Over eight million Australians have received three doses of COVID-19 vaccine; Young child among Queensland coronavirus deaths; PM responds to ‘horrendous’ leaked text

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he has no idea who was behind a series of text messages allegedly written by Gladys Berejiklian which were leaked at a public event yesterday. In the text messages, Ms Berejiklian reportedly described Mr Morrison as a ‘horrendous person’.

New South Wales is recording 27 coronavirus-related deaths and 11,807 more cases, down from yesterday when 30 deaths and 12,818 COVID-19 infections were reported.

A child under 10 has died with COVID-19 in Queensland and 9,630 new cases have been recorded. The state is currently facing more severe weather, even as a lingering intense heat wave in Queensland is hampering cleanup efforts after a supercell storm.

Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews has announced that millions of rapid antigen tests are set to be manufactured in the state from April this year if the plan is approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. It comes as the state recorded 14,553 new cases of COVID-19 and 25 deaths amid warnings that infections could increase as students return to class for the start of the school year.

And the Australian music scene is mourning the loss of Glenn Wheatley, who died aged 74 from complications related to COVID-19.