Your morning Briefing:

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.

Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg speaks to the media during a press conference in Melbourne, Friday, September 28, 2018. Frydenberg said the culture and conduct of the financial sector have fallen below community standards, with greed and profit coming before honesty and integrity. (AAP Image/David Crosling) NO ARCHIVING

ALP ‘risk to rebound’

The number of loan-approved first-home buyers has hit its highest level since the end of the global financial crisis, with the federal government claiming the credit squeeze on investor lending has begun a turnaround in the property market in favour of owner-occupiers. But Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has seized on the numbers to claim that Labor’s plans to effectively scrap negative gearing could not come at a worse time and would not only risk hammering house prices further but could potentially jeopardise Australia’s AAA credit rating.

-

Senator Cory Bernardi speaking at Senate doors at Parliament House in Canberra.

SA codifies ‘white privilege’ slur

Government departments in South Australia have been criticised for seemingly forcing ­bureaucrats to acknowledge “white privilege” in Aboriginal cultural awareness training.

Conservative crossbench senator Cory Bernardi told The Australian that public servants had contacted his office in fear of losing their jobs after refusing to participate in the training, which required them to acknowledge their “white privilege”.

-

Eric Lobbecke OPED cartoon for 08-10-18Version: Ozoped Artwork (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.

Triumph over mob will

Having satisfied a Senate committee he is neither a witch nor consults with familiar spirits, Brett Kavanaugh enters the US ­Supreme Court to advance the blessed cause of common sense. Nick Cater suggests the crumbling of the sexual ­assault allegations against Kav­a­naugh is a serious blow to #MeToo, the creep-shaming campaign that empowers anyone with a Twitter account to be their own chief prosecutor.

-

31/08/2018: David Evans, Chairman E&P with Jeff Cole, visiting tech guru from America. Stuart McEvoy/ The Australian.

Cole’s crystal ball

He calls himself a “story teller” of the digital world. His clients think he can see into the future. Jeffrey Cole has spent more than three decades advising governments and many of the world’s largest and most successful companies on their digital strategies. In Australia those companies have included Telstra, Wesfarmers, Westpac and the other big banks.

-

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - OCTOBER 07: Nathan Lyon, Aaron Finch, Tim Paine and Marnus Labuschagne of Australia appeal for the wicket of Azhar Ali of Pakistan during day one of the First Test match in the series between Australia and Pakistan at Dubai International Stadium on October 7, 2018 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Blister in the sun

Three wickets in the last session was little reward but reward enough for an Australian attack that laboured hard in the hot sun on the first day of the Test against Pakistan in Dubai. Pakistan and the conditions tortured the visitors who lost the toss but never lost heart. At stumps the home side was 3-255 and the visitors at least knew they had hung on with the odds against them, writes Peter Lalor.

-

Johannes Leak’s view

Johannes Leak NEW Letters cartoon for 08-10-18Version: 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.