Morning mail: Joyce’s ‘astounding’ return, federal Icac call, warming winter soups

Tuesday: Barnaby Joyce's reinstatement shows Nationals are not listening', rural women say. Plus: easy and comforting soups to cook in bulk

Good morning. Barnaby Joyce will dominate the day's news as he officially takes the top job at the Nationals, and concerns continue to grow about the Coalition's climate policy. As winter settles in, we've got delicious soup recipes to warm your soul and get you through the lazy nights.

Barnaby Joyce will be sworn in as deputy prime minister today, a move dubbed astounding" by prominent women from rural Australia, who say it proves the Nationals are not listening" to them. The founding member of Australian Women in Agriculture, Alana Johnson, said Joyce was one of many in the parliamentary party trapped in a male culture of politics" dominated by power plays between the boys". Joyce's return has also reignited concerns about Australia's climate policy, after a week when senior Nationals expressed open hostility about the government adopting a net zero emissions target by 2050. A majority of voters say they fear Australia will be left behind on climate change unless the government prioritises serious action. Joyce deflected questions yesterday about whether he would make fresh climate policy demands when he renegotiated the Coalition agreement with Scott Morrison.