A talkback caller to the ABC's Radio National station who discussed class systems in Australia, and described himself as "Barnaby in New South Wales", has turned out to be Federal Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce.

The purpose of art is complex... Some people think it's to put pretty pictures on walls... or to glorify Stalin or the Duke of Wellington in oil...  Being an artist is a job using representative skills and value judgement of interpretation. Many skills are often needed to be good. Some of the value judgements may be right or wrong, deliberate or accidental. But a lot of art is designed to challenge long established perceived ideas, including the self-worth of itself.

Significant communication problems within domestic spy agency ASIO led to an alleged Egyptian terrorist being cleared for community detention, a report has found.

The Institute of Public Affairs, which is closely linked to the Liberal party, has voiced its opposition to the entire concept of a national curriculum, saying the process was vulnerable to politicisation.

Communications minister Malcolm Turnbull says there is a strong argument to change cross-media ownership rules due to the rise of the internet.

The Government is considering changes to the laws, which currently prevent common ownership of radio, television stations and newspapers in the same market.

Italy's culture minister has expressed outrage over an advertisement by a US weapons firm showing Michelangelo's David holding a rifle.

It'd be interesting to know how many of the hundreds of millions of people watching the Academy Awards on Monday switched off or hit mute, like I did, when McConaughey invoked the world's most popular imaginary friend during his acceptance speech for the Best Actor gong.

What'd be sobering, however, is how many more - at least in the US - said "Amen, brother" and crossed themselves during the broadcast.

President Vladimir Putin has delivered a robust defence of Russia's actions in Crimea, saying he would use force in Ukraine only as a last resort.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott says Australia has [quite] enough national parks and he will set up a new Forest Advisory Council to support the timber industry.

Speaking at a timber industry dinner in Canberra overnight, Mr Abbott said too much forest is currently locked up in Tasmania.

Tonight,  on Channel Ten "The Project",  the presenting crew had a segment with a forceful mum complaining about a photographer having dared to offer to retouch her kid's school pictures...  Oulalah It hurts... But?

Prince William, Kate, baby George confirm tour stops for April visit to Australia, New Zealand

more to come...