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.

Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce during Question Time in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Thursday, May 24, 2018. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) NO ARCHIVING

‘Vikki’s decision’

Barnaby Joyce says his family never would have agreed to a paid interview with Network Seven if Australia had sufficient privacy laws, as Seven confirms the interview will air this Sunday. The former deputy prime minister said his partner Vikki Campion made the decision to accept money for a Network Seven interview because she was being “screwed over” from the constant media attention. Keep up with all the latest from parliament in our live blog, PoliticsNow.

“Remember there are other people in this interview being Vikki and Seb, so if it was just an interview with me as a politician, sure, I am not going to charge for that.”

Barnaby Joyce

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Live rent free in the house with no bills for one year. Minister Lily D'Ambrosio speaking at the Mirvac built house with no bills. Picture - IMAGEPLAY (2)

‘Face facts, D’Ambrosio’

Without doubt, Lily D’Ambrosio is one of the least impressive ministers in the Victorian Labor government, writes Judith Sloan. But she obviously thinks she’s on to something by attacking NSW Labor Opposition Leader Luke Foley for his statement of the obvious: that migrants are dominating the growth of population in parts of Sydney. This is no less true in Melbourne.

“I would suggest D’Ambrosio check her facts before she puts on the boxing gloves again. How can she claim that something is ‘disgusting racist dog-whistling’ if it’s true?”

Judith Sloan

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Michael Doherty leaves the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry at the Commonwealth Law Courts in Melbourne, Monday, May 28, 2018. (AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy) NO ARCHIVING

‘Tight corner’

Pub baron Michael Doherty was ‘in a very tight corner’ with Bankwest before his business collapsed. Stay abreast of all the latest from the banking royal commission in our live blog.

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Supplied undated image obtained Thursday, June 19, 2014 of an Optus store in Sydney. (AAP Image/Optus) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Optus cuts

Optus is slashing 400 jobs as part of its ongoing efforts to keep a lid on costs, with managerial and administration staff to bear the brunt of the cuts. According to the telco, the latest round of redundancies is part of its stated strategy to make its back office operations leaner.

“Optus is making a step-change to the way we work, do business and fund future investments so we can continue to thrive in our increasingly competitive and disruptive market.”

Optus spokeswoman

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Refugees in a Sierra Leone camp. Picture: Getty Images.

‘No food without sex’

An explosive report finds international aid workers demand sex for every aspect of refugees’ lives, including food, shoes and soap.

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27/05/2018: Bettina Van Der Werf turned to vaping after smoking for many for many years. Stuart McEvoy for The Australian.

The long read: Smoking without guilt

E-cigarettes can help lifelong smokers give up the habit, writes Sian Powell. Yet the most dangerous nicotine product, the standard issue cigarettes we all grew up with, are available everywhere, while the far less dangerous e-cigarettes that have helped wean millions of smokers away from tobacco are available in Australia only with a doctor’s prescription.

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Comment of the day

“The biggest shake up needed is the link between Industry Super Funds, the unions and Labor. No wonder Unbelieva-Bill wants to destroy SMSFs.”

David, in response to ‘Great superannuation rip-off exposed’.