EDITORS' PICKS

The big bang in Telstra's buck
Alan Kohler
Is Telstra's NBN deal a good one? It's impossible to tell, but a very healthy cash stream could set the telco up to become Australia's dominant media company.

Eight blows to Aussie voters
Robert Gottliebsen
There are eight distinct reasons voters are turning against the Gillard government. Labor can turn these around, but there are little signs of reversal so far.

eBay supreme as online wars turn nasty
Robert Gottliebsen
eBay chief Deborah Sharkey reveals the stunning prospects for online retail and hints at desperate tactics being employed within the sector.

Directors feel Centro's governance chill
Stephen Bartholomeusz
Company directors have been put on notice through the Centro Properties case that they are still liable for their actions, irrespective of the advice of external experts such as professional auditors.

The IEA's speculative oil burn-off
Stephen Bartholomeusz
The prospect of further IEA oil releases will likely curb speculative activity during a period of significant US and European economic uncertainty.

China's looming debt threat
Karen Maley
China's investment-driven growth model has led to unsustainable increases in debt, which is likely to cause many years of growth below even the gloomiest forecasts – just not quite yet.

America's QE2 debt dice
Karen Maley
As the latest round of US quantitative easing ends, rising bond yields are casting fresh doubt on the effectiveness of the policy.

Why Abbott won't bow to Reith
Rob Burgess
Until there is hard evidence of a Fair Work drag on productivity, Labor will just shout 'WorkChoices' to avoid serious debate, and Tony Abbott will be left to fend for himself against the overhaul push by Peter Reith.

Is Labor's vision just a mirage?
Rob Burgess
The Gillard government does have an exciting vision for Australia's economic future, but until it works out how to communicate that to voters, its polling slump will continue.

TECHNOLOGY SPECTATOR: Westpac's genetic flaw
Charis Palmer
Westpac CIO Bob McKinnon says account number portability isn't yet feasible for Australia's banks. However, the reality is our lenders are hiding behind their inadequate core systems.

Housing exposure won't bite our banks
Christopher Joye
Calls for Australian banks to reduce their property exposure not only ignore the fact that business loans are far riskier, but fail to recognise the broader stimulatory effect of property lending.

CLIMATE SPECTATOR: Garnaut's last hurrah
Giles Parkinson
The government's outgoing climate change advisor says the carbon price and level of compensation matter less than the governance structures that will enshrine medium and long-term policymaking.

The Coalition's crazy brave NBN plan
Paul Budde
Despite the opposition's posturing, it would take great courage by Tony Abbott and his team to significantly roll back the national broadband network, given the policy's popularity with the electorate.