Morning mail: Dutton claims malice, Miami building collapses, space music

Friday: defence minister accuses activist of showing malice in defamation suit. Plus: dossier of rape allegations against Christian Porter made public

Good morning. Peter Dutton has accused refugee activist Shane Bazzi of showing malice in the minister's defamation suit, citing a tweet labelling him a cunt" and a fucken scumbag". Bazzi denies that he defamed Dutton and is using the defences of fair comment and honest opinion, invoking Dutton's statement that he didn't know the she said, he said" details of former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins's allegation of rape. In his reply Dutton argues that Bazzi cannot rely on honest opinion because his rape apologist" tweet was actuated by actual malice".

New South Wales premier Gladys Berejiklian has warned this is the scariest period" the state has faced during the pandemic after reporting 11 new local Covid cases on Thursday. Meanwhile a police investigation into the limousine driver who sparked Sydney's current Covid outbreak has expanded to include the company that employed him to drive international aircrews to and from Sydney airport.