Morning Mail: US goes to the polls; Australians among Spain train crash dead; and ‘shonky’ gig tickets
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Morning everyone. Voting closes soon in the US midterm elections, in which the outcome is seen as a referendum on Donald Trump’s second term as president and which could have a significant impact on the remainder of his time in the White House. We have full coverage.
Victorian Labor’s union problem has deepened after the main public servants’ union said it would not support the party at this month’s state election, Snowy Hydro bosses bank huge bonuses, European flights hit by bomb threats, and concert tickets lead the Shonky awards.
Shonky service | Concert tickets that surge to $1,650, an airline pocketing $75m of unused flight credits and a washer/dryer cycle that takes 25 hours have all made the dishonour roll in consumer advocacy group Choice’s annual Shonky awards.
Labor blow | Victoria’s public servants union says it will not support Labor at this month’s state election, condemning the government for cutting public service jobs while spending $1.2bn on consultants.
Spain train crash | Two Australians are among 69 people who died in last week’s high-speed train collision after Spanish authorities confirmed the identities of three more victims.
Snowy windfall | Executives at the troubled Snowy Hydro company collectively banked bonuses worth a combined $751,925 in the last financial year, despite its renewable energy project blowing out to 12 times its original cost.
Backpacker switch | Anthony Albanese has told his UK counterpart Andy Burnham he is looking at changing rules for British backpackers in Australia, after an increase in the number of travellers visiting popular hotspots such as Sydney.
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