Your noon Briefing

Hello readers. Here’s the latest on how the day is playing out plus a long read for lunchtime.

Hello readers. In your noon digest, ScoMo on a tax cut mission, Darren Chester ditched in reshuffle and a long read on how we must handle China with care.

Australian Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison speaks during a press conference as he hands down the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2017/18 at Parliament House in Canberra, Monday, December 18, 2017. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) NO ARCHIVING

ScoMo’s middle class tax cut mission

Scott Morrison says he’s on a personal “mission” to find the money to fund personal tax cuts for middle income earners in next year’s budget, despite no mention of the cuts in yesterday’s Midyear Economic and Fiscal Outlook. Hitting the Sydney Markets early this morning to spruik MYEFO, the Treasurer said tax cuts and achieving yesterday’s forecast of a $10.2bn budget surplus by mid-2021 were both priorities.

“It is our intention to ensure that we provide tax relief for middle income Australians and we stay on track for our budget surplus.”

Scott Morrison

-

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and Minister for Infrastructure Darren Chester during Question Time in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Tuesday, October 24, 2017. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) NO ARCHIVING

Darren Chester ditched

Infrastructure Minister Darren Chester has been dumped from cabinet, as Malcolm Turnbull prepares to announce a cabinet reshuffle later today. Social Services Minister Christian Porter is viewed as the most likely candidate to replace George Brandis as Attorney-General, as Senator Brandis leaves federal parliament to become High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, taking over from Alexander Downer, who has held the post since 2014. Mr Porter, a former WA state attorney-general, is currently Social Services Minister and his portfolio could be handed to Victorian Dan Tehan. Mr Chester’s portfolio is set to be filled by Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, leaving the agriculture portfolio open. The Queensland LNP state council will meet to ratify Brandis’s Senate replacement, with a looming “Melbourne Cup field” of candidates including former senator Joanna Lindgren, Teresa Harding, Amanda Stoker and former LNP leader Lawrence Springborg.

-

Illustration: Sturt Krygsman

Would the real Andrew Leigh please stand up

Andrew Leigh is not a particularly uncommon name, writes Judith Sloan. I’m sure there are quite a few of them in Australia. But one thing that does confuse me is the difference between Professor Andrew Leigh and Andrew Leigh MP. Are they the same person or are they different men? Once upon a time, Professor Leigh was a thoughtful, logical and prolific academic at the Australian National University. His interests were wide-ranging and generally policy-related. He used data to test some important propositions.

-

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 29: Producer Harvey Weinstein (L) and actress Meryl Streep attend the 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 29, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Streep: I didn’t know

Hollywood grandee Meryl Streep has defended herself against criticism that she continued to work with Harvey Weinstein despite his reputation as a sexual predator, insisting: “I didn’t know.” Streep spoke out after Rose McGowan attacked her and other actresses who plan to wear black to this year’s Golden Globes in protest at sexual harassment in the industry. McGowan’s since deleted tweet said: “Actresses, like Meryl Streep, who happily worked for The Pig Monster, are wearing black @goldenglobes in a silent protest. YOUR SILENCE is THE problem. You’ll accept a fake award breathlessly & affect no real change. I despise your hypocrisy.”

-

Prime Minister Gough Whitlam (L), interpreter Li Zhong (in background), Chinese Deputy Premier Deng Xiaoping and Margaret Whitlam during a historic visit to China in 1973.

The long read: Handling China with care

Australia and China have come a long way together during our 45 years of diplomatic relations — not always in harmony but, when necessary, acknowledging differences and building on the past. Today, voices are being raised on both sides that we are moving towards some form of irretrievable breakdown as a result of the debate about Chinese influence. That can’t happen, writes China Correspondent Rowan Callick. Too much is at stake. But the relationship is changing irrevocably.

-

Comment of the day

“Imagine the discussions around the Point Piper Progressive’s dinner table. ‘What to do Lucy?’ ‘You’ll keep your friends close and your enemies closer is what you’ll do Malcolm.’ ”

Ross, in response to ‘Conservative Liberals the big winners in Turnbull’s reshuffle’.