Morning Mail: Coalition’s energy rules ‘timebomb’, Trump’s spokeswoman resigns, Europe enjoys solar blackout

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Morning everyone.

The Coalition is facing pushback over its pledge to scrap construction rules aimed at improving energy efficiency for homes.

Energy ‘timebomb’ | A Coalition plan to abolish compulsory energy standards for new homes that help reduce people’s exposure to heat and cold has been criticised by advocates as a https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/13/coalition-housing-energy-standards-national-construction-code-new-homes">“cost-of-living timebomb” that would deepen inequality.

The Liberal senator Andrew Bragg outlined the plan https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/12/andrew-bragg-stands-by-proposed-migration-limits-even-as-liberal-colleagues-decline-to-back-him-in">in a wide-ranging speech yesterday.

‘Gayest’ party | Barnaby Joyce has defended One Nation as https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/12/barnaby-joyce-one-nation-paraminder-singh-homophobic-comments-ntwnfb">“one of the gayest parties in Australia” after comments surfaced from one of its failed candidates describing same-sex attraction as a mental illness.

ABC ‘overreach’ | The ABC managing director, Hugh Marks, has https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/aug/13/abc-changing-editorial-policy-after-rinehart-furore-prompts-concerns-of-overreach-from-academics-and-advocates">promised to change editorial guidelines on satire and violence after the broadcaster aired a program featuring offensive comments about Gina Rinehart, sparking concerns about overreach.

Smelter pledge | Anthony Albanese and the New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/12/massive-bailout-for-australias-largest-aluminium-smelter-expected-to-be-announced-by-pm-and-nsw-premier">will announce a major bailout of Australia’s largest aluminium smelter in a deal worth $2.5bn.

Exclusive | Victorian police are https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/13/anti-racism-protest-melbourne-car-police-response-ntwnfb">investigating allegations that a car was deliberately driven at speed towards a protester taking part in an anti-racism rally in Melbourne last month.