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.

The Opposition Leader Bill Shorten gave his Budget in Reply speech to the Parliament in the House of Representatives in Parliament House in Canberra. His family Chloe Shorten with Georgette, Clementine and Rupert were in the chamber for the speech.Picture Gary Ramage

Shorten ups ante

Bill Shorten has intensified his class-war attack on the Turnbull government, pledging to almost double the annual cash handouts for low to middle income workers to $928 while leaving those he claims to be rich on what will be the highest top tax rate in more than 25 years. The Opposition Leader has brought out an old tax plan, according to Dennis Shahanan.

“We will support the government’s tax cut this year — and in our first budget, we will deliver a bigger and better tax cut for 10 million working Australians.”

Bill Shorten

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Anne Aly in Question Time in the House of Representatives Chamber, at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture Kym Smith

Cloud over Aly

Labor MP Anne Aly, who holds the marginal West Australian seat of Cowan, faces fresh questions about her eligibility to sit in federal parliament because of her failure to produce documents proving her Egyptian citizenship was cancelled.

“You must have removed any dual citizenship by the time you nominate. The only exception is if the other country irremediably prevents you from doing so.”

George Williams, constitutional law expert

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Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia’s 92-year-old former strongman, is remarkable.

‘Take a bow, Mahathir’

Mahathir Mohamad, you are incredible, writes Greg Sheridan, who rates the 92-year-old comeback kid as the most extraordinary politician he has ever met and one of the most consequential leaders in post-war Southeast Asia.

“This astonishing upset win — against all the odds, against gerrymandering, media manipulation, the jailing of key opposition figures and much else — offers the chance to renew Malaysian politics and society.”

Greg Sheridan

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Rod Clement Margin Call Cartoon for 11-05-2018Version: Business 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.

Testing times

These are awful times for interim AMP executive chairman Mike Wilkins, writes Margin Call. When former AMP chair Catherine Brenner fell on her stylish sword at a marathon midnight board meeting less than two weeks ago following revelations at Kenneth Hayne’s royal commission over AMP’s possibly criminal conduct, it was dreadful timing for Wilkins to take over the reins, even on an interim basis.

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rugby union and alan jones

Ten ways to save rugby

Former Wallabies coach and radio shock jock Alan Jones weighs back into the rugby debate with a 10-point plan to save the game he loves.

“Rethink the CEO, because we have not heard a word about Raelene Castle’s vision or policies.”

Alan Jones

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Kudelka’s view

Jon Kudelka Letters cartoon for 11-05-2018. 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.