The recent legal setback for David McBride, an Australian former army lawyer who leaked classified documents alleging war crimes by Australian forces in Afghanistan. McBride lost his appeal to reduce his prison sentence for these actions, with the court rejecting his argument that his oath to the Queen mandated acting in the "public interest" by exposing the alleged crimes. The source highlights the controversy surrounding McBride's imprisonment as he is the only individual incarcerated regarding the Afghanistan war crime allegations, while other military personnel facing serious accusations have yet to stand trial or have had their cases dismissed. McBride's lawyers plan to appeal to the High Court, arguing that exposing a crime should not be considered a crime, and also sought a government pardon for their client.

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Report on the reunification of Australia's Liberal and National parties, a conservative coalition that briefly split after a recent election defeat. The two parties, which typically represent urban and rural interests respectively, have historically worked together for decades. Differences over policy, including nuclear energy and regional matters, led to their temporary separation. Sussan Ley, the new Liberal Party leader, expressed optimism about the renewed partnership, while the article also notes the significant losses the coalition experienced in the recent election compared to the incumbent Labor Party.

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Newly appointed Environment Minister Murray Watt has granted preliminary approval for Woodside to extend the operation of the significant North West Shelf gas project until 2070, despite a lengthy approval process and prior delays. This decision, made with strict conditions to mitigate air emissions affecting the ancient Murujuga rock art, comes amidst strong opposition from environmental groups and some Indigenous representatives. Furthermore, a draft UNESCO decision citing damaging emissions impacted a bid for the Murujuga site to gain World Heritage status. The Prime Minister has previously indicated the necessity of gas for stabilizing the energy grid alongside renewable expansion.

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