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- This morning’s headlines at a glance
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Home Affairs Minister to front ABC TV
Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews is due to front the ABC’s Insiders program this morning.
It comes after Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce pulled out of his scheduled appearance. Ms Andrews will no doubt be asked about the leaked text messages, so stay tuned.
Angry Nationals party room will warn Joyce to lift his game
Angry Nationals MPs will tell Barnaby Joyce to “lift his game” in a party room meeting tomorrow, after the damaging release of a text message in which the Deputy Prime Minister called Prime Minister Scott Morrison a liar and a hypocrite.
Mr Joyce made a grovelling apology yesterday and revealed he had offered his resignation to Mr Morrison, who declined it, over the texting scandal. Furious Nationals MPs believe the looming federal election, which is due in May, could stave off a short-term challenge to his leadership.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has revealed he offered his resignation to Scott Morrison.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
The revelation of the text message to former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins, which was sent a month after her rape accusation exploded into the public arena in March last year, has rocked the Morrison government and left it scrambling for clear air ahead of Parliament returning on Tuesday.
It also comes just days after Network Ten revealed text messages in which former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian described the Prime Minister as “horrible” – of which she says she has no recollection – and an anonymous minister called him a “psycho”.
Read the full story here.
This morning’s headlines at a glance
Good morning and thanks for your company.
It’s Sunday, February 6. I’m Broede Carmody and I’ll be anchoring today’s live coverage.
Here’s what you need to know before we get started.
- Angry Nationals MPs will tell Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce to “lift his game” at a party room meeting tomorrow, James Massola reports. It comes after the release of a text message in which the Deputy PM called Prime Minister Scott Morrison a liar and hypocrite. Mr Joyce has apologised for the text message, which was sent before he returned to the deputy prime ministership, and has offered his resignation to Mr Morrison (which the PM’s office says he declined to accept).
- Australia needs a plan for the next COVID-19 variant that involved warehouses full of masks and tests, according to public health experts. NSW recorded 8389 cases of COVID-19 yesterday and 18 deaths. In Victoria, there were 7810 cases yesterday and 41 deaths. Meanwhile, Queensland recorded an additional 8508 cases and 21 coronavirus-related deaths.
- NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has brought forward the timeline to permanently display the Aboriginal flag on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Cameron Gooley writes.
- There are a couple of uncontained bushfires burning in Western Australia’s south. Last night, all patients and staff were evacuated from the Bridgetown Hospital (about three hours from Perth by car). A number of emergency warnings remain in place.
- And in international news, Queen Elizabeth II is celebrating 70 years on the British throne.
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