Australia live news update: Labor’s Katy Gallagher says ‘mean girls’ label ‘diminishes women’; 11 Covid deaths recorded

Here is the full story on Labor senator Kim Carr bowing out of politics.

This piece by Jordyn Beazley is an interesting read about the shortage of EVs in Australia.

South-east Queensland is again bracing for severe weather as a slow-moving and potentially dangerous system moves across the state, AAP reports.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a warning for more heavy rainfall and life-threatening flash floods.

A severe warning for the Sunshine Coast to the border extends to the Darling Downs, predicting thunderstorms and heavy downpours.

The coastal trough over southeast Queensland is expected to deepen, creating intense storm cells throughout Sunday and Monday.

Six-hourly rainfall totals between 80 and 140 mm are possible, reaching up to 180 mm over coastal areas and ranges.

“Intense rainfall leading to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding is possible with thunderstorms with six-hourly rainfall totals up to 250 mm,” the bureau says.

The warning comes as the clean-up continues from deadly foods triggered by the state’s wettest February in 130 years.

Weeks after the deluge, the Brisbane River has re-opened to recreational boating after some 2000 tonnes of debris were removed from the river.

Citycat ferry services remain suspended and are not expected to resume until April, according to Brisbane City Council.

Western Australia has recorded 7,197 new Covid-19 cases to 8pm yesterday.

One death was recorded yesterday and three earlier deaths from other previous days were also reported.

A man in his 80s died yesterday, with the other deaths a man in his 90s and women in their 60s and 80s.

There are 215 people with Covid-19 in hospital in WA, with 10 in ICU.

The full update is here.

Thanks to Royce for his unwavering commitment to blog excellence so far today. Let’s see what the afternoon brings us.

I’ll be taking a little break now, so I’ll be handing over to my colleague, the distinguished Nino Bucci, to take the helm for the next hour.

In a preview of the upcoming federal election, Morrison is now talking about “choices” and working hard to cast Labor as big spenders with a leader who is “wishy-washy”.

Presser wrapped up now.

Roberts spends a bit of time promote the governments credentials on boosting training and apprenticeships before the presser opens to questions. I’m having trouble hearing the specific questions, but Morrison is defending his governments actions during the pandemic and saying the government’s actions during the pandemic “saved the economy”.

Throughout the course of this pandemic, we have had to put in place the biggest economic support an Australian government has ever had to do to frankly save the economy.

Morrison also throws a few barbs Labor’s way, claiming Labor “can’t stop spending” and describing Labor’s policy pitch as “Albonomics”.

Makes you wonder how long they’ve been workshopping those attack phrases.