GAS CRISIS SET TO BLOW

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is again asking Australia’s three major gas producers to release more of their product onto the domestic market, calling the heads of Santos, Origin, and Shell after a new forecast warned future shortages would be three times worse than previously expected. Manufacturers say the shortages could have a devastating impact, with Australian Advanced Manufacturers Council chief executive Mark Goodsell describing the state of the energy market as a “black comedy”.

The updated forecast has provoked another round of blame-shifting, with Turnbull lashing the NSW and Victorian state governments as well as the NT for limits on fracking. The prime minister singled out Queensland for praise, while criticising NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian‘s Liberal government and encouraging the state to approve Santos’ controversial Narrabri gas project.

Labor’s federal energy spokesperson Mark Butler hit back with a now familiar response, calling on the government to “pull the trigger” and force the gas companies to release more product domestically.

There could be good reason to do so, Peter Martin argues in Fairfax papers today. According to the ACCC, the big producers have more than enough gas to fill their overseas contracts and are sending the surplus offshore to bolster returns. To get between the companies and their profits, Turnbull may have to do more than ask nicely.

If that happens, the PM would have to make the call by November 1, with the controls coming into effect on the first day of the new year.

PIG SKINS AND PYONGYANG

In a typically manic few days, US president Donald Trump has introduced a new travel ban, gone to war with the NFL, and been warned by a foreign country they are prepared to shoot down US planes.

The US Supreme Court has now cancelled a hearing at which oral arguments over Trump’s second travel ban were to be heard. The ban, which targeted six Muslim majority countries, lapsed on the weekend and has been replaced with a third version baring or limiting entry to Iranian, Libyan, Syrian, Yemeni, Somalian, Chadian, North Korean, and Venezuelan nationals.

While tensions between US and Iran increase, Trump’s war of words with North Korea edges ever closer to violence, with North Korea’s Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho saying his country is prepared to shoot down US warplanes, even if they do not enter North Korean airspace. Trump had earlier warned on Twitter that Ri and his boss, Kim Jong-un, “won’t be around much longer”.

In a broadening attack, Trump has also lashed out at the NFL, sending almost two dozen tweets relating to sport and protest in recent days. Since last season, some black NFL players have kneeled when the US national anthem is played before games to protest police violence, but Trump’s recent calls for such players to be sacked has led to a surge in solidarity with dozens of players joining, new sports being dragged into the controversy, and even some wealthy team owners showing signs of defiance.

DON’T STAY IN SCHOOL

Richmond’s Dustin Martin has won this year’s Brownlow Medal, scoring more votes than the ineligible Patrick Dangerfield to ensure his victory as the AFL’s best and fairest player for the 2017 season was not marked by controversy. Martin’s season certainly was, however, with his father deported to New Zealand and the star stuck in protracted contract negotiations.

It didn’t slow him down, polling a record-breaking 36 votes before lining up in the grand final on Saturday.

“I was about 14 (when I left school). I just wasn’t a fan of school — probably should’ve stayed, because I worked a heap of shitty jobs after that,” he said last night. “But here I am today.”

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WHAT’S ON TODAY

Sydney: Reserve Bank assistant governor Michele Bullock speaks at Lander & Rogers and Westpac event.

Brisbane: Examination of federal case of Queensland Nickel.

Melbourne: Hospitality and retail unions go to Fair Work to challenge its decision to cut Sunday penalty rates.

THE COMMENTARIAT

Malcolm Turnbull isn’t bluffing. Gas exporters next on government’s list — Phillip Coorey (Australian Financial Review $): “Turnbull accepted that direct market intervention was a fairly drastic step and he would rather give the three major LNG exporters the chance to do the ‘right thing’. But nothing is more potent politically than energy prices and, as Turnbull pointed out, high gas prices are not just crippling households and businesses which use gas, they are also the key driver of spiralling electricity prices.”

Running dead on marriage vote could be Malcolm Turnbull‘s riskiest strategy — Mark Kenny (Sydney Morning Herald): “Turnbull flagged early on that he would not campaign vigorously, even though he will vote for change. But why not? So he could traipse up and down Queensland announcing bypasses with Coalition nay-sayers who think scrutiny of the Coalition’s low representation of women is ‘f—ed’?”

CRIKEY QUICKIE: THE BEST OF YESTERDAY

Tuning out: FM radio won’t solve the Prime Minister’s problems — Bernard Keane: “The attempt to focus on Bill Shorten as the author of all our electricity misfortunes has been a cover for the fact that the government doesn’t have an energy policy because its backbench won’t let it have one that doesn’t involving materially lifting carbon emissions from our energy sector despite our commitment to lower emissions over the coming 12 years.”

The fishing enthusiast who holds New Zealand’s political future in his hands — “When NZ adopted the mixed-member proportional representation (MMP) electoral system in 1996, [Winston] Peters — king- and queen-maker in that election, too — led such protracted negotiations over nearly two months that we all thought MMP was the worst thing we had done since letting Australia nick John Clarke. “

Splitsville: Domain and Fairfax name their terms — Glenn Dyer: “The editorial, marketing, promotion, carriage and printing agreements tie the two companies tightly together (and at less than market rates for the first two years in some cases). It also stops an aggressive management from trying to break free via a management buyout funded by someone like TPG.”

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