the media.
Labor's own goal: THE Coalition has won a six-week advantage in gaining access to the nation's top public service mandarins to test its election policies and the government's programs, but Tony Abbott is pressing the most senior public servant for immediate consultations.
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Back to work: Julia Gillard's former press secretary Russell Mahoney has landed a new job as senior vice president of US advisory firm FTI Consulting. They have 3800 staff in about 25 countries but Mahoney is only venturing from Canberra to Sydney at this stage. The communications division is big in corporate mergers and dealmaking, probably light entertainment compared to the skullduggery around Parliament House. We hear his last year as a stay-at-home dad was a lot like life as a press sec - early starts and lots of complaining. He joins FTI in March.
Making friends: New Parliamentary Secretary for Trade Kelvin Thomson will endear himself to one of our biggest trading partners today at the Australian launch of new research questioning the economics of whaling. It should improve his negotiating position in any future talks with Japanese officials. His love of cows and sheep has also been highlighted as a potential problem in talks with live trade partners Indonesia and Arab nations.
Not fussy: Tony Abbott non-stop election campaign took him to Queanbeyan's Strip Pizza and Pasta Bar yesterday. We're not sure why, but he wasn't there for the food. Which is lucky, according to some who've dined at the establishment and posted their reviews on tripadviser.com.au .
Sexist?: How would Julia Gillard react if Tony Abbott referred to her weight, or the colour of her outfit? We're not sure, but Abbott would be right to be wary following her misogyny speech to parliament. Not so the PM, who has made jibes about Joe Hockey's weight loss and Tony Abbott's tie in parliament this week. Christopher Pyne was not amused: "The Prime Minister should not be commenting on either the shadow treasurer's weight or the colour of the Leader of the Opposition Leader's tie. Of course that is a sexist statement and she should withdraw it."
Good book: As predicted, Tony Abbott is clutching his Real Solution's "policy" document wherever he goes. It's more sturdy than it looks, and useful for patting away pesky suggestions of policy inertia. Abbott seemed to confirm yesterday he'd continue to carry it around in the absence of actual policy detail. Reporter: "Mr Abbott, I can't help noticing that you've been cradling that book there throughout this doorstop. Is that going to be your sandwich board for the next eight months?" Abbott: "Well, Mark, I'm proud of this Real Solutions Plan."
Cha ching: Julia Gillard has sold her Canberra investment property for $615,000. She bought the two-bedroom Kingston apartment in December 2007 for $530,000. That doesn't sound like a huge profit to us, but then the Canberra property market has been flat. Would she have been better leaving the money in the bank? Or playing the share market? We'd love to see some back-of-the envelope analysis.
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Today: Julia Gillard is on her way to Queenstown, New Zealand, for the annual Australian-NZ leaders' meeting.
Tony Abbott is in Sydney for meetings.
Kevin Rudd has addressed the National Apology Anniversary Breakfast, in Sydney.
Foreign Affairs Minister Bob Carr will deliver the 2013 Magna Lecture, hosted by the British High Commission, Sydney.
The Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee will hold a public hearing on the Private Health Insurance Amendment Bill.
The Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee will hold a public inquiry into Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment Bill.
The House Standing Committee on Health and Ageing will hold a public hearing on dementia, its early diagnosis and intervention.
The Joint standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade will hold a public hearing into the care of defence force personnel wounded and injured on operations.
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Hands off: BUSINESS leaders have demanded the government stop tinkering with the superannuation regime and warned that constant electioneering is undermining business confidence and consumer sentiment.
ICAC: DISGRACED former NSW Labor resources minister Ian Macdonald has been accused of lining up a $4 million payment from a friend who was in business with the Obeid family as Mr Macdonald's share of an allegedly corrupt mining deal he helped to facilitate.
Secret: WAYNE Swan has reneged on his parliamentary pledge to provide monthly forecasts of mining tax revenues, citing Australian Taxation Office restrictions on "taxpayer confidentiality" for previous payments.
Upheaval: LABOR would have to target the richest 5 per cent of workers in order to extract substantial revenue from tax hikes on superannuation, experts said last night as the government vowed to focus on "fairness and equity" in the system.
Captains of industry: The AFR reports leading company chairmen have called for the election campaign to start focusing on Australia's lagging productivity, pinpointing Labor's Fair Work Act, red tape and federal-state wrangling as impediments to sustaining living standards.
He speaks: The ABC reports Mal Brough says he has nothing to be ashamed of over his involvement in a failed sexual harassment case against former speaker Peter Slipper.
CSG fears: The SMH reports the risk of land subsidence under houses in western Sydney because of coal seam gas projects is a critical concern motivating Tony Burke's environmental planning showdown with the NSW Government.
Go north: The Daily Telegraph reports Tony Abbott says his Top End plan was about incentives, confirming the Coalition was considering financial carrots to lure people north.
Carrot: The SMH reports personal tax rebates of up to $10,000 to lure workers to northern Australia remain under consideration.
Under consideration: The AFR reports the Gillard government won't rule out any changes to superannuation beyond its commitment to keep withdrawals tax-free for those aged over 60, arguing that super needs to be fair and fiscally sustainable.
Hike: The AFR reports federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek is expected to announce an average 5 per cent to 6 per cent increase in private health insurance premiums, following a two-month consultation with industry.
Infighting: The Canberra Times reports the internal revolt in the Canberra Liberal Party over the Senate preselection vote has spread, with a key branch raising more questions about the validity of the process.
MJ: The Advertiser reports the Police Complaints Authority has launched an investigation into the prosecution of flamboyant former Liberal senator Mary Jo Fisher.
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Patrick Smith writes: THE cliff that Australian sport is running (peptide-fuelled) towards appears not on the horizon but within hand's reach for one reason: the push for excellence.
Dennis Shanahan writes: THE former PM should leave the wax in his ears.
Simon Benson writes: Sadly, this parliament has probably only served to reassure Australians we will not always be served by our brightest and will always be at the mercy of the patronage clubs.
Graham Richardson writes: The Liberal hierarchy dreads the prospect of a Rudd second coming.
Judith Sloan writes: DID you know that crabs and the current Australian labour market have a lot in common? Both walk sideways.
Michelle Grattan writes: After naming the election date, Julia Gillard finds things are far from settled.
Dennis Atkins writes: PLANS to develop the vast expanse of inland and northern Australia are as old as Federation and remain ripe, low-hanging political fruit for easy picking.
Peter Hartcher writes: JOE HOCKEY is escalating the pressure on the Gillard government to revisit its troubled mining tax, threatening to change the law to force disclosure of the revenue it is raising.
Jacqueline Maley writes: TONY ABBOTT is a skim mocha man. This surprising factlet was leaked yesterday morning as the Opposition Leader took tea with small business owners in Queanbeyan.
Marcus Priest writes: The match-up between new federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, QC, from the Victorian Bar, and his opposite number George Brandis SC, from the Queensland Bar, offers one of the more intriguing head-to-heads in this election year.
Laura Tingle writes: The alacrity with which the caucus now comes out to give a running commentary on the workings of the government has them engaged in the longest suicide note in history.
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