Your morning Briefing: Labor staffers arrested in fraud probe

Hello readers and welcome to your two-minute digest of the day’s top stories.

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

Premier Daniel Andrews (centre) and State Health Minister Jill Hennessy (left) speaks to the media during a press conference in Melbourne, Thursday, July 18, 2018. The state government is planning on improving nurse to patient ratios. (AAP Image/Alex Murray) NO ARCHIVING

Red shirts busts

Victorian Labor is reeling after fraud squad detectives executed early-morning raids on the homes of 17 of the party’s former Red Shirt campaigners, arresting them and taking them in for questioning over timesheets signed off by MPs. Premier Daniel Andrews and senior ministers cancelled at least six events to avoid commenting in the hours after the fraud and extortion squad raids that led to 12 people being arrested in Victoria and five in other states about timesheets they had signed.

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02/08/2018 Federal Member for Lindsay, Emma Husar leaving her home in Penrith after accusations of mistreatment and sexual harassment of her staff which she denies. Jane Dempster/The Australian

ALP mulls dumping Husar

Moves to dump federal Labor MP Emma Husar as a party candidate could start late next week, with the NSW ALP determined to head off a worsening political ­crisis as more allegations surface about the backbencher’s bullying of staff and other conduct.

Party sources have told The Australian that Ms Husar’s status as preselected candidate for the western Sydney seat of Lindsay could be overturned quickly at a special meeting of NSW Labor’s candidate review committee.

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From Russia with malice

Donald Trump’s national security leaders have delivered their sharpest warning yet that Russia is actively seeking to weaken and divide the United States ahead of the November midterm elections. In a rare joint press conference at the White House the heads of the FBI, Homeland Security, NSA and the director of National Intelligence warned that America’s democracy was “in the crosshairs.”

“(To) the American people, we acknowledge the threat, it is real, it is continuing. It goes to Russia’s intent to undermine our democratic values and drive a wedge between our allies.”

Dan Coats, director of national intelligence

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Rod Clement Margin Call cartoon for 03-08-2018Version: Business Cartoon (Original)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.

Plastic bag madness

What is really motivating Coles’s plastic bag gymnastics? Margin Call suggests suspicious minds on Brad Banducci’s Woolworths executive team suspect foul play. They have reason. Coles’s parent company the $56 billion, Perth-headquartered Wesfarmers plans to sell the supermarket chain by the end of the year. Some believe Wesfarmers boss Rob Scott and his departing Coles CEO John Durkan might be engaged in a ruthless lunge for market share from their arch rival Woolies.

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Kudelka’s view

Jon Kudelka Letters Cartoon for 03-08-2018. 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.