Grey matters

BROADCASTER Ray Hadley may be a fellow student in the field of Craig Emerson hair studies (Strewth, last week), but his approach differs.

BROADCASTER Ray Hadley may be a fellow student in the field of Craig Emerson hair studies (Strewth, last week), but his approach differs.

While Strewth's enchantment stems from how the Trade Minister's mane brings to mind a hedgehog getting acquainted with an electric wire, Hadley is focused on the colour. Last week, he accused Emmo of dyeing his hair. Not so, said Emmo. But Hadley isn't so easily shaken, telling Strewth, "I have studied photos of Mr Emerson and I'm still convinced he's getting a touch-up despite his denials." Happily, he's taking a big picture view, a celebration of eminence grise: "I have gone decidedly greyer over the past few years and as I'm now wearing my hair shorter it apparently looks even greyer. I'm prepared to start a campaign and ask for various male leaders in the community to join me. Blokes on TV look silly when they dye their hair. Newsreaders, presenters and politicians should join me as we kickstart our campaign: Grey is Great."

Ayes for Bishop

WE have no idea why North Korean "elections" sprang to mind when we viewed the results from this organ's online poll on whether Julie Bishop should stay as deputy opposition leader. After more than 260,000 votes, we can tell you 0.7 per cent said no, 99.3 per cent said yes. Congratulations, Dear Deputy Leader!

Heading south

ACCORDING to an opinion poll in South Australia's Sunday Mail yesterday, Premier Mike Rann's approval ratings bear some resemblance to a drinker at the Irish bar in Moscow airport: they're in a bit of a dive. (No, that's not quite how the Mail phrased it.) But his talents for taking a pointed swipe at his local media are on the up. When asked about his fall from 38 per cent to 31 -- when four years ago he was Mr 84 Per Cent -- Rann instead hit back at the tabloid, comparing it with a Soviet propaganda rag. "Basically, The Sunday Mail is like, sort of, Pravda for the Liberals, it's their cheer squad," he said. We imagine this caused some wry amusement, given the reputation the government's media unit has for being so controlling, it all but insists reporters email in their questions for ministers. But that's just a detail. The thought of Pravda for Liberals, on the other hand, is a piece of magic.

Putting family first

THERE are all sorts of ways to make an exit, but special recognition ought to be given to David Deverall. Deverall is bowing out as chief executive of investment management company Perpetual. In an email explaining the transition to his successor, Deverall branches out admirably: "I then plan to enjoy a lengthy break (minimum of six months) before re-entering the working world later this year. While I am deliberately coy about my next steps professionally, I am happy to engage enthusiastically with you about my plans for my break. These include getting back my golf handicap (it used to be nine!) after 22 years of non-playing status at my golf club, training to break the 60 minutes barrier in August's City to Surf (after three consecutive years of 63-minute results), joining a local tennis comp (I'm a mug tennis player), and being a much more regular presence around the home for Fiona and our four kids (the eldest of whom needs to develop strong study habits because he has just started Year 11). I'll do a bit of travel but I've got to say that I'm most looking forward to being a much more integral part of family life for this period." Amen to that, brother.

Breaking embargoes

IT'S probably not Strewth's role to offer advice to the Business Council of Australia, so we'll dress this up as a humble suggestion: when dangling a press release before the media and stamping it with a strict publication embargo, it's probably for the best not to post it in its entirety -- including the "strictly embargoed" warning -- on your website for all to see the day before. Just a thought.

End of the affair

STREWTH is proud of having facilitated a fruitful end to a long-running stoush between Fairfax columnist Gerard Henderson and Bob Ellis. As promised, Ellis sent off a cheque for $500 (Strewth, Thursday) to settle the bet debt that had been an open sore in Hendo's regular musings about Ellis. But as St Teresa of Avila noted, answered prayers cause more tears than unanswered ones; the money may be going to excellent use, but as Hendo laid the issue to rest in the latest instalment of his Media Watch Dog, there was a sadness barely softened by the friendly face of his dog, Nancy, peering out from the masthead: "The final cheque has arrived by post today. Good news for a couple of Sudanese in Uganda. Bad news, however, for Nancy's co-owner, who has been deprived of a long-term obsessive interest."

Red-faced?

WE suspect it's a tribute to neither reds nor the nation's ranga-in-chief, but the Liberal member for Mayo, Jamie Briggs, and his wife, Estee, have named their new baby girl Scarlett Jeannine Briggs. Coming a week after senator Simon Birmingham's baby Matilda arrived in the world, it seems a fecund time for SA Libs.

[e-mail]