Your noon Briefing: Dutton lashes Albanese for ‘Mr Popular’ try

Your 2-minute digest of the day’s top stories.

Hello readers. Peter Dutton lashes Anthony Albanese over trying to be ‘Mr Popular’, and notorious pedophile walks free after court battle.

27/08/2019. Labor opposition leader Anthony Albanese speaking at a press conference today. Jane Dempster/The Australian.

Dutton lashes Albanese for ‘Mr Popular’ try

Peter Dutton says Anthony Albanese should “show leadership” over the Tamil family instead of telling people what they want to hear, while Geoff Chambers wonders if Albo has learned anything from Bill Shorten’s mistake, namely shaming the PM on grounds of his faith.

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A container ship is pushed to it's berth by a tug at the Port of Melbourne on June 6, 2018. Australia's economy recorded a strong start to the year as exports and business inventories rose, official data showed June 6, but analysts warned soft consumer spending would keep a rise in interest rates at bay. / AFP PHOTO / William WEST

Current account record smashed

Australia posted its first quarterly current account surplus since 1975 in the second quarter, bolstered by soaring iron-ore prices.

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michael guider, convicted paedophile killer

Shock as child killer granted freedom

In a stunning move, NSW’s most notorious paedophile and child-killer, Michael Anthony Guider, will walk free after an extraordinary battle.

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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 02: Usman Khawaja of Australia prepares to bat during the Australia Nets Session at Emirates Old Trafford on September 02, 2019 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Aussie selectors axe struggling batsman

Steve Smith’s return for Fourth Test means there is no room for one out-of-form star in Australia’s top six. Peter Lalor reports.

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Cafe workers underpaid

The revelation comes after Muffin Break’s GM said Millennials were not willing to do unpaid work to get ahead.

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family portrait of Sri Lankan Tamils Priya and Nadesalingam and their two Australian-born children Kopika and Tharunicaa (L) Nadesalingam.

The long read: No exceptions any more

Peter Dutton’s tough rhetoric on a Tamil family reflects his firm belief backdowns will be used by people-smugglers to sell tickets.