Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has rapidly recanted a commitment he made to work with the Albanese Government to fight “conspiracy theories, disinformation and hateful commentary”.

Mr Dutton pledged to work with the government to tackle inflammatory far-right wing, anti-government misinformation after suggestions surfaced of a possible link between conspiracy theories and the shooting deaths of two police officers and a local property owner in southern Queensland this week.

But he rapidly backpeddled when a spokesperson for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he welcomed the Liberal leader’s commitment and would immediately seek Mr Dutton’s support to shut down all Sky News “after dark” programs.

Mr Dutton immediately issued a statement saying he was reconsidering his earlier position.

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The Vanuatu Government has explained a delay in the transport to hospital and treatment of former Australian deputy prime minister and National Party leader, Michael McCormack, after drinking a local highly alcoholic brew at a reception for visiting Australian MPs.

Mr McCormack became ill at a formal reception after skolling a bowl of an extremely potent version of kava known as sakau.

He was reported to have become unsteady with a highly flushed face, and puffy, bloodshot and crossed eyes before loudly belching, breaking wind, and throwing up.

“We didn’t immediately call for medical help,” a Vanuatu Government spokesperson said. “We’ve previously hosted another former Australian deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, (below) who exhibited the very same symptoms on arrival and even before drinking any sakau so we initially didn’t think there was anything wrong with Mr McCormack.”

SYDNEY: Praise continues to flow for former prime minister Scott Morrison’s stella performance on Wednesday at the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme.

“I think I acquitted myself very, very well,” Mr Morrison said in a statement posted on the window of his Cook electorate office.

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PARIS: France’s Interior Ministry has put the damage across the nation from citizens celebrating their semi-final win at the football World Cup at more than 225 million euros.

“Thank God they didn’t lose,” a ministry spokesperson said.