Power couple: Kroger and Albrechtsen. As power couples go, this one would be hard to beat. He’s a suave investment banker and Liberal Party powerbroker; she’s The Australian‘s most conservative and most talked-about columnist. Together they’d be a conservative killing machine.

We’re talking, of course, about Michael Kroger and Janet Albrechtsen who caused a splash on the weekend by stepping out together at union boss Paul Howes’ 30th birthday party in Sydney. — Matthew Knott (read the full story here)

Select group of ‘power players’ to join Trump. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime, but joining 30-40 specially selected “business leaders” for an audience with Donald Trump comes at a price: a “five-figured investment”, to be precise.

Trump promises it’s worth every cent, given he’ll not only introduce each guest, but also allow the opportunity for guests to rub “shoulders with other Australian power players”. However, he concedes the seminar, to be held at top restaurants in Sydney and Melbourne, is “not for everyone, nor is it meant to be.”

But wait, there’s more: guests will also receive a “framed photo to mark the occasion”. — Angela Priestley (read the full story here)

It pays to be a regulator. John Laker, chairman of the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, can start comfortably planning the next family holiday after receiving a pay rise worth nearly $200,000.

As for Rod Sims, chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, and Greg Medcraft, chairman of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, they have each earned a $154,270 pay increase pushing their total salaries toward the $700,000 a year mark. — Stephanie McDonald (read the full story here)

BHP execs take share of money tree. BHP Billiton’s senior executives have been rewarded for their hard work over the past few years and role in delivering Australia’s biggest ever company profit with the team to share in $48.2 million worth of shares.

The share entitlements were awarded on Monday this week as part of the company’s 2006 long-term incentive plan and its 2009 group incentive scheme. — Stephanie McDonald (read the full story here)