Australia news live: chief medical officer Paul Kelly to retire; concerns for Margaret River couple last heard from eight days ago

Follow today's news live

• Shows how small he is': Dutton's refusal to support 7 October motion condemned by Labor and crossbench
• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

So what's that ARC research project on islands actually about, anyway?

A blog watcher has taken the trouble to look up the research project that has Liberal MP James Stevens all hot and bothered, Archipelagic Connections in Australian and Pacific Literature:

Australia is often defined as an isolated island-continent, girt by sea'. This project aims to challenge this protectionist myth by analysing literary and historical connections between different geographical sites that have been represented as enclosed in Australian history.

It expects to offer new interpretations of interconnected narratives of Aboriginal Australian, South Sea Islander and migrant enclosure in Australian literature.

The project also contributes to national strategic initiatives into the truth telling' on Australia's past relations to Aboriginal Australians and the study of environmental change in islands and archipelagos.