PoliticsNow: China blasts Tony Abbott over Taiwan speech, lodges complaint with Morrison government

Beijing has lodged a formal complaint with the government after Tony Abbott called out China's 'bullying' tactics.

Tony Abbott with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in Taipei last week.

Welcome to live updates on Australia's continuing battle with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Beijing has lodged a formal complaint with the Morrison government over former PM Tony Abbott's speech in Taiwan, during which he labelled China a bully and belligerent.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese wouldn’t be drawn on whether Anthony Byrne should resign, despite the longstanding Labor MP admitting to taking part in an industrial-scale branch stacking scandal. Alan Tudge said Victorian Labor was "rotten to the core'', while Bill Shorten called the revelations as "disappointing''.

Scott Morrison is “more likely” to attend the Cop26 climate conference in Glasgow. While nothing has been confirmed, The Australian understands that the importance of the summit means the Prime Minister is now leaning towards attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference, which begins on October 31.

Victoria has recorded 1466 new cases of coronavirus and NSW 360 in the latest reporting period.