Your noon Briefing

Welcome to your noon roundup of how the day has played out so far and what to watch for.

Hello readers. Here is your noon digest of what’s making news and a long read for lunchtime.

Job ID PD425220. The Prime Minister Tony Abbott launched the 2015 Pollie Pedal, with the Defence Minister Kevin Andrews at Old Parliament House in Canberra. Pic by Gary Ramage

Pollie Pedal

Trade Minister Steve Ciobo says those speculating that Tony Abbott has timed his Pollie Pedal charity bike ride through Victoria’s coal-rich Latrobe Valley to coincide with Malcolm Turnbull’s likely 30th Newspoll loss should “have a glass of water and calm down”.

The former prime minister is a member of the Monash Forum, a group of Coalition MPs who are calling for a $4 billion taxpayer investment in reopening the Hazelwood coal-fired power station.

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Dylan Voller, whose treatment at the hands of guards at Don Dale Youth Detention Centre sparked a royal commission, was among a small group of indigenous activists that held up the Queen’s Baton Relay on the Gold Coast today. Supplied

Voller arrested

Dylan Voller has been arrested at the Commonwealth Games after allegedly trying to enter Carrara Stadium as an indigenous rights protest turned ugly during last night’s opening ceremony. The former Northern Territory youth detainee was taking part in the demonstration when a group allegedly rushed on the Gold Coast venue and were wrestled into handcuffs by police.

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An artist's impression of R&F Property Australia's seven apartment tower development on the riverfront at West End.

Apartment glut

The oversupply of apartments in inner Brisbane may not be resolved until 2021, despite the cancellation or deferral of 52 new projects. A BIS Oxford Economics report shows 8300 apartments will be completed in 2017-18 — a record for apartment completions in Brisbane. And another 5000 apartments are in the pipeline for 2019, putting downward pressure on prices and rents.

“We’re in a position now where rents are under pressure, prices are under pressure, off-the-plan purchasers and investors have fallen away so that’s impacting the next round of development.”

Ange Zigomanis, BIS Oxford Economics

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GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 05: Mack Horton of Australia looks on following the Men's 400m Freestyle Heat 2 on day one of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games at Optus Aquatic Centre on April 5, 2018 on the Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Return of the Mack

Mack Horton is the fastest qualifier for tonight’s men’s 400m freestyle final but Ashleigh Gentle has missed the podium in triathlon. Keep up with all the latest as it happens in our live Commonwealth Games blog.

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FUJI, JAPAN - MARCH 16: Melissa Wu of Australia competes in the Women's 10m Platform final during day two of the FINA Diving World Series Fuji at Shizuoka Prefectural Fuji Swimming Pools on March 16, 2018 in Fuji, Shizuoka, Japan. (Photo by Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images)

The long read: Commonwealth of gold

If the Commonwealth Games didn’t exist, the Australian Olympic Committee would have had to invent them. Simple as that. In the multi-layered world of sport, there aren’t too many better or more direct examples of cause and effect. It’s the arena where stars of the future learn to shine, writes Wayne Smith.

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Comment of the day

“If you eat more calories than you expend, no matter which group of foods, you will get fat. End of story.”

Jane, in response to ‘Buon appetito! How pasta helps you lose weight’.