Your afternoon Briefing: ‘No corroboration’ in Kavanaugh probe

Good afternoon, readers. White House finds no corroboration of allegations against Kavanaugh and casuals ruling could be ‘devastating’.

Good afternoon, readers. ‘No corroboration’ of sexual misconduct allegations against Brett Kavanaugh and why a court ruling on casual workers could be ‘devastating’.

FILE - In this Sept. 27, 2018, file photo, Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington. The Nielsen company s­­­ays the audience for Kavanaugh’s testimony during last week’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing at 5 p.m. was 35 percent higher than it was for Ford just before lunchtime. Ford accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct, and he angrily denied it. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)

Kavanaugh probe: ‘no corroboration’

The White House has found no corroboration of the sexual misconduct allegations against Brett Kavanaugh, but it’s unclear if it has finalised its review of the FBI reports.

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Australian Minister for Women Kelly O'Dwyer speaks during House of Representatives Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra, Tuesday, September 18, 2018. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) NO ARCHIVING

Ruling on casuals ‘devastating’

Jobs and Industrial Relations Minister Kelly O’Dwyer is considering introducing legislation in response to a court ruling on casuals after employers warned businesses will be driven into insolvency, and there are calls for federal Labor to resist union pressure to commit to legislating the return of industry-wide bargaining.

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Opposition Leader Bill Shorten (centre) and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews (second left) are seen during a visit to a preschool in Melbourne, Thursday, October 4, 2018. Labor have made a major kindergarten funding announcement. (AAP Image/Wayne Taylor) NO ARCHIVING

Investment cut to fund kindies

Bill Shorten says changes to negative gearing and the capital gains tax will fund his $10 billion package to boost preschool access.

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ONLINE ONLY E23G90 University of Sydney campus , Camperdown, australia's first university founded in 1850, NSW, Australia Picture: Alamy

Unis becoming ‘closed shops’

Heads of Australia’s universities have been urged to resist the lure of social justice activism or risk damage to their reputations. The Mocker writes that it’s a sad reality that universities now provide ‘safe spaces’ for students traumatised by politically incorrect facts.

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**FILE** A February 9, 2018 file photo of former ABC Chairman Justin Milne (left) and former Managing Director Michelle Guthrie during the ABC Annual Public Meeting in Ultimo, Sydney. Justin Milne has resigned as chairman of ABC after the controversial sacking of Michelle Guthrie. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett) NO ARCHIVING

Probe first, then Guthrie sacked

The ABC board has revealed it launched an independent investigation into serious issues Michelle Guthrie raised with it the day before she was sacked. Meanwhile, the ABC has been hit with more bad news, with radio listeners continuing to turn their nose up at its revamped schedule.