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, Tuesday, May 29, 2018. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) NO ARCHIVING

Re-Joyce

Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce has vowed to recontest his NSW seat of New England. In the aftermath of his paid interview with partner Vikki Campion and a push by senior Nationals for Mr Joyce to consider his political future, the former Nationals leader this morning signalled his intention to stand again in the seat.

“Of course I am running again, the first people I would tell if I wasn’t would be the electorate. I’m still working for New England, I’m having meetings in the electorate today.”

Barnaby Joyce

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Australian Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg speaks during House of Representatives Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra, Monday, May 21, 2018. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) NO ARCHIVING

Bill relief

Origin Energy promises customers bill relief, flagging even more cuts if parliament can resolve its energy policy impasse. Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg has welcomed the prospect of lower energy bills for consumers.

“We believe we can drive electricity prices even lower for Australian households and businesses, if we can agree on a long term energy policy to encourage timely investment in new supply to replace the nation’s ageing power stations.”

John Briskin, Origin Energy

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Supreme Court has ruled in favour of a baker who refused to make a cake for a gay couple.

Court rules for baker

The US Supreme Court has ruled in favour of a baker who refused to bake a wedding cake for a gay couple in a much anticipated decision which upheld the need to respect religious tolerance over claims of discrimination. But the Supreme Court in its 7-2 decision also took steps to try to ensure that the ruling did not open up the floodgates to broader discrimination against gay people in service industries.

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FILE - In this Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017, file photo, Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, leaves Federal District Court, in Washington. Prosecutors working for special counsel Robert Mueller are accusing former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort of making several attempts to tamper with witnesses in his ongoing criminal cases. Mueller’s team says in a new court filing that Manafort and one of his associates made several attempts to contact two witnesses in an effort to influence their testimony while he was on house arrest earlier this year. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

Witness tamper claim

US prosecutors working for special counsel Robert Mueller have accused Donald Trump’s former campaign manager Paul Manafort of attempting to tamper with witnesses in the fraud case against him. In court documents, Mr Mueller’s team claim Mr Manafort tried to contact witness by phone and through an encrypted messaging program, the New York Times reports.

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Restaurant Chilling Out Classy Lifestyle Reserved Concept. Istock

The long read: With some reservations

John Lethlean weighs in on how rude diners who are no-shows, overbook or reserve multiple tables are costing restaurants dearly, and forcing them to fight back.

“Whether we — the diners — like it or not, restaurants increasingly will find themselves needing to ask for credit card details in advance and charging for disruption, which opens a dark and mysterious Pandora’s box: what is a reasonable bookings and cancellation policy?”

John Lethlean

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Comment of the day

“Talk about kick a man when he is down. This should be about whether he is capable of representing his constituents.”

Jane, in response to ‘Barnaby Joyce to recontest seat of New England as senior Nats plan to oust him’.