What we learned today, Saturday 5 February
That’s going to be it from us for the day. Thanks for following and to my colleague Cait Cassidy who took you through the bulk of the day earlier.
Here are the main events that have kept us busy:
- Some 83 people were reported to have died with Covid in the last day. Queensland recorded its deadliest day, with 21 people losing their life.
- At least 303 people are in ICU across Australia with the disease.
- An estimated 2,000 people rallied in Canberra to protest vaccines, vaccine mandates and ask for “freedom”. The Coalition MP George Christensen and United Australia party leader, Craig Kelly, attended.
- The deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, offered his resignation to the prime minister after a text emerged from last year where he called Scott Morrison a hypocrite and a liar. Morrison rejected the offer.
- The Labor leader, Anthony Albanese, said Joyce’s position was untenable as the ABC said Joyce had withdrawn from an interview on their Sunday politics show Insiders.
- Justin Langer resigned as the coach of the Australia men’s cricket team after rejecting a six-month contract extension. The former captain and Langer’s friend Ricky Ponting said it was a sad day for Australian cricket.
- A bushfire is threatening properties in the south-east of Western Australia near Denmark, with 60 firefighters on the scene and weather conditions forecast to worsen.
Stay safe and enjoy your weekend.
Updated
An estimated 2,000 people rallied in Canberra today, variously protesting against vaccine mandates, lockdowns, vaccines generally and asking for “freedom”.
Read our wrap of the day and see some pictures from the rally, which included the United Australia party leader, Craig Kelly, and the Queensland Coalition MP George Christensen.
Updated
