Coalition Senator Gerard Rennick says the electoral fortunes of the Morrison government are of a secondary concern to himself and fellow dissident Alex Antic, and that both are unafraid to return to their “successful careers” if the election was lost.

Senator Rennick, who is not up for election next year, and Senator Antic catalysed a week of disunity and division in the Coalition by refusing to support any government bills unless Scott Morrison legislated to overturn state government-imposed vaccine mandates.