Thanks for reading the national news blog. This is where we’ll end today’s coverage.
- Talks between senior Liberals Andrew Hastie and Angus Taylor to reach a deal on replacing Opposition Leader Sussan Ley have ended in a stalemate as the pair canvass ideas for a joint ticket or for one of them to stand aside. The meeting happened in the lead up to the funeral of former Liberal MP Katie Allen, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese criticised the Liberals as being insensitive with this timing. (See below for funeral pictures)
- The leadership of the Nationals also remains the subject of intense speculation. This afternoon, former leader John Anderson said the political chaos sparked by the messy political divorce between the Nationals and Liberals meant neither party was able to do its job properly. Queensland Senator Colin Boyce is set to challenge David Littleproud for the party’s leadership when parliament resumes next Monday.
- Telstra says Apple has released an update to fix an issue, which has resulted in owners of some older makes of iPhone being unable to make or receive calls since this time yesterday, including to Triple Zero.
- Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy has defended federal government’s response to a potential terrorist act at a pro-Indigenous rally in Perth on Australia Day.