After remaining silent for six days following the shootings on Manus Island, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton is yet to offer evidence for his claims that they were sparked by fears of a detainee-led paedophilic attack. “It sounds a lot like children overboard,” writes Martin McKenzie-Murray. “But if Dutton’s comments are proved false, it’s much worse than that – his comments could have inspired slaughter.”

Plus: Paul Bongiorno on Malcolm Turnbull’s attempts to shore up his polling with a war footing, and Karen Middleton on the legal community’s big win.

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The Saturday Paper