EDITORS' PICKS

The Gillard regime – faceless no more
Alan Kohler
After a long, hard dig we've created a full list of the government's ministerial staff and advisors. It was tightly held information – up until today.

The bank fee party's over
Alan Kohler
Treasurer Wayne Swan has had bank fees in his sights for two years, but the laws he backed have proved toothless. This week, he's expected to give them some real bite at last.

Fall-out from Howard's big mistake
Robert Gottliebsen
Former PM John Howard tells the KGB why one small part of his WorkChoices package proved to be such a blunder, and explains why Australia has Tony Abbott to thank for the demise of Kevin Rudd.

Bankers must leave their bunkers
Robert Gottliebsen
Australian banks have a good case to make in reply to the political campaign against them – even on the issue of directors' salaries. So why aren't their CEOs leading the public debate?

ANZ's own bank bashing
Stephen Bartholomeusz
With CBA receiving considerable customer anger over its rates decision, ANZ's smaller rise and its new range of pro-customer initiatives is adding to CBA's punishment.

False fee hopes
Stephen Bartholomeusz
Cutting bank exit fees could hurt non-bank competition more than enhance it. Instead, politicians should consider some radical measures to create a properly functioning RMBS market.

It's structural adjustment, stupid
Karen Maley
Some thoughtful comments by RBA governor Glenn Stevens shine a light on the current dispute between China and the US – it's less about currency, and more about a major redistribution of economic production and consumption.

Ireland's brutal bankruptcy reality
Karen Maley
The Irish economy remains liquid – for now. With traders shunning Irish debt due to concerns over bank bailouts and the dire state of the property market, Ireland soon might not be able to repay its debt.

MYEFO migraine for Swan and Hockey
Rob Burgess
There is an element missing from the bank debate that, when fully considered, starts to make Joe Hockey's nine-point plan, and Swan's alternatives to it, look like a rocket behind the housing market.

CLIMATE SPECTATOR: Clean energy? It's a gas
Giles Parkinson
Cheap gas has oil majors looking to reposition themselves, marketing it as a cleaner fuel source. But it's not that innocent, and it's distracting from the real energy solutions to global warming.

The improper populists
Natasha Stott Despoja
While bank-bashing may be populist, the debate into banking reform has merit. But our politicians' tendency to appeal to base emotions in other policy areas, shows popular isn't always right.

More banks, more problems
Steve Keen
The last thing we need right now is greater banking competition. History shows that more players would increase our dangerously high debt levels and reduce lending quality.

Our $100 million bet for Grantham
Christopher Joye
GMO investment legend Jeremy Grantham has told global investors many times that the Australian housing market is hugely over-valued. Rismark challenges him to put his money where his mouth is.