7.00amPaterson defends Liberals despite pollingBy Mostafa RachwaniShadow Defence Minister James Paterson was on the Today Show this morning, defending the Liberal party and denying they need a rebrand. Paterson was responding to questions around polling in the Australian Financial Review this morning that showed One Nation had overtaken the Liberals and Labor in Victoria. The polling showed Labor and the Coalition equal on a primary vote of 26 per cent each, while One Nation recorded a primary vote of 27 per cent.Opposition spokesman for defence James Paterson says the Coalition should run candidates in every seat.Alex EllinghausenPaterson said he didn’t believe in a “logo-led recovery” and denied the party needed to rebrand or change leaders. 6.32amUS, Iran talks conclude in Doha, no sign of progressBy Doha: Iran and the US concluded a round of indirect talks with no sign they had made headway towards a lasting peace, focusing instead on issues that they had supposedly resolved two weeks ago.Sources said negotiators for the two countries spent two days in Doha discussing maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and financial incentives for Iran, two pillars of the initial agreement they signed in June, rather than more difficult topics that framework was supposed to tee up.In Washington, US President Donald Trump said the two sides were making progress on possible limits to Iran’s nuclear program – the main reason he launched the war in February. “The denuclearisation of Iran is moving along well,” he told reporters. “They’ve had very good meetings, and we’ll see.“But sources said the nuclear program did not come up in the talks, which were technical in nature. US Vice President JD Vance said that would be addressed later.The two sides did not meet face to face, instead interacting separately with mediators from Qatar and Pakistan.Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and top US envoy Steve Witkoff, dispatched to the region for what the White House had billed as “high-level” talks, did not attend the sessions, according to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity. The leader of Iran’s delegation, deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi, said talks concluded. Neither side said whether they had managed to bridge their differences.Reuters6.30amICAC reveals long-awaited inquiry into Liberals, councils and Catholic schoolsBy Alexandra Smith and Kate McClymontThe NSW Liberals are in crisis after the anti-corruption watchdog launched a bombshell public inquiry into illegal donations which will centre on fugitive property developer Jean Nassif’s links to party powerbrokers, councils and the state’s Catholic schools.With only eight months until the state election, the Liberals face their most significant Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry since the agency’s inception, with a broad range of party figures to feature, including chief executive of Catholic Schools NSW Dallas McInerney.As well as McInerney, a right-wing Liberal powerbroker and close ally of federal leader Angus Taylor, the watchdog on Wednesday confirmed that Nassif, hotelier and banned political donor Michael O’Hara, and “certain Strathfield councillors” would be the focus of the inquiry.NSW Liberal leader Kellie Sloane has failed her first leadership test.Audrey Richardson6.27amWho turned up, who stayed away – and how did they look? All the goss from the Midwinter BallBy John Buckley, Fiona Byrne and Damien WoolnoughLess than 24 hours ago, the Coalition and the Greens teamed up to kick Labor’s lukewarm gambling ad crackdown to another committee.So you’d think that not a single member of the Albanese government would be caught dead sitting at Canberra’s annual night of nights, the Midwinter Ball, at a table sponsored by none other than Sportstbet. But you’d be wrong!Imagine our amusement to learn that the Labor MP for Hunter Daniel Repacholi and his wife, Alex Repacholi, decided to accept Sportsbet’s hospitality when fishing around for tickets to Canberra’s annual Met Gala for ugly people on Wednesday evening, hosted by the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery to raise funds for charity. Also set to sit on the table were a gaggle of staffers, and Kai Cantwell, the chief executive of the gambling lobby, Responsible Wagering Australia. Can you imagine what the talk at that table must be like? No thanks.Anne Aly, Laura and Jim Chalmers, and Katy Gallagher with daughter Evie.Dominic Lorrimer, Alex EllinghausenThe media contingent was out in force early. Among the early arrivals were Chris Dore, editor-in-chief of The West Australian and Southern Cross Media’s other publishing playthings. Dorey rolled up solo. Also there for early doors was ABC chairman Kim Williams and Dr Lisa Caffery.Read the full story here.6.23amThis morning’s headlines at a glanceBy Mostafa RachwaniGood morning, Mostafa Rachwani with you on this Thursday, July 2, to take you through the day’s news. Here are our top stories for today:The massive mortgages necessary to buy into the Australian housing market has left many borrowers with huge interest bills, new research of the housing sector has revealed. The state government will begin a global search for architects to design Sydney’s newest inner-city suburb in the Bays West precinct, kicking off the next major urban transformation of the harbour foreshore.The under-the-microscope Australian outpost of private equity giant TPG, led by convicted negligent driver Joel Thickins, paid its 30 staff a whopping $62 million last year as business boomed and profit soared at the controversial firm.1 of 1