Boris Johnson insists Parliament is being prorogued in order to pass new legislation.

The PM says "there will be ample time on both sides of that crucial 17 October summit in parliament for MPs to debate the EU, debate Brexit and all the other issues” https://t.co/txTcvjXOFJ pic.twitter.com/4PQEm0kGH2

— Sky News (@SkyNews) August 28, 2019

Here's No 10's official line

The Prime Minister has briefed Cabinet colleagues that the government will bring forward an ambitious new legislative programme for MPs’ approval, and that the current parliamentary session will be brought to an end.

The Prime Minister has spoken to Her Majesty The Queen to request an end to the current parliamentary session in the second sitting week in September. Following the conclusion of the traditional party conference season, the second session of this Parliament will commence with a Queen’s Speech on Monday 14 October.

A central feature of the legislative programme will be the Government’s number one legislative priority - if a new deal is forthcoming at European Council - to introduce a Withdrawal Agreement Bill and move at pace to secure its passage before 31 October.

The decision to end the current parliamentary session - the longest in close to 400 years and in recent months one of the least active - will enable the Prime Minister to put a fresh domestic programme in front of MPs for debate and scrutiny while also ensuring that there is good time before and after the European Council for Parliament to further consider Brexit issues. Votes on the Queen’s Speech are likely to fall on Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 October.

Through a Queen’s Speech, the government will seek to strengthen public services, improve infrastructure and connectivity across the country, tackle crime and enhance the integrity of the criminal justice system, while protecting our natural environment for the long-term.

The Prime Minister said:

We must focus on crucial public priorities - helping the NHS, fighting violent crime, investing in infrastructure and science and cutting the cost of living.

We have made an important start – funding for 20,000 extra police officers and new investment in our NHS – but to deliver on the public’s priorities we require a new session and a Queen’s Speech.

I believe it is vital that Parliament is sitting both before and after European Council and if, as I hope, a deal with the EU is forthcoming, Parliament will then have the opportunity to pass the Withdrawal Agreement Bill required for ratification ahead of 31 October.

Boris Johnson insists Parliament is being prorogued in order to pass new legislation.

The PM says "there will be ample time on both sides of that crucial 17 October summit in parliament for MPs to debate the EU, debate Brexit and all the other issues” https://t.co/txTcvjXOFJ pic.twitter.com/4PQEm0kGH2

— Sky News (@SkyNews) August 28, 2019

Here's No 10's official line

The Prime Minister has briefed Cabinet colleagues that the government will bring forward an ambitious new legislative programme for MPs’ approval, and that the current parliamentary session will be brought to an end.

The Prime Minister has spoken to Her Majesty The Queen to request an end to the current parliamentary session in the second sitting week in September. Following the conclusion of the traditional party conference season, the second session of this Parliament will commence with a Queen’s Speech on Monday 14 October.

A central feature of the legislative programme will be the Government’s number one legislative priority - if a new deal is forthcoming at European Council - to introduce a Withdrawal Agreement Bill and move at pace to secure its passage before 31 October.

The decision to end the current parliamentary session - the longest in close to 400 years and in recent months one of the least active - will enable the Prime Minister to put a fresh domestic programme in front of MPs for debate and scrutiny while also ensuring that there is good time before and after the European Council for Parliament to further consider Brexit issues. Votes on the Queen’s Speech are likely to fall on Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 October.

Through a Queen’s Speech, the government will seek to strengthen public services, improve infrastructure and connectivity across the country, tackle crime and enhance the integrity of the criminal justice system, while protecting our natural environment for the long-term.

The Prime Minister said:

We must focus on crucial public priorities - helping the NHS, fighting violent crime, investing in infrastructure and science and cutting the cost of living.

We have made an important start – funding for 20,000 extra police officers and new investment in our NHS – but to deliver on the public’s priorities we require a new session and a Queen’s Speech.

I believe it is vital that Parliament is sitting both before and after European Council and if, as I hope, a deal with the EU is forthcoming, Parliament will then have the opportunity to pass the Withdrawal Agreement Bill required for ratification ahead of 31 October.

This from The Australian today.

Radio broadcaster Alan Jones has answered his critics on-air by celebrating his latest ratings win after a tumultuous week of controversy over his comments about New Zealand’s Prime Minister.

More than 50 advertisers have withdrawn from the 2GB radio program after Jones encouraged Prime Minister Scott Morrison to “shove a sock down” the throat of Jacinda Ardern.

But Jones responded to his critics this morning, with the number one breakfast radio host telling them 2GB rated number one in Sydney and has done so consecutively for 122 rating surveys.

“I rarely talk about myself here … nor do we talk about ratings but there are plenty of people who report on radio ratings that don’t know a thing about it.

“I suppose given some of the headlines over the last few weeks, this may be worth mentioning,” Jones said on his program this morning.

“There are only eight radio ratings a year in Sydney and this breakfast program has now won 221, which is over 30 years.”

Jones’ show remained on top in breakfast radio with a 17.1 per cent share of the listening audience.

“My thanks to listeners who are very loyal. They’ve been with me a long time,” Jones said

“We must be doing something right. It appears as though we do it successfully.”

The 78-year-old then read out comments of praise from loyal listeners, describing him as “the voice of the people” and telling him to “keep up the fight against the lefties”.

Jones hits back at his criticshttps://t.co/mw6BneJulh@AlanJones answers his critics on-air by celebrating his latest ratings win after a tumultuous week of controversy.
loyal listeners telling him to “keep up the fight against the lefties”. The Left can't hack it!👏#Credlin pic.twitter.com/jNc26bOTmM

— Timjbo 🇦🇺 (@pleaseuseaussie) August 28, 2019

ScoMo channeling KRudd?

Who was your favourite superhero when you were a kid?

— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) August 28, 2019

Cute poll but I have to wonder. Are we not giving the prime minister enough to do?

— Irina Asanova (@IrinaAsanova1) August 28, 2019

Due to circumstances beyond our control - but now fixed!

I've some paperwork arising from the incident - will be back to normal posting later in the day, thanks for your patience!

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/john-setkas-victorian-cfmeu-branch-dumps-gordon-legal-shifts-union-legal-work-to-rival-maurice-blackburn/news-story/df23127d4f6baae8e455af5d8edb0cbb

Relations between Mr Setka and Gordon Legal, led by prominent lawyer, Peter Gordon, have been under significant strain for months and worsened in June when the union decided to target the firm as part of the state branch’s probe into leaks against Mr Setka.

The Australian has been told CFMEU officials officially informed Gordon Legal this morning that it has decided to end their professional relationship and shift the union’s work to Maurice Blackburn.

Mr Setka has hired a former homicide squad and armed robbery squad detec­t­ive, Stephen Curnow, to conduct an investigation into Gordon Legal employees and CFMEU officials to try to discover who leaked damaging allegations against him.

MORE: Albanese ‘resolute’ over Setka expulsion

His branch passed a resolution in June stating that private documents “held by only a very few” were leaked to the media in “another spineless attempt to bring down” Mr Setka.

Mr Curnow was appointed to investigate employees, state and national officials, and audit their computers and phones.

“Given that the relevant documents concerned were also in the hands of Gordon Legal, the investigation will also include those individuals employed by Gordon Legal who had access to these documents,’’ the resolution said.

The Australian has confirmed the split but representatives of the CFMEU, Gordon Legal and Maurice Blackburn all refused to comment.