The letter controversial broadcaster Alan Jones wrote apologising to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been revealed.
Our politicians are nursing their hangovers after the Midwinter Ball, and Scott Morrison is flying to the United States today for a prestigious state visit.
Read on for all the latest news from Canberra as the sitting fortnight winds down.
Here is a link to that interview with Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, in which he explains why the government is resisting calls to stimulate the economy further.
Look out for more follow-up from the interview early next week.
And with that, we'll wrap up the blog for this sitting fortnight. The politicians are back in Canberra on October 14, and we will be right here with them.
All that remains is for you to have a fabulous evening.
The Guardian has obtained and published the letter broadcaster Alan Jones sent to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on August 16, apologising to her for his suggestion that Scott Morrison should "shove a sock down her throat" over her criticism of Australia on climate change.
"My dear Prime Minister," it starts.
"I would like to assure you that I did not intend to suggest any violence towards you.
"While I may disagree with your stance on climate change, I would never wish any harm to you.
"I had meant to say 'put a sock in it' and my actual words were taken literally by some who took offence on your behalf.
"Please accept my sincere apology for the words spoken, and I hope that my intentions are, at least now, clear.
"I would also like to extend a standing invitation to participate in an interview on my programme, which would allow us to constructively debate the issue of climate change.
"Again, my sincerest apologies and please know I wish you and your family only the best."
Apologies for the lack of posts here. I've been writing up an interview with Josh Frydenberg, and surprise surprise, it turns out I'm abysmal at multitasking.
What you've missed is that, with Scott Morrison en route to the United States, Nationals leader Michael "Big Mac" McCormack was sitting in the big chair for Question Time.
And what I'm saying there is that you didn't miss much.
I'll post again when the interview with the Treasurer goes up.
The Tamil family from Biloela will get one last chance to fight the government's attempt to deport them, thanks to a court ruling today.
Justice Bromberg ordered a fresh injunction to keep the family from being deported until a final hearing can take place.
Nades and Priya Murugappan arrived in Australia separately by boat before getting married and having their two daughters – four-year-old Kopika and two-year-old Tharunicaa.
They're currently being held on Christmas Island.
Speaking to 2GB radio this morning, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton says that was "the best place" for them until the case is resolved.
"It could go on for some months. I hope it comes to a conclusion very quickly," Mr Dutton said.
You know, I was thinking earlier this week that Craig Kelly had been unusually quiet.
The conservative Liberal MP can generally be relied upon to make controversial statements with incredible frequency.
Well, set the "days since Craig Kelly said something jaw-dropping" counter back to zero, because shortly before Question Time Mr Kelly stood in the House and aired his thoughts.
The catalyst was school students' plans to strike tomorrow to protest against inaction on climate change.
"I understand how persuasive that peer group pressure can be for teenagers, and their desire to conform and fit in with the crowd. However I would say to any student considering joining the so-called climate protest, don't be a sheep and think for yourself, because you are being used and manipulated, and everything you are told is a lie," he said.
"The facts are, there is no link between climate change and drought. Polar bears are increasing in number. Today's generation is safer from extreme weather than at any time in human history.
"There is no 97 per cent consensus (among climate scientists). Such claims are a fraud. Crop yields have increased remarkably, wildfires have declined 25 per cent over the past two decades, we have seen less cyclones, not more.
"Cold weather kills many times more than hot weather, including here in Australia. The sea ice is not melting away. In fact, where the ill-fated Franklin expedition sailed in 1845, this year is blocked by thick sea ice.
"Renewables ain't renewable, and they certainly don't make electricity cheaper. And if you are worried about sea levels rising, I suggest that you get some old photos of Fort Denison, get the tide gauge data and go and have a look for yourself.
"Don't take my word. I encourage all students in my electorate to study the science and learn for themselves."
I would also encourage the students to not take Mr Kelly's word on this.
Attorney-General Christian Porter has been interviewed on the Perth radio station 6PR.
Host Gareth Parker grilled him on the government's decision to grant Pauline Hanson's wish and hold an inquiry into the family law system.
Specifically, he brought up Ms Hanson's claim that women frequently make up allegations of domestic violence to win custody disputes.
"Pauline Hanson says that women make things up when it comes to custody disputes and family law matters. Is she right?" Parker asked.
"No. Look, she shouldn't say things like that," Mr Porter replied.
"All of our criminal justice systems operate and work and only work because of the very high expectation, where there are very serious penalties for not telling the truth, and the expectation is that everyone tells the truth.
"That's the same in the family court and family law system as it is in criminal courts and civil courts. The overwhelming majority of people tell the truth. Perjury trials are very rare."
"So why give her the inquiry?" Parker asked.
"She's not been given an inquiry. I mean, she's on the inquiry. She's a member of parliament. And if you pass laws in this area, you're going to require broad consensus around the ability of those laws to actually improve outcomes for people in the family law system," Mr Porter said.
"So you don't exclude the crossbenchers. It just isn't a very productive thing to do. But she's wrong. She shouldn't have said that."
Labor has issued its official response to the final Budget outcome. You will be shocked to learn it's not in a complimentary mood.
"The defining feature of the 2018/19 final Budget outcome is a $4.6 billion underspend in the National Disability Insurance Scheme. These new numbers show the Morrison government is propping up their Budget by denying Australians with a disability the care they need, deserve and were promised," said Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Shadow Finance Minister Katy Gallagher.
"Even with a $4.6 billion underspend on the NDIS, higher iron ore prices and a lower dollar boosting profits and the bottom line, the Budget is till in deficit."
They pointed to the fact that net debt had gone from $175 billion in 2013, when the government took office, to $374 billion now.
"The government shouldn't be patting themselves on the back about today's numbers. Australia has the slowest growth in a decade, stagnant wages, productivity in decline, record household debt, high underemployment and declining living standards.
"Short-changing Australians with a disability is not an economic policy."
Bill Shorten is the opposition NDIS spokesman. He took a big swing at the government during a press conference a short time ago.
"The NDIS is constipated. The money's meant to be there, getting out to the people. Mr Morrison struts in parliament and says listen, it's a demand-driven program and the reason why we've been able to pocket billions is because the demand isn't there. That's just a lie," Mr Shorten said.
"The reality is, the demand is there. Go to speak with people in the communities, and those watching and reading news today. They will be furious.
"In the last 10 weeks I've travelled across Australia. It has been jaw-dropping to realise people are waiting 12 months, two years, for a wheelchair. But at the same time the government says, 'No problems here, we will pocket the money.'
"This government is disinterested. The NDIS is adrift. It's doing good things, but there are too many people missing out. And now we know where the money is."
You thought – hoped, perhaps – that I was done talking about fashion. Well sorry, but there isn't a heck of a lot happening in Parliament House at the moment and there is more urgent dress news to bring you.
Many people commented on the gorgeousness of independent Senator Jacqui Lambie's frock at the Midwinter Ball last night.
This morning she said she was "chuffed" at the reaction, and revealed it cost just $300.
I gather that is quite a bargain.
I had a lot of fun last night at the Midwinter Ball, which raised more than $300,000 for charity. Chuffed to see the comments about my dress. Not bad for a $300 buy. pic.twitter.com/WQ3W95k1tY
— Jacqui Lambie (@JacquiLambie) September 19, 2019
Meanwhile, The Australian reports an "ABC star" – it doesn't name her – made a very, very mild fuss over her own gown on a Qantas flight yesterday.
"This is a $5000 dress!" she said, reportedly in response to the idea of stuffing it in the overhead locker.
I'm not saying it was Virginia Trioli. And Virginia Trioli is not explicitly saying it was Virginia Trioli. All I can tell you is that Virginia Trioli shared a link to the story on Twitter and thanked the Qantas staff who looked after her on her flight.
A shoutout to the gorgeous @Qantas staff who looked after me, and a frock, tonight: nobody shouted, nothing was stuffed – except for this bullshit in @australian . Great night at the #MidWinter ball with more than $300k raised for charity. https://t.co/XIDj2Ee20J
— Virginia Trioli (@LaTrioli) September 18, 2019
Whatever efforts they made to accommodate the dress were clearly worth it, because Virginia did of course look stunning.
Our photographer Gary Ramage captured these images of her.
Fun fact – the fetching gentleman in the kilt is James Jeffrey, who left The Australian a few months ago to join Anthony Albanese's staff as his speech writer.
I want to highlight a key exchange from the press conference with Josh Frydenberg and Mathias Cormann.
Sky News political editor David Speers asked them about the $4.6 billion "underspend" on the NDIS, which provided a big chunk of that improvement to the Budget bottom line.
The ministers' response was that demand for the scheme had been lower than forecast.
"Ultimately, 100 per cent of the demand in the community will be met. Across the Budget, across all of the demand-driven programs – the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, hospitals, aged care, the NDIS, the pension – the government will cover the cost of the demand that is there to its fullest extent," Mr Cormann said.
"It makes absolutely no sense to put money aside when the money will be there. Essentially, in any Budget update you have movements up and down. You have demand that is higher than expected and you have to pay more. Sometimes you have demand lower than expected.
"The situation with the NDIS is unique, because we are going through a massive transition.
"We are continuing to implement the NDIS as fast as we can. That relies on the cooperation of the states and territories, and sadly some of them came on board more slowly than we would have liked. But it also means that in the provider market there has to be sufficient service capacity across the Australian community to meet that increased demand, that we can then pay for."
Mr Frydenberg chimed in to note that 115,000 people had come onto the NDIS over the last year.
"We have seen a tenfold increase in the last three years as the NDIS has transitioned. Every single cent of demand under the NDIS will be met by this government," he said.
You're going to hear a lot from Labor today alleging the government is not providing enough money for the NDIS. Expect to hear the above arguments in response.
Why do politicians keep mentioning the Nazis? I thought we had all agreed not to invoke the Nazis to support our arguments, because it never turns out well.
The latest offender is Liberal Senator Eric Abetz. In a speech last night, he took issue with academic media publication The Conversation's decision it will not longer tolerate "climate change deniers" on its website.
"Once upon a time, we might have viewed climate sceptics as merely frustrating. We relied on other commenters and authors to rebut sceptics and deniers, which often led to endless back and forth," wrote the site's digital editor Molly Glassey.
"That's why the editorial team in Australia is implementing a zero-tolerance approach to moderating climate change deniers, and sceptics. Not only will we be removing their comments, we'll be locking their accounts.
"It is counter-productive to present the evidence and then immediately undermine it by giving space to trolls. The hopeless debates between those with evidence and those who fabricate simply stalls action."
Mr Abetz describes himself as a climate change "agnostic". Last night, he unleashed on The Conversation.
"Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong couldn't have put it better themselves," he said.
"To so superciliously and arrogantly deny a voice to an alternative point of view is reminiscent of totalitarian regimes.
"This ugly, unscientific, totalitarian, arrogant approach taken by The Conversation is the exact opposite to the principles of scientific endeavour.
"The Conversation can stop the conversation, but it cannot stop the march of inquiring minds that will ultimately determine this issue."
Is there a reasonable point buried in that rhetoric? Yes. Many people who are not climate deniers would say The Conversation's approach is heavy handed and wrong.
But Eric. The Nazis? Come on. Cool your jets mate.
Peter Dutton has been accused of opening the backdoor to Chinese billionaires snapping up Aussie real estate under a controversial plan.
A union boss has come out swinging following reports some of Australia’s richest people want to cut penalty rates.
A Time Magazine illustration of the billionaire seated in the Oval Office could make him a threat in the eyes of the President, commentators have said.