Your noon Briefing: Nats leader gives green light for coal

Welcome to your noon digest of what’s been making news and what to watch for.

Hello readers. Here is your noon roundup of today’s top stories and a long read for lunchtime.

National Party of Australia leader and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack is seen speaking at the Queensland LNP (Liberal National Party) state convention at the Royal International Convention Centre in Brisbane, Saturday, July 7, 2018. (AAP Image/Darren England) NO ARCHIVING

Nats’ green light for coal

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack has declared there is a “green light” for government-investment in new coal projects, as a senior cabinet minister left open the possibility of a royal commission into the electricity sector “down the track”. Henry Ergas writes that the ACCC’s backing for more government intervention will only add to our energy woes and Adam Creighton suggests electricity prices in the free market will fall only when there is genuine competition.

“The ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) has said where possible and where appropriate the government should look to helping to supporting that ability to buy, pay for, support baseload power and that’s got to be seen as a good thing.”

`Michael McCormack

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Wrecking, havoc

Donald Trump’s European tour is leaving a trail of wreckage, as America’s allies are left bruised and confused by his shambolic handling of the NATO summit and fearful of his forthcoming meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, writes Cameron Stewart. Trump came to the NATO summit with one single and simple message — to urge NATO members to honour their promise to spend more on defence rather than rely so heavily on the United States.

Jacquelin Magnay writes that as Theresa May sat down to a gala dinner with Donald Trump in London, a British newspaper was hitting the streets with an extraordinary interview with the US president.

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New trains. New Locomotives and wagons operating in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Always credit Christian Sprogoe Photography when published.

Rio’s robot

A giant Rio Tinto robot has successfully delivered 28,000 tonnes of iron ore in its inaugural journey. Monitored remotely by an operations centre in Perth, the company’s (RIO) autonomous train travelled over 280 kilometres across the Pilbara on July 10, from Rio’s operations in Tom Price to the port of Cape Lambert.

“The safe first delivery of iron ore by an autonomous train is a key milestone for AutoHaul.”

Ivan Vella, Rio’s rail, port and core services managing director

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The Marriage Equality was passed in the Senate Chamber at Parliament House in Canberra. Barry O'Sullivan in the chamber voted against the marriage bill.Picture Gary Ramage

The long read: Change gusts through LNP

City folks are in the ascendancy among the ranks of Queensland LNP, much to the chagrin of many old-school Nationals, writes Jamie Walker.

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Comment of the day

“As brutal as Trump’s diplomacy is, I think this is not an unreasonable demand. The US has been paying the lion’s share for peace keeping around the world for many years — and almost all the problems have occurred outside the US.”

Chris, in response to ‘Trump’s defence spending demand shocks NATO’.