Malcolm Turnbull has struck back angrily at a report that he has been helping independent Kerryn Phelps, his successor in Wentworth, as chaos continues to fracture the Liberals.
It took six months for Malcolm Turnbull to receive his first negative Newspoll net approval as PM; it has taken Scott Morrison just two months.
AAP/Joel Carrett
Morrison remains wedged between his Liberal right wing ideologues and mainstream voters. The right claims to speak for the “mainstream” on climate (and other things) but it doesn’t.
Morrison reiterated the government’s intention to serve its full term.
Chris Pavlich/AAP
While the government currently has pledges of confidence from some crossbenchers, they would be in a strong position to demand concessions in a hung parliament.
A minority government is still possible to manage, but will make Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s job that bit tougher.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
A minority government would not mean the government would fall - but it would make governing more difficult.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison concedes the Liberals lost the byelection in Wentworth on Saturday night- but postal votes have added uncertainty to the outcome.
AAP/Dan Himbrechts
After election night reports of a thumping win in by independent Kerryn Phelps, the Liberals have recovered significantly in postal votes - so much so, the result is now uncertain.A
Independent Dr Kerryn Phelps has easily won the formerly blue-ribbon Liberal seat of Wentworth.
AAP/Chris Pavlich
The trouncing in Wentworth will re-open fractures in the government, threatening more damaging in-fighting between the party’s conservatives and moderates.
Michelle Grattan discusses the week in Australian politics with Nick Klomp.
Former prime minister John Howard who backed Morrison’s shift on Israel, joined Liberal candidate for Wentworth Dave Sharma on the campaign trail.
Dean Lewins/AAP
It’s increasingly obvious that as prime minister Morrison will do whatever he thinks it takes – and plumb some dubious depths – to serve his immediate purposes.
Peter Jennings on Morrison’s Jerusalem move
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Jennings says it would be "silly" to claim there is no connection between this week's announcement about the possible relocation of Australia's embassy to Jerusalem and the Wentworth byelection.
There is majority public support for the proposed extensions of anti-discrimination law to teachers.
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The current loophole for religious schools does not reflect what the majority of Australia thinks about education, religion and LGBTIQ+ people.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s suggestion that Australia might move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem puts us on a slippery foreign policy slope.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Australia should focus on playing a positive role in the ongoing Middle East process, rather than auctioning off its foreign policy for the sake of winning the Wentworth byelection.
Scott Morrison and foreign affairs minister Marise Payne made a series of major announcements in relation to Israel at a Tuesday news conference.
Mick Tskias/AAP
The Liberals have been making a big pitch for the Jewish vote in Wentworth, on the back of Sharma’s diplomatic experience. His major opponent, independent Kerryn Phelps, is Jewish.
Campaigning in Wentworth, Liberal candidate Dave Sharma, appearing at a candidates’ forum, denounced discrimination against teachers, and said the 2013 law should be changed.
Dean Lewins/AAP
Some Liberals who agitated for action on religious freedom might be starting to appreciate that the best stand for a conservative can sometimes be to just leave things alone.
The Coalition has clawed back some support since the early days after Malcolm Turnbull was ousted as prime minister.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
The latest polls are a mixed bag for the Morrison government: there were gains in primary and two-party preferred vote, but the polls still have Labor in an election-winning position.
Announcements are pouring out in what is already a faux election campaign, with the government at the weekend unveiling nearly $52 million to Headspace for youth mental health.
David Mariuz/AAP
The latest national polls come just days out from Saturday’s Wentworth byelection, which will determine whether the Coalition is forced into minority government.
Alex Turnbull said in his video the IPCC report “frankly was terrifying … and it’s seemingly insane to me that we could not be doing something about this and soon”.
The government's majority is at stake in the October 20 Wentworth byelection, when the Liberals face voters still reeling from the loss of their member Malcolm Turnbull.