Kerr-ang, boom

THERE is a good old-fashioned clash of egos taking place in Tasmania, where federal Labor MP Duncan Kerr is unleashing well-honed abuse at Tasmania's Director of Public Prosecutions Tim Ellis, who is returning fire in true lawyerly style.

THERE is a good old-fashioned clash of egos taking place in Tasmania, where federal Labor MP Duncan Kerr is unleashing well-honed abuse at Tasmania's Director of Public Prosecutions Tim Ellis, who is returning fire in true lawyerly style.

Ellis is a combative character who has taken on and failed in several high-profile prosecutions: former deputy premier Bryan Green, upper house MP Ivan Dean and former police commissioner Jack Johnston, to name a few. Kerr, a factional mate of Green, accuses Ellis of being too quick on the prosecutorial trigger finger. Ellis says Kerr is a coward for using parliament to speak under privilege and that his attack was "lazy, self-serving, specious and elitist". Kerr quotes former state anti-discrimination commissioner Jocelynne Scutt saying on her retirement that she had "received the most appalling, brutal, rude and, in my opinion, unprofessional correspondence from . . . one [quarter] in particular". He says she was referring to Ellis. Kerr is retiring at the next election, no doubt to his veranda, from where he can lob barbs at passing DPPs.

Tony's secret dough

THE debate about the resource super-profits tax has given Opposition Leader Tony Abbott an unexpected chance to declare his modest means. At the Minerals Council of Australia in Canberra yesterday, Abbott dismissed suggestions he had been bought off by the mining industry. "That's what the government is saying . . . that anyone who opposes this tax has been bought by the resources industry," he said. "I don't have any shares in the resources sector. I am not worth $50 million. According to the BRW [rich list] I am worth $1.1m, and I don't know where they found that money. My wife wants to know."

Hang on, Rolf

WHAT the world so urgently needs is a new type of coathanger, and Rolf Harris is involved in the venture to produce it. Puzzled? Then you should have been watching The Perrett Report on Sky News Business on Tuesday, when engaging business presenter Janine Perrett interviewed multi-millionaire and inhabitor of rich lists Richard Farleigh. The Victoria-born Farleigh has made a motza in various business ventures, deals that enable him to keep company with some of London's top models. He's a versatile bloke, having succeeded in property deals and start-up companies. He says he's backing Harris in a venture marketing a new type of coathanger: "Rolf has a problem when travelling, as he still does a lot of performing: when getting from A to B, his clothes fall off the hanger when he is transporting them." Farleigh also told Perrett that Harris, 82, has recently taught him how to play the didgeridoo - to the consternation of diners in a London restaurant. No mention of the wobbleboard, however.

Better, take a seat

THERE'S a new way to lose your gambling dollar. It's the first line market in political wagering, Centrebet enthuses. In other words, you can bet on Labor to win the next federal election by giving up 4.5 seats start to the Coalition. Centrebet's Neil Evans reckons this would be compelling for punters. "It's just like in the AFL or NRL, where teams either give up or receive a start," Evans says. "Serious political punters, they will have the fine-tooth comb out straight away, picking through all the key marginal seats around the country to see where and how much ground the Coalition can make up." The mystery is why it has taken so long to reach this pinnacle of Australian democracy-commerce. Centrebet has Labor a $1.43 favourite, with the Coalition a $2.72 outsider. NSW Premier Kristina Keneally might like to know that the prices for the June 19 Penrith by-election are: $1.20 Stuart Ayres (Liberal); $4.25 John Thain (Labor); $11 Suzie Wright (Greens).

Professional slur

SOMEWHERE in the dim recesses of news service Australian Associated Press there lurks a politically incorrect headline writer. "Whores call for a fair deal from society", AAP blared yesterday about sex workers (see how PC Strewth is) who are asking for more protection under anti-discrimination laws to help end a problem that is "plaguing the profession". The Scarlet Alliance, a body representing sex workers, wants changes to laws affecting the industry's estimated 20,000 workers. "We deserve the same rights as everyone else," the alliance's chief executive Janelle Fawkes says. In defence of the headline writer, it was International Whores Day. But for some reason this event is not on our calendar.

Welcoming bearpit

THE bearpit of the NSW parliament was all warm and fluffy on Tuesday when former transport minister David Campbell made his first appearance since his resignation last month after being caught on camera leaving a gay sex club. MPs were welcoming and forgiving, if there were anything to forgive apart from being exposed just as Kristina Keneally was starting to turn things around for state Labor. Yesterday, Campbell made a speech welcoming a government push: an anti-drunken-violence scheme called Hassle-Free Nights.