Paul J. Berating

Today's Top Stories

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Guardian Australia · Dan Jervis-Bardy, Ben Doherty and Benita Kolovos

Tony Abbott to become new Liberal party president in former PM's return to political frontlines

Tony Abbott will be elected unopposed as federal Liberal president after Alexander Downer withdrew to contest a vice-presidency instead.

Abbott returns to the Liberal Party the way arsonists return to admire their handiwork — Downer stepped aside for the presidency and took a vice-presidency instead, which tells you everything about the bench. The party that sacked him is now putting him in charge of the furniture. Menzies built a broad church; this mob's handing the keys to the bloke who burnt down the last one.

Sky News Australia

Devastating crash kills three in south Sydney

Three dead in a car crash in south Sydney. Nothing to berate here — the families need quiet and the investigators need room to do their work.

Sky News Australia

IBAC's Andrews report stalled in court — the watchdog learns to heel

IBAC's findings into the former Andrews government's dealings with the United Firefighters Union have been delayed by court action, prolonging a years-long wait for public answers.

IBAC's report on Andrews and the firefighters' union has been delayed by court action, which is the Victorian way — every watchdog in this state runs at the pace of the slowest writ. By the time anyone reads it, the principals will be on corporate boards and the lessons will be a footnote in someone's PhD. Sunlight's the best disinfectant; we've installed blackout curtains and called it privacy.

ABC News · Matthew Doran

Netanyahu found his conscience the moment the footage went international

Netanyahu condemns Ben-Gvir's taunting of detained activists only after the video reaches Australian audiences — having enabled the behaviour for years.

Netanyahu's discovered the camera was on the whole time. Ben-Gvir's been doing this routine for years with the PM's blessing — the only difference today is one of the detainees had an Australian passport and a press cycle. Condemnation by Tuesday, promotion by Friday. That's the going rate.