Morning mail: Fresh leadership challenge from Dutton camp
|
Version 0 of 1. Good morning, this is Richard Parkin bringing you the main stories and must-reads on Thursday 23 August. Top stories Followers of the former home affairs minister pushed for a second leadership spill late on Wednesday, with a petition seeking the necessary 43 signatures circulating among Liberal party members. Senior government ministers Scott Morrison and Mathias Cormann publicly reiterated their loyalty to Malcolm Turnbull after misleading reports emerged that the finance minister had moved his support behind Dutton. It came as Labor received legal advice that claims Peter Dutton’s ineligibility for parliament is “clearly arguable”, with the opposition lodging its concerns with the attorney general. The advice cites the disqualification of South Australian senator Bob Day as an example of legal precedent, and concludes that if Dutton’s case went before the high court there would be a “reasonable prospect” the member for Dickson would also be disqualified. Donald Trump has endured his “worst hour” as president, as his former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, was convicted of eight felonies and his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, accused the president of acting in violation of election laws. Cohen pleaded guilty to eight charges, implicating the president in paying “hush money” to women with whom he’s accused of conducting affairs. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders has insisted the president “has done nothing wrong and there are no charges against him”, while Trump himself has gone on Fox News to defend the payments, saying “they didn’t come out of the campaign, they came from me.” It remains unlikely the president will be indicted while in office, but it opens the way for Democrats to pursue impeachment hearings if they gain control of congress after the November midterm elections. The situation in Nauru has grown “dangerously chaotic” with a 12-year-old girl taken to Nauru hospital after reportedly attempting self-harm and another young refugee refusing food and medical assistance, prompting three doctors on the island to call for the 17-year-old to be urgently moved off the island. Medical sources report her condition has deteriorated badly in the last 24 hours, and she is now one of the most critical cases on the island. “Before she got sick, she was the best-performing student. She had a dream to be a doctor in Australia and to help others,” a source familiar with the girl said. Five human rights activists in Saudi Arabia are facing the death penalty, a move strongly condemned by international NGO Human Rights Watch. “Any execution is appalling, but seeking the death penalty for activists like Israa al-Ghomgham, who are not even accused of violent behaviour, is monstrous,” said HRW Middle East director, Sarah Leah Whitson. Al-Ghomgham faces the country’s terrorism tribunal on charges of participating in protests, chanting hostile slogans and filming and publishing protests on social media. A law firm in Taree, NSW, has released a statement offering legal support to victims of disgraced gynaecologist Emil Shawky Gayed, expressing “alarm and sorrow” at “the tragic stories of people who have suffered”. The NSW Health Department has announced an independent investigation into five hospitals and health districts where Gayed was known to have worked, which will deliver its report by 30 September. Gayed was banned from practising medicine for three years in June – hear the stories of some of his patients in this special Guardian Australia feature. Sport Sunday’s Super Netball final will feature two of the world’s best goalshooters, but while Diamonds captain Caitlin Bassett and Jamaican sharpshooter Jhaniele Fowler are guaranteed to score heavily, the hopes of their respective teams might rest upon their defences instead, writes Erin Delahunty. Formula One also returns this weekend with Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel ensconced in one of the closest title races yet. It’s an elevating end perhaps to a tumultuous season that’s seen high-profile driver changes, retirements and teams facing administration, writes Giles Richards, but for all that, the championship still appears set to be determined by who is the best driver. Thinking time The Miles Franklin award is presented to novels of excellence that depict “Australian life”, but for a nation heralded by prime minister Malcolm Turnbull (checks watch) as “the world’s most successful multicultural society”, previous nominees have been consistently monocultural. In recent years, however, that appears to be changing – Jen Webb previews six remarkable and diverse female authors from this year’s shortlist. The stigma attached to the unemployed runs deep in society, writes Mick Smart in the latest installment of Guardian Australia’s Life on the Breadline series. Living with chronic pain after a workplace injury, Mick finds the suspicion surrounding health claims the most galling. “My health issues are disregarded because of a biased attitude that insinuates a kind of ‘guilt’ requiring that you lodge your ‘proof’ or medical ‘evidence’ in order to validate your barriers to work and access financial support.” “The good thing about politicians suddenly having leadership aspirations is that they often reveal quite quickly whether or not they are up for the job.” Peter Dutton’s suggested policy of removing GST from family power bills, floated in a radio interview on Wednesday, is a classic example, writes Greg Jericho. “Dutton’s proposal to cut electricity costs by removing the GST on electricity suggests that in the time since he was the assistant treasurer in the John Howard government he hasn’t just boycotted the apology to the stolen generations but he has also avoided learning anything about taxation policy.” What’s he done now? Donald Trump has defended “brave man” Paul Manafort for “refusing to break”, but has savaged former lawyer Michael Cohen, while also celebrating the deportation of “a longtime resident Nazi”. Media roundup The major mastheads have once again almost all led with the turmoil surrounding Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership, amid speculation of a push for a second spill on Thursday before parliament goes into recess. Adelaide City Council is examining a sixth development proposal in 20 years involving North Adelaide golf course, writes the Advertiser, in a plan that could cost the public purse $20m. And, former AFL legend Ben Cousins returned to court yesterday, reports the West Australian, after allegedly threatening his former partner, with the paper also alleging the former West Coast Eagles star tried to sell his Brownlow medal to buy methampetamines. Coming up All eyes will be on federal parliament after last night’s dramatic events. Dutton backers hope they can get the numbers to force a second spill. At the National Press Club, Barnaby Joyce is talking about his new memoir. And in Adelaide, the Murray Darling Basin Royal Commission resumes its public hearings. Supporting the Guardian We’d like to acknowledge our generous supporters who enable us to keep reporting on the critical stories. If you value what we do and would like to help, please make a contribution or become a supporter today. Thank you. Sign up If you would like to receive the Guardian Australia morning mail to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here. |