Your morning Briefing: Labor move to kill off Turnbull’s energy deal

Welcome to your morning digest of the top stories of the day.

Hello readers and welcome to your two-minute digest of what’s making news today.

Shadow Minister for Energy Mark Butler during Question Time in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Tuesday, June 26, 2018. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) NO ARCHIVING

Labor blasts NEG

Federal Labor has condemned Malcolm Turnbull’s national ­energy guarantee, declaring its “pathetic’’ emissions cuts will ­stifle renewable energy investment, threatening to extend a decade-long policy deadlock that has sent electricity prices soaring. Labor hardened its position on the NEG yesterday as the government offered an olive branch to wavering states, pledging a review of the policy’s 26 per cent carbon emission targets after its first four years.

-

Emma Husar MP Office in High St PenrithWednesday July 25 2018 Image/ Monique Harmer)

Expenses for groceries

Federal Labor MP Emma Husar has been accused of using parliamentary entitlements to buy household groceries including ­toilet paper, The Australian has learned, as Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says he is sure Ms Husar will be prepared to refer any accusations to authorities for review. Yesterday The Australian revealed that Ms Husar had been ­accused of using the taxpayer-funded Comcar service to travel to meet her divorce lawyer and that she had been questioned by staff over using parliamentary entitlements to fly to Melbourne to attend an Emily’s List function.

-

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull addresses the media with Tasmanian Minister for Agriculture Sarah Courtney (left) and Liberal party candidate for Braddon Brett Whiteley, at Western Plains Farm, in Stanley, Tasmania, on Friday, July 20, 2018. (AAP Image/Grant Wells) NO ARCHIVING

Super Saturday stakes

It is tempting to say no matter what happens in Saturday’s by-elections it’s a win-win for Malcolm Turnbull writes Niki Savva. If the Prime Minister regains Longman or Braddon, or, even more incredibly, pulls off a historic double, he will have accomplished a once-in-a-century feat. And if he doesn’t, well, it still helps ensure Bill Shorten survives as Opposition Leader. It is tempting to say it, certainly a few Liberals are thinking it, but it is not quite true. It is true that inside the government, although they profess to be undaunted by the prospect of Anthony Albanese, they believe they have Shorten’s measure and would rather he stayed, spurred by private research that shows while disunity is their greatest liability, Shorten remains their most valuable asset.

-

Rod Clement Margin Call cartoon for 26-07-18Version: 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.

Life after Footy Show

A year ago Craig Hutchison suffered the indignity of getting boned from The AFL Footy Show and replaced by Eddie McGuire. But don’t feel too sore for Hutchy. It looks like the Melbourne broadcaster and businessman has grown his post-Footy fortune to almost $20 million, reveals Margin Call.

-

Taqele Naiyaravoro of the Waratahs make a break during the Round 12 Super Rugby match between the NSW Waratahs and the Blues at Brookvale Oval in Sydney on Saturday, May 5, 2018. (AAP Image/Jeremy Ng) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Ripe for reform

Rugby is changing, writes Owen Slot. Can anyone really know what professional rugby will look like in a decade? The evidence appears to be irrefutable. When the numbers tell you that 47 per cent of all injuries are associated with the tackle, the game would be negligent not to address change. Already, the RFU in England next season will trial a law in its second-tier competition that lowers the legal tackle height to the underside of the armpit.

-

Kudelka’s view

Jon Kudelka Letters cartoon for 26-07-18Version: 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.