Good morning
It’s another day in Labor’s leadership contest and Chris Bowen says he has the majority numbers in the caucus. There are reports Bill Shorten has been advocating on his behalf.
Penny Wong, meanwhile, is coming out publicly in support of Anthony Albanese this morning.
Tony Burke also looks like backing Albanese.
No one knows if Jim Chalmers will add his name to the ballot contenders, or if he’ll push for deputy.
And the Morrison government is still working out its cabinet, with Barnaby Joyce wanting back in, tussles over who should have the agriculture portfolio, and Nationals MPs in two different states claiming superiority, with both Queensland and NSW arguing they were the stronger hold.
All in all, it’s another day in Australian politics.
The Coalition has its majority – Chisholm will go to the Liberals, with a concession, and then victory to be called very soon. Gladys Liu won that by about 1,200 votes so far, so that’s that – Liu is the first Chinese Australian woman to sit in the House of Representatives. Jennifer Yang was expected to win that contest. Oliver Yates is considering a court challenge over some of the signs which were hung in the electorate, particularly one which mimicked AEC colours and said to vote one Liberal and then number the rest.
Macquarie is the seat to watch today.
We’ll bring you everything that happens, as it happens, because I can’t imagine a better way to spend my Wednesday.
I am about to hunt down my third coffee, because two just doesn’t cut it any more. I hope you have had yours.
Ready?
Let’s get into it.
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