Australia live news updates: Scott Morrison takes credit for saving 40,000 lives from Covid in social media video; NSW records 10 Covid deaths, Vic seven and Qld two
Scott Morrison takes credit for saving 40,000 lives from Covid in social media video; prime minister expected to call federal election this weekend; hundreds of NSW residents still under evacuation orders; NSW records 10 Covid deaths; seven Covid deaths in Victoria; Queensland reports two virus deaths; police officer and driver killed in Victoria crash. This blog is now closed
- Government defends flurry of appointments to key roles of former Coalition staffers and MPs
- Living on the wedge: why the Coalition faces threats from left and right in Queensland
- Katharine Murphy: For three years the prime minister has schemed and strategised. Can Australians stomach any more?'
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In the space of an hour on Thursday night, two Queensland Liberal National stalwarts made announcements that shook the party from the right, and then the left.
First, George Christensen announced he had formally left the LNP - ending a political farce that has seen the retiring federal MP for Dawson slide deeper into far-rightwing anti-government conspiracy, all the while remaining a member of the government.
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