| | 22/08/2024 Taxpayers to fund Albanese defamation costs, five bodies found in yacht wreck, the rise of ‘sook’ as a political insult |
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| Martin Farrer |  |
| | | Please make URL morning-mail-[day of the week]-ntwnfb manually before it is filed. eg morning-mail-monday-ntwnfb Morning everyone. Our top story this morning is that the attorney general has approved legal assistance for Anthony Albanese and Bill Shorten in relation to defamation threats by a business associate of the former Liberal minister Stuart Robert. We have the full story, plus how “sook” became the political insult of the moment, a federal Labor stalwart announces he is stepping down as an MP, divers have found the bodies of five of the six people missing in the Sicily yacht sinking, and it’s the turn of Tim Walz to address the Democratic party convention. |
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| Australia | | Exclusive | The Victorian government has spent $3.3m on upgrades to the outgoing Myki public transport ticketing system shortly before the new system comes online, data obtained by Guardian Australia reveals. | Legal help | The attorney general has approved legal assistance “in relation to a defamation claim” made against Anthony Albanese and for defamation claims against Bill Shorten, according to documents tabled to parliament. | Exclusive | After almost two decades as a federal Labor MP, Graham Perrett has decided to retire, setting up a battle in his marginal Queensland seat. | Firm suspended | The federal government has suspended research consultancy McNair yellowSquares from further work until an investigation is conducted into allegations it fabricated data on Indigenous communities during last year’s failed referendum process. | ‘Very bad’ | Peter Dutton’s comments about people escaping the bloodshed in Gaza are hurtful and “very bad for cohesion and harmony”, according to Palestine’s de facto ambassador to Australia. |
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 | Full Story | | The debate over daylight saving Tamsin Rose speaks to rural and regional editor Calla Wahlquist and columnist Gabrielle Chan about the recurring debate over whether daylight saving should be scrapped. | |
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| In-depth | | There has been an increased use of the term sook during the current fractious sitting fortnight. From its old Scots origins meaning “suck”, Tory Shepherd looks at how the word has been used recently and where it sits in the lexicon alongside “snowflake”, “bedwetter” or “old jellyback”. But retiring MP Graham Perrett says no one puts too much thought into specific words in the febrile atmosphere of question time. “When you’re in that jungle you just go straight back to grade 5 instincts. It’s tooth and claw on that floor.” |
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| Not the news | | In the latest instalment of our critic’s pick feature, Jack Tregoning extols the virtues of the energetic Brisbane DJ duo X Club. The pair, Ben Clarke and Jesse Morath, hit their stride during the pandemic and have built a loyal following of clubbers from around the world after moving to London when borders reopened. They are on tour now in Europe before returning to these shores for a set on the Gold Coast in December. |
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| The world of sport | | Rugby league | Ron Coote, the legendary Souths and Roosters lock who won six premierships in the 60s and 70s, has been named rugby league’s 14th Immortal at ceremony is Sydney last night. | Women’s football | The first Asia Women’s Champions League gets under way this weekend with Melbourne City among the serious contenders for the crown. | Cricket | A battling 72 from Sri Lanka’s number nineMilan Rathnayake helped his team recover from a horror start against England in the first test at Old Trafford. The tourists were all out for 236 with England 0-22 at the close. |
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| What’s happening today | Melbourne | Interim judgment in defamation case against Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto brought by MP Moira Deeming. | Domestic violence | Federal government to receive the full independent rapid review into family violence. |
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| Brain teaser | And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow. | |
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