Alan Joyce likes nothing more than a good surprise -- as long as it's passengers, employees and shareholders who get the shock, rather than himself. And over the past year the fast talking Irishman's pulled the rug out time and time again.

James Packer certainly can't match his famous father for clout. But the war he's waging to build a second Sydney casino shows that he comes from the same powerful gene pool. And it proves the Packer name still rings loud with the nation's decision makers.

If you want to see a pretty pack of pollies, you need look no further than James Packer's new political mates. The billionaire's offices in Sydney's Park Street are now becoming a stronghold for the Labor Party in exile.

Alan Joyce's dramatic decision to ground Qantas' entire fleet over the weekend is a win for Virgin Australia and its well-regarded CEO John Borghetti.