Morning mail: Liberal preselection battles, climate pressure, super blood moon

Wednesday: Sussan Ley faces a preselection challenge amid allegations of toxic' branch-stacking by far-right party members. Plus: how to view tonight's lunar show

Good morning! Covid restrictions are back in Melbourne as an outbreak in the city's north grows, preselection battles are brewing in the Coalition and a stink over Tasmania's Pooseum could be headed to the state's Integrity Commission - it's a real mixed bag in today's morning mail. Enjoy!

One of the Coalition's most senior women, the federal environment minister, Sussan Ley, is expected to face a challenge in her rural NSW seat of Farrer amid allegations of toxic" branch-stacking by far-right conservatives. The threat comes as the prime minister, Scott Morrison, urged Liberal colleagues not to get distracted" by a tumultuous preselection season in NSW in which at least four sitting MPs are being challenged, including two female marginal seat holders. Fiona Martin in Reid, Trent Zimmerman in North Sydney and Alex Hawke in Mitchell are also facing challenges, with the outcomes to be decided by plebiscites of local members for the first time.