Afternoon Update: Ben Carroll becomes Victorian premier; well-connected Melbourne man guilty of rape; and a year as a gopher

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Good afternoon.

Ben Carroll has been sworn in as the new premier of Victoria, with his first act as leader to announce a https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jul/28/jacinta-allan-resigns-quits-victoria-premier-leadership-challenge-ben-carroll">royal commission into alleged corruption in the construction sector.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jul/28/about-900000-origin-energy-customers-affected-by-hack-as-company-admits-it-was-warned-weeks-before-public-told">About 900,000 Origin Energy customers affected by hack as company admits it was warned weeks before public told

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jul/28/sally-mcmanus-michele-oneil-resign-actu-union-leaders">PM praises Sally McManus and Michele O’Neil as ‘giants’ as they resign from ACTU

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jul/28/icac-nsw-liberals-reformers-morrison-perrottet-woke-alleged-payments-angus-taylor-ntwnfb">Angus Taylor named as potential donor to NSW Liberal ‘Reformers’ being investigated by Icac

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jul/28/well-connected-melbourne-man-guilty-ntwnfb">Well-connected Melbourne man found guilty of raping former staffer

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/27/sara-gilson-influencer-death-husband">US influencer ‘couldn’t seem to get away’ from husband accused of killing her, ex-partner says

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/jul/28/the-castle-stage-play-working-dog-film-rob-sitch-tom-gleisner-santo-cilauro-jane-kennedy">It’s the vibe: Australian comedy classic The Castle set to become a stage play