There’s an obvious solution to the Gina Rinehart family mess. The key resources assets should be sold. How much does the family need? Well, surely Rinehart would be happy to walk away with $4 billion in cash and the four kids could get by with $500 million each.
Articles by Stephen Mayne 
Mayne: Packer’s ill timed donation to Bob comes back to bite
While young Packer appears to have moved away from Scientology since his father’s death in late 2005, the puzzling ebbs and flows of his political associations are a little harder to fathom — Bob Katter being the latest.
Mayne: why Fairfax should tell Gina to wait 56 years
As the Fairfax Media board ponders how to respond to Gina Rinehart’s request for a board seat, maybe it should consider suggesting she wait another 56 years.
Mayne: not perfect, but plenty to embrace from the Fink
Aside from Crikey publisher Eric Beecher and media writer Margaret Simons, there have been few media professionals who have strongly endorsed Ray Finkelstein’s recommendations for a government funded News Media Council.
Mayne: James Murdoch’s resignation means nothing
Don’t for a moment believe that James Murdoch has been appropriately sanctioned or punished for his role in the huge cover-up operation deployed to deny massive phone hacking and illegal payments to public officials.
Mayne: after 20 year attempt, Packer launches another Sydney casino push
Three generations of the Packer family have enjoyed their status as influential media, business and gambling players in Sydney.
Mayne: Arbib blazes the trail, now it’s Swan’s turn
The best thing Wayne Swan could do is negotiate a suicide pact with Mark Arbib, his old Nambour High schoolmate.
More questions than answers around Lachlan Murdoch’s interests
When it comes to influencing News Ltd, Lachlan has been known to complain directly to The Australian’s editor-in-chief Chris Mitchell about media coverage related to him and Network Ten.
Tweeting Rupert skips earnings grilling from analysts, hacks
For the second straight quarter, News Corp’s executive chairman and controlling shareholder Rupert skipped the quarterly earnings call with analysts and journalists this morning.
Bolt, Day reveal why ACMA should move on Lachlan Murdoch
Perhaps the most striking recent example of Australia’s supine cross-media ownership laws was the decision by ACMA to allow Lachlan Murdoch to remain as a director of News Corp while clearly influencing Network Ten.
How about a Rupert tweet on Sir Rod’s surprise gong?
The fact that Rupert Murdoch has board approval to tweet away is surprising, if only because it is amazing that he still holds a leadership position at News Corp.
Mayne v Andrews: big parties awash with pokies cash
Pokies industry donations for 2010-11 got a brief mention in yesterday’s coverage and they certainly make for interesting reading when totalled up.
Mayne: now’s not the time for Rinehart to be be saying ‘look at me’
Journalists love nothing more than speculating about the future of media companies, so Gina Rinehart has created an avalanche of commentary with her high-profile raid on Fairfax Media.
Big compo for ALP’s pokie clubs, but industry declares no conflict
When Slippery Pete Slipper replaced Harry Jenkins as speaker in December, the most oft-heard observation was that it gave the PM some wiggle room to break her written agreement with Andrew Wilkie.
Sydney heavies finally step up on pokies reform
Julia Gillard and responsible minister Jenny Macklin, the two Victorian ladies of the Left, seemed genuinely committed to pokies reform before this week’s confusing antics.
Mayne: let’s have a pokies debate on maximum hourly losses
Why isn’t anyone in the pokies debate embracing the preferred simpler option in pushing for reductions in the maximum rate of hourly losses that pokies addicts can suffer?
The 2011 Crikeys: who went boom and bust in business
After another year of remarkable volatility caused by the unpredictable news flow coming out of the European debt crisis, Australian investors have every reason to be sitting on their hands. So who did capitalise?
Murdoch, Baillieu and Morgan: a story of old Melbourne families
Melbourne marked an interesting milestone last week.
Worlds collide as UK parliamentary committee comes to Oz
I’ll be dining next week with five members of the UK parliamentary committee probing phone hacking.
Super Thursday for AGMs with Gunns and Woolies in firing line
The AGM season formally finishes next Wednesday, November 30, and the final days will feature the traditional avalanche of penny dreadful gatherings, most of which will be missed by the media.
How KPMG legend David Crawford protected his old firm from questions
When it comes to the Melbourne business establishment, David Crawford is arguably the chief flag bearer.
How will Andrew Bolt respond to his GW profile?
After quite a delay, the Good Weekend cover story on Andrew Bolt will finally be distributed in more than 500,000 Fairfax broadsheet papers. How will he respond?
Mayne: Nasser, Murdoch sycophancy and the BHP-Billiton AGM
The BHP-Billiton AGM is the biggest event during the AGM season and only Telstra competes when it comes to serving up the lengthiest and craziest fare.
‘Imbecile’ pokies activist funds full-page newspaper ad
Despite the Baillieu government’s reluctance to tackle serious pokies reform, Victoria is central to the campaign for change and Paul Bendat’s full-page ad is a sign of what is to come for Victorian Liberals.
Media power shifts: watch for a Stokes move on Fairfax
Control of Fairfax Media’s sprawling newspaper, online and radio operations is suddenly available for as little as $500 million.
