Your morning Briefing: Greens hand Labor $1.5bn ransom note

Your 2-minute digest of today’s top stories and must-reads.

Hello readers. The Greens have handed Labor a $1.5bn ransom note for their support at the NSW election, and ScoMo goes toe-to-toe with Waleed Aly.

Michael Daley and Gladys Berejiklian.

Greens’ $1.5bn ransom note

The Greens would demand billions­ be spent on regional renewables projects as part of their price for a NSW Labor win. Graham Richardson reckons Gladys Berejiklian won the debate at a canter with an unexpectedly aggressive technique that left Michael Daley floundering.

“In a close election race, the winner is almost always the one finishing strongly. That is why Gladys Berejiklian probably will still be the Premier after tomorrow.”

Graham Richardson

-

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian is seen with sister Mary (left) during a visit to Penrith Public School in Penrith, Sydney, Thursday, 21 March 2019. New South Wales voters will head to the polls in the state election Saturday, March 23rd. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins) NO ARCHIVING

Something about Mary

Ms Berejiklian’s younger sister­ has become a key member of the Premier’s cheer squad in recent weeks.

-

21/03/2019 Waleed Aly and Scott Morrison on the Project Credit: TEN

PM takes fight to Aly

Scott Morrison has clashed with The Project host Waleed Aly over claims of ­Islamophobia within the government. Henry Ergas, meantime, suggests neo-Nazis and jihadis are not opposites, they are twins.

-

20/03/2019 Thalidomide victims Lynette Rowe and Lisa McManus. McManus is what is known as an X lister; a child born in the 60s with classic deformities readily attributed to Thalidomide. Lynne is a Y lister. She was born without arms and legs but only recently had her disabilities attributed to Thalidomide as part of a class action. On Friday, a Senate committee will hand down a report into the treatment of people left with deformities by Thalidomide poisoning.Picture : David Geraghty / The Australian.

Finally, an apology awaits

Nearly 60 years after the thalidomide scandal, two of the original victims, Lynette Rowe and Lisa McManus, may finally receive a national apology for what was done to them.

-

Kudelka’s view

Jon Kudelka letters Cartoon for 22-03-2019. Version: Letters Cartoon (1280x720 - Aspect ratio preserved, Canvas added)COPYRIGHT: The Australian's artists each have different copyright agreements in place regarding re-use of their work in other publications.Please seek advice from the artists themselves or the Managing Editor of The Australian regarding re-use.