Pyne says government will ‘categorically not’ go to early election

Education minister Christopher Pyne says the government is “categorically not” going to an early election.

Speculation was raised yesterday when a number of backbenchers had their photo taken with the prime minister before leaving for the winter break.

Mr Pyne told the TODAY Show the photos were not about an election, which would take place at the end of next year as scheduled.

“A lot of my colleagues have been asking for photographs with the PM and now they have got them,” he said.

Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese has ruled out a leadership challenge against opposition leader Bill Shorten.

Mr Shorten was this week forced to admit to lying to media about a 2013 meeting with Kevin Rudd that ended Julia Gillard’s prime ministership after details surfaced during the final episode of documentary The Killing Season.

“We have one opposition leader, and it’s Bill Shorten,” Mr Albanese told TODAY.