Australia live news updates: Morrison faces further questions over 2007 preselection; severe weather to hit Victoria | Australia news

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has simply completed an interview on the ABC’s Insiders program now, and has flatly denied ever listening to about Scott Morrison allegedly racially vilifying an opponent in his 2007 pre-selection race within the seat of Prepare dinner.

He’s categorically denied it and Jamal Rifi, who’s one in every of Australia’s leaders of the Australian Muslim Lebanese group, has stated about Scott Morrison that he doesn’t have a racist bone in his physique. That’s what he has stated.

Rifi made those statements in 2019.

On the price range, Frydenberg repeated the federal government’s reduce to the gasoline tax might be non permanent and can finish in six months’ time beneath laws.

He stated he wouldn’t be arguing to increase the reduce, and that Treasury was forecasting that the worth of oil could be down from the present $120 a barrel to $100 by September.

Victorian well being authorities say two extra folks have died from Covid within the final 24 hours. There are 307 folks in hospital, together with 18 folks in ICU with three folks on ventilators.

On the ABC’s Insiders program, the dialog is about Morrison’s 2007 preselection bid and allegations he had raised his opponent Michael Towke’s Lebanese heritage as a cause to dismiss his marketing campaign.

Morrison yesterday denied making any statements like that and informed journalists they need to ask the folks making the accusations.

The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age chief political correspondent David Crowe has simply informed the ABC he has spoken to Towke.

He says there was a marketing campaign of racial vilification in opposition to him and that Scott Morrison was instantly concerned. These are his phrases.

There have been 11 extra deaths from Covid in NSW, the place 50 individuals are at the moment in intensive care among the many 1,355 folks in hospital battling the virus.

Journalist Hugh Riminton has checked out final week’s price range and the way it units up Scott Morrison for the upcoming election.

He writes this morning how the price range was designed to inform Australians their jobs have been safe, they have been getting some money and right here’s some cheaper petrol to go along with it.

The strain is all now on Morrison. And generally it exhibits. He’s a sitting duck to questions on bullying or ruthlessness, however he can’t afford to counter-punch with out wanting snappy. Typically, he simply appears drained.

Morning all. Graham Readfearn right here.

It’s Sunday and concord has returned to the jap states with Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania returning to affix Queensland in the identical time zone. Did you keep in mind to regulate your clocks?

That’s about it although, harmony-wise. On our reside protection right this moment we’ll observe the heavy climate that’s forecast to proceed on the south coast of NSW and the flood warnings for the jap components of Victoria.

The prime minister, Scott Morrison, is going through intense scrutiny over allegations he made “racial feedback” in 2007 a couple of rival candidate for preselection within the seat of Prepare dinner. Morrison has denied making the feedback.

The candidate who initially received the preselection battle, Michael Towke, has right this moment informed the 9 newspapers he stood by a 2016 statutory declaration outlining “many unedifying ways used to unseat me from my preselection victory”.

Morrison is in Tasmania this morning for a 10am press convention on the Satan’s Gate Hydroelectric Energy Station the place he’s anticipated to make an power announcement.

We’ll hold updated with the newest covid numbers too. A fast abstract from yesterday:

Let’s proceed harmoniously.