Badenden... drawing by Gus.

An artist today said he was left "dumbfounded and astonished" after an exhibition of his nude paintings was taken down from a council office following complaints from staff.

John Vesty had arranged to display his paintings for four weeks at the North Norfolk District Council offices in Cromer.

Artificial meat grown in vats may be needed if the 9 billion people expected to be alive in 2050 are to be adequately fed without destroying the earth, some of the world's leading scientists report today.

Former prime minister John Howard says Julia Gillard has no right to hide the details surrounding her ascension to the top office.

The second longest serving prime minister also criticised Ms Gillard's predecessor, Kevin Rudd, for dodging questions about his axing. 

Like a brat "playing" on a beach, Tony is happy kicking sand in our face... Buckets of uncosted policies, no abacus to be seen, just sand, a leaky toy boat, some cubes to be rearranged to spell "e-c-o-n-o-m-y" after having spelled "I-r-a-q" ... and a plug-the-hole board for infants under three.

Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott will officially launch the Coalition's election campaign in Brisbane today with a focus on tougher laws to stop people smugglers.

Mr Abbott will use his campaign launch speech to focus on the asylum seeker issue and outline plans for harsh penalties for anyone convicted of people smuggling.

Under the Coalition's proposal repeat offenders will serve at least 10 years in jail.

Yesterday Mr Abbott, his Deputy Julie Bishop and the Coalition's immigration spokesman Scott Morrison met with Nauru's president Marcus Stephen to discuss the island's asylum seeker processing centre.

By ANTHONY SHADID

Julia Gillard has renewed her debate challenge to Tony Abbott, saying she wants to go head-to-head with the Opposition Leader on economic issues next Monday night.

Both leaders were on the hustings in the battlefield state of Queensland this morning as they touted plans to fast-track baby bonus payments and encourage firms to take on older workers.

Mr Abbott has already knocked back the challenge to hold a second debate with Ms Gillard, but today the Prime Minister, on day three of her 'Real Julia' strategy, threw the gauntlet down again.

"Mr Abbott should step up to a debate on the economy," she said as the election campaign reached the half-way mark.