Your morning Briefing

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.

Pictured, Pauline Hanson, an Australian senator arrives at Heathrow Airport from Australia. picture David Dyson

Split boosts union clout

One Nation’s civil war has escalated amid claims that internal divisions helped block a new public interest union merger test. The problem, writes Richo, is that Pauline Hanson just isn’t smart enough.

“Peter Georgiou was against the integrity bill, but Pauline and I were for it. She asked the government to pull the bill so we were not seen as being divided.”

Brian Burston

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Screen grabs of Vikki Campion and Barnaby Joyce during their first interview since the birth of their baby - interviewed on Channel Seven’s Sunday Night program, 03 June 2018. Credit: Channel 7

‘Dark forces’

In the much-hyped 7 Network interview, Vikki Campion says ‘people within the parliament’ tried to force her to have an abortion to save Barnaby Joyce’s career. Caroline Overington writes ‘enough about the Barnababy’.

“It was billed as the love story everyone’s talking about, but did we really need to know who put what where, and when?”

Caroline Overington

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Labor party logo

Refugee policy revolt

Labor is facing a grassroots revolt over refugee policy, with city and country branches calling for sweeping changes to the largely ­bipartisan border protection and offshore processing regime ahead of the NSW Labor annual conference.

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TEACHERS-PET 14/04/2018: Pic to go with upcoming Hedley Thomas podcast on the disappearance of Lyn Dawson in 1982. Rebecca Hazel has written a book about the case. Lyn's husband at the time was Chris Dawson, a former Rugby League player. Joanne Curtis is the woman that Chris Dawson started to groom as a partner whilst still married to Lyn. Rebecca was a friend of Joanne's. Hollie Adams/The Australian

The Teacher’s Pet

A curt email declaring Lyn Dawson simply walked out on her husband and children has angered her family. Listen to more in the chart-topping true crime podcast series, The Teacher’s Pet.

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James Roberts in action during NSW Blues training at the SCG in Sydney. Pic Jenny Evans

In defence of Roberts

Brad Fittler wandered up to James Roberts last week and made a point of telling the NSW centre he had earned his State of Origin debut through his defence, not his attack. For all the talk about the Blues’ blistering backline, it is their ability to make tackles rather than break them that has won favour from their rookie coach. Roberts is the prime example. Amid the debate about whether he or Josh Addo-Carr would win a footrace over 100m, Fittler prefers to talk about Roberts’ ability without the ball.

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Kudelka’s view

Jon Kudleka Letters Cartoon for 04-06-18Version: 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.