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 roundup of today’s top stories and a long read for lunchtime.

NSW Senator Brian Burston and Federal Leader of the United Australia Party, Clive Palmer at a press conference to announce that NSW Senator Brian Burston had joined the United Australia Party and would lead the Party in the Senate, at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture Kym Smith

Clive ‘after me’

Pauline Hanson has accused Clive Palmer of “threatening” to withhold preferences to One Nation if her party does not support Turnbull’s company tax cuts.

“He said, ‘if you don’t back the corporate tax cuts, you won’t get our preferences’. He intends to come after me.”

Pauline Hanson

Meantime, Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack says the government is considering making electric and automated vehicle owners pay road use fees, and will have more to say on the issue in future. Keep up with all the latest from parliament in our live blog, PoliticsNow.

“When you’ve got automated vehicles, electric vehicles on the roads, they’re not paying fuel excise, and of course who is going to actually pay for the roads of the future.”

Michael McCormack

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Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull waits for the Prime Minister of Vanuatu Charlot Salwai ahead of a bilateral meeting at Parliament House in Canberra, Monday, June 25, 2018. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) NO ARCHIVING

Who dares wins

The PM must get on the front foot, writes Chris Kenny, because unless the Coalition improves their advocacy they will lose government — it is as simple as that. Malcolm Turnbull has condemned an ALP attack ad targeting his personal wealth and how much he stands to benefit from tax cuts. But Labor has problems of its own, according to Richo, and if Bill Shorten isn’t careful — and he loses Braddon and Longman — Anthony Albanese could just become Labor leader.

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Close up of Empty Pill Bottles

Superbug killer

Australia has a new weapon in the battle against superbugs and it may be more effective than more costly and complex programs — a carefully crafted letter from the nation’s chief medical officer to the GPs prescribing the most antibiotics. The Australian has obtained a report from a secret commonwealth trial that found a personally addressed letter from Professor Brendan Murphy, containing the right information, could reduce prescribing rates by almost 15 per cent.

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*Fairfax Pool Images* The Royal Commission into the Financial Services Industry. 12 February 2018. The Age News. Photo: Eddie Jim. ( The Commissioner Kenneth Hayne )

Give us something new: Hayne

Royal commissioner Kenneth Hayne has told self-identified victims of Commonwealth Bank’s wholly-owned Bankwest subsidiary to contribute claims relating to issues that have not yet been focused on by the royal commission. Stay abreast of the latest as the hearings move to Brisbane in our live banking inquiry blog.

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25/08/16 - View of the Marree Man from the air.Photo Tom Huntley

The long read: A line on Maree Man

The origins of a 4.2km-long carving that appeared in the South Australian outback 20 years ago remain a mystery, and the plot thickens, writes Sian Powell.

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Comment of the day

“Congratulations to NSW for their fair play, hard effort and gallant series win. All the guts, all the glory. I smell a whitewash coming on. QLD couldn’t beat 12 men. Better luck next time, cane toads.”

Brad, in response to ‘State of Origin 2018 Game 2: Live coverage’.