A difficult political decision avoided

In this morning's papers: The deal between Rio Tinto and Chinalco is off which will make Treasurer Wayne Swan a relieved man. He was on a hiding to nothing if the decision had been left to him.

THE PICK OF THE MORNING’S STORIES

$24.4bn Chinalco deal with Rio Tinto is dead – The Australian

Rio finally abandons its friendless deal – London Financial Times

POLITICS AND ECONOMICS

AUSTRALIA

Political Death

Rudd’s first casualty – Judases brought me down – Melbourne Age

General’s evidence triggers the end game for his chief – how evidence to a Senate committee led to the ministerial resignation – Melbourne Age

First blood: Rudd loses minister – Sydney Morning Herald

Shamed Joel Fitzgibbon slams ‘Judases’ for his demise – Melbourne Herald Sun

Joel Fitzgibbon blames ‘Judases’ for dramatic demise – The Australian

Labour teeters as Scrymgour jumps ship – Northern Territory News

Political life

This possum tormented NSW politicians – Sydney Daily Telegraph

Freed miner to try hand at politics – Beaconsfield miner seeking Labor Party pre-selection – Melbourne Age

Economic conditions

Economists take swipe at Turnbull over debt – Melbourne Age

Economy is looking resilient: RBA chief – Sydney Morning Herald

RBA wary of rate cut as home buyers pile on debt – The Australian

Privatisation battle shifts to NSW Lotteries – Sydney Morning Herald

SA State Budget 2009 – Kevin Foley slashes for surplus – Adelaide Advertiser

A hint of strange things

Rudd attacked over car dealer ties – Melbourne Age

Kevin Rudd under fire over free ute – Brisbane Courier Mail

Turnbull offensive goes up a gear over PM’s free ute – Sydney Morning Herald

Police Minister denies ‘collusion’ over Bracks – Melbourne Age report on political phone calls to police about a then Premier’s son

NSW RailCorp under new graft scrutiny – Sydney Morning Herald

Industrial relations

Gillard at risk of contempt – Melbourne Age reports on a reaction to some words to trade unions by the deputy PM

Laws

Jail, fines for digging up power lines – Sydney Morning Herald

Public service

NSW DOCS workers are in despair over horror cases and stress – Sydney Daily Telegraph

Opinion

Bored with economic miracles? Try this sacrificial offering – Tony Wright in the Melbourne Age on a ministerial resignation

Halo slips from the crown of St Kevin – Peter Hartcher in the Sydney Morning Herald

Joel Fitzgibbon a victim of his own mistakes – Michael Harvey delivers his verdict in the Melbourne Herald Sun

Opposition reclaims question time’s utility – Annabel Crabb in the Sydney Morning Herald on a day when questions meant something

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Opposition attack on Rudd’s free ute perk misses mark – Dennis Atkins in the Brisbane Courier Mail has a look at the politics of attacking political perks

Defence not best option for a long-term political career – Daniel Fitton on the perils of Defence – Melbourne Age

Fitzgibbon only has himself to blame – Patrick Walters in The Australian

A lesser evil than lingering scandal – writes Lenore Taylor in The Australian about the forced resignation

Sacked minister had no defence in latest embarrassing skirmish writes Andrew Bolt in the Melbourne Herald Sun

A union no more: Rudd and co. have claimed the upper hand – Michelle Grattan in the Melbourne Age sees the reality as clear. Unions and the Government are feeling mutual disgruntlement and resentment. The unions think they helped bankroll Labor to power and are not getting enough in return. The Government believes the unions whinge too much, and should concentrate on what has been delivered.

Environmental decay is bad for your health – Paul Sinclair on faults in the planned emissions trading scheme – Melbourne Age

Rights charter like a dead parrot – Bob Carr in the Sydney Morning Herald writes that more judicial review, or judge-made law, is the last thing Australia needs. So nobody should be distressed that the push for an Australian charter of rights is exhausted.

Unions putting ALP into reverse – Michael Costa writes in The Australian how unions may play a useful role for Labor in opposition but they are a destabilising liability in government.

ELSEWHERE

Barack Obama reaches out to Muslim world – The Australian

Obama reaches out to Muslim world – BBC News

Varying Responses to Speech in Mideast Highlight Divisions – New York Times

Opinion

Why Ben Bernanke is right to be worried – Mohamed El-Erian in the London Financial Times

BUSINESS