Please make URL morning-mail-[day of the week]-ntwnfb manually before it is filed. eg morning-mail-monday-ntwnfb

Morning everyone. Our top story this morning is that the attorney general has approved legal assistance for Anthony Albanese and Bill Shorten in relation to defamation threats by a business associate of the former Liberal minister Stuart Robert. We have the full story, plus how “sook” became the political insult of the moment, a federal Labor stalwart announces he is stepping down as an MP, divers have found the bodies of five of the six people missing in the Sicily yacht sinking, and it’s the turn of Tim Walz to address the Democratic party convention.

There has been an increased use of the term sook during the current fractious sitting fortnight. From its old Scots origins meaning “suck”, Tory Shepherd looks at how the word has been used recently and where it sits in the lexicon alongside “snowflake”, “bedwetter” or “old jellyback”. But retiring MP Graham Perrett says no one puts too much thought into specific words in the febrile atmosphere of question time. “When you’re in that jungle you just go straight back to grade 5 instincts. It’s tooth and claw on that floor.”

In the latest instalment of our critic’s pick feature, Jack Tregoning extols the virtues of the energetic Brisbane DJ duo X Club. The pair, Ben Clarke and Jesse Morath, hit their stride during the pandemic and have built a loyal following of clubbers from around the world after moving to London when borders reopened. They are on tour now in Europe before returning to these shores for a set on the Gold Coast in December.

Victoria’s elite private schools are moving away from competitive sport, according to the Herald Sun, amid “growing aversion to (non-academic) competition in Atar factories”. Sydney’s new metro line is taking passengers away from traditional rail stations only days after opening, the Sydney Morning Herald claims. Members at one of Adelaide’s most exclusive gyms have told the Advertiser that they are in revolt about poor facilities, including showers out of action, broken equipment and a “freezing” pool.

Enjoying the Morning Mail? Then you’ll love our Afternoon Update newsletter. Sign up here to finish your day with a three-minute snapshot of the day’s main news, and complete your daily news roundup.

And check out the full list of our local and international newsletters, including The Stakes, your guide to the twists and turns of the US presidential election.

And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.

If you have a story tip or technical issue viewing this newsletter, please reply to this email.

If you are a Guardian supporter and need assistance with regards to contributions and/or digital subscriptions, please email [email protected]