From Senator Minchin website:

"Ensuring energy security is one of the great challenges we face as a nation, but it also presents exciting new opportunities across the energy sector including in the field of renewable energy.

tweedling

From The Sydney Morning Herald supported Barry O' Farrell...

"It would put the public back in control. In the words of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, it would again ensure in NSW ''that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth".

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Yes Barry... Good Barry... Sorry Barry... Bollocks Barry...

I read between the lines:

From the SMH

Like Uncle Fester, Abetz seems to carry an electrical charge and can doubtlessly light up a bulb in his mouth.

Then there is the notion that the old hands of the Howard era should be shown the door.

Poppycock.

Even though he himself admitted they had been, at times, both "polarising" and "controversial", Abbott seemed delighted to announce the resurrection of three political poltergeists: Philip Ruddock, Kevin Andrews, and Bronwyn Bishop.

One of the Coalition's most prominent climate change deniers and passionate advocates for nuclear power has complained bitterly about being left off of Tony Abbott's new front bench.

Dennis Jensen, the Western Australian MP who disputes man-made climate changes and led backroom efforts to convince colleagues, has expressed his displeasure on Facebook.

"Pretty damned disappointed at the lack of a frontbench guernsey," he writes.

By PETER BAKER

Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce says he has accepted a job on the frontbench of the Federal Opposition.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, is expected to announce a reshuffle early this week.

Senator Joyce has told ABC1's Insiders, he has taken advice from several people before making his decision.

"I know what I'm going to be doing because I've had that discussion with Tony, but I'm going to leave it for Tony to announce it. I can tell you it won't be the Minister for Arts," he said.

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Scientists say early predictions that Phillip Island would have a record number of penguin chicks this season, have proven tragically wrong.

Indications in October suggested more chicks would be born than ever before, significantly boosting the species' population.

But penguin biologist, Andre Chiaradia, says half of all hatchlings have died of starvation in recent weeks.

He says the local fish population moved offshore, forcing the adult birds to remain at sea for weeks at a time.

From the ABC

"But those who know me know that I would never attack Tony in front of Malcolm. I would reserve my vitriol for others."

She also said she was "saddened by these false allegations of disloyalty, given that I voted for Malcolm throughout the ballot process".

Mr Turnbull declined to comment when contacted last night.

Ms Bishop has now appeared beside three new Liberal leaders in just over a year, pledging loyalty to each in turn.

"People are calling her The Cockroach," one MP told ABC Online.

Dear readers

From the BBC

US President Barack Obama has ordered 30,000 more US troops to Afghanistan but warned America would begin to withdraw its military by 2011.

The new deployment over six months will bring America's troop strength in the country to more than 100,000, in the fight against Taliban militants.

Mr Obama also urged America's allies in Nato to send more troops.

Defending the war, he insisted there were no parallels with Vietnam and that world security was at stake.

from the SMH

''God almighty,'' one of them wailed after the party had accidentally elevated the decidedly non-moderate Abbott as its new leader. ''What have we done?''

What they had done was go all squishy at the first hurdle, tripping up their champion, Big Joe Hockey, and eliminating him from the race.