It’s one thing for Macron to call Morrison a liar, but quite another when the accusation comes from inside the Coalition

‘When two senior figures who have worked with Scott Morrison for years quite separately conclude “he can never be trusted”, as Barnaby Joyce put it, the character analysis is given weight.’ Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

The contrived nonchalance with which federal ministers are attempting to ignore or belittle the ruckus caused by an outbreak of text message frankness is an indicator of how seriously the matter is being taken.

And so it should be.