Your noon Briefing: Daley accused of plotting Lib payback

Your 2-minute digest of the day’s top stories and a long read for lunchtime.

Hello readers. Michael Daley denies plotting payback against Liberal-linked SCG Trust members, and there is a new twist in the Indian dentist body-in-a-suitcase story.

New South Wales Opposition Leader Michael Daley announces that a Daley Labor Government, if elected in March, will end unfair no-fault evictions during a press conference in Ashfield, Sydney, Wednesday, February 27, 2019. New South Wales go to the polls on March 23rd. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins) NO ARCHIVING

Daley denies payback

Michael Daley has denied his decision to sack four members of the SCG Trust was a partisan attack on the Liberal government. Mr Daley announced yesterday that four members of the board including Tony Shepherd, who headed Water NSW under Tony Abbott, former NSW Liberal premier Barry O’Farrell, and Maurice Newman, one-time adviser to Mr Abbott, would be stood down if Labor won the March 23 election.

Sure, Labor leader Michael Daley stuffed up his attack on Alan Jones, writes Andrew Clennell, but it keeps alive a poisonous issue for the Premier.

“It’s not a partisan attack, it is my response as a prospective premier to the decisions that a corporate body has made.”

Michael Daley

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Sharp slowdown

The Australian economy’s stumble in the second half of 2018 has stoked the case for rate cuts before the end of the year.

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Tony Abbott campaigning at the Spit Bridge on Tuesday, March 5.

Inside job

GetUp and its supporters began targeting Tony Abbott’s seat of Warringah more than 12 months ago.

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tax time Australia generic, Australian Taxation Office, ATO

ATO defying Coalition

The ATO thinks it can tough out the last days of the Coalition and get back to bashing small business under Labor, writes Robert Gottliebsen.

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The scene of the head-on crash. Picture: Fire and Rescue NSW

New twist

The ex-boyfriend of murdered dentist Preethi Reddy died in a deliberate head-on collision a day before her body was found in a suitcase.

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Sydney Airport flights have been delayed and cancelled due to intense storms. Picture: Zara James/9NewsSydney

Worst flight times

Delays and cancellations rose last year with new figures identifying the worst route and why more flights were late or never took off.

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The long read: A nation loses its voice

A typical obituary could never capture the life and achievements of revered journalist and author Les Carlyon. Garry Linnell pays tribute to a unique talent.

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Comment of the day

“The Great War tore at my heart. They bravery of both the men, and the women they left behind, makes me wonder, what happened to us.

“We truly owe them, we owe them all, and yet, we have not come up to standard. I hope they forgive us, as I do, Carlyon does. I hope he didn’t leave this world disappointed, I hope he understands it’s different times, different standards, but on Anzac Day, somehow many leave their somewhat self centred lives behind, and stand at dawn, grieving for our young, who never had a chance.

“RIP sir, go join your soldiers now.”

Arlys, in response to ‘Vale Les Carlyon: A nation lost for words’.