Guardian Australia editor-in-chief Katharine Viner has hired a political editor and deputy political editor for the paper's new Sydney-based digital edition.

Lenore Taylor is joining from the Sydney Morning Herald, where she was chief political correspondent, as political editor; while the Age's national affairs correspondent, Katharine Murphy, is to be deputy political editor.

Viner, the Guardian deputy editor who relocated to Sydney last month to launch the Australian digital venture with backing from entrepreneur Graeme Wood, said Taylor was one of the country's "most respected journalists ... who consistently breaks agenda-setting stories".

She added that Murphy "is one of the most innovative political journalists in Australia, with her daily live blog and 'open' approach".

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