Morning Mail: Trump's new national security adviser, more than 70% think Coalition failing on energy, Trump family security $183m a year, Brandis on Q&A

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Guardian Australia's Morning Mail Tuesday 21 February 2017 g Cost of Trump family security may add up to $183m a year Good morning, and welcome to the Morning Mail. Among the stories leading our website this morning: US Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer says it costs $500,000 per day for nearly 200 police officers to protect Trump Tower in New York, which houses the Trump family business headquarters and serves as the home of the first lady, Melania Trump, and their son, Barron. The cost could rise to as much as $183m annually and, at current estimates, a four-year Trump administration could be heading for a billion dollars in taxpayer-borne costs – an eight-fold increase of the $97m a conservative watchdog group estimates it cost to protect Barack Obama over the eight years of his administration. Keep reading for the rest of the top stories this morning, with more news from around Australia and the world.

Headlines More than 70% believe Coalition not doing enough on energy – poll Guardian Essential survey shows a clear majority supports Labor's goal of sourcing 50% of energy from renewables by 2030 Trump appoints HR McMaster as national security adviser The US president announced from Mar-a-Lago Monday that Lt Gen McMaster is his pick to replace Michael Flynn, who was forced to resign last week Q&A: George Brandis put on the spot over Centrelink fiasco and disability funding Attorney general draws laughs from audience after saying anyone who received a mistaken debt notice could ring Centrelink to sort it out 'We need leadership – quickly': first-year students on the biggest issue facing Australia Undergraduates beginning their degree courses this week say what they think is the country's most important priority Russian envoy to UN dies in New York Vitaly Churkin, a pugnacious defender of Russian policy, died day before 65th birthday, says foreign ministry in Moscow Australian news and politics Software glitch to blame for blackout of extra 60,000 SA homes in heatwave The South Australian network operator says a software problem led to load shedding of 300MW instead of the 100MW requested by national market Inquest to hear details of third fatal shooting at Adelaide gun range Brenton McConnal turned his gun on himself at a firing range in December after previous inquests had recommended its safety be improved Queensland and NT brace for wild weather as Cyclone Alfred forms in Gulf of Carpentaria Category one tropical cyclone could lead to winds of up to 100km/h and heavy rainfall, Bureau of Meteorology warns Christian Brother paedophile Robert Best's hypocrisy was 'gobsmacking', judge says Victorian county court judge says 76-year-old is likely to die in jail, and he was 'blown away' that his legal fees were paid by the Catholic church Government 'clean coal' push would be likely to make Australia's emissions worse Coalition plan for more efficient coal plants could well increase emissions in a sector that is the second most polluting in the developed world Victorian government to buy 30 properties to sink Melbourne train line Cheltenham and Mentone stations to be rebuilt as part of government's rail-crossing removal blitz Scott Morrison staffer quits after dispute over Anna Bligh's new job Sasha Grebe reportedly applied for Australian Bankers' Association CEO role won by former Queensland premier Around the world Marine Le Pen's Front National headquarters raided by police French far-right party dismisses police search as 'media operation whose goal is to disturb course of presidential campaign' MPs warn over child refugees sleeping rough after Dubs scheme closure Volunteers say decision to stop taking lone child refugees to UK and destruction of Calais camp has been a fillip to traffickers 'Spider-Man' art thief jailed over Paris heist Vjeran Tomic and two others sentenced and fined for stealing five 20th-century masterpieces from Musée d'Art Moderne World's largest sailing yacht impounded in Gibraltar Taller than Big Ben and longer than 13 London buses, billionaire Russian's €400m luxury vessel docked over unpaid bills to shipbuilder Ireland PM Enda Kenny expected to resign over police scandal Fine Gael leader to outline plans at party meeting in Dublin next month after St Patrick's Day visit to White House

One last thing John Oliver on Trump: 'He dominates the news like a fart dominates a car' "You can't avoid talking about him. Sifting through Trump's brain to see why he said something is now like examining a shark's stomach to see what it ate. Here's where we're at right now: Trump can dominate the news merely by referencing something that didn't happen in Sweden. You can't avoid talking about him." Have an excellent day and if you spot something I've missed, let me know on Twitter at @earleyedition.

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