The Queen has touched down in Australia but The Power Index is more interested in just who's been given the opportunity to meet her Majesty, and who's been snubbed.

Is it acceptable to call yourself a doctor even if your only claim to the title is holding an honorary doctorate? Mary Foley, one of the most powerful bureaucrats in Australia, thinks so – even though university guidelines suggest otherwise.

Alan Jones has expressed regret for berating Prime Minister Julia Gillard for being late for a radio interview, and calling for her to be thrown out to sea in a chaff bag.

Mike Rann's end-time as premier has come in a flurry of tweets and media statements typical of him.

They're not the likeliest of duos on the surface, but Independent MP Bob Katter and unionist Dean Mighell share more in common than their cowboy reputations.

Commonwealth Ombudsman Allan Asher has apologised for feeding questions to a Greens Senator before a May parliamentary hearing, but refuses to heed calls for him to resign.

Mike Rann has attacked the factional bosses in South Australia who dumped him as state premier, and confirmed that his removal involved some of the same people who knifed Kevin Rudd as leader in June 2010.

Commonwealth Ombudsman Allan Asher will have the blow torch applied to his belly this week over revelations that he scripted questions for Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young. Few expect him to survive in the job.

Australia's prince of postal services, Ahmed Fahour, isn't nearly as powerful as Reserve Bank governor Glenn Stevens – but he earns more than twice as much.

Ian Chubb has only been chief scientist for five months, but he's already shaping up as a more outspoken and influential advocate than his predecessor, Penny Sackett.