The Latest Breaking News from Scott Morrison

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the government has been aware of a potential Chinese security pact arising in the Indo-Pacific.

This blog is now closed

Labor leader Anthony Albanese says his party will push for its own model of a national anti-corruption commission, as Scott Morrison defends controversial Warringah candidate Katherine Deves.

Scott Morrison says he is "deeply sorry" that a comment he made during last night's leaders' debate that he was "blessed" not to have a child with disability caused offence, saying he did not intend it that way.

Here's your TL;DR for this morning's news.

Good morning, early birds. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Labor Leader Anthony Albanese faced off in a pay-to-watch debate last night, and experts are warning that China could have a military base in the Solomon Islands within four weeks. It’s the news you need to know, with Emma Elsworthy.

Thursday: Labor leader Anthony Albanese wins the first leaders’ debate. Plus: Russia tests new missile from its nuclear arsenal

Preferential voting gives people the chance to say who they want to win the election and who they don't.

Perhaps unfairly, the image most of us have of Joe Hockey comes from his time as federal Treasurer, when he was photographed smoking a cigar with then Finance Minister Mathias Cormann in the aftermath of the 2014 budget.

During the federal election, politicians of all persuasions will use a range of campaigning and spin tactics. But there is a difference between “gilding the lily” and lying with strategic intent, a trend that is growing in western democracies.

When Corrinne Boon posted to Facebook in May last year, she had no idea her words would be twisted and used in a scare campaign by Labor in a bid to win the votes of anxious age pensioners.