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The Loop: Liberal MP 'incredulous' some dismissing Morrison's ministries, Ukraine denies killing daughter of 'Putin's brain', and Lopez and Affleck wed — as it happened

This is The Loop, your quick catch-up for this morning's news as it happens.

Live updates

By Peta Fuller

That's all for The Loop this morning

You can keep up-to-date on the ABC's website, by watching News Channel or listening to local radio here, and by subscribing to our mobile alerts.

We'll be back tomorrow morning to cover the latest updates.

By Peta Fuller

Some thoughts from you on any inquiry into Morrison's ministries

I think an inquiry does need to include the public service. For instance, since the Health Minister knew of his shadow, does that mean the Chief Medical Officer also knew and if so, who was he really providing advice to (I'm talking about CMO Murphy before he became Secretary of the Health dept)?

- Xyz

By Peta Fuller

Two police shootings under investigation in south-east Queensland

One man was shot on the Gold Coast yesterday afternoon, another in Brisbane's south last night.

Queensland Police allege each of the men was brandishing a knife and advancing toward officers, forcing them to open fire.

The police union says a mother and her four children escaped the Brisbane incident.

Here's the ABC's Lillian Rangiah:

The 29-year-old man shot by officers on the Gold Coast yesterday afternoon has undergone surgery overnight. Another man is in a serious but stable condition in intensive care, after being shot at a Stretton home in southern Brisbane, about 7.30 last night. Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers says a mother and four children had fled the property and alerted police.

"They had no other option but to use their firearm. The man got up again and continued to come at police. They shot him again," Mr Leavers said.

The Ethical Standards Command is investigating both incidents.

By Peta Fuller

Key Event

Liberal MP 'incredulous' some are dismissing Morrison's secret ministries

Tasmanian MP Bridget Archer said it was "incredulous" that some politicians were dismissing Scott Morrison's secret ministries.

She told ABC's Radio National this morning:

"I can assure you, people are talking about it … what they're talking about is trust," she said.

She stopped short of saying the former PM should resign, but wasn't supporting his moves: 

"I am not responsible for those actions (of Scott Morrison) but am forced into a situation where I'm supposed to defend against them, and I won't," she said.

She also said the Governor-General and public service could be part of any inquiry.

By Peta Fuller

Darwin fire to burn 'for days'

NT Health has declared a code brown alert across all its facilities after a fire destroyed one of its warehouses in Darwin.

Chief Fire Officer Mark Spain says the building is expected to continue burning for several days.

"It's still under investigation, it's very early. It will take a couple of days before fire investigators, along with the police, get to the scene of the fire," he said.

"We expect this fire, given the location of it and the structural integrity of the building, it will take two or three days before we can get on top of it."

Firefighters worked to contain the large blaze at NT health facility

The Code Brown has been declared while NT Health establishes what supplies have been impacted by the blaze, and no patient services have been impacted.

By Peta Fuller

Delays on most of Sydney's rail network

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union says train crews are not operating trains that don't meet minimum maintenance standards.

Today's delays are due to ongoing industrial action and a train strike is expected across parts of the state tomorrow.

Jamie Wallace from the Transport Management Centre, told ABC Radio there are major delays this morning:

"[There are] Delays on the T1 north shore and western line, as well as the T2 inner west and Leppington line. T3 Bankstown, T8 Airport and south line. No trains running on the T7 Olympic park line, we also have a couple of service cancellations on the Blue Mountains line, Central Coast, Newcastle and South Coast lines," he said.

By Peta Fuller

Adam Bandt: 'The people and the Parliament were being held in contempt'

The Greens leader told ABC's News Breakfast this morning that there's a "fundamental question" about Scott Morrison's secret ministries and whether he misled parliament.

Mr Bandt said what the former PM asked people to do (and when) needed answers:

"One of the things that we don't yet know is whether or not that was done at Scott Morrison's request, whether or not he made requests of the Governor-General to keep some of these appointments secret," he said.

He added:

"The people and the Parliament were being held in contempt."

By Peta Fuller

Key Event

One thing coming up today: Legal advice incoming on Morrison's secret ministries

Formal legal advice on Scott Morrison's secretive takeover of five ministerial portfolios will today be handed to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. 

Here's the ABC's Henry Belot:

Today a report prepared by Solicitor-General Stephen Donaghue examining the unusual arrangements will be handed to the Prime Minister outlining any legal issues. Already the Albanese government has signalled it could launch a broader inquiry into Mr Morrison's actions and possible parliamentary action against the now Liberal backbencher. The Federal Greens want any inquiry to also consider the role of the Governor-General and the public service.

By Peta Fuller

Key Event

More news while you snoozed: Ukraine denies attack on daughter of 'Putin's brain'

The Ukrainian government has denied it had anything to do with the car bomb attack that killed the daughter of far-right Russian commentator Alexander Dugin.

Darya Dugina was the daughter of Mr Dugin — he was sometimes called "Putin's brain" and an advocate for creating a vast Russian empire.

The car she was driving belonged to her father, leading some to suggest he was probably the intended target.

And health authorities are on high alert after New South Wales recorded its first locally transmitted case of monkeypox.

There have been 42 cases in the state, but this is the first locally acquired infection. Health authorities are ramping up the vaccination program for high-risk groups, and urging people to be vigilant about symptoms including headaches and rashes.

Reuters

The Transport Workers Union has labelled an apology from Qantas as nothing more than a stunt.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce has sent customers a video apologising for travel chaos and recent cancellations and delays, and offering incentives like a $50 voucher for frequent flyers.

Union National Secretary, Michael Kaine, told ABC Radio that a voucher won't solve ongoing problems with the airline:

"You can't buy off forgiveness, what you've got is a company that has been smashing workers for years now, most recently when it outsourced nearly 2,000 workers during the pandemic, you know we could really have done with those 2,000 experienced workers when we were trying to get aviation back up and running," he said.

Singapore will decriminalise sex between men, but there *won't* be any changes to the nation's marriage laws. The PM Lee Hsien Loong says they will legislate marriage as between a man and a woman. On the change to the law around sex between men, he said:

"I believe this is the right thing to do, and something that most Singaporeans will now accept," he said.

By Peta Fuller

Key Event

News Australia is searching for: Lopez and Affleck's wedding

  • Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez: That'll be the news the couple had a big wedding at Affleck's Georgia estate — with the guests all in white and Lopez reportedly wore a short-sleeved, high neck gown with a 6-metre veil. They officially tied the knot in Las Vegas in July
  • Iran: Joe Biden has spoken to major European nations about the Iran nuclear deal. The US left the pact in 2018 under the Trump administration, and since then Iran has been developing its nuclear capabilities

By Peta Fuller

One more thing: Dennis Rodman, diplomat?

The former NBA player has told US network NBC he's "got permission" to try to help free Brittney Griner from a Russian jail, where she's been sentenced to nine years.

He said he's "trying to go this week" and said he knows Vladimir Putin "too well".

The flamboyant former athlete has previously visited North Korea multiple times.

By Peta Fuller

Let's set you up for the day

 From legal advice on Scott Morrison's secret ministries to Jennifer Lopez's big all-white wedding (to Ben Affleck, of course), here's what you need to know this morning.

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