Hi. It's Friday, May 27 and you're reading The Loop, a quick wrap-up of today's news.
Let's start here
One of Scott Morrison's final acts as prime minister was to instruct the Australian Border Force to publicise an interception of a suspected asylum seeker boat on election day.
The ABC can reveal that the highly controversial move during the election caretaker period followed a direct request from the Prime Minister's Office to publicly release details of the sensitive ABF operation before it had been completed.
During his final press conference, held in the early afternoon on election day, the then-prime minister was asked about reports emerging about a boat arrival and he confirmed to reporters that there had "been an interception of a vessel en route to Australia".
The unusual disclosure of operational "on-water matters" is now subject to an inquiry by Home Affairs Department Secretary Mike Pezzullo, ordered this week by the new Labor government.
You can read this exclusive story by defence correspondent Andrew Greene in full here.
Something you'll be hearing about today
Labor is just one seat away from being able to form a majority government after ABC election analyst Antony Green yesterday called the Tasmanian seat of Lyons for the party.
Meanwhile, former veterans affairs minister Darren Chester says he'll challenge Barnaby Joyce for the leadership of the Nationals.
We're bringing all the latest updates to you in our live blog throughout the day, so head on over and join the conversation.
News while you snoozed
- Actor Ray Liotta, known for his leading roles in Goodfellas and Field of Dreams, has died suddenly in his sleep aged 67. Liotta, who was in the Caribbean nation of the Dominican Republic shooting a film, was engaged and leaves behind a daughter from a previous relationship
- Amber Heard has delivered her final testimony in a multi-million-dollar defamation battle with former husband Johnny Depp, telling jurors she has faced daily harassment and death threats since she accused the Hollywood star of abuse. The duelling claims are expected to go to the jury on Friday (US time) after each side offers its closing arguments
What Australia has been searching for online
- Kevin Spacey. Britain's Crown Prosecution Service has authorised charges against the actor for multiple sex offences, including assaults on three men. The alleged offences occurred between 2005 and 2015
- Payne Haas. The Brisbane Broncos say they will "not be entertaining a release" after the prop asked to abandon his contract after a negotiation breakdown.
You're up to date
Thanks for reading.
ABC/wires
