Australia news live: defection speculation as ex-Liberal senator Hollie Hughes prepares to host Pauline Hanson at her NSW pub

<p>Hughes quit the Liberal Party in November, and was strongly critical of her former colleagues for undermining then-leader Sussan Ley. Follow today’s news live</p><ul><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>Good morning, it’s <strong>Nick Visser</strong> here to take over the blog. Let’s get to it and see what Friday holds.</p><p>Big news to start the morning: Australia’s <strong>Delta Goodrem</strong> has qualified for the Eurovision final.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/may/15/australia-news-live-delta-goodrem-eurovision-budget-reply-angus-taylor-immigration-income-tax-bracket-creep-jim-chalmers-inflation-ntwnfb">Continue reading...</a>