Your morning briefing
Good morning readers and welcome to our round-up of what’s making news and the must-reads today.
Good morning, here are the five stories you need to face the day, and it will only take you two minutes.
Top stories
The Turnbull government’s hold on its slim majority in parliament could be at risk amid fears that other MPs could be dual citizens, following revelations Liberal Senate president Stephen Parry is likely a British citizen. The Australian yesterday revealed Senator Parry wrote to the British Home Office seeking confirmation of his status, after it emerged his father was born in Britain. Paul Kelly pulls no punches, meanwhile, suggesting the “PM has lost control”.
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South Australia’s most senior Liberal MP, Christopher Pyne, has been accused of attempting to undermine the party’s candidate for the seat of Barker at the 2013 federal election by suggesting an independent run against him. The Australian has been told Mr Pyne, who heads the so-called “moderate” faction in South Australia, rang Peter Gandolfi, the Mayor of Wattle Range Council in the federal seat of Barker, on June 22, 2013, and asked him to run as an independent in the upcoming federal election against the preselected Liberal candidate, conservative Tony Pasin. “It doesn’t get any dirtier” concludes Janet Albrechtsen.
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In breaking news, up to six people have been killed and multiple others injured in downtown Manhattan, US media reported after police confirmed that they were responding to reports of a shooting. Police said they had mobilised to the scene in Lower Manhattan and that one person was in custody, giving no further details. The incident happened in the area of Chambers and West Streets in the up-market Tribeca neighbourhood.
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In business
Westpac was so financially exposed to a benchmark interest rate that it chose to manipulate the pricing instead of allowing the rate to emerge from legitimate trading in the bank bill market, the Australian Securities & Investments Commission has said. ASIC opened its landmark case yesterday against the remaining major bank to face allegations of market manipulation after ANZ Bank and National Australia Bank negotiated nearly $100 million in combined settlements, by playing a series of taped conversations, many featuring the group’s top trader, Colin “The Rat” Roden.
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In sport
The Flemington carnival could get an unexpected and almighty boost on the final day on Saturday week with glamour mare Winx still a chance to have her last run of the spring in the Group I Emirates Stakes (2000m). Trainer Chris Waller was giving little away at Flemington trackwork yesterday, but he has not ruled out another Melbourne start for the all-conquering queen of the turf, describing her chances of competing in the $2 million race as 50-50.
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Key analysis
“And I’m slowly turning into you”. Greg Sheridan writes that Donald Trump is morphing into a hybrid of two of the people he hates most — Bill and Hillary Clinton. His presidency looks set to describe a Clintonian arc of endless scandal, doubt and hostility, while his supporters grow more convinced that he is persecuted.
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Comment of the day
“Hastie. And make it hasty.”
Chris on Paul Kelly’s analysis that the PM has lost control.
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World on Wednesday
Sacked Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont said last night he was in Brussels to act “in freedom and safety”, but would not seek political asylum despite facing rebellion charges at home. Mr Puigdemont said he would return home “immediately” if a fair judicial process was guaranteed in Spain.
Police seek help to crack missing mum mystery
In its first public response since the launch of a new investigative podcast, NSW Police says a strike force investigation into the suspected murder of Bronwyn Winfield is open and ongoing.
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