Media wrap = the budget previews

Labor states back big mining companies on resources profits tax - Kevin Rudd and Wayne Swan are considering changes to how they implement the new 40 per cent resource profits tax after state Labor governments sided with the big mining companies amid more projects being delayed and jobs being put under threat - The Australian

Judge throws out case against former WA premier Brian Burke - Former West Australian premier Brian Burke shed tears of relief as he was acquitted of corruption allegations yesterday, before attacking the state watchdog responsible for laying the charges 18 months ago - The Australian

Brian Burke's acquittal leaves WA corruption watchdog exposed - Calls were made for Western Australia's Crime and Corruption Commission to be stripped of its power to lay charges following the acquittal yesterday of high-profile target Brian Burke - The Australian

Party warns PM Kevin Rudd: no more U-turns - Senior Labor Party figures have made it clear that Kevin Rudd's leadership will not survive any further policy backflips or bungling, amid growing tension about his government's re-election prospects - The Australian

Budget must end free fall, says PM - Kevin Rudd has taken full responsibility for the decisions that led to the government's slump in popularity and described today's budget as a ''critical day'' in reversing the slide. During a rallying address to the caucus yesterday, the Prime Minister also gave notice of what many expect will be a personal campaign against Tony Abbott by branding the Opposition Leader ''a risk to the economy and the social fabric'' - Sydney Morning Herald

Population policy a failure at all levels, says survey - The Australian

Labor looks to former mayor - Labor bosses in NSW have tapped a local councillor to take on the unenviable task of representing the party in a by-election for the outer western Sydney seat of Penrith, which has been left vacant by the resignation of disgraced MP Karyn Paluzzano - The Australian

Miners contemplate a fund to fight new tax - Mining companies are considering establishing a fighting fund similar to the one unions used against the Howard government's Work Choices - The Australian

Tobacco tax draws support for Rudd - In a welcome piece of news for the government, voters have overwhelmingly approved the decision to increase the tobacco excise by 25 per cent - Sydney Morning Herald

Macklin to calm indigenous fears over mining tax - Jenny Macklin will meet indigenous leaders to reassure them that the new mining tax will not hurt their communities in deals they strike with mining bosses - The Australian

NAPLAN tests to be disrupted as schools plead for time - Some schools may delay delivering the NAPLAN tests until next week despite withdrawal of a planned boycott on the tests which begin today - Sydney Morning Herald

Health and hospitals

Funding to expand services will ease the pressure for more GPs - Sydney Morning Herald

Development

Developer's campaign to overturn rules on density - A decade of detailed planning for the country's biggest urban renewal project could be overturned, with the consortium developing the key sites in the Green Square Town Centre aiming to increase the density by almost 40 per cent - Sydney Morning Herald

Council poised to lose planning powers - The NSW government is moving to strip Cessnock Council of its control over planning in a move to hasten development of new homes in an area targeted for some of the fastest growth in the state - Sydney Morning Herald

Opinions

Rudd's task is to justify mining tax - Gerard Henderson in the Sydney Morning Herald

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