Australia news LIVE: Victoria hits 90 per cent double-dose vaccination target; nation set to reconsider 2022 Winter Olympics participation

Federal Attorney-General Michaelia Cash is doing the media rounds this morning.

The West Australian senator made an appearance on Seven’s breakfast show Sunrise earlier and was asked about some upper and lower house MPs who’ve gone “rogue” over vaccines.

As we’ve previously reported, a handful of politicians have said they won’t support the government’s agenda unless the Prime Minister vows to overturn state-issued vaccination mandates (i.e. how NSW has locked the unvaccinated out of non-essential retail until next month).

Here’s what Ms Cash had to say about colleagues such as George Christensen who have voiced their displeasure at policies such as vaccine passports:

I come from a broad church in the Liberal Party and we will work with any member of Parliament who has a view that differs from the government’s position.

In fact, this week [we’ve] ... successfully worked with fellow senators who have a different view.

I have already passed two pieces of vital national security legislation and today I look forward to passing a further piece of national security legislation.

The Parliament continues to function as it should.

Parts of NSW could be battered by up to 60 millimetres of rain today, prompting flash flooding warnings.

A severe weather warning for heavy rain has been issued for parts of the state’s west and Riverina region with six-hourly totals between 40 and 60 millimetres possible.

The Bureau of Meteorology says the heavy rainfall, caused by a complex low-pressure system set to move into western and central parts of the state in the afternoon and evening, could lead to flash flooding.

Locations which may be affected include Coombah, Hay, Wilcannia, Broken Hill, Ivanhoe, Menindee and Balranald.

Wild weather across NSW over the past two weeks has already caused widespread flooding in parts of the state including the Central West, Hunter and North Coast regions.

The State Emergency Service says it has received more than 6600 requests for help since the flooding began.

Yesterday, the bureau warned major flooding would hit the Lachlan River and Namoi River in the Central West over the next 24 hours as the low-pressure system deepens.

The fate of the Victorian government’s pandemic legislation could become clear as early as this afternoon, with Health Minister Martin Foley and Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes preparing to meet a group of crossbench MPs pushing for substantial changes to the proposed laws.

The meeting also looms as a potential showdown on Victoria’s vaccination mandates, with Transport Matters MP Rod Barton, Sustainable Australia MP Clifford Hayes and independent Catherine Cumming all pushing for an end to the state’s no-jab, no-access rules that ban unvaccinated people from non-essential retail outlets, restaurants and other public venues.

The state government needs to find one extra vote to pass its legislation before December 15, the expiry date for the state of emergency powers that underpin its pandemic response.

However, Mr Barton said the Andrews government should listen to the concerns of everyone on the crossbench.

“It will be a group thing,” he said. “We are not going to allow them to pick us off one by one. We’ll put our cards on the table and see what they have to say.”

Read more about the negotiations here.

More than 80 guests at a Byron Bay hostel have been placed into lockdown after being identified as close contacts of a COVID-19 case.

NSW state MP for Ballina, Tamara Smith, said police were monitoring Aquarius Backpackers 24 hours a day.

“I’m closely monitoring a situation in Byron Bay this evening where a positive COVID-19 case and 84 close contacts have been identified at Aquarius Backpackers in Byron Bay,” she said.

“NSW Health have locked down the venue and all 84 people are in a 7-day lockdown in the premises and I’m told being supported with food, health and support.

“My thoughts are with everyone in that situation as it will be a tough time, and I will keep checking in to make sure that people are getting the support they need.”

There were two new COVID-19 cases reported in the Northern NSW Local Health District yesterday.

One of the cases was a household contact of an existing case in the Byron Bay local government area, while the other was recorded in Ballina and is under investigation.

Australia is considering not sending any government officials to the Beijing Winter Olympics next year amid growing calls from MPs for an official diplomatic boycott.

Australian politicians from both major parties are urging the government to boycott the Games, which will be held in China in February, as concern grows for the welfare of Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai.

United States President Joe Biden this month confirmed his administration was considering a diplomatic boycott, which would be aimed at protesting China’s human rights record including in Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet. The United Kingdom and Canada are also weighing up their positions.

A diplomatic boycott would involve not sending a delegation of officials to the Winter Olympics, but allowing athletes to participate.

Read the full story here.

A political storm over religious freedom has set up a test for Prime Minister Scott Morrison over schools that sack gay teachers or expel gay students, with Liberal MPs calling for faster action to fix the problem alongside laws to be put to Parliament today.

Mr Morrison has vowed to prevent schools suspending students on the grounds of their sexuality but has asked for an expert review that will take until early 2023, fuelling frustration about the failure to deliver on a pledge he made in 2018.

Liberal MPs have gone public with calls to address the treatment of gay students in the debate over religious discrimination, amid warnings from Equality Australia that the draft laws will make it easier for religious schools to dismiss gay teachers.

The debate is dividing opinions in Parliament as conservatives back the Religious Discrimination Bill, church groups welcome the protection for people of faith and Labor expresses support for the principle while raising concerns about the impact in schools.

More on this issue here.

Almost two-thirds of NSW voters support voluntary assisted dying and 11 per cent are opposed.

The results are contained in an exclusive survey for this masthead, which also asked voters for their thoughts on how NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet was performing. A bill to legalise euthanasia is expected to pass the state’s lower house today.

Mr Perrottet, who replaced Gladys Berejiklian as leader on October 5, is preferred premier among 34 per cent of voters. Labor leader Chris Minns has increased slightly to 23 per cent.

However, 43 per cent of voters are undecided about either leader, and 46 per cent said it was “too early to form an opinion” about Mr Perrottet.

The Coalition’s primary vote is stable on 41 per cent, while Labor’s is 31 per cent.

Read more about the survey’s results here.

The Victorian man arrested over the mysterious disappearance of campers Russell Hill and Carol Clay owns firearms and has previously been questioned by police over the matter.

Greg Lynn, 55, of Caroline Springs spent his second day in custody yesterday after being arrested by special operations group police at a remote campsite at Arbuckle Junction, north of Sale, on Monday night.

Police told media yesterday evening they could hold Mr Lynn for a “reasonable time” under the Crimes Act and they were not expecting further updates on Wednesday.

Friends of Mr Lynn said they had been left scratching their heads at his potential involvement in the disappearance of Mr Hill and Ms Clay, who vanished from the remote Wonnangatta Valley in the high country in March last year.

Read the full story here.