Kev caned over camel cull

THE Prime Minister has been verballed by Erin Burnett, an anchor on the US financial news channel CNBC.

THE Prime Minister has been verballed by Erin Burnett, an anchor on the US financial news channel CNBC.

She donned her gravest expression yesterday to attack Kevin Rudd over federal cabinet's decision to spend $19 million culling a million feral camels wandering the Simpson, Gibson and Tanami deserts. "There is a serial killer in Australia and we are going to put a picture up so we can see who it is," Burnett told her audience. A photo of Rudd was shown. "That would be the Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd. OK, well, do you know what he is doing? He has launched air strikes -- air strikes -- against camels in the outback." Burnett had a child's toy camel sitting in front of her. The man in charge of the cull, Environment Minister Peter Garrett, should thank Rudd for taking the heat. Burnett's sidekick during the segment, commentator Jim Cramer -- who's no stranger to hyperbole -- said: "That's genocide. Camelcide."

Bana declines bum steer

IT'S all happening on US television. Despite appearances, there's still a spark of life in American TV news talk show queen Barbara Walters, 79. Yesterday, Walters became gooey about Eric Bana's posterior. Bana finds himself naked in The Time Traveler's Wife. "We see more of your backside ...," Walters gulped before composing herself. "I had a wonderful time [watching the movie]. So, I thought maybe you would like to show us now how it is done." Melbourne-born Bana declined to drop his daks.What a swell party this is

WHAT does an unpopular leader do when his country's top clerics and leading politicians boycott his inauguration party? Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had to fall back on bad eggs such as Dariush Farziayi, also known as Amoo Pourang (Uncle Pourang), presenter of a popular children's TV show recently pulled after a caller said his toy monkey is named Ahmadinejad. But at least Ahmadinejad didn't resort to inviting disgraced Australian talkback host Kyle Sandilands.

Luxury-led recovery

LATERAL thinking is not usually part of a NSW government minister's intellectual armoury, but Tourism Minister Jodi McKay has emerged from the pack with a fab way of helping the moribund state economy. McKay wants people to spend on luxury. "For many, luxury experiences are the first thing crossed off the list when times are tough," she says, speaking in support of a supplement published to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Vogue Australia. It's so true: Strewth's colleagues are visibly spurning luxuries. Caviar, smoked trout, truffles and Louis Roederer's Cristal are off the menu in these parts. "This year is crucial in how government responds to the global spending downturn. That's why we are working ... to encourage people to include a bit of luxury in their life and at the same time support local operators and jobs," she says. McKay's cabinet colleague Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald has already been doing his bit; he's the blokepinged by The Daily Telegraph for spending $150,000 at the state's finest restaurants while touring with the NSW Wine Industry Research and Development Advisory Council.

Howard's leaky boast

IT'S good to see John Howard relaxing on the podium at the University of Melbourne on Tuesday night. Talking about the media's role, Howard smiled when recalling his 1980 budget, which was leaked to journalist Laurie Oakes. "He got hold of an entire budget of mine, one of the more spectacular leaks in my existence. I mean, I keep reading about things coming out of the public service at the present time.Can I say, you know, that's chickenfeed compared with a whole budget. Absolute chickenfeed."

Pros and cons

AN online survey in China (we stress China in case this item makes our MPs feel bad about themselves) has found that prostitutes are more trustworthy than politicians. The survey, published by Insight China magazine, finds that prostitutes come third after farmers and priests. "A list like this is at the same time surprising and embarrassing," an editorial in the China Daily intones. Politicians are far down the list. "The sex workers' unexpected prominence on this list of honour ... is indeed unusual," the editorial says. "At least (politicians) have not slid into the least credible category, which consists of real estate developers (and) entertainers." No mention of used-car salesmen.

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