Australia politics live: Liberals joke they need ‘divine intervention’ as parliament returns; Labor announces discount loans for EVs

From 2h ago 20.41 GMT Liberals need ‘divine intervention’ as MPs attend church service Josh Butler Liberal politicians have joked they need “divine intervention” at a church service before parliament resumes today. Federal parliamentarians are attending the ecumenical service, before sitting begins later. Media doorstopped most of the MPs on their way in, with reporters asking what they were praying for, whether they needed “forgiveness”, and whether they prayed for a Coalition reunion. Liberal MP and shadow minister Scott Buchholz, pointing at the church, joked: “that’s where we need divine intervention”. Other Coalition MPs laughed and shrugged off similar questions when asked. Nationals MP Anne Webster, asked if she’d pray for the Coalition reuniting, said “absolutely”. Liberal MP and shadow minister Andrew Wallace, asked about leadership issues, said: “Sussan Ley has the support of the party room, and she absolutely has my support.” Journalists also fired questions at Ley on her way in but she replied “can’t be late for church”. We’ll expect to hear from Ley and Anthony Albanese on their way out of the church later. The shadow treasurer, Ted O’Brien, and the opposition leader, Sussan Ley, at St Paul’s Anglican Church in Canberra. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP Share Updated at 21.43 GMT

10m ago 22.03 GMT Donna Lu Australia’s Stem sector ‘under unsustainable strain’, peak body warns Australia’s Stem sector is facing a severe funding crisis and is “under unsustainable strain”, a peak body has warned the federal government in a pre-budget submission. It comes amid new survey data suggesting one in three scientists are planning to leave the sector entirely. New analysis conducted by Science and Technology Australia, which represents more than 235,000 scientists and technologists, and Professionals Australia, has found that 47% of Stem professionals are considering leaving their current roles, amid workforce instability and low grant funding success rates. STA’s submission says commonwealth funding for Stem research has flatlined in real terms in recent years and it calls for “immediate funding stabilisation through CPI-indexed increases to research grant programs and agencies”.