Leaks et al:

John Shailer writes: Re. “This isn’t your usual Cabinet leak” (yesterday, item 1). Two highly respected journalists, quoting reliable Labor sources, have  revealed Julia Gillard’s real feelings towards older Australians.  When seeking to cut the proposed 2009 pension increase, she reportedly stated: “Old people never vote for us”.

Her spin doctors quickly crafted an unconvincing denial for her. However this remark ties in with Labor’s defeat in 2008 of a Coalition Bill for an immediate $30pw increase for pensioners; and no pension increase under Labor until September 2009.  Older Australians have their say on 21 August!

Travis Gilbert writes: We’re sailing the SS Gillard on her maiden voyage, oh, a leak … Another leak … Is that Kev the iceberg up ahead?

De facto relationships, Gillard and The Oz:

Katherine Stuart writes: Re. “The sisterhood? Jesus. How about common decency?” (yesterday’s Campaign Crikey morning edition, item 1). Bernard Keane’s article serves to draw attention to just how out of touch mainstream media like The Australian have really become. Talk about scraping the bottom of the barrel!

Anyone south of around 55 years of age or even more (the majority of the voting population) has grown up with de facto relationships as one of the norms of our society. Which arguably no longer has a “mainstream” at all. Which is why it might be becoming increasingly difficult for the ‘mainstream’ media as well as politicians to appeal to it.

The Australian’s behaviour in relation to Ms Gillard puts it closer to appealing to a lunatic fringe in my book. Depending of course on how you define “lunatic”.

Justin Templer writes: Asked whether she intends to marry her partner Julia Gillard said: “…decisions in my personal life I’ll make for personal reasons. That’s my life, and I’ll make my personal choices about it.” Gosh, so many personal choices to make.  Life would be simpler if she was gay and marriage was not an available option.

University of Melbourne:

Prof. Mark Considine, Dean of Arts, University of Melbourne, writes: Re. “Tips and rumours” (Monday, item 6).It is not true that most language subjects are taught at LaTrobe. Only the few students who start at post-VCE level still go to LaTrobe. Most students start at beginners level and both LaTrobe and the University of Melbourne have large beginners cohorts.

As demand for Spanish continues to grow, Melbourne has been progressively introducing new levels and electives. It now offers a full major for students starting at beginners level. This includes 3 levels of core language subjects and electives, which are taught in Spanish.  In addition, Spanish majors can choose electives in English from the European studies offerings, like other language majors.

There are plans to expand the electives at upper levels and, in 2011, two new ones (including one on Cervantes) will be introduced. The old cross-institutional enrolment agreement no longer serves the needs of LaTrobe and Melbourne, which is why LaTrobe has re-introduced French and Melbourne is building its own Spanish program.

Political partners:

Moira Smith writes: Re. “Tips and rumours” (yesterday, item 6). Crikey published:

“The Greens’ SA dynasty. The Greens’ lead Senate candidate in South Australia is Penny Wright. No one seems to be willing to reveal that she is the wife of the Greens’ state parliamentary leader, Mark Parnell. A political family dynasty is about to be created with no public knowledge.”

For goodness’ sake, isn’t this sort of thing a bit old hat? Haven’t we by now had numerous examples of political people whose partners are a) totally uninvolved [Gillard’s partner] b) involved only as publicly acceptable escort [Howard’s wife Janette] c) involved in their own right, nothing to do with the other person, just doing their own thing? Like Penny Wright, possibly?

The comment that “noone seems to be willing to reveal” may in fact reflect more truthfully that ‘x does not wish to take advantage of partner’s position but wants to do it on their own merits’.

I wonder if this insinuation is prompted more by the fact that both people involved are Greens ….? After all we’ve had several examples from other parties and not too much has been said. And shouldn’t be.

Niall Ferguson:

Geoff Robinson writes: Re. “Richard Farmer’s chunky bits” (yesterday, item 12). Niall Ferguson’s sceptical views on World War One would shock Australian conservatives (but would please Jeff Sparrow) who worship at the Anzac shrine, but he is an example of a good historian led astray by the lure of politics rather like Geoffrey Blainey or British Communist historians of the 1940s and 1950s.