Australian Newspapers TODAY looks into major national news stories in the mainstream newspapers around the nation.
The Australian
Julie Bishop is backing a woman to succeed her in the Liberal Party's blue-
ribbon seat of Curtin as Attorney-General Christian Porter again fends off
speculation that he will seek to save his political career by switching from his
marginal seat of Pearce.
China has banned Australian thermal coal exports from entering five ports, in a
provocative strike at the nation's top export earner, sending the dollar into a
dive.
More than 60 refugees and asylum-seekers on Nauru and Manus Island have failed
character assessments with cases involving violent crimes and links to
terrorism-planning since the Department of Home Affairs began detailed
screenings last week in response to the passage of the medivac bill.
The Sydney Morning Herald
The Australian dollar fell 1 per cent yesterday after news that a major Chinese
port had banned imports of Australian coal, fuelling fears that diplomatic
tensions are hitting Australia's second-largest export.
Sydney developers, councils and residents have been in the dark for months about
where stations will be built for a new $18 billion-plus metro rail line between
Parramatta and the CBD.
The NSW unemployment rate has hit a record low of 3.9 per cent, in a pre-
election boost for Premier Gladys Berejiklian. But the positive jobs news
emerges against the backdrop of a deteriorating national economy, with one of
the nation's preeminent economists predicting the Reserve Bank will have to
slice interest rates twice in the next nine months.
The Herald Sun
Victoria's highest court has ruled in the Herald Sun's favour and ordered that
Lawyer X can be unmasked. In a major victory for transparency and the public's
right to know, the Court of Appeal yesterday rejected a legal bid by Victoria
Police to keep the barrister's name and image secret.
New laws regulating chiropractors manipulating the spines of infants are being
pursued by the Andrews Government amid outrage over the latest controversial
baby treatment video involving Dr Andrew Arnold.
The future of Australia's ambassador to the US, Joe Hockey, is under a cloud
after claims emerged Helloworld chief executive and Liberal Party treasurer
Andrew Burnes told an employee "Hockey owes me" after setting up a meeting
between the two men.
The Canberra Times
The Australian War Memorial plans to acquire land at the base of Mount Ainslie
and turn it into a car park during its expansion.
The Morrison government will go to the election without its most popular senior
figure after former foreign minister Julie Bishop announced she would quit
politics, starting a race for one of the safest seats in Parliament.
The Advertiser
Eleven supermarkets are on notice for breaching South Australia's complex and
controversial trading laws, and face fines of more than $100,000 if they don't
cut trading hours or floorspace.
Premier Steven Marshall says he is "100 per cent" confident thousands of jobs
are locked in for SA under the national shipbuilding plan. But it remains
unclear precisely how many jobs will be created locally.
The Courier Mail
Southeast Queensland has a "compelling" case to mount a bid for the 2032 Olympic
Games, a detailed 18-month study has concluded. A feasibility report
commissioned by the SEQ Council of Mayors found the Olympics and Paralympics
could be staged across the region at a lower cost to the public than last year's
Commonwealth Games, by using existing and already-planned venues.
New Zealand has privately rejected resettling asylum seekers from Manus Island,
contradicting Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's public offer.
