The Sydney Morning Herald

Editorial: Australia is propping up Vladimir Putin’s assault on Ukraine via legal loopholes that mean we are sending billions in oil revenue to the Kremlin. Canberra has been lethargic about closing the loopholes and even eschewed joining recent moves by the European Union and Britain to crack down on imports of oil products refined in third countries from Russian-origin crude. These moves by some of our biggest allies to toughen their sanctions on Russia to stop the trade and starve Putin of hard currency are in stark and telling contrast with the Albanese government’s lack of action. The Herald this week launched Blood Oil, a series urging our government to act. Editor Bevan Shields explains why in this video. Read the editorial in the comments below, and David Crowe's piece outlining the issue.

Liberal’s Kellie Sloane opened her first press conference as NSW opposition leader vowing to work relentlessly as she thanked her predecessor Mark Speakman. Follow our live coverage: https://lnkd.in/gR_V8ygx

The NSW Liberals have unanimously elected Kellie Sloane as party leader after Mark Speakman quit the position.⁠ ⁠ The NSW Liberal Party would have an all-female leadership team for the first time in the party’s history, with Natalie Ward expected to be retained as deputy.⁠ ⁠ Follow more live coverage: https://lnkd.in/gR_V8ygx ⁠ Photo: Sitthixay Ditthavong

Vaucluse MP Kellie Sloane told Mark Speakman this afternoon that she would like to take over as NSW Liberal leader, and will now have Speakman’s full support, after he ‘reluctantly agreed’. Follow our live coverage: https://lnkd.in/gjreMGSJ

NSW Liberal Leader Mark Speakman will stand down just hours after vowing he would continue fighting for the leadership, paving the way for Vaucluse MP Kellie Sloane to take over. Speakman was finally convinced to quit as leader on Thursday, after powerbrokers told him he had lost the support of his moderate colleagues after he failed to act on an “ultimate act of treachery”. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gtJqPi7V #nswpolitics

Some of Australia’s biggest superannuation funds have been accused of profiting from shipments of Russian oil passing through South-East Asia, raising fears that Australians’ retirement savings are helping fund Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine. Read more from Matthew Knott: https://lnkd.in/gNnnBZNi #superannuation

Opinion: “You didn’t hear this from me…” is how it typically starts. Who isn’t drawn in by the hint of secrecy of a big piece of juicy gossip in the workplace? But beware, these conversations about the performance or behaviour of a colleague, the kind that once may have been dismissed as harmless chit-chat, are increasingly the cause for court action, writes employment lawyer Paul O'Halloran. Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/gWTF-KR8

Employers have been warned that they must “request, not require” staff to work on public holidays over the end-of-year break following a landmark legal ruling that bosses cannot forcibly roster workers on to days such as Christmas. Read the full story from Elias Visontay: https://lnkd.in/ged2bjZX #annualleave

Anthony Scaramucci is mercilessly roasting me for ordering French toast, writes Kishor Napier-Raman. “This motherf---er, he’s got a metabolism like a coal furnace, he’s having French toast. If I had French toast, I’d be in a f---ing coma,” he says. The early start and jet lag don’t stop this correspondent from getting the full Scaramucci experience. Read the interview: https://lnkd.in/ga7ZPbC2

The United Nations Security Council has approved US President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza, paving the way for an international security force to enter the beleaguered Palestinian territory, as well as the formation of a governing Board of Peace. Read more from Michael Koziol: https://lnkd.in/gmgMg_7U