Your morning Briefing: PNG port plan stokes China fears

Welcome to your 2-minute briefing on the day’s top stories and must-reads.Welcome to your 2-minute briefing on the day’s top stories and must-reads.

Hello readers. Here is your 2-minute digest of what’s making news today.

Supplied photos from West Lorengau on Manus Island showing that the area deemed is still a construction site, despite constant claims from the Prime Minister and Immigration Minister Peter Dutton that new relocation areas are safe and ready

China Manus fears

Plans to build a multi-use port on Papua New Guinea’s Manus ­Island have stoked fears that China could be set to gain a foothold on the strategically vital ­island, as Beijing is potentially in line to help fund the facility. Australian government officials, defence experts and Manus Island residents are concerned at the high level of Chinese foreign investment on Manus Island, a site long considered pivotal by ­defence strategists because of its sweeping command of the Pacific Ocean and the maritime ­approaches to Asia.

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Malcolm Turnbull leaves The Lodge in Canberra with wife Lucy on his morning walk. Picture by Sean Davey.

Mal was closing gap

Malcolm Turnbull was beginning to drag the Coalition back into contention in the final weeks of his leadership and had stretched his lead over Bill Shorten as preferred prime minister to the widest average margin in more than a year. However, the former prime minister was still on track for a ­significant defeat and the potential loss of 13 marginal seats, with large swings against the government still being recorded in Queensland. Stay abreast of the latest from Canberra in our live blog, PoliticsNow as ScoMo’s new team is set to be sworn in.

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Sturt Krygsman OPED cartoon for 28-08-18Version: Ozoped Artwork (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.

Machiavellis not

The Dutton challenge was so poorly conceived and clumsily executed that those who regard themselves as political professionals should be ashamed, writes Troy Bramston. There has not been a challenge so ham-fisted. Dutton’s band of willing executioners, including Michael Sukkar, Zed ­Seselja and James McGrath, are anything but modern-day Machiavellis.

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Former minister for foreign affairs Julie Bishop speaks at the opening of the Evari Business Insurance technology business in Perth, Monday, August 27, 2018. Julie Bishop has urged her successor as foreign minister to keep fighting for justice for the victims of the doomed MH17 flight. Ms Bishop, who resigned from the role on Sunday to go to the back bench, made the comments while opening a Perth technology business co-founded by Brack Norris, whose father Nick, niece Evie and nephews Otis and Mo were killed on the 2014 flight. (AAP Image/Rebecca Le May) NO ARCHIVING

Labor no to ‘G-G Bishop’

Bill Shorten has attempted to shut down plans to install Julie Bishop as the next governor-general by demanding Scott Morrison extend Peter Cosgrove’s five-year term until after the next election. The Opposition Leader yesterday wrote to the new Prime Minister to declare his opposition to Ms Bishop, who resigned as foreign minister on Sunday and moved to the backbench, amid suggestions she could be handed the coveted vice-regal role next year. Her supporters argue she would be an ideal candidate to replace Sir Peter, who is paid $425,000 a year, when his term expires next March.

“They’ve got rocks in their head if they think we’ll support Julie Bishop for governor-­general.”

ALP source

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Kudelka’s view

Jon Kudleka Letters Cartoon for 28-08-18Version: 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.