Government pushes case against trade tariffs from the US
As confusion and concern escalate over Donald Trump’s trade tariffs for Canada and Mexico, Australians are hoping to be spared.
Government frontbencher Amanda Rishworth and shadow minister Bridget McKenzie are on the Today show this morning, and have both weighed in.
Rishworth says the government is putting forward its case on the “mutually beneficial arrangements”.
We’ve been working, and we’ll continue to work very hard, to show that why Australia is in a really unique position. Of course, America, you know, benefits as well from our free trading arrangements, as does Australian exports.
While McKenzie says it’s a “test” for the government.
America is our third largest trading partner … But these tariff issues, particularly on aluminium and steel, are potentially going to have flow-on impact for us. And it’s a real test for ambassador Rudd, for Penny Wong, for our trade minister.
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There’s plenty to chew on this week – we’re looking at production tax credits, debates on universal childcare subsidies, hate speech laws and we’ll probably hear more about cutting down the public service.
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These are also some of the big ticket items likely to be dominating the election campaign, which could be in a matter of weeks. And the closer we get to one, the more theatrical parliament is likely to get.
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There are also still some big question marks over key policies such as electoral donation reform, which will introduce caps on election donations and spending. Conversations are ongoing but it doesn’t appear the government has reached a deal. Meanwhile, nature positive laws, which would have established a federal environment watchdog, have been officially shelved, but they will likely still be talked about this week.
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Grab your coffee, let’s get started.
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Australia’s business industry body has released its pre-election policy recommendations designed to tackle what it describes as the “nation’s most pressing challenges” such as inflation, housing shortages and the energy transition.
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In a policy document directed at all sides of politics, the Business Council of Australia has called for caps on budget spending to help control inflation, and less red tape and regulation to promote productivity.
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The budget spending recommendation could be viewed as a critique of the federal government, which has faced calls from some economists to rein in spending to bring inflation under control faster.
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The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, has previously argued against a policy of “scorched-earth austerity” during a cost-of-living crisis.
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The business group wants spending growth capped to an annual rate of 2%, and a tax-to-GDP ratio cap of 23.9%.
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The council is also advocating for reforms to the approvals process to boost housing supply and for political parties to take a “technology agnostic approach” in pursuit of a pathway to net zero by 2050.
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Labor and the Coalition are taking vastly different energy policies to the election, due by May.
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The council has also called for a “move back to basics” to lift the quality of education.
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Stepping away from politics for a moment before things kick off: a teenager has died after being bitten by a shark off south-east Queensland.
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Queensland ambulance service confirmed the female teenager had sustained injuries to her upper body while swimming off Woorim beach on Bribie Island, north of Brisbane, on Monday afternoon. She died just after 5pm.
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You can find more details about the story here.
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Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Krishani Dhanji with the main action.
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After a summer of sharpening their messaging, Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton will return to lock horns in Canberra today along with all other federal MPs and senators in what could be the final sitting of parliament before a federal election is called. It comes as more voters see Peter Dutton as in touch with ordinary Australians, decisive and better in a crisis than Anthony Albanese, with the opposition leader’s standing improving on key leadership indicators in our latest Guardian Essential poll. More coming up.
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A leading energy industry expert says Dutton has “no idea what he is talking about” after the opposition leader claimed that slowing the rollout of renewable energy and backing nuclear power could bring down bills by 44% “or of that order”. Dr Dylan McConnell, of the University of New South Wales, said Dutton didn’t even understand his own policy. More coming up. Check out our explainer for more analysis on the Coalition’s nuclear plans.
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A small community near Brisbane is in shock today after the death of a teenager after a shark attack. She was swimming off Bribie Island just north of Brisbane yesterday when she was attacked. More coming up.
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Key events
Treasury has done modelling on cost of potential US tariffs
Jim Chalmers has now gone to ABC RN Breakfast and says the government has done modelling on what impact tariffs from the US would have.
He won’t give us a number but says he’s worked with colleagues on the figures and the bottom line is that Australia is “exposed”.
I’ve had the ability to brief my colleagues on a number of occasions now on some of that sort of work, and the broad conclusion out of that work is that Australia is a big beneficiary of open global trading. We are a very trade exposed economy, it means that we’re not immune when they are escalating trade tensions.
The deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, is also headed over to the US later this week to speak with his defence counterpart Pete Hegseth (remembering Aukus is a thing, and the government wants it to continue).
Chalmers says trade relationship with US must be ‘beneficial to both sides’
Jim Chalmers is now on ABC News Breakfast, again starting on the impact of the flooding in north Queensland.
He points out that these natural disasters are becoming more frequent here, which he says Labor has been trying to act on, in making “communities more resilient”.
They move to trade – the main point we’ve been hearing from the government, including Chalmers, is that the US runs a trade surplus with Australia, a “substantial” trade surplus, Chalmers says.
Our relationship is mutually beneficial and all the conversations we’ll have with our American counterparts will be about making sure that this really key economic relationship continues to be beneficial to both sides.
What’s the Coalition’s nuclear plan again?
There has been plenty of back and forth on just how much the Coalition’s nuclear plan will cost, and you can bet it will be brought up again in parliament today.
For a deep dive into what the experts are saying, and what impact the plan will have on the climate (also important), have a read of Graham Readfearn’s explainer:
Treasurer: Australia ‘exposed’ to China’s economy and global trade
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, is doing the TV rounds this morning.
The Queensland MP starts off on the Today show, talking about the flooding in his state, and the support the government is providing.
We’ve got ADF personnel already helping in Townsville. We’ve provided military helicopters to help reach isolated communities. The assistance payments are flowing, and people should check their eligibility, but we’re helping in every way that we can.
Moving on to the trade tariffs the US is imposing overseas, he says they’re “not a big surprise”.
They were flagged in one way or another in the American election campaign. We won’t be immune from trade tensions around the world but we’re confident that we can navigate these new policies out of the US.
Government pushes case against trade tariffs from the US
As confusion and concern escalate over Donald Trump’s trade tariffs for Canada and Mexico, Australians are hoping to be spared.
Government frontbencher Amanda Rishworth and shadow minister Bridget McKenzie are on the Today show this morning, and have both weighed in.
Rishworth says the government is putting forward its case on the “mutually beneficial arrangements”.
We’ve been working, and we’ll continue to work very hard, to show that why Australia is in a really unique position. Of course, America, you know, benefits as well from our free trading arrangements, as does Australian exports.
While McKenzie says it’s a “test” for the government.
America is our third largest trading partner … But these tariff issues, particularly on aluminium and steel, are potentially going to have flow-on impact for us. And it’s a real test for ambassador Rudd, for Penny Wong, for our trade minister.
Josh Butler
Greens challenge Labor to act on gambling
The Greens have pledged to help the government pass legislation to limit gambling advertising this week, challenging Labor to enact wagering reforms that were shelved late last year.
Anthony Albanese promised “we will do more” to prevent gambling harm, in a podcast interview published on Monday, but the prime minister again downplayed the prospect of fulfilling late Labor MP Peta Murphy’s call for a full gambling ad ban.
The communications minister, Michelle Rowland, agreed government reforms were “taking longer than hoped” but said she was still working through consultation and policy processes, seemingly rejecting the Greens’ push.
You can read the full story here:
Good morning
Krishani Dhanji
I’m Krishani Dhanji, here with you for our first parliamentary sitting day of the year.
There’s plenty to chew on this week – we’re looking at production tax credits, debates on universal childcare subsidies, hate speech laws and we’ll probably hear more about cutting down the public service.
These are also some of the big ticket items likely to be dominating the election campaign, which could be in a matter of weeks. And the closer we get to one, the more theatrical parliament is likely to get.
There are also still some big question marks over key policies such as electoral donation reform, which will introduce caps on election donations and spending. Conversations are ongoing but it doesn’t appear the government has reached a deal. Meanwhile, nature positive laws, which would have established a federal environment watchdog, have been officially shelved, but they will likely still be talked about this week.
Grab your coffee, let’s get started.
Business council calls for budget spending caps
Jonathan Barrett
Australia’s business industry body has released its pre-election policy recommendations designed to tackle what it describes as the “nation’s most pressing challenges” such as inflation, housing shortages and the energy transition.
In a policy document directed at all sides of politics, the Business Council of Australia has called for caps on budget spending to help control inflation, and less red tape and regulation to promote productivity.
The budget spending recommendation could be viewed as a critique of the federal government, which has faced calls from some economists to rein in spending to bring inflation under control faster.
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, has previously argued against a policy of “scorched-earth austerity” during a cost-of-living crisis.
The business group wants spending growth capped to an annual rate of 2%, and a tax-to-GDP ratio cap of 23.9%.
The council is also advocating for reforms to the approvals process to boost housing supply and for political parties to take a “technology agnostic approach” in pursuit of a pathway to net zero by 2050.
Labor and the Coalition are taking vastly different energy policies to the election, due by May.
The council has also called for a “move back to basics” to lift the quality of education.
Teenager dead in island shark attack
Stepping away from politics for a moment before things kick off: a teenager has died after being bitten by a shark off south-east Queensland.
Queensland ambulance service confirmed the female teenager had sustained injuries to her upper body while swimming off Woorim beach on Bribie Island, north of Brisbane, on Monday afternoon. She died just after 5pm.
You can find more details about the story here.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Krishani Dhanji with the main action.
After a summer of sharpening their messaging, Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton will return to lock horns in Canberra today along with all other federal MPs and senators in what could be the final sitting of parliament before a federal election is called. It comes as more voters see Peter Dutton as in touch with ordinary Australians, decisive and better in a crisis than Anthony Albanese, with the opposition leader’s standing improving on key leadership indicators in our latest Guardian Essential poll. More coming up.
A leading energy industry expert says Dutton has “no idea what he is talking about” after the opposition leader claimed that slowing the rollout of renewable energy and backing nuclear power could bring down bills by 44% “or of that order”. Dr Dylan McConnell, of the University of New South Wales, said Dutton didn’t even understand his own policy. More coming up. Check out our explainer for more analysis on the Coalition’s nuclear plans.
A small community near Brisbane is in shock today after the death of a teenager after a shark attack. She was swimming off Bribie Island just north of Brisbane yesterday when she was attacked. More coming up.
