Australia news live: EU rejects Scott Morrison’s claim about missing 3.1m AstraZeneca Covid vaccine doses

European Union says it hasn’t blocked further shipments of AstraZeneca earmarked for Australia. Follow the latest updates, live

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12.59am BST

Scott Morrison says that he never criticised the EU when he spoke publically yesterday:

First of all, I want to stress that at no time yesterday did I make any comment about the actions of the European Union, nor did I indicate any of the background reasons for the lack of supply that we have received from those contracted doses.

And so, any suggestion that I, in any way, made any criticism of the European Union yesterday would be completely incorrect.

12.57am BST

The prime minister is speaking now.

He has started by offering his condolences to the family of former PNG governor Malcolm Smith who died in a Queensland hospital after contracting the disease in PNG.

He was one of the game’s biggest characters and will be sadly missed in the rugby league family and sincere condolences to his family and to the rugby league family as well.

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source: theguardian.com