Your noon Briefing

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

Hello readers. Here is your noon round-up of today’s top stories so far and a long read for lunchtime.

ATO Assistant Commissioner Kath Anderson

Car rort crackdown

Australians rorting work-related car expenses will be targeted in a broad Australian Taxation Office crackdown, after it emerged claims had ballooned to almost $9bn last year. ATO ­assistant commissioner Kath ­Anderson warned there would be greater scrutiny on car expense claims, which now accounted for more than 40 per cent of all work-related deductions. Peter Costello, meantime, has attacked the complexity of tax and super, saying MPs would learn if they had to do their own returns.

“We are a bit concerned taxpayers are making mistakes or ­deliberately over-claiming their work-related car expenses.”

Kath Anderson

-

Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Penny Wong speaks during a press conference at Sydney Airport in Sydney, Sunday, April 15, 2018. (AAP Image/Jeremy Ng) NO ARCHIVING

Boats back?

Labor leader in the Senate Penny Wong says her party should be advocating for a limit on the time asylum seekers spend in detention, prompting warnings from the Coalition that boat arrivals will seek to “wait out” the period and people smuggling will restart.

“The principle of offshore processing being temporary is of course a Labor principle.”

Penny Wong

-

British Conservative politician Jacob Rees-Mogg arrives at the Manchester Central Convention Centre in Manchester on October 3, 2017, the third day of the Conservative Party annual conference. / AFP PHOTO / Oli SCARFF

Young fogey

In a political age in Europe that is allegedly swinging to the left, there is surely no more unlikely popular political media star than Jacob Rees-Mogg, the British Conservative MP for North East Somerset. Greg Sheridan meets the Member for the 18th Century.

-

Archibald Prize 2018 finalistJamie Preisz, 'Jimmy (title fight)'oil on canvas 153 x 116.5 cm © the artist Photo: AGNSW, Jenni Carter *** EMBARGO: 12 NOON, THURSDAY 3 May 2018 *** This image may only be used in conjunction with editorial coverage of the 2018 Archibald Prize competition, on display 12 May – 9 Sep 2018, at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. This image may not be cropped or overwritten. Prior approval in writing required for use as a cover. Caption details must accompany reproduction of the image. Media contact: [e-mail] *** Local Caption *** This image may only be used in conjunction with editorial coverage of the 2018 Archibald Prize competition, on display 12 May – 9 Sep 2018, at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. This image may not be cropped or overwritten. Prior approval in writing required for use as a cover. Caption details must accompany reproduction of the image. Media contact: [e-mail]

Archibald Face-off

Famous faces from the law, music, the stage and even state politics figure in the line-up of this year’s Archibald Prize, unveiled this morning at the Art Gallery of NSW. Likenesses of actors Guy Pearce and David Wenham, musicians Jimmy Barnes and Courtney Barnett and dance legend Meryl Tankard are also in contention for the $100,000 prize. As a prelude to the main event, the Packing Room prize, announced this morning, has been won by Jamie Preisz for his portrait of Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes, Jimmy (title fight).

-

HOLLYWOOD - FEBRUARY 27: Actress Cate Blanchett and Miramax's Harvey Weinstein attend the Governors Ball after the 77th Annual Academy Awards at The Highlands on February 27, 2005 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

#metoo, says Cate

Cate Blanchett has accused disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein of behaving inappropriately towards her. The Australian is the latest Hollywood star to make allegations of sexual misconduct against the producer, following claims by others including Rose McGowan, Gwyneth Paltrow, Salma Hayek and Angelina Jolie. Blanchett has appeared in a number of films produced by Weinstein, including The Talented Mr Ripley, Carol and The Aviator.

“I got a bad feeling from him. He would often say to me, ‘We’re not friends’ ... I wouldn’t do what he was asking me to do.”

Cate Blanchett

-

This March 2, 2017 picture released by North Korean news agency, KCNA (Korean Central News Agency) on March 3, 2017 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C) and his wife Ri Sol-Ju (front 2nd R) visiting the Mangyongdae Revolutionary School in Pyongyang to plant trees with its students on the Tree-planting Day. REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT ---EDITORS NOTE--- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / KCNA VIA KNS" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS / AFP PHOTO / KCNA VIA KNS / STR / South Korea OUT / REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT ---EDITORS NOTE--- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO/KCNA VIA KNS" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS THIS PICTURE WAS MADE AVAILABLE BY A THIRD PARTY. AFP CAN NOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, LOCATION, DATE AND CONTENT OF THIS IMAGE. THIS PHOTO IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY AFP. / REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT ---EDITORS NOTE--- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / KCNA VIA KNS" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

The long read: From tyro to tyrant

Kim Jong-un is the brutal leader of an indefensible regime, writes Richard Lloyd Parry, but his malign brilliance has resulted in amazing achievements.

-

Comment of the day

“Are Com Cars a fringe benefit?”

Jeremy, in response to ‘Crackdown on car expense rorters taking tax office for a ride’.