Your morning Briefing: Boats battle: Labor eyes asylum deal

Your 2-minute digest of today’s top stories and must-reads.

Hello readers. Labor eyes an asylum deal in boats battle, and ScoMo holds ground in polls but bruising loss still looms.

The Leader of the Opposition, Bill Shorten in Townsville meeting Emergency Services Personnel. Picture: Alix Sweeney

Boats battle

Bill Shorten is considering supporting an amended medivac bill, seeking to bring a swift end to debate over border protection.

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison addresses media in Sydney, Thursday, December 13, 2018. The Prime Minister says Australia needs a dedicated new law that makes religious discrimination illegal, in order to protect freedom. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts) NO ARCHIVING

Loss looms

The Coalition has held its electoral ground but still remains on course for a bruising defeat at the likely May poll. Scott Morrison and Bill Shorten this week face critical moments that may come to define the leadership qualifications of both.

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Disgraced ex Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, leaves his South Melbourne home. Picture: Nicole Garmston

‘Doyled’

Allegations by up to six women against former Melbourne lord mayor Robert Doyle are being assessed by Victoria Police.

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10/02/2019. Former Matildas coach Alan Stajcic has been controversially sacked just months out from the FIFA World Cup. Jane Dempster/The Australian.

‘Ruined’

Sacked Matilda’s coach Alen Stajcic breaks his silence, telling how his career has been left in tatters and vowing legal action.

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Kudelka’s view

Jon Kudelka Letters page cartoon for 11-02-2019Version: Letters Cartoon (1280x720 - Aspect ratio preserved, Canvas added)COPYRIGHT: The Australian's artists each have different copyright agreements in place regarding re-use of their work in other publications.Please seek advice from the artists themselves or the Managing Editor of The Australian regarding re-use.