Kayla Itsines got engaged while John Barilaro just wanted to get the f...k out

All the news that's fit to mint.

All the news that's fit to mint.

What's happening in (The) Oz:

📚 Labor branch stacking in Victoria

☄️ Corruption by a former NSW Liberal

👋🏻 Former Nats leader planned his "get the f..k the out of here" job 

✈️ Virgin cancelling lots of flights 

🐷 Foot and mouth has been detected

🛂 Nurses, teachers and fruit pickers in the VIP visa line 

🇺🇸 The new US Ambassador wants all the Tim Tams 

🚬 Teacher's worrying vape findings

🤓 Miles Franklin winner announced

💍 Kayla Itsines' new asset 

🌡 Robert Irwin's new job

Good morning!

It's like House of Cards (season one) up in here today, so grab a bib because there is piping hot political tea being spilled left, right and even in the centre.

First Victoria where Premier Daniel Andrews has apologised for the "absolutely disgraceful" behaviour of his ministers on his watch after Labor's toxic culture was laid bare by an integrity probe.

A joint investigation by IBAC and the Ombudsman found a "catalogue of unethical behaviour found [former] ministers Adem Somyurek and Marlene Kairouz and their staff abused tax payer resources to boost factional power (Labor have two very strong and very different Left and Right factions which bitch and moan at each other like they're Kardashian sisters).

The inquiry also found they used their roles and leveraged their power to find jobs for their mates.

Andrews took responsibility and said sorry.

🤷🏻‍♂️

Victoria goes to the polls for a state election in November.

Meanwhile in fair Sydney, where we lay our (next) scene

In a cruel twist of fate, NSW Premier Dominic Perrotett has jetted off for his first overseas trade mission (to Tokyo) just as a scandal into... trade missions blew up again on Wednesday.

New evidence tabled at the inquiry into how, and why, former Deputy Premier John Barilaro landed a plum, $500,000 trade commissioner job based in New York after he quit politics showed how it started in 2019 as his plan to "get the f..k out of this place".

The allegations were made by Mark Connell, who was the former Nationals leader chief of staff from April 2017 to December 2019.

Both Barilaro and Perrottet deny the allegations put forward on Wednesday.

Read more of the explosive claims here.

On top of that cluster, former NSW Liberal MP John Sidoti was found to have engaged in "serious corrupt conduct" by an ICAC investigation.

He has vowed to clear his name in court and won't resign.

The NSW state election will take place in March.

Things could be worse, like they are in the UK with outgoing PM Boris Johnson dragging out this political break up like a proper softboy.

"Hasta la vista baby" - Boris Johnson's final words as he exits #PMQs for the last time to a standing ovation: pic.twitter.com/rlSqVNDX5R

— Alain Tolhurst (@Alain_Tolhurst) July 20, 2022

Up in the air

Which is exactly where the aviation industry is right now.

Covid and flu-ravaged Virgin Australia cancelled an average of 37 flights a day in the July school holidays, after schedules were sliced and diced to ease pressure on staff.

Data compiled by aviation analytics firm Cirium for the period from July 1 to 17, showed Virgin scrapped 624 services, or 10.8% of 5764 flights scheduled.

Another 2752 flights were delayed.

About 609 were held up by more than an hour.

FML FMD is here

Foot and mouth disease fragments have been detected on luggage and goods brought into Australia from Indonesia and China.

The viral fragments were detected by bio-security officers and the circumstances of their arrival are now being investigated by the federal government.

Foot and mouth disease fragments have previously been detected at airports, but never in a retail setting.

Because the fragments were not “live” Australia will importantly retain its foot and mouth disease-free status.

If a positive case of the live virus is detected in Australian livestock, it would almost certainly put an immediate halt on the country’s live export trade and damage Australia’s disease-free meat brand.

Barnaby Joyce joined the chorus this week pleading with the government to install stricture measures at airports for all international arrivals from Indo to, at least, walk through sanitation baths full of acid before stepping foot on Aussie soil.

It's something Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt is working to install after FMD was also found in some meats in Victoria on Wednesday.

If the virus takes off here it'll wipe $80bn from the economy and would see mass executions of livestock.

The new VIP list at the visa counter has been unveiled

The Albanese government will prioritise the processing of 60,000 permanent visa applications by overseas skilled workers to fill urgently needed jobs asap.

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said on Wednesday, while there were areas of labour shortages throughout the economy, there was a dire shortage of workers in health, education and aged care. 

Plans have already been progressed to bring in more seasonal workers with some states, like South Australia, offering incentives for back packers to call SA home for a bit to help with harvest seasons.

Meantime, things are so tight in the education sector student teachers may soon be working in schools, assisting teachers after completing just one semester of an education degree.

Caroline Kennedy wants all the Tim Tams, please

The new US Ambassador is en route as we speak to her new digs in Canberra.

Before she left the US she sent us a cute video message, pledging to not only further out bilateral relationship, but also to gain a deeper understanding of Indigenous Australian culture and sample all "the snacks".

We’re excited to announce that Ambassador Caroline Kennedy arrives in Australia this Friday!

In her introduction video, Ambassador Kennedy reflects on why this position is so meaningful to her, and the close family links connecting her with Australia. #USwithAUS🇺🇸🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/aPp6Pu5xzG

— U.S. Embassy Australia (@USEmbAustralia) July 19, 2022

Read more about who Caroline Kennedy is here.

Vaping is the new Pokemon

Walk past any group of kids these days and you'll be hard pressed not to find a few of the older ones not sucking on e-cigs.

A new study has revealed huge vape usage among teenagers, with more than 80% of teachers reporting at least some of their high-school students vaping.

The study, published in the Australian New Zealand Journal of Public Health today, surveyed almost 200 teachers working in primary and secondary education around Australia.

More than 70% of teachers found an increase in vaping among students, while primary school teachers reported a 27% hike among primary school pupils.

Kids these days...

The book worm's Oscars have happened

Melbourne author Jennifer Down has won the $60,000 Miles Franklin Literary Award.

It's one of Australia's most prestigious prizes for writers and she took it out for her brutally real novel called Bodies of Light, which examines the impacts of childhood trauma on a person's life.

Bodies of Light is the new Miles Franklin winner.

Bodies of Light is an ode to female resilience and a gripping read about love and reconciliation with the past.

For anyone who's ever tried to move on without dealing with shit - prepare to be seen.

It also made the Stella Prize shortlist earlier this year too.

Fitness queen's second happy ending

Kayla Itsines is engaged.

The Sweat App creator is set to marry her new(ish) beau Jae Woodroffe after they went public with their relationship last year.

Itsines broke up with her long-term partner and former business partner Tobi Pearce in 2020, they share a daughter.

She's made a number of Rich Lists but after splitting with Pearce they sold their joint business to a US software company for a reported $400m.

Woodroffe is a PT and, like Itsines, works in the fitness industry and also shared the news to his Instagram followers with the caption: "When you know, you know."

The couple also established a joint Instagram account - @itsjlahhere - where they post regular relationship updates.

It's Robert Irwin Szn

The 18-year-old heir to the Crocodile Hunter throne, Robert Irwin, is having quite the 2022.

Being hit on while at work (and in public), landing his own magazine cover and now he's set to move into TV.

Robert Irwin's Stellar cover.

While he's no stranger to the small screen - he regularly rolls through the late night TV circuit in the US dressed in his trademark Australia Zoo khakis carrying a handful of cute and terrifying animals - he's stepping up and joining Sunrise.

Instagram image of Robert Irwin with an Echidna

The wildlife conservationist and award-winning nature photographer will be filling in as guest weatherman for Sam Mac for a week while he is on personal leave.

This could be the first of many TV cameos, he is reportedly set to leave his family home at Australia Zoo in Queensland to travel the world making nature documentaries, just like his late dad, Steve, did.