Australia news live updates: deputy PM to face party room after leaked text message furore; NSW records 28 Covid deaths, Victoria six; fire threatens WA towns

As I mentioned in my first post, the ABC’s Sunday morning political commentary show Insiders has announced Joyce had pulled out of a scheduled interview with the program. The home affairs minister, Karen Andrews, would take his place.

The Labor leader, Anthony Albanese, said on Saturday it is “untenable” for Joyce to continue as deputy prime minister following the texting scandal, saying Joyce had been in the same cabinet as Morrison for half a decade when he sent the text.

See here the full story of what happened and where we are up to in the Joyce texting scandal:

Good morning! It’s Justine Landis-Hanley here to bring you the news today, Sunday 6 February 2022.

Let’s dive straight in:

Barnaby Joyce has cancelled his appearance on ABC Insiders this morning, following reports that he called Scott Morrison “a hypocrite and a liar” in a private text message. The leaked text was forwarded to former Liberal party staffer Brittany Higgins by a third party before Joyce returned to the leadership of the National Party last year.

Nine newspapers are reporting that Nationals MPs will tell the deputy prime minister to “lift his game” at a party room meeting tomorrow.

Meanwhile, WA emergency services have issued an emergency warning for the 100 or so residents of Hester, urging them to seek shelter before the fire arrives.

An emergency warning is also already in place for southwest WA, including Hester Brooke and Bridgetown in the Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes.