Up to this point, Turnbull had been holding his own in the discussion by showing that he understood the technical differences between his proposal and the government’s NBN and he was doing a good job of explaining his views. But, when faced with a refutation of his comment about the NBN’s ‘cost effectiveness’, he chose not to engage as an adult, and instead pulled out a ‘glib one liner’ — and one which left the Twitter audience none the wiser about what he really thought about the cost effectiveness of the NBN.

The tragedy of Ashby and Slipper: Act Five

Media figure and businessman John Singleton will form an alliance with mining magnate Gina Rinehart at Fairfax, after buying a small stake in the company.

from Daniel Meyerowitz-Katz

The powerful US gun rights lobby went on the offensive today arguing that schools should have armed guards, on a day that Americans remembered the victims of the Newtown, Connecticut school massacre with a moment of silence.

Economists are relieved the Federal Government is abandoning its push for a surplus, labelling it a sensible, pragmatic and realistic decision.

For months, they have been concerned the Government's penny-pinching to keep the surplus dream alive had the potential to slow growth and jobs.