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.

DEAL-20160219 EMBARGO FOR THE DEAL 19 Feb 2016NO reuse fee appliesHolly Kramer is the Chief Executive Officer of Best & Less Pic ; James Horan

Three quit AMP

Three more directors have announced their resignation from the AMP board, amid growing pressure for renewal at the embattled wealth manager. AMP said today Vanessa Wallace and Holly Kramer will step down ahead of Thursday’s annual general meeting. Long-serving director Patty Akopiantz has offered to step down and will serve until the of end 2018. Turmoil at AMP has already claimed the scalps of chair Catherine Brenner and CEO Craig Meller.

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Kelly is the owner of an Air B&B house in Ryan St Footscray where an out of control party caused major damage. Monday, May 7. 2018. Picture: David Crosling

‘Not a good look’

A senior Victorian police officer has conceded the force has to change its approach to out-of-control parties, after police were left powerless to stop up to 150 youths of African appearance trashing a Footscray home as they had renters’ rights. Assistant Commissioner Stephen Leane told Melbourne’s 3AW radio that officers will set up a new plan that will see more police dealing at out-of-control parties, led by senior officers.

“I don’t think it’s a good look, I don’t think our police like to be in this position, and I’ve asked senior police to work on an operational response plan so we can be much quicker.”

Stephen Leane

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Nationals backbench MP George Christensen speaks during House of Representatives Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra, Wednesday, March 28, 2018. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) NO ARCHIVING

Yes minister

Outspoken Nationals MP George Christensen will soon be in another ministry — as a deacon in the Anglican Church. However Mr Christensen has re-nominated to run for his Queensland seat of Dawson at the next federal election and won’t be throwing the Turnbull government’s numbers into a spin. Stay abreast of all the latest from parliament as Scott Morrison gets set to unveil the budget in our live blog, PoliticsNow.

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Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop, PM Malcolm Turnbull and Deputy PM Michael McCormack at a Cabinet meeting at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture Kym Smith

The long read: Budget fairytales

Myth-making around budgets delivering governments a poll bounce is exact­ly that, a myth; and this time round is no different, writes Peter van Onselen.

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Comment of the day

“Home care packages are fine but retirees who have had their pensions taken off them are still seething.”

Bruce, in response to ‘Budget 2018: Scott Morrison gives seniors a lift after $41bn in repair measures’.