Morrison and Frydenberg are forced to front the end of free money, a very big day for aspirational Australia and a pivot point of this contest - and all they had was don’t vote Labor. Dear God. On it goes. The ballad of the devil you know #auspol theguardian.com/australia-news…

Good morning! In some personal news, I’m thrilled to announce I’ve just started a new job at the Guardian Australia as a rural and regional reporter!! Currently spending the first few weeks at their office in Sydney and will be moving to Deniliquin at the end of the month 🤠

Stoked to have the Chris Watson Award heading back to Newcastle. Incredible work Matthew Kelly Donna Page Gabriel @JubilantJourno Ethan Hamilton Newcastle Herald Kennedy Foundation

THREAD: Current, alarming state of Vic hospitals: Call just now from my sobbing friend. Her teen son just finished 6 months of chemo for cancer. He’s waited 27 HOURS in draughty hallway of Eastern Health Box Hill hospital. Nurse just fell on floor in tears.

Calling all NEWCASTLE JETS FC ✈️ fans don’t miss tomorrow’s Newcastle Herald with 12 page wraparound plus 3 pages inside. Everything you want to know. Poster, player profiles, features … the lot.

Young Journalist of the Year Winner: Alanna Tomazin Port Stephens Examiner #ACMExcellence

The child abuse cases for which George Pell was never tried thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/law-crime… via The Saturday Paper

Spotlight on sales: Regulator to examine PRD Presence Newcastle real estate sales newcastleherald.com.au/story/8139399/

PRD headquarters to investigate Newcastle franchise amid allegations about conflicts of interest in Hunter property sales. newcastleherald.com.au/story/8140230/

The finalists for Shortform journalism, supported by the ABC, are: Fleur Connick (Fleur Connick), @guardianaus; Claudia Farhart, SBS News; and Paul Sakkal, The Age.

A Hunter man is pleading for help to get his wife medically evacuated back home after she suffered a serious brain injury in Thailand Newcastle Herald newcastleherald.com.au/story/8225448/…

The council CEO, his friend in Japan and the letters to the editor. The ⁦@scott_neylon⁩ letter-writing saga continues with calls for inquiry. newcastleherald.com.au/story/8278494/

Calls for independent investigation into ⁦@scott_neylon⁩ letters to the editor. newcastleherald.com.au/story/8279481/

Jeremy Bath’s mate ⁦@scott_neylon⁩ linked to another pro-council ⁦Newcastle Herald⁩ letter writer newcastleherald.com.au/story/8284901/

Chuffed to do this with these two legends. And winning one named after an old mentor and brilliant newspaperman warms the heart. Cheers, Watto. We miss you, mate.

👏 👏

Congratulations to Newcastle Herald reporter Matthew Kelly on his Walkley win for an incredible story that solved a 30-year Newcastle mystery and reunited a family.

Best “no comment” excuse of the century. Newcastle Airport boss refuses Newcastle Herald questions because he can’t “check accuracy” of leaked documents. It’s the policies! Not the leaked documents. You’ve outed yourselves. And we’re spilling our coffees laughing. #Auspol25