Government crumbling into chaos over Parry affair: Michelle Grattan.

The Turnbull Government has become like a plane with its engines stalled, hurtling groundwards, with hopes of repowering frustrated at every turn, writes Michelle Grattan.

The sudden exit from Parliament of Senate president Stephen Parry has turned into a toxic blame game, in a further sign of a Government crumbling into chaos.

Malcolm Turnbull and deputy Senate leader Mathias Cormann lashed out at Mr Parry for not publicly revealing earlier his probable British dual citizenship, confirmed this week.

Then — oops. It turns out Mr Parry had shared his circumstances with some senior colleagues.

Unsettled by the odium now flowing in his direction, Mr Parry has revealed that when the Nationals’ Fiona Nash in August announced she’d been informed she was a British citizen by descent, he realised he likely was as well. He spoke to “various ministers”.

MORE: Grattan on Friday: Turnbull Government reels from new twist in the Stephen Parry affair – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Western Force axed from Super Rugby competition

THE Western Force have been axed from Super Rugby.

The WA club lost its fight to survive, with the Australian Rugby Union this afternoon resolving to discontinue its licence.

It ends a drawn-out saga where the Force was battling with the Melbourne Rebels to remain in the competition.

Rugby WA is almost certain to take the case to the Supreme Court if they win a right of appeal.

“As we have reinforced throughout this process, there are commercial realities which are linked to declining on-field performance across our Super Rugby teams which has put Australian rugby in a position where it can no longer sustain five teams,” ARU chairman Cameron Clyne said.

“Furthermore, the significant unbudgeted support funding that has been provided to Super Rugby teams over the past five years has greatly affected our capacity to invest in community Rugby.

“This is a sad day for rugby, especially for Western Force fans.

“We accept that there will be anger and resentment over this decision and we sympathise with those fans. We sincerely hope that they are not lost to the game forever.

Source: Western Force axed from Super Rugby competition | Perth Now

Putin-linked think tank drew up plan to sway 2016 U.S. election – documents

A Russian government think tank controlled by Vladimir Putin developed a plan to swing the 2016 U.S. presidential election to Donald Trump and undermine voters’ faith in the American electoral system, three current and four former U.S. officials told Reuters.

They described two confidential documents from the think tank as providing the framework and rationale for what U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded was an intensive effort by Russia to interfere with the Nov. 8 election. U.S. intelligence officials acquired the documents, which were prepared by the Moscow-based Russian Institute for Strategic Studies [en.riss.ru/], after the election.

The institute is run by retired senior Russian foreign intelligence officials appointed by Putin’s office.

The first Russian institute document was a strategy paper written last June that circulated at the highest levels of the Russian government but was not addressed to any specific individuals.

It recommended the Kremlin launch a propaganda campaign on social media and Russian state-backed global news outlets to encourage U.S. voters to elect a president who would take a softer line toward Russia than the administration of then-President Barack Obama, the seven officials said.

Source: Exclusive: Putin-linked think tank drew up plan to sway 2016 U.S. election – documents | Reuters