Australia news live: drug decriminalisation bill to be introduced in ACT, while Fraser Island to reopen to visitors after fire

Greg Hunt expects to have early assessment of two leading vaccines by end of January; New Zealand cabinet agrees to trans-Tasman travel bubble proposal; storms forecast to intensify in parts of Queensland and NSW. This blog is now closed

• Follow coronavirus global news live
• No red flags' on Covid vaccines, Greg Hunt says
• ACT Labor MP to introduce drug decriminalisation bill
• New Zealand and Australia to launch travel bubble in early 2021

7.10am GMT

That is where we will leave the live blog for Monday, barring any major breaking news. Nino will be back with you tomorrow morning, and I'll be back on the afternoon slog. Until then, here's what we learned today:

6.42am GMT

On the coming cabinet reshuffle following former finance minister Mathias Cormann leaving parliament, the health minister, Greg Hunt, has said he expects to stay in his current portfolio, AAP reports.

Hunt told reporters in Melbourne on Monday:

My expectation is I will be remaining in the same role - that is what I would want to do and the prime minister has indicated the same thing.

This pandemic is not over and there is important work to do. His belief and my belief is continuity in health at this time is fundamental for confidence.

Once that is done the prime minister will be able to focus on the last part of the puzzle before Christmas.

I think the National party has had a very long history with trade and obviously we represent regional and rural Australia.

Those are discussions the DPM and the PM are having now, with a new trade minister being announced within the next week.