In less than three months’ time, the Prime Minister will head to the Governor General and start the firing gun on a federal election campaign. Already, MP’s and candidates have begun hitting the hustings to win voter support, but in more than a dozen New South Wales seats, the Liberals are yet to settle on candidates. Insiders admit different factions within the party are bickering …

Two federal government ministers have denied being the unnamed Liberal MP who allegedly called Prime Minister Scott Morrison a “psycho” in a text to Gladys Berejiklian. Foreign Affairs and Women Minister Marise Payne and Environment Minister Sussan Ley both issued statements this afternoon as speculation grew about the identity of the mystery MP. Their denials came after Nationals Leader Barnaby Joyce …

The NSW government has announced a $1 billion support package for businesses hit by the Omicron outbreak as the state records its deadliest day of the pandemic so far. There were 52 deaths and 13,524 new positive COVID-19 tests reported in the 24 hours to 8pm on Saturday. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the government had the back of every …

Aged-care residents are being forced to isolate in their rooms without visits from family members for “weeks on end” as COVID-19 rips through the sector. Government figures show more than 1100 aged-care homes are now battling active outbreaks, with 222 elderly residents dying of COVID-19 in the week to January 27. All the while homes are having to get by with …

Sam Kerr endured a rare off night in front of goal as the Matildas crashed out of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup with a shock 1-0 quarter-final loss to Korea Republic. Kerr had a series of golden opportunities early in Sunday’s match in Pune, and she fluffed another chance at the death when Australia needed a goal to send the …

Police raids targeting crime networks across Sydney have uncovered almost 20 guns, ammunition, drugs and cash with 115 people charged in the two-day operation. Officers seized $1.2 million worth of prohibited drugs including methamphetamine, MDMA and cannabis. Police say bikie gangs were among the groups targeted, with officers carrying out 66 firearm prohibition order searches and crime scene warrants, seizing …

Freshly crowned Australian Open champion Ash Barty says she chose to have a low-key celebration following her victory in the women’s singles final, admitting she felt “pretty wrecked”. Barty won her first Australian Open championship with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) triumph over American Danielle Collins on Saturday night. It is her third major singles title, following her successes at the 2019 …

A leading health expert has warned of the potential spread of the virulent Omicron COVID-19 strain during Australia Day events as large crowds gather for protest or celebration. Chair of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and former health department head Jane Halton says the closer people pack together, the more likely the virus will spread. “We know it’s highly infectious …

A man who was arrested at the Australian Open has been released pending further inquiry, as police investigate assaults on staff at the event. Earlier on Wednesday, Victoria Police alleged a woman had been sexually assaulted at Rod Laver Arena just before midnight on Tuesday. However, police have since changed their statement and no longer believe the sexual assault took …

NSW has added 21,030 new infections to its COVID-19 caseload along with 29 more virus-related deaths. Two years after the first COVID-19 cases were recorded in Australia, the state surpassed one million coronavirus cases on Wednesday according to data that includes rapid antigen test results. The total number of cases reported in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday night …