Your noon Briefing: ‘Joyce out of step with party room’

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

Hello readers. Nats senator slams Barnaby Joyce as ‘out of step’ with the partyroom, and Andrew Peacock at 80 ponders what might have been.

Minister for Sport Bridget McKenzie at a press conference to outline the Australian Government response to the Wood Report of the Review of Australia'€™s Sports Integrity Arrangements at Parliament House in Canberra, Tuesday, February 12, 2019. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) NO ARCHIVING

Joyce ‘out of step’

Senator Bridget McKenzie has slammed Barnaby Joyce’s call for a coal-fired power station, declaring he’s “not focused” on the public’s needs.

“I think Australia is frustrated that there is a politician out there who is not focused on their needs and issues ... Michael McCormack is our leader. We all back him to the hilt. He will be leading us to the federal election.”

Bridget McKenzie

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STRASBOURG, FRANCE - MARCH 11: British Prime Minster Theresa May and President of European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker attend a press conference at the European Comission on March 11, 2019 in Strasbourg, France. (Photo by Thomas Niedermueller/Getty Images)

Brexit ‘breakthrough’

Theresa May and EU leaders agree “legally binding changes” to help break the deadlock ahead of tomorrow’s crucial vote.

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20/12/2016: Michael Blythe Commonwealth Bank Australia Chief Economist speaking to The Australian about the he Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook, AustraliaÕs economic outlook for 2017, the Reserve Bank of Australia. Hollie Adams/The Australian

‘Strangest recession’

CBA’s chief economist has hosed down talk about a “per capita recession” but says it’s time to bring forward tax cuts.

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The avacado industry is planning a revolution in how they are farmed.

Avo revolution

Do you resent buying two avocados just to get one that is edible? The nation’s largest fruit producer hears your pain and has a plan to boost quality, writes Damon Kitney.

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07/03/2019: Former federal leader of the Liberal Party Andrew Peacock, who has just turned 80 years old, at his home in Austin, Texas with dog named 'Butters'. PIC: Brian Birzer for The Australian

The long read: ‘I still have nightmares’

Having recently celebrated his 80th birthday, Andrew Peacock ponders the greatest defeat of his long and remarkable life.

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Comment of the day

“You can vote for the climate change, ‘we are all gunna die’ mob, and the ‘let’s open the borders’ mob, which has been such a success in Europe, or you can vote for professional pollies, with years of experience, who are far more interested in getting back to surplus, keeping the power on, and getting your bill down, keeping unemployment down, building roads, and superstructure, and getting people back to work.

“Your choice. But thanks for letting us know, who Labor is going to target. It helps in campaigning.”

Arlys, in response to ‘GetUp cash a threat to right MPs’.