Alan Kohler is one of Australia’s most experienced commentators and journalists. Alan is the founder of Eureka Report, Australia’s most successful investment newsletter, and Business Spectator, a 24-hour free business news and commentary website. He also hosts Inside Business, a half-hour Sunday programme on the ABC, is the finance presenter on the ABC News - and producer of the nightly graph (or two).
As Apple's supremo prepares to face Congress, a bipartisan committee has revealed the fantastic ways the multinational minimises its global tax liability.
Whether shares continue to rise has much to do with new technology and innovation. For Ben Bernanke, we may still be in the early days of IT revolution.
The company’s stock has slumped as it joins a growing list of mining services groups, including WorleyParsons and Fleetwood, in cutting earnings forecasts.
John Hughes says Thorn Group is now targeting the middle class as the credit appetite of lower income consumers wanes.
The Gonski education reforms are being tossed in the political wash, along with the premiers, as the Coalition seeks to unseat Labor's plan by focusing on the frugal front-end.
The communication’s minister's cavalier use of Section 313 to block websites on Interpol’s “worst of” list has directly lead to the ASIC fiasco. He must face the music for the latest mess his actions have created.
Multiple operating systems and a fragmented mobile market has made it difficult to create a one-size-fits all BYOD security solution. While there's no quick fix to this problem, here are some ways of working around it.
The communication’s minister's cavalier use of Section 313 to block websites on Interpol’s “worst of” list has directly lead to the ASIC fiasco. He must face the music for the latest mess his actions have created.
The ESAA is claiming solar is costing millions in network upgrades. But nailing down what these costs are proves to be a bit of a mystery because solar isn’t costing networks much at all.
A new study refines our estimates of climate sensitivity, but the overall picture remains unchanged: we remain on a track to surpass 2 degrees warming.
CEOs outline changing views on corporate spending and profits, their economic expectations and political dissatisfaction, including advice for Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott.
UK-based Zeebox wants to be the intermediary for all social media-television interactions. It will not only have to lure viewers, but the networks themselves.
Business Spectator is available on all of your devices so you can access the latest news and commentary where and how you like
Comments on this article
Comments PolicyWe are all aware of the major role the media takes in keeping the public's gaze away from good electoral reform and on to controversies they think will sell newspapers (A nation distracted by 'bimbos', brats and bruisers, January 10).
What rot. Good government consists of running a conservative approach to the problems of the day, providing a fair days pay for a fair days work, giving individuals and business owners freedom of choice, not over taxing those who want to get ahead in life and reversing the ridiculous 'politically correct' situation we find ourselves in. If the media can't grow up & stop their nonsense reporting on peripherals, let governments create pathways for everyone to succeed, we will have a good humane conservative society. Protect our borders, retain our culture, expel those who come here and try to change our society to mirror the one they left as it was so bad, and lets get on with living within our means.
An excellent article. We can but hope, although given the rival personalities of Abbott and Gillard I would not bet on it (A nation distracted by 'bimbos', brats and bruisers, January 10). There has been too much ill-founded abuse, a great deal from the Prime Minister and her chorus of acolytes and certainly the Coalition, although less bad, is not blameless either.
Well, the last three paragraphs were well-reasoned and convincing. The rest was a recital of Labour faults and an apologia for Tony Abbott (A nation distracted by 'bimbos', brats and bruisers, January 10).
Where's the story (A nation distracted by 'bimbos', brats and bruisers, January 10)?
Say what? You say "At the height of the recent Julie-Bishop-vs-Julia-Gillard AWU conflict, a press conference held by Trade Minister Craig Emerson to demand Bishop be sacked for "lying to the Australian public" included not one, but five questions from journalists relating to a tweet from Labor backbencher Steve Gibbons. He had earlier called Bishop a "narcissistic bimbo", was reprimanded by the prime minister, and had unreservedly apologised. He's soon to retire from politics. Where is the story?"
Had Abbott or any Opposition member said or tweeted something similar we'd still be hearing about it from people like you!
And .....you ask where's the story?
Believe that you can make a difference, Rob, and lead by example. Others may follow (A nation distracted by 'bimbos', brats and bruisers, January 10).
Mr Edwards (comment above) is incorrect. I consider Mr Burgess to be very balanced in his political commentary. I see no evidence of bias either way. Depending on the issue he has criticised both parties (A nation distracted by 'bimbos', brats and bruisers, January 10).
Other parts of the media are not enlightening the political conversation. Most members of the media today do not have the mental acuity to carry a story on the complex issues facing Australia and the world. Hence, they readily descend to gossip and scandal.
Putting this in perspective, our current political leaders also lack this ability.
We need one side of politics to stand above the rubbish and poor behaviour we are now seeing and set a standard (A nation distracted by 'bimbos', brats and bruisers, January 10). I have no confidence what so ever that the 2 current leaders have the desire or the courage to do this so we are stuck with politics that are alienating and disappointing the Australian public.
Thank you Mr Burgess, hopefully 2913 will see debate, reporting & less commentary on the real issues confronting us in an election year. Well put by Mr Kesby above (A nation distracted by 'bimbos', brats and bruisers, January 10).
You won't change the current focus of our federal leaders and wannabe leaders from spin and cheap political pointscoring to more substantial and more pressing debates and issues until you change the personnel in parliament (A nation distracted by 'bimbos', brats and bruisers, January 10). We need less party hacks and career politicians (many of whom seem to come from the law or the union movement)and more engineers, builders and successful business people. We need more people who have succeeded in the real world and can solve problems and see further ahead then the next press conference or dirty trick.
The media isn't to blame for the way parliamentarians behave and think.
a well written article.
hope more people wake up (A nation distracted by 'bimbos', brats and bruisers, January 10).
We also need educated journalists who are willing to ask the hard questions (A nation distracted by 'bimbos', brats and bruisers Janaury 10).
I would like to journo's stop a politician who is speaking in circles, avoiding the question and just going on about how "bad" the other side is.
Make them answer the question. We, the public, want to know the answer. We don't want to hear a speech learned by rote from the spin doctors. It becomes the usual yabba, yabba white noise
I really miss Jana Wendt and Kerry O'Brien.
I'm still fuming (high carbon) about Christine Milne's support for criminal damage to a business and fraudulent use of a corporate logo. Given she believes that non-violent direct action is ok, perhaps I shouldn't pay the 10% of my power bill that's due to the carbon tax or maybe hack and pull down the Getup web site. Or maybe we should all stop paying tax for the government to waste. (A nation distracted by 'bimbos', brats and bruisers, January 10)
I think the media can make a huge difference (A nation distracted by 'bimbos', brats and bruisers, January 10).
Just start asking information on policy. What is the Govt doing, what does the opposition plan to do.
Take the oxygen away from the stupidity they are showing. Ignore those that wont provide anything useful. They'll get the message quick smart. Politicians are like movie stars. They love the camera and face time.
I agree with jeffrey O'Neill. If the modern media kept to policy issues, then much of the verbose diatribe that comes from the politicians would never be heard. As you mention in your article, 5 questions re a 'tweet', for heavens sake (A nation distracted by 'bimbos', brats and bruisers, January 10).
When do the media return to examining policies - or the lack there of?
Why is the media consumed with events of yesteryear, when we don't know what policies would apply for tommorrow?
Do they really think the constant re-hashing of personal events is serving the interests of the community?
I think not, and until some journalist shows some respect for media ethics, the present model of reporting will remain.
Rob,it would be great if we could focus on "serious policy thinkers" as you put it. The trouble is that the Union do not produce such an animal, and consequently Labor has none. All we currently have is ideologically driven dimwits in power. (A nation distracted by 'bimbos', brats and bruisers, January 10).
Agree wholeheartedly with Chris Gregory.
Nicely put Sir.
I would assert far more strongly though that "allowing people freedom of choice" should be changed to "respecting people's freedom of choice" - nothing needs be allowed - it is inalienable and self-evident.
Politics is simple: get out of the way.
People know how to build great nations for themselves without governments interfering in every breath they take (A nation distracted by 'bimbos', brats and bruisers, January 10).