Large gaps in Australia’s tracking of Chinese warships have emerged, as Anthony Albanese continued to provide ambiguous answers over the amount of notice the flotilla gave for carrying out live-fire drills in the Tasman Sea, prompting Coalition accusations the prime minister was misleading the public.

Military commanders learnt the ships were conducting Friday’s drill only 40 minutes after the “firing window” started, while 90 minutes elapsed before New Zealand’s military passed on warnings to Canberra.