Whale of a salary

IN a good scoop yesterday, News Ltd's metropolitan dailies revealed that former Sydney Olympics chief Sandy Hollway had earned a handy $200,000 for 100 days' work, and spent an impressive $342,000 on travel in his role of whaling envoy to the Rudd government.

IN a good scoop yesterday, News Ltd's metropolitan dailies revealed that former Sydney Olympics chief Sandy Hollway had earned a handy $200,000 for 100 days' work, and spent an impressive $342,000 on travel in his role of whaling envoy to the Rudd government.

A superficial glance at the whaling impasse with Japan would suggest that Hollway, for all his undoubted powers of persuasion, has failed to stop whales from being harpooned. But what most impresses Strewth on this story is Climate Change Minister Penny Wong's remarkable reaction to the expenditure. "This is the cost of diplomacy," she said with a straight face. "If you're prepared to put your shoulder to the wheel in terms of engaging with different parties, in terms of engaging at different levels with the Japanese government, then this is the sort of resourcing that is required." With convolutions like that, it's not too surprising the Copenhagen conference got bogged down.

Avoiding the rough

WHILE some politicians don't know whether to keep talking or shut up - depending on the degree of strife they are in - a golfer has demonstrated a certain finesse when asked about his mate Tiger Woods, the man of many mistresses. Jesper Parnevik, who once employed Woods's wife, Elin, as a nanny and was responsible for introducing them, was asked if the couple were still together. "I've kind of stayed out of it. It's better that people don't approach me if I don't know anything. That way I don't say anything that I shouldn't have. Like if she told me something and I let it slip out. It's better that I don't know, so I can say, `I don't know.' I have an idea through my wife but I don't want to be the one who says something wrong." Asked if he thought Woods could stay married, Parnevik said, "That's what I mean. I can't say." Parnevik has said he is sorry he introduced the couple.

Burke's dusty trail

IS there anyone in Western Australia who doesn't owe Brian Burke? Seems not, at least if you happen to be in the Labor Party. ALP state secretary Simon Mead has conceded that the party is finding it difficult to come up with a candidate for the very winnable federal seat of Cowan, now marginally held by Tory Luke Simpkin. Late last year, Wanneroo mayor Jon Kelly was forced to walk away from his candidacy after admitting a long association with the lobbyist and former WA Inc premier. "There's no doubt about it, most locals have the same problem as the last guy, close long associations with Brian Burke," Mead says. One name being touted is Karen Brown, the former Perth bureau chief for The Australian and now staffer to Opposition leader Eric Ripper, who was part of Alan Carpenter's famed dream team that crashed and burned so spectacularly at the doomed September 2008 state election.

Beaver caught in net

INDELICATE as always, Strewth was interested to see that Canada's second-oldest magazine, The Beaver, is changing its name after 90 years because the title is often censored by internet porn filters. The Winnipeg-based magazine was launched in 1920 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Hudson's Bay Company and the fur trade that led to the early exploration of Canada. "Several readers asked us to change the title because their spam filters at home or at work were blocking it," publisher Deborah Morrison said. "I've even had emails bounce back because I had inadvertently typed the term in the heading." There is no word on what the mag's new name will be.

RSL off the hook

THE Queensland branch of the RSL has been forced to deny that it has sold the ringtone rights to The Last Post, a sacred tune if ever there was one. Someone in Bundaberg has been emailing here and in New Zealand that the RSL had sold it to a mobile phone company. Apparently, the RSL had allowed The Last Post to be used as a ringtone in the two weeks before November 11 last year at a cost of $2, which was given to welfare activities. But the league won't be doing it again, says Queensland president Doug Formby, after 50 complaints were received. "The league makes no apology for continuing to investigate methods of engaging with the community," Formby says.

Royal reception

THE second in line to be king of Australia, Prince William, lobs in Sydney next week where it is expected hordes of young women will throw themselves at his feet in pathetic attempts to gain royal approval. Sadly for the women - and perhaps the prince - his itinerary looks less than enticing. He is scheduled to enjoy a barbecue in the Botanic Gardens, a place infested with fruit bats and joggers. "We are very excited that he is coming to Sydney," gushes Labor Tourism Minister Jodi McKay. "He is travelling alone, I am told," McKay mentions breathlessly (that is, without girlfriend Kate Middleton). "I think that we will see some prince mania." He will spend a day in Melbourne where they don't gush as much as naff Sydney pollies.

Kiwis back in favour

THE Kiwis can gush, too. With US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton due in tomorrow, New Zealand's national daily newspaper headlined the story "They like us again!" (after 25 years in the cold for its anti-nuclear stance).