Abdel-Fattah speaks, Albo welcomes EU boss, Gout Gout runs

A leading EU figure is visiting Australia, fuel is on parliament’s agenda and US foreign policy is in focus elsewhere. Plus, Gout Gout is holding a 200-meter showdown, and Randa Abdel-Fattah has another writers’ festival concert. Welcome to a new week in Australian news and politics.

Today, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen lands in Sydney, where she will meet the governor-general before heading to Canberra to meet the prime minister on Tuesday. Von der Leyen is one of the most powerful people in Europe and observers are waiting His visit was to mark the final stage of negotiations on a long-in-the-making free trade agreement with Australia.