Your afternoon Briefing

Good afternoon, readers. The Trinity Grammar furore takes a legal twist and Jay Weatherill gets a last-minute election surprise.

Good afternoon, readers. The Trinity Grammar furore takes a legal twist and Jay Weatherill gets a last-minute election surprise.

Chairman Ray Finkelstein QC speaks during the Independent Media Inquiry in Melbourne.

Trinity Grammar furore takes legal twist

Troubled Trinity Grammar appoints a former judge to review the sacking of a deputy principal for cutting a student’s hair.

-

The leader of the federal opposition Bill Shorten visits the East Reservoir Health Centre in Melbourne, Thursday, March 15, 2018. A by-election for the Australian House of Representatives seat of Batman will be held on March 17.(AAP Image/Julian Smith) NO ARCHIVING

Shorten stands to lose everything

“It might be the stuff of fantasy, but I wish I could sit down with some of our leaders at a poker table and see how they got on,” writes Jack the Insider.

-

A protester is led away during a South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill press conference at Henley Beach, Adelaide, Friday, March 16, 2018. The press conference was held at the same location as where a year ago Mr Weatherill argued with Federal Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg as he was launching a federally-funded battery storage scheme. (AAP Image/David Mariuz) NO ARCHIVING

Last-minute surprise for Jay

A move Jay Weatherill would have considered a masterstroke has backfired on the eve of South Australia’s state election.

-

Incoming Wesfarmers Managing Director Rob Scott speaks during the Wesfarmers Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Perth Convention Centre in Perth, Thursday November 16, 2017. (AAP Image/Tony McDonough) NO ARCHIVING

Coles demerger a no-brainer

The spin-off of grocery giant Coles will leave Wesfarmers a much smaller group, but its returns will improve substantially, writes Stephen Bartholomeusz.

-

Christie Whelan-Browne

McLachlan accuser ‘dishonest’

A woman accusing actor Craig McLachlan of sexual harassment made a “dishonest claim to be offended”, a court has heard.