1. US sounds the alarm over Chinese donations
Diplomats are known for their paradoxically precise but vague talk. Put simply, they specialise, in saying absolutely nothing (in public that is, plenty is said behind closed doors) in time-filling and occasionally elegant speeches, media interviews and question and answer sessions. They are not trying to be dull, as what they're deliberately not saying is just as important as what they do say.
For example, the outgoing US Ambassador John Berry is gay and married. He's been asked multiple times during his stint about what he thinks about Australia's same-sex marriage debate. He politely declines to add anything when asked, even though the US Supreme Court ruled same-sex marriage legal nationwide in 2015. Same-sex marriage is a question for the Australians, Berry regularly says.
So this makes his extremely frank, and scathing criticism of Australia's donations laws particularly allowing foreign contributions - all the more significant, although journalist Paul Kelly argues, not surprising. [The Australian]
After Fairfax Media revealed Labor Senator Sam Dastyari asked a Chinese donor to settle his personal bill, an intelligence source told me the Americans are hugely worried the influence of foreign donations on Australia's political system.
That worry is clearly very real because Ambassador Berry has given a beyond candid interview expressing blunt "concern" and "surprise" that Australia would allow foreign interests to fund political parties, candidates and campaigns and directly called for a ban.
"We have been surprised, quite frankly, at the extent of the involvement of the Chinese government in Australian politics... There is concern. Our hope is that, in resolving this, Australia will consider doing what many other democracies have done: that is to protect their core responsibility against undue influence from governments that don't share our values," Berry says. [Paul Kelly]
2. Turnbull's one-year on obits
Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
No surprises that the bulk of the analysis marking Turnbull's one-year anniversary since knifing Tony Abbott over poor polling and a lack of "economic leadership" are unflattering.
We're still waiting for that "economic leadership" you promised, writes Peter Martin. [Fairfax]
Unsurprisingly, Tony Abbott agrees and says government spending is too high. [Sky News]
Peta Credlin punctures her former boss' recent attempts to reposition via several 'mea culpas,' to say the "decent, most collegiate" PM was brought down by "internal white-anting" and not his (their) own political and administrative ineptitude. [Sky News]
Heath Aston takes a look at the prospect of Tony Abbott and his support group of three (himself, Eric Abetz and Kevin Andrews] being reinstated. [Fairfax]
Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Devastating critique by Liberal commentator Janet Albreschtsen who asks "who, by the way, is Team Turnbull? Turnbull and his wife Lucy for sure. Maybe Morrison? Arthur Sinodinos and his offsider Scott Ryan? Maybe Kelly O'Dwyer? The numbers wouldn't make up a cricket team and if the Prime Minister's trajectory falls further, watch the Malcolm maybes scatter too." [The Australian]
But Laura Tingle writes in defence of Malcolm Turnbull, noting his office likes him (in contrast to the constant reports about the Abbott-Credlin office) and argues we need to stop judging the PM against the expectations we all had for him 12 months ago. Her defence is bolstered by on-the-record comments made by Australia's former Ambassador to the US Kim Beazley, (who lost the Labor leadership to Rudd). He says Turnbull confided in him that he intended to reject Rudd's bid to be United Nations Secretary-General. [Financial Review]
Strange times, writes Annabel Crabb, who observes Bill Shorten's having so much fun as opposition leader he should be taxed. [ABC]
In other politics news:
The Human Rights Commission's president Gillian Triggs has called for all asylum seekers on Nauru and Manus Island to be brought immediately to Australia. [Michael Gordon/Fairfax]
And it's Maiden Speech season and with three One Nation Senators in the house, it means you get to write a lead like this:
"One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts has called on Australia to mimic Britain's Brexit and leave the "socialistic, monolithic" United Nations during his first speech to Parliament, in which he also compared himself to Socrates and claimed there was absolutely no link between carbon dioxide and climate change." [My report/Fairfax]
3. Wada confirms Russian hack
Simone Biles. Photo: Joe Armao
A group calling itself "Fancy Bears" have hacked the Word Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) database and leaked confidential medical files of US Olympians including gymnast Simone Biles and tennis champion Serena Williams. [BBC]
WADA says it was told the cyber-attack came from Russia. [Statement]
4. US incomes finally on the rise
This is really significant. The latest data shows incomes in the United States have risen breaking a year-long stagnation.
The 5.2 per cent rise in 2015 was the highest 12-month increase since 1967. [Binyamin Appelbaum/New York Times]
Much of Trump's rise is attributed to middle class voters feeling that no matter how hard they work, they can't get ahead. This was a sentiment two Labor MPs reported strengthening in Australia when I saw them a fortnight ago.
Photo: Andrew Harnik/AP
Meanwhile, pollster Frank Luntz asks if there is enough angry voters to propel Trump to the Presidency? Yes, but there's a catch. [Financial Times]
5. Plan to slash UK MP numbers
There are 650 MPs in Britain's Parliament. The independent Boundary Commissions wants to slash that number by 50.
Some of those who would lose their seat under the proposed changes included....drum roll: Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn. (His Labour colleagues can only dream!)
Labour would be worse-off under the changes, so naturally Corbyn is pledging to fight the redrawn boundaries. [BBC]
Meanwhile unionists in Britain are urging Prime Minister Theresa May to ditch her high heels if she really wants to "advance the cause for women." [Christopher Hope/Telegraph]
6. JM Coetzee out of Man Booker
I'm almost afraid to put this in print (or the online version of print if we're going to be pedantic) lest I fail but I've set myself a mission to read all six books shortlisted and interview the authors for you by the time of the announcement next month. There I've said it!
Disappointment for Australia's JM Coetzee who made the longlist but knocked out in a shortlist that heavily favoured Booker debutantes. [My report/Fairfax]
And that's it from me today, you can follow me on Facebook for more.
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