What we learned; Monday 10 February
It’s time to wrap up our live news coverage for the day – and what a day in parliament it’s been. Here’s what’s been keeping us busy:
Anthony Albanese said he will discuss sweeping new steel and aluminium tariffs in a scheduled phone call with Donald Trump.
While the opposition questioned Kevin Rudd’s ability to secure an exemption from the tariffs, Richard Marles gave his resounding support to the ambassador to the US.
Jacqui Lambie, on the other hand, said talk of Rudd’s role was a distraction and that Albanese should not “suck up” or “play bloody Trump’s bluff”.
In question time, the opposition attempted to silence Mary Dreyfus while making an emotional speech about antisemitism. The motion against the Jewish attorny general failed. Lambie called the moment a “disgrace”.
Mark Latham is appealing the finding that he defamed the NSW independent MP Alex Greenwich.
Barnaby Joyce denied he’s being sidelined during the election campaign.
And, finally, the PM delivered the annual Closing the Gap statement. The independent senator Lidia Thorpe called the failure to hit targets over the last 12 months “a year of betrayal”.
As ever, thank you for joining us. We’ll be back with more live political coverage first thing tomorrow.
Updated
Teals have proven doomsayers wrong: Kylea Tink
The North Sydney MP, Kylea Tink, says the teals have defied the major party doomsayers who claimed parliament would descend into chaos if they were elected.
Tink farewelled parliament on Monday less than three years after she entered it, with her federal political career cut short after her seat was abolished in a boundary redistribution.
The former McGrath foundation chief executive has ruled out running for a Senate seat or contesting the nearby electorate of Bradfield.
With dozens of “Tink Pink” supporters watching on from the public gallery, Tink said the teal independents had proven the doubters wrong.
During the election of 2022, those in the traditional two-party system touted the rise of community independents as a risk to stability and predictability, and we’re hearing those threats thrown around again today.
They argue that without party domination, our Parliament will descend into chaos.
Well … we’ve proven them wrong during this term – and rather than chaos, people like me have brought a level of debate and consideration to parliament that has not been seen since the earliest days as a democracy.
Tink lamented that despite the momentum for change that capitulated her and the fellow teals to Canberra in 2022, the nation was struggling to make progress on critical issues such as climate change and inequality.
And yet she remained hopeful.
So while many of my experiences in the last three years would suggest our current political frame has sunk to a place where opposition, for opposition’s sake, is all that matters, I have hope.
Hope that is driven by the understanding that any government derives its power and authority from the people. In this way, democracy is not reserved for, or an entitlement of, certain parties, groups, or individuals.
Updated
Fletcher calls for earlier question time and road-user charge for EVs in final speech to parliament
From bringing forward question time to introducing a road-user charge for electric vehicles, the Liberal MP, Paul Fletcher, gave his colleagues and counterparts a suite of ideas to consider as he farewelled the federal parliament.
Fletcher was among four MPs to deliver valedictory speeches on Monday, signing off after a 16-year career in Canberra.
Speaking as a former minister and manager of opposition business, Fletcher recommended bringing forward question time to make parliament run smoother.
Having question time at 2pm is inefficient.
So much time is spent across this building every day preparing for possible questions in ministers’ offices and working out questions to ask another office.
It should be at 11am with the standing orders providing for it to conclude automatically by 12.30pm at the latest.
Fletcher said fixed four-year electoral terms should be a “no-brainer”, arguing the existing system stymied policy development.
The senior Liberal moderate also advocated the introduction of a road-user charge on electric vehicles and a scheme allowing retirees to use their superannuation to buy an annuity from the commonwealth.
He saved his harshest words for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, describing it as a victim of “poor, ill-disciplined, wasteful policy design”.
There is a lot of work needed to fix this.
Updated
Deputy PM backs ‘force of nature’ Kevin Rudd to negotiate on US tariffs
When asked if Kevin Rudd was the right person to negotiate trade tariffs with Donald Trump, the deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, unequivocally backed the ambassador to the US and former PM.
Explaining his support for Rudd to the ABC, Marles said:
Well, firstly, he is a very skilled diplomat – that’s been his long-term career. He is a force of nature in terms of the energy that he brings to bear here. As a former prime minister, he carries an enormous amount of gravitas.
But perhaps the ultimate answer to that question is look at the record of what he has achieved in terms of our engagement with the Trump administration since they were sworn in just a few weeks ago: upfront meetings really quickly with Australia, ahead of other countries in the key portfolios [of] foreign affairs, defence, a very early phone call between our prime minister and the president.
Updated
Mark Latham to appeal against Alex Greenwich defamation finding
Mark Latham is appealing against the finding that he defamed the NSW independent MP Alex Greenwich.
In September, the former federal Labor leader and NSW One Nation leader was ordered by the federal court to pay Greenwich $140,000 in damages over a vulgar tweet sent during the 2023 state election.
Greenwich launched the defamation action against Latham after the former federal Labor leader posted an allegedly offensive, homophobic tweet on 30 March 2023 before giving several interviews repeating the comments and making claims about his parliamentary colleague.
Latham deleted the initial tweet, which was made in response to an article in which Greenwich called him a “disgusting human being”. The article was about LGBTQ+ protesters outside an event Latham was speaking at shortly before the NSW election.
In response, Latham said “disgusting?”, and made comments about a sexual act that Guardian Australia has chosen not to publish in full.
AAP reports that Latham has retained solicitor Zali Burrows – who has also represented the ex-deputy mayor Salim Mehajer and former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann – to appeal these findings, including the amount the court wants him to hand over.
Updated
Lambie calls Coalition attempt to silence Dreyfus an ‘absolute disgrace’
Continuing with a riled-up Jacqui Lambie, who says that today’s attempt to silence Mark Dreyfus in parliament was a “disgrace, absolute disgrace”.
Speaking with the ABC, she said the Coalition “won’t win the election” because they are “going straight to the nasties already”.
We’re not even through our second sitting week. There is no room for politics. People are sick of it … their behaviour is disgraceful.
If anyone’s playing politics … it is the Liberal party and, quite frankly, they should be ashamed of themselves.
Updated
Antisemitism in our community a great concern, departing MP Vamvakinou says
Continuing with Maria Vamvakinou’s final speech for a moment, and the Labor MP, who has been a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause over her two decades in parliament, says everyone who believes in human rights and international law should be critical of the state of Israel.
But she adds recent antisemitic incidents in our back yard also cannot be ignored.
Vamvakinou said:
I have been critical of the state of Israel over the years, as anyone and everyone who believes in human rights and international law should be. But I have a great affection for the Jewish people and the current wave of antisemitism in our country is of great concern to me.
The horrors of civilian deaths in Gaza and the destruction of Gaza cannot go unnoticed, and it begs outrage – rightfully so – but we cannot ignore the extremities that are happening in our own community. These acts are conducted, as usual, by anonymous cowards who harbour dark intentions that have little to do with Palestine.
Equally, those who seek to exploit antisemitism for their own interest should exercise restraint, responsibility, and civil diligence, for they sow the seeds of hatred and division.
Updated
Lambie urges Albanese ‘don’t suck up’ to Trump in tariff negotiations
Jacqui Lambie says talk of Kevin Rudd in the context of Donald Trump’s fresh tariffs and the Aukus deal is “irrelevant” and advises Anthony Albanese not to “suck up”.
Speaking with the ABC this afternoon, the senator said:
He’s an ambassador. For God’s sake, we have a prime minister, a defence minister here. Get them to do the job. Isn’t it supposed to be their job wheeling and dealing?
[America] need[s] Australia more than what we need them, and they need our critical minerals. So if Trump wants to play with Australia, I suggest you start getting your cowboy hats on and start playing because, quite seriously, we are worth a hell of a lot more than what they are to us. They need us. So you stand on him and tell them we’re not playing this tariff game, mate.
… And if you’re talking about our national security and defence, put that first instead of bloody tariffs, this is way out of an ambassador’s hands. This has got to be dealt with by the prime minister and by the deputy prime minister, and they need to be staring him down the barrel.
Don’t play bloody Trump’s bluff. Don’t play it. You don’t move Albo, don’t you move on him. Don’t you dare.
Don’t suck up.
Updated
Vamvakinou warns against weaponising immigration in final speech to parliament
We have a whirlwind of final speeches in the lower house this afternoon. Next up is the Calwell MP, Maria Vamvakinou, who is delivering her valedictory almost 24 years after she first joined parliament representing Melbourne’s north-western suburbs.
The Labor left MP’s final speech centres on celebrating multiculturalism and warning against politicians who weaponise immigration for political gain.
Vamvakinou joined parliament in 2001, shortly after the 11 September attacks in the US and the Tampa affair.
The Labor MP, who is of Greek background, said “talk is cheap. Politicisation of conflict is dangerous.”
She added:
In the 23 years that I have sat in this parliament the weaponisation of immigration, refugees and multiculturalism has not helped social cohesion, it has threatened it.
Updated
Aluminium sector reacts to Trump’s tariff plans
Australia’s aluminium producers say they are “working to understand” the impact of Donald Trump’s proposed 25% tariffs on the country’s top manufacturing export in a volatile day for the metals sector.
Australia exports about 10% of its annual average 1.5m tonnes of aluminium production to the US each year.
The chief executive of the Australian Aluminium Council, Marghanita Johnson, said:
It’s early days and we are still working to understand the impact of any potential tariffs on Australia’s trade portfolio.
We will continue working with the Australian government and its representatives on this important issue.
Trump told reporters on Monday he would impose tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports into the US on top of existing metal duties. Anthony Albanese has said he will make the case for “free and fair trade” with America in an upcoming call with the US president.
Shares in aluminium producer South32 were down 1.5% by late afternoon, as traders weighed up the fallout from the tariff announcement.
Steel producers had a mixed day on the ASX, with BlueScope, which has operations in the US, rising by 2%. Shares in steel fabricator, Bisalloy, were down sharply.
Updated
Labor will continue to push Australia’s interests on tariffs, Marles says
Richard Marles says the government “will continue to advance Australia’s interests in relation to trade” as news of Donald Trump’s 25% steel and aluminium tariffs reverberates.
Speaking with Patricia Karvelas, host of Afternoon Briefing, the deputy PM said:
Firstly, obviously from an Australian point of view, as an island trading nation with an increasing proportion of our national wealth being derived from trade, we support a freer trading environment around the world.
Secondly, specifically in relation to our relationship with the United States, the US-Australia free trade agreement has been enormously beneficial to both countries since it’s been in place, and has seen a growth in our respective trade in the favour of the United States.
… None of this is a surprise … The policies of the Trump administration were clear during the course of the US election, and so we’ve been making this argument consistently to them, and since they’ve been sworn in.
He said the Australian “people should be assured that we are advocating to the greatest possible extent to the US and to the Trump administration, about Australia’s interests”.
Updated
Perrett makes passionate call for reconciliation in final speech to parliament
The Labor MP Graham Perrett has used his final speech in federal parliament to issue a passionate cry for reconciliation and argue the case for an Australian republic.
Just hours after Anthony Albanese delivered the annual Closing the Gap statement, the Queenslander offered a reassuring message to Indigenous Australians after the defeat of the voice to parliament referendum in 2023.
Taking a swipe at the Coalition for weaponising the advisory body during the campaign, Perrett said “hope and love will trump fear and division”.
Of course, I respect the democratic decision of the public, because I’m passionate about democracy, and I believe in democracy, but I also believe in justice.
So soon, in the context of 5,000 generations, does not mean tomorrow, but soon is better than never. Soon we will have a reconciled nation, that change is going to come.
Perrett also expressed hope that Australia would eventually become a republic – another change that would require a referendum.
I refuse to believe that no Australian is good enough to be our head of state. It won’t ever be easy to change this document. (But) I know the harder fought, the better won.
Perrett has represented the Brisbane-based seat of Moreton since 2007.
Updated
Labor moves to extend Senate hours for production tax credits bill
In the Senate, Labor is moving a motion to extend the hours of the chamber, and it looks like they want a vote on the production tax credits bill tonight.
The production tax credits have been a big priority for the government this week – to get there, the motion also seeks to limit debate on the legislation.
That bill will be voted on at 8pm, with the motion also specifying the Senate should vote on the Defence Service Homes amendment (insurance) bill after that at 9pm.
Updated
Thank you, Krishani Dhanji. That really was a wild ride.
Now, let’s get on with the remainder of the day’s news …
Updated
Thanks for joining me on the wild ride that is a parliamentary sitting day!
I’ll leave you now with Daisy Dumas for the rest of the day’s news and I’ll see you again bright and early tomorrow.
Updated
Tldr: what we learned in QT
The Coalition tried to gag the Jewish MP and attorney general Mark Dreyfus while he was talking about antisemitism, and accused the opposition of politicising antisemitism (something he’s said previously).
There was a strong reaction in the chamber to the motion and a lot of shock from Labor MPs, with the motion to gag him ultimately failing almost two votes to one. It ended up taking about 22 minutes of question time.
The PM confirmed he has a call scheduled with Donald Trump after the US president announced he would place 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports.
Labor spruiked its $573m women’s health package in its first few dixers today, before moving on to other cost-of-living issues (childcare, aged care and wages).
Updated
Continuing from our last post …
Groth acknowledged while there was a swing away from Labor, voters didn’t necessarily jump to the Liberal party.
He said:
Our candidate, Steve Murphy, put on a strong campaign, and our job now is to convince those people that have turned away from the government – yes, we got a percentage of that vote – but the people who turned away from the government that we are the viable alternative come 2026.
I’ve spent plenty of time driving from my electorate out here the last month or so, and I can tell you, I’ve only done it for a small timeframe, but I feel the pain of those people here in the west when it comes to the lack of infrastructure, sitting in those traffic jams.
He said the people of Werribee had “sent a clear message to Jacinta Allan” and her only response was that she is “going to start listening”:
Now, my question to Jacinta Allan would be, where have you been for the last 10 years, if you’re only going to start listening to the people in the west now, after your primary vote almost bottoms out. How can they trust you to continue to lead this state?
Updated
Victorian Liberals not conceding in Werribee today
The Victorian Liberals deputy leader, Sam Groth, held a press conference in Werribee a short time ago, during which he said the party would not be conceding in the seat today.
Counting resumed in the outer western Melbourne seat today and both major parties expect – if postal votes follow the pattern of those already counted – Labor’s candidate, John Lister, will retain his narrow lead over the Liberal party’s Steve Murphy.
But Labor’s once-comfortable margin in the seat has shrunk from 10.9% at the 2022 state election to a razor-thin 0.6%, with first-preference votes also dropping from 45% to 28.7%.
Groth said the Liberals won’t be “rushing to call the result” today.
He said:
We’re obviously seeing the votes coming in now, and it’s incredibly close. When you’re talking a couple of hundred votes over an electorate of 40,000, I think it’s important we make sure every vote is counted, and that every voter who turned out has the opportunity for their vote to matter. I don’t think I’ll be rushing to call the result today.
We’ve got a lot of votes to count here … We’re going to just make sure every vote is counted, and those ones that come to us, we’re very, very grateful for those people … we’ve got a job to do now for the next 21 months, to make sure that the people in the west believe that we can be the viable alternative under Brad Battin in 2026.
Updated
Question time ends
Anika Wells gets the last dixer of the day on aged care wages.
She rattles off the usual government lines, but then we get a pop culture reference at the end with another reference to the Coalition’s tax-free lunch policy:
Business could spend up to $20,000 of Elizabeth’s own taxpayer funds to attend something like, for example, the Super Bowl, to lather themselves in buffalo wings and baby back ribs, nodding along to Kendrick Lamar, all subsidised by the Australian taxpayer.
Mr Speaker, this is just another reason why those opposite are not like us. They’re not like us.
For those following along at home, the US rapper Lamar played at the Super Bowl earlier today, and Wells appears to be making a reference to his Grammy-winning hit Not Like Us.
And with that, question time is over.
Updated
Independent MP asks PM if he will back her wellbeing of future generations bill
The next question from the crossbench is from the independent MP Sophie Scamps. She asks:
For the first time in modern history, our young people will be worse off than their parents. They face converging crises of climate, environment, housing, mental ill health and so much more. It’s clear our short-term siloed thinking is failing us.
Today I introduce the wellbeing of future generations bill. Prime minister, will you consider adopting my bill, which requires a long-term lens and the wellbeing of future generations to be considered in all government and public policy decision making, and if not, why not.
Albanese starts saying he “agrees” on the question of generational inequality.
He won’t say if the government will support the bill, but talks about what his party is doing.
Young Australians are very concerned about not just their economic condition and the fast-changing nature of workplaces and their experiences in life, but also about dealing with the challenge of climate change and the fact that people who say, ‘oh well, you can’t make a difference immediately’, forgetting the fact that generations that will inherit our climate are not ones that have benefited from the growth that came from fossil fuels in the 20th and 21st centuries.
He then goes into Labor’s promise to cut student debt by 20% if he wins the next election, as well as his housing and climate policies.
Updated
Coalition asks PM if he supports Victorian Labor policies after byelection bruising
Moving on, the Liberal MP Keith Wolahan asks the prime minister the next question, on the state of Victoria. Labor suffered a significant hit to its popularity in the state after two byelections over the weekend.
Wolahan asks:
The last time the prime minister stood with his close friend and factional ally Premier Jacinta Allan, the prime minister thanked the premier for her leadership, but Premier Allan has tanked Victoria’s economy, piled up the debt and made Melbourne suburbs less safe. Why is the prime minister taking the failed policies of the Victorian state Labor government to a national level?
Anthony Albanese has a chuckle, saying it’s a “broad” question (which means he has plenty of space to answer it in a way that he wants).
He [Wolahan] thinks he’s in Spring Street, Mr Speaker.
Well, what my government has done is to work constructively with state and territory governments across the board.
Now the question for the member for Menzies is, is he against that additional hospital funding? Is he against the additional education funding?
Updated
We’ve now been on this issue for 22 minutes. Michael Sukkar has had about four attempts at putting his case, even after his motion to close down Mark Dreyfus’s comments was defeated by nearly a 2-1 margin in the house.
As he tries to get up for another attempt, various Labor members heckle “let someone else have a go”, and “are you renting the dispatch box?”
“You lost the vote,” another calls.
As Dreyfus finally gets to finish his answer – some 24 minutes after it was asked – Labor MPs call out support to him.
“We love you Mark,” one can be heard saying.
Dreyfus says:
I’m the son and the grandson of a Holocaust survivor, I went to the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the place where a million Jews were murdered, a place where my great-grandmother was murdered on the 13th and I say to members of this house that we’ve had a wave of antisemitism in this country, and that right now what we need is unity. We need bipartisanship.
Updated
The independent MP Zali Steggall has now raised her own point of order on the issue.
Steggall says she is “concerned” at how the issue here is being framed.
If that is considered unparliamentary or grounds for withdrawal or refusal, it would mean any area of policy where there is disagreement becomes something that is objectionable because it is essentially being politicised, and so I am concerned at the way in which this is positioned.
Updated
What are the unparliamentary remarks?
Sukkar says he wants the attorney general to withdraw his comments having accused the opposition of politicising antisemitism.
It’s something the attorney general has previously said outside parliament as well, after he visited Poland for the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
Sukkar says:
The words we are offended by and seeking that the attorney general withdraws politicising antisemitism, politicising antisemitism. Now that would be quite an extraordinary ruling for this house to allow an accusation like that to be made.
Updated
Before Dreyfus can finish his answer, Michael Sukkar is up again asking for Dreyfus to withdraw some of his remarks.
The PM then stands to defend his attorney general:
Given the statements that have been made by many members of the opposition about a range of persons on this side of the house, the idea that the minister should withdraw a statement is quite frankly totally inconsistent with things that have been said by those opposite over considerable period of time.
The idea that he is not a strong opponent of antisemitism, he is someone who feels this very personally and deeply, he was being interjected against by those opposite in behaviour that I regard as completely disorderly and completely unacceptable.
Updated
The motion fails, being defeated 91-52. Labor members are calling “shame” across the chamber to their Coalition counterparts for seeking to shut down Dreyfus, who is Jewish, as he spoke about antisemitism.
Updated
A division is taking place right now on the motion.
It’s not often that there is a move to shut down an answer in question time – particularly on such an emotive and charged topic as antisemitism.
Labor members are calling out criticism across the chamber to their Coalition counterparts as the vote on the closure motion is taken – we can hear someone calling out “seriously?” across the parliament.
Earlier, Tanya Plibersek had called out across the chamber “you should listen to this” as Dreyfus spoke over the heckles of Coalition members.
Updated
Shock in question time at Coalition bid to shut down Dreyfus answer on antisemitism
My colleague Josh Butler is in the chamber today, where the opposition has moved that Mark Dreyfus no longer be heard:
There were some genuine shocked faces on the Labor frontbench as Michael Sukkar moved that Dreyfus no longer be heard in his response to a question on antisemitism. Tony Burke, the leader of the house, had his jaw drop open in legitimate-looking shock, while next to him Richard Marles also looked dumbfounded.
Dreyfus, who is Jewish, had spoken in his answer about standing in the debris of a fire-bombed synagogue in Melbourne and visiting Israel.
Updated
Coalition questions attorney general on hate speech laws
Back to question time in the house, where Mark Dreyfus has been asked by Sussan Ley:
In October 2019, the now attorney general said in this place, and I quote, Labor’s opposition to mandatory sentencing is well known. It is no secret. It is spelled out in our national platform. Let me be clear, we do not support mandatory sentencing.
With this in mind, and having been rolled by the prime minister on a bill that passed the house last week, can the attorney general please detail the benefits of mandatory sentencing, which he now strongly supports.
Dreyfus defends the legislation:
This government acts on antisemitism. We have legislated to ban the Nazi salute and hate symbols. We have legislated to criminalise the glorifying of terrorist acts and possessing violent extremist material. We’ve legislated to criminalise doxing – those opposite voted against that – and now the parliament has come together to pass a bill which criminalises hate speech. It’s legislation that represents the toughest laws Australia has ever had against hate crimes.
I do not need the leader of the opposition or any of those opposite to tell me what antisemitism is, nor how seriously I should take it.
Updated
Coalition claims $11.1bn budget ‘black hole’ in cost of public service under Labor
Just moments before question time, the shadow public service minister, Jane Hume, held a press conference on the supposed “black hole” it has found in Labor’s budget.
According to a Liberal analysis, calculated by the Parliamentary Budget Office, it would cost the federal government $11.1bn over the next four years from 1 July 2025 to maintain its 2024-25 average staffing level of 209,150.
Hume questioned whether the $11.1bn was a budget black hole or whether it meant Labor itself would start delivering cuts to the public service in the coming years to rein in spending.
The hot topic debate over how large Australia’s federal bureaucracy should be comes amid Donald Trump’s crackdown on government efficiency. The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has similarly been pledging an unspecified cut of the 36,000 new roles made available since 2022-23 in a bid to save money.
But despite the Coalition’s tough talk, no opposition frontbencher has been able to outline the number of federal government jobs at risk if Dutton is elected.
Hume similarly could not outline the figure but reiterated the Coalition would not place frontline jobs on the chopping block.
Hume said:
I don’t personally believe that that is the right size of government. In fact, that can actually have a detrimental effect on Australia’s prosperity. More importantly, if you’re not budgeting for those new public servants properly, well, then we’re in real trouble.
Asked again whether the opposition could say how many of the 36,000 roles were delivering frontline jobs, Hume said she could not.
We don’t know exactly what those 36,000 public servants are doing. Are they delivering all those frontline services? Because if they are, they’re failing in their duty, because those frontline services have actually been going backwards, not forwards, despite the fact that we have 40 new public servants every single day.
Updated
Burke pans ‘cash for visas’ amid reports Coalition might bring back significant investor visa
Time for another dixer, this time on the significant investor visa.
This got a mention during question time last week too, after reports came out that Peter Dutton was considering bringing back the visa that allows fast access to Australia for people who can invest $5m in Australia.
Some context to this – the visa was abolished during the Albanese government as reviews of the migration system found it was more expensive to Australian taxpayers overall compared to skilled visas.
Tony Burke cites figures from the Productivity Commission that the visa would cost the country about $2.5bn.
There are good reasons why this government got rid of applications for that visa, the problems became embedded with the quality of the nature of the visa, as a visa you qualify for because you have cash.
The Productivity Commission on cash for visas have said, and I quote, there is no [reason] for retaining this category of permanent visa if you believe in the integrity of the program.
Updated
Labor and Coalition trade accusations on GP bulk billing rates
Staying on health, the next question comes from the opposition on bulk-billing rates around the country.
The Liberal MP Terry Young says: “Can the prime minister confirm the rate of bulk billing has declined from 88% under the Coalition to 77% today under Labor?”
Mark Butler takes the question:
The 88% figure that the member for Longman very unwisely took from his tactics committee was described by the college of GPs as a misleading and highly skewed figure. A misleading and highly skewed figure.
I understand why the leader of the opposition would use it, but why would the member for Longman take a sucker punch like that, Mr Speaker?
There’s now a bit of back and forth on whether Butler is being relevant as he starts talking about how Peter Dutton as health minister tried to bring on $5 co-payments for GP visits, and then froze Medicare rebates.
Updated
The third dixer goes to the health minister, Mark Butler, who says he wishes the assistant health minister, Ged Kearney, could take the question (she can’t because of house rules). The question is on … you guessed it, the half a billion dollar women’s health package.
We reversed decades of that neglect and inaction and have delivered women more choice, better affordability and lower costs and better access to high quality service. Mr Speaker, more choice and lower costs in the important area of contraception. We have some of the highest rates of unplanned pregnancies and termination in the developed world.
Updated
PM says key to housing crisis is supply after Greens question on negative gearing
The first crossbench question comes from the Greens housing spokesperson, Max Chandler-Mather.
In five years, rents have increased 55%, house prices 49%, the income a renter needs to buy a median priced house in a capital city is $197,000, yet the housing minister says Labor wants house prices rising. Will Labor stop giving property owners with multiple properties big tax handouts, which turbocharge house prices and deny renters the chance to buy a home, and instead finally phase out negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount?
The PM stands up and says the key is supply.
We are getting on with the job of building 1.2m homes. And indeed, there are other things that we’re doing as well, training, more tradies, more apprenticeships, 20,000 fee-free Tafe places in construction, the $10,000 apprenticeship incentives that I announced that the National Press Club.
Our social housing policy will lead to 55,000 homes being built. We also have provided assistance in the form of increased rent assistance in back to back budgets, now more than 45% higher than at the election.
For good measure he also gives a shoutout to the Coalition’s tax-free lunch policy.
Updated
Women who use contraceptive pills could save up to $350 a year, Labor says
Catherine King, who’s representing the minister for women, is up next with another dixer on the $573m announcement on contraception and menopause support.
Women have asked the government to make their healthcare a priority, and we have listened. We’ve announced a comprehensive package, half a billion dollars that works together to give women more choices across their lifetime. Some of the most commonly used contraceptive pills are being listed on the PBS. They will save women who use them between $250 and $350 a year.
A fact for you – King was the shadow health minister in 2019 when Labor had a policy to tie hospital funding for states and territories to providing free abortion services for women.
Updated
After a dixer on women’s health to Albanese, the shadow trade minister, Kevin Hogan, is back to the mic, pressing the PM again on tariffs.
He asks what steps Australia’s ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd, has taken to avoid the tariffs.
The PM says:
Our foreign minister was, of course, one of the few international representatives invited to the inauguration, and we will continue to engage diplomatically with the United States, not with loud hailers, but diplomatically. That is how we have got things done in our relationships right around the world.
Updated
PM tells question time he has a call scheduled with Trump on tariffs
The first question comes from the shadow trade minister, Kevin Hogan, who asks the PM:
Did President Trump inform the prime minister that the United States would be imposing tariffs on Australian steel and aluminium prior to the measures being announced?
Albanese says he has a call with Trump scheduled.
Australian people know I will always stand up for them, and I will always stand up for Australia’s national interests … This government has a strong record in working with other nations to protect and advance Australia’s trade interests, we will navigate any differences which are there diplomatically, and we will continue to make the case to the United States for Australia to be given an exemption for any steel and aluminium tariffs.
Updated
The speaker, Milton Dick, welcomes the speaker of Kiribati to the chamber for question time, who he says has presented Dick with a ring for “peace” and “tranquility”.
That gets a few laughs, to which Dick says he’s an “eternal optimist”.
Let the questions now begin.
Updated
McCarthy has urged bipartisanship in working to close the gap.
She reflects some of the hurt felt in communities after the defeat of the referendum for an Indigenous voice to parliament.
I saw that there was still recovery, if you like, in terms of Indigenous people across the country coming out from the referendum defeat. And I knew that some of the language that had been used within the parliamentary debate and externally on social media was really tearing up our country.
And one of the reasons I thought was really important to reach across was to highlight that we have to do this in a bipartisan manner. We all signed up to Closing the Gap in 2020, it is a national agreement. There should be no question about bipartisanship.
On youth justice, McCarthy says the government has established a national children’s commissioner for First Nations children:
We’ve been able to appoint a First Nations children’s commissioner whose role is to actually work with the states and territories and also the children’s commission across each jurisdiction, because we are concerned about the higher rates of out-of-home care and detention.
Updated
‘Now is the time for the rubber to hit the road’ on Closing the Gap, Pat Turner says
The lead convener of the Coalition of Peaks, Pat Turner, is speaking alongside the minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, on Closing the Gap.
Turner says the stolen generations continues today with children in out-of-home care and children being held in detention on remand.
Our people feel it even worse in these tough economic times when every household across the country is struggling and we acknowledge that we accept our responsibility in terms of contributions to Closing the Gap.
We’re now at the five-year mark [of the agreement], so we’re over there laying the foundations and getting the processes in place. Now’s the time for the rubber to hit the road and for all governments to invest the money at the community level to see the programs hastened.
Updated
Four MPs to make their valedictory speeches this afternoon
We’re counting down now to the first question time for the week.
After QT today there will be four valedictory speeches in the house for MPs retiring at the next election.
From Labor, we’ll see the Queensland MP Graham Perrett and outer Melbourne MP Maria Vamvakinou reading out their legacies.
The North Sydney MP Kylea Tink will also give her valedictory speech. Tink lost her seat in an electorate reshuffle by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).
And the retiring Liberal MP from a neighbouring Sydney electorate Paul Fletcher will also be speaking in the chamber today.
Updated
Queensland’s trial of cheap public transport fares declared a success
Queensland’s transport minister, Brent Mickelberg, has labelled the state’s six-month trial of super-cheap public transport fares a success.
Implemented by Labor, both parties promised to make universal 50 cent fares for all modes of transport permanent at the last election.
The system has seen ridership growth of about 18.3% compared with 2023. Bus ridership is up 15.8%, rail is up 18.6% and light rail is up 27.5%.
There has been particularly large growth in regional areas such as Gympie (up 49%), Noosa (35%) and the Sunshine Coast (37%).
Mickelberg said ridership had grown about 5% over pre-Covid levels, and an initial report of its first three months suggested benefits for congestion. He said there were lessons for other public transport systems – and the data collected as part of the study would be made available to researchers.
“There are some important learnings that can be made here through this initiative. What is very clear is there is a degree of price elasticity, and that when we do reduce fares, people respond by using public transport more,” Mickelberg said.
Ridership improvement is coming off a very low base. Brisbane has one of the least accessible public transport systems in the country and the car remains by far the most common transport mode used.
The policy cost the state government about $181m in six months, and will cost another $1.5bn in the next four years.
The trial ended on Sunday.
Updated
Earlier today the prime minister spoke to the house on the latest Closing the Gap report.
You can see more of his speech here:
How will the Coalition cut down the size of the public service?
The Nationals leader, David Littleproud, has appeared to backflip on a previous pledge to roll back 36,000 newly employed public servants if the Coalition is elected, saying today the opposition would have to cut “hardly any of them” because “natural attrition” would see numbers fall.
It was a different tack to his declaration in a 6PR radio interview in August when Littleproud said: “The Nationals have made it clear that we will get rid of those in Canberra. There’ll be 36,000 public servants that will go.”
This is all part of the Coalition’s “government efficiency” push, echoing an Elon Musk proposal in the US to wind back public servants. The Labor government has employed about 20,000 extra Australian Public Service members since coming to government, with plans to employ a total of about 36,000 extra people in total, to bolster the public service – many in areas that the previous government used consultancy firms or labour hire instead.
We asked Littleproud at a press conference this morning whether he still stood by his previous remarks that 36,000 public servants “will go”, because various senior Coalition members have made differing comments recently. He said the Coalition would seek to “prioritise” where it employs people in the APS, but also argued: “The reality is the government hasn’t actually employed most of them.”
So we’re not going to have to cut. We’re not going to have to cut hardly any of them, but we will be looking and prioritising where those public servants are, and we will be making sure that we get the right balance.”
We’ve been very clear the 36,000 new public servants that they budgeted for, we can’t see where you’re going to need them … So we’re not cutting anybody’s job. We’re just saying that we’re going to take that number out of the budget.
Guardian Australia pointed out about 20,000 public servants, according to government figures, had been employed already. Littleproud responded:
We will be very clear about how we articulate this, natural attrition in a public service of over 180,000 people is quite significant every year. This isn’t having to do anything drastic.
Littleproud said the Coalition would give more information on its planned APS changes before the election.
Updated
‘Year of betrayal, delay and deflection’: Thorpe responds to Closing the Gap update
The independent senator Lidia Thorpe has called the latest Closing the Gap update a “year of betrayal”.
Thorpe argues actions by NSW and Victorian governments on bail laws will mean more Indigenous children will be held in remand.
She says the federal government needs to hold the states and territories to account over their policies.
This time last year, the Productivity Commission delivered a damning assessment of Closing the Gap, and called for an overhaul of how First Nations policy is developed and implemented.
A year later, things have gotten worse. It has been a year of betrayal, delay and deflection. I want to be very clear: these gaps are widening because governments are intentionally widening them.
The minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, also brought up the growing number of children held in remand in her interviews this morning.
She said she would be meeting with her state and territory counterparts in coming weeks and would be “looking forward to a response from them”.
Updated
We have some photos from the Closing the Gap addresses to the house a little earlier:
Updated
Gallagher hails progress under ‘the first majority women government in Australia’s history’
The minister for finance and women, Katy Gallagher, has received some applause and cheers from Labor’s female members, as she holds a press conference on the women’s health package announced yesterday.
She says the focus on women’s health is a product of advocacy and also from the level of female representation in the cabinet.
We are the first majority women government in Australia’s history. And when you have that, the conversations change, and we can see it, not only in women’s health, but we’ve been doing it in terms of women’s wages, in terms of access to PPL [paid parental leave], super on PPL, in women’s safety, in women’s sport, in housing for women, in all of those areas.
Updated
The latest report on Closing the Gap has been met with criticism from the Greens, who have accused Labor of having “no clear plan” for First Nations justice.
The minor party has said it will put forward a bill to establish a Truth and Justice Commission in the next parliament. Leader Adam Bandt says:
Since the [voice to parliament] referendum, the government has had no clear plan for First Nations’ justice.
Successive Liberal and Labor governments have not succeeded in closing the gap, as they have failed to address the structural issues confronting First Nations communities.
Updated
Both leaders have highlighted the impact of domestic violence in Indigenous communities.
Albanese says Labor is funding three new community-led Men’s Wellness Centres in the NT to provide support for First Nations men and boys.
First Nations women are currently 33 times more likely than non-Indigenous Australians women to be hospitalised due to family violence and seven times more likely to die. This cannot stand,
We are funding critical prevention, early intervention and response services to address family, domestic, and sexual violence in high needs First Nations communities.
While Peter Dutton reflects on a police briefing during his recent trip to Alice Springs in January.
In the briefing we had from the deputy commissioner in Alice Springs was confronting in relation to the prevalence of domestic violence, we all dedicate ourselves to making sure that women and children live in safety and in an environment that we all would expect in this place.
Updated
Australia does not ‘shy away from our dark chapters’, says Dutton
Opposition leader Peter Dutton is now standing up responding to the report:
To understand history is to appreciate that no country has an unblemished past. What distinguishes Australia from many other countries is that among our overwhelming achievements as a nation, we do not shy away from our dark chapters.
Dutton acknowledges the upcoming anniversary of the apology to Stolen Generations by former PM Kevin Rudd. Dutton had boycotted that apology, and in 2023 apologised for that.
He says to improve the lives of First Nations communities, the status quo can’t be maintained:
As the prime minister stated, only five of 19 socioeconomic targets are on track. Australians do want to see better outcomes. People do want to see practical solutions which make a tangible difference to the lives of disadvantaged Indigenous Australians. Australians want to see changes on the ground for those Indigenous communities where safety, housing, health, education and employment are critical issues, but by maintaining the status quo, we will not bring about the drastic improvements we all yearn for.
Updated
There’s a few announcements Anthony Albanese is making in his speech.
The purpose of this Closing the Gap update is to provide details on what the government will focus on over the following year to improve outcomes for First Nations people.
Here’s a few of the other updates:
Build a nutrition workforce in remote communities by upskilling up to 120 local First Nations staff in remote stores.
Roll out new laundries or upgrade existing facilities in 12 remote First Nations communities, to help improve long-term health outcomes.
Establish a place-based business coaching and mentoring program for First Nations businesswomen and entrepreneurs.
Increase the availability of culturally safe and qualified mental health support including scholarships for up to 150 First Nations psychology students.
Extend the Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme for an additional two years to support Stolen Generations survivors.
Continue to deliver critical prevention, early intervention and response services to address family, domestic and sexual violence in high need First Nations communities.
Continue digitisation of at-risk audio and video collections held by First Nations broadcasters and community organisations by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies.
Albanese ends his speech saying Australia has “extraordinary potential” and is “a nation which every one of us should have pride in sharing with the oldest continuous living culture on Earth”.
Updated
The PM moves onto housing measures to support Indigenous communities. He says the government’s plan to build 2700 homes in remote communities over a decade is seeing progress, “more than 200 were built last year, no longer a dream, but a life affirming reality, another 64 are due to be completed by June.”
He also points to home repairs being done through the housing Australia future fund, and concessional loans supporting families get permanent housing.
We are making $70m available for more concessional loans to help IBA [Indigenous Business Australia] keep pace with demand. A portion of this will be quarantined for single-parent families. This is particularly important for women who are sole carers and are often locked out of home ownership by providing Shared Equity to people in these situations.
You can read more about the housing situation in remote areas of the NT here:
Updated
Albanese is focusing on making a difference to Indigenous communities by targeting health and employment outcomes.
He says, “If we get it right, we can break the cycle that has ensnared generations,” but concedes the data shows just five targets of 19 are on track to be met.
Today is about facing up to what’s not working and learning from what is the success stories in this report have been written by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people themselves. Today, our government is investing in the practical partnerships that work and bringing the building blocks of a good life to people and communities that have been cut off from them for too long.
He also states new regulations for businesses that register as First Nations businesses, that they be 51% owned and controlled to improve integrity in the program.
He adds the government’s remote jobs and economic development program is supporting remote communities, and that the government is boosting Indigenous ranger programs.
Updated
PM speaks on Closing the Gap targets
Anthony Albanese is in the house, speaking on Closing the Gap.
On Thursday, it will be 17 years since Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivered the apology to the Stolen Generations. Again, that something an event that in some people’s minds, was controversial, but one which was indeed a moment of unity for the nation. It was a day of catharsis that held the promise of a fresh start. Both anniversaries are reminders to learn from the injustices and mistakes of the past, because that’s how we grow.
He notes this week marks the 60th anniversary of the beginning of the Freedom Ride.
This morning the government announced a plan to guarantee remote communities would pay less for essential items.
Updated
Farrell releases statement following Trump’s tariff announcement
Trade minister Don Farrell says Australian steel and aluminium is “creating thousands of good-paying American jobs”, in response to Trump saying he’ll place 25% tariffs on all imports of steel and aluminium into the US.
The government has been engaging with the Trump administration, with deputy prime minister Richard Marles most recently in the US over the last week, to cement the Aukus agreement.
Farrell says in a statement, his government has shown it’s effective in dealing with other nations.
The Albanese Labor government has been working hard from day one, standing up for Australia’s interests. We have shown how effective we are in dealing with our major international partners.
We have consistently made the case for free and fair trade, including access into the US market for Australian steel and aluminium.
Our bilateral economic relationship is mutually beneficial - Australian steel and aluminium is creating thousands of good-paying American jobs, and are key for our shared defence interests too.
Back in April 2017 the first Trump administration announced it was looking at implementing tariffs on steel and aluminium. The Turnbull government negotiated for Australia to be exempt from those tariffs, with a deal secured in 2018.
Updated
Shares in Australia’s biggest steel producer rise after tariff announcement
Shares in Australia’s biggest steel producer, BlueScope, rallied this morning after investors bet that the company’s large US operations would protect it from fallout linked to Donald Trump’s proposed 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium.
While BlueScope is best known in Australia for its Port Kembla steelworks, located south of Sydney, the company generates more revenue from its North American operations than in Australia, according to its most recent financials.
It has a large presence in Ohio, and could therefore end up a beneficiary of a tariff regime that hinders rivals.
Its shares were up 4% earlier today, in response to Trump’s announcement. A BlueScope spokesperson said:
BlueScope abides by all trade rules and agreements. We will continue to work with the Trump administration and the Australian government, as we await further details.
We have no further comment to make at this stage.
Steel fabricator Bisalloy has not fared so well this morning, with its shares falling 4% in early trading.
The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 was down 0.25% by late morning, tracking a sell-off on Wall Street on Friday. The tariff announcement has likely created further uncertainty for traders, weighing on overall market sentiment.
Updated
Staying with Donald Trump’s sweeping new tariff plans, here is video footage of the moment the US president made the announcement:
Updated
A quick look at today’s weather, and the Bureau of Meteorology has issued severe weather warnings for parts of New South Wales and Victoria.
In NSW, heavy to intense rainfall and flash flooding is possible with a slow moving, very dangerous thunderstorm near Horsely Park and Liverpool in Sydney, the bureau says.
On the South Coast of NSW, heavy rainfall is expected in Batemans Bay, Eden, Bega, Moruya and Merimbula this afternoon and overnight, the bureau says. Storms may bring further heavy falls.
In Victoria, a severe thunderstorm warning is in place for parts of Gippsland. Periods of heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding are possible in Sale, Maffra, Bairnsdale, Orbost, Buchan and Mallacoota, the bureau says.
Updated
US steel tariffs to affect 'everybody', says Trump
Let’s go back to Air Force One, where Donald Trump told reporters he’d be placing tariffs on steel and aluminium.
Here’s what the US president said:
We’ll also be announcing steel tariffs on Monday.
Asked whom the tariffs would affect, Trump said “everybody”:
Any steel coming into the United States is going to have a 25% tariff.
Also asked whether the tariffs would cover aluminium, Trump replied:
Aluminium too … 25%, for both.
Before that, Trump said he’ll also be putting in place “reciprocal” tariffs for countries that place tariffs on US goods. On that he said:
If they are charging us 130% and we’re charging them nothing, it’s not going to stay that way … It won’t affect everybody because there’s some where we have similar tariffs but the ones that are taking advantage of the United States, we’re going to have reciprocity.
Updated
Katy Gallagher threatens to guillotine debate in the Senate
Finance minister Katy Gallagher has threatened to try to push through several pieces of legislation, including for tax credits this morning.
It’s in response to Liberal Senator Jonathon Duniam wanting move a motion to bring on a different bill – the defence service homes amendment (insurance) bill 2025 – to skip debate this morning on the production tax credits.
It won’t get up, because neither Labor nor the Greens will support it.
Labor’s really keen to get their tax credits bill up this week, and they’re pinning it as a policy that’s good for WA (a crucial state they need to hold in the next election). Gallagher says
It’s anti-WA, you shouldn’t be playing games like this, and if you’d like to, I’m happy to move a motion to have all of these pieces of legislation dealt with.
You might remember the government put forward a guillotine motion at the end of last year, in the final sitting week, to pass dozens of pieces of legislation in one day.
Updated
Andrew Wilkie pushes for whistleblower reform
In the house this morning, independent MP Andrew Wilkie is presenting a bill to protect whistleblowers
The bill is also supported by independents Helen Haines, David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie, and would establish a body with the power to oversee and enforce whistleblower protections.
Speaker, Richard Boyle revealed information about appalling misconduct, within the ATO, information which has found to be true. And it is he who is facing prison time.
This is just baffling. Speaking clearly, we desperately need to reform our whistleblowing laws. Clearly, the public interest disclosure act in particular, as well as the whistleblower protections in the corporations act need to be completely overhauled.
He says despite the government putting in place a federal watchdog, more needs to be done to protect those who speak out about corruption.
Updated
Victorian premier reiterates support for Suburban Rail Loop
Back to that interview on the ABC Radio Melbourne with Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, she was asked about the group of Labor MPs within caucus who are urging a shift of investment away from the Suburban Rail Loop to local projects.
She says her “door is always open” to feedback but the Suburban Rail Loop remains a “critically important” project for the state. She said:
My colleagues and I are fully supportive of getting on and delivering the Suburban Rail Loop. And let’s remember why this is important. We’re getting a train line to Monash University ... It means that more young kids can pursue the course of their dreams, because they can get there on a train line. It’s not fair that they are cut off from that opportunity because they can’t afford to move or they can’t afford to get there with a car.
It also is a housing project, and my colleagues and I, as we’ve been focused on for some time now, we’ve got to build more homes, and the right place to build them is right next to train stations.
Updated
The bells are ringing! Parliament is sitting.
This morning in the Senate, Leah Blythe, who will replace former shadow foreign affairs minister Simon Birmingham, has been sworn in.
And at midday we’ll be hearing from the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, on the latest Closing the Gap announcements.
Updated
Continuing from our last post…
Asked what she thinks has contributed to Labor’s primary vote falling from 45% to 28.7%, Jacinta Allan blames the cost-of-living crisis.
We’ve had many interest rate rises since [2022], and the inflationary pressures at the supermarket, at the petrol station, when you’re going to get your kids back to school, they haven’t really gone away. We also know from listening to people that wages growth hasn’t kept up with the cost of living. So there’s a range of factors here.
Allan says not only does the government need to “do more” - they need to do things “differently”.
We’ve had a really rough time in recent years as a community, as a society, [during] the global pandemic ... what we used to know as normal, family life, work life, society has changed. The other thing that followed really quickly was the interest rate rises and the huge inflationary pressures that haven’t gone away. They’re still there today.
So we have to do both. We have to do more to support particularly working people and their families at this tough time. But we also have to look at what we can change, what we can improve, what we can build on.
Updated
‘We have more to do’: Victorian premier
Leaving the tariffs for a moment, earlier this morning, the Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, was on ABC Radio Melbourne as she awaits the byelection result in Werribee.
Counting paused on Sunday but Labor’s once-comfortable margin in the outer western seat has gone from 10.9% at the 2022 state election to a razor-thin 0.6%.
Asked about the result, she told host Raf Epstein:
We know byelections are an opportunity for communities to make sure their voice is being heard, and it’s been well and truly heard. That’s never been more truer than in a global cost of living crisis, Raf, when we know that so many people are hurting ... People are looking for their governments to help. They’re looking for their governments to do more, and that’s certainly what we’ve been doing, but I certainly understand that we have more to do to support families who are hurting.
Updated
Opposition calls on Kevin Rudd to secure exemption to Trump's new 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports
Shadow trade minister Kevin Hogan says the Labor government must move more strongly to seek exemptions from Donald Trump’s steel and aluminium tariffs.
“It is time critical the Labor government ensures an exemption for Australia,” Hogan said in a statement.
When we were in government during President Trump’s first administration, there were the threats of tariffs on aluminium and steel. We were able to successfully have Australia exempted from these tariffs back then and the current government must get the same result.
Hogan pointed to the Turnbull government’s work in securing tariff carve-outs in 2017 in Trump’s first term.
A critical component was a strong ambassador – we had Ambassador Hockey who helped Australia to successfully negotiate exemptions from United States steel and aluminium tariffs. The ambassador to the US is one of the most critical diplomatic roles Australia has. Albanese handpicked Kevin Rudd for this position. Albanese and Rudd have a big job to do here,
Prime minister Albanese and Ambassador Rudd have a big job on this issue. I hope they are up to it.
Updated
Littleproud questions whether Rudd is best choice to negotiate exemption to new Trump tariffs on steel, aluminium
Nationals leader David Littleproud questions whether Australia’a ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd, is best placed to carve out Australia from any tariffs on steel and aluminium. He tells Sky News:
We wish Kevin [Rudd] every success. This is important to the Australian economy, so we’ve got to be upfront, honest with ourselves. But if we, if someone else should be undertaking those negotiations, discussions they should and the government should be prepared. It shouldn’t be about ego.
Littleproud says tariffs placed on all nations will have implications for Australia.
It’s important we encourage and use our bodies in the world to encourage all countries to adhere by that because tariffs will not benefit anybody.
Updated
Australia hoping to avoid US steel and aluminium tariff
The federal government is still making representations to the United States for Australia to avoid tariffs on exports like steel and aluminium, as Donald Trump announces 25% import duties on those goods this morning.
We’ve reached out to trade minister Don Farrell’s office for comment on Trump’s latest announcement. Farrell and his colleagues have been seeking to make Australia’s case to avoid such tariffs in 2025, which the then Turnbull government was able to do in Trump’s first term; Guardian Australia understands that remains the case, and senior government members have been making representations for Australia to not be hit with tariffs.
Defence minister Richard Marles has been in the US over the weekend meeting with senior Trump administration officials. However Farrell has said publicly that his mission has been made a little harder because his US trade counterpart hasn’t been confirmed.
Anthony Albanese said last week he wouldn’t engage in a “running commentary” on every Trump proposal, so we might not hear a lot about the government’s response to the steel and aluminium tariffs until there’s a concrete move from the US government.
Guardian Australia revealed last week that Australian officials grappled with the incoming US president’s “unclear” trade proposals in the wake of his election victory.
Updated
Donald Trump announces 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports
Donald Trump told reporters in the US he’ll impose 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports into the US, on top of existing metal duties.
Trump, during his first term, imposed tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminium, but later granted several trading partners duty-free quotas, including Australia, when Malcolm Turnbull was prime minister.
We’ve sought comment from the trade minister Don Farrell and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Updated
Key event
Donald Trump announces 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports
We’ll bring you more details on that as we get them.
Updated
Hume accuses Labor of $11bn budget hole in public service spending
Shadow finance minister Jane Hume says the government has an $11bn hole in its budget, following analysis it commissioned from the parliamentary budget office (PBO) on public service spending.
Hume says the numbers from the mid-year budget update in December show the government is budgeting for a public service that will decrease by more than 20,000 personnel in over four years from the current level of 209,150. She told Sky News:
We noticed when we were looking at the Myefo numbers in December that public sector wages flatlined over the next four years. Now that’s despite an increase of the public service of around 36,000. That’s a 20% increase an an 11% pay rise that ws signed off by Katy Gallagher.
Hume was also asked about the Victorian byelection results.
Though Labor suffered a significant swing, just 4% of that went to the Liberal party in the seat of Werribee, but Hume says there was “a message loud and clear” for Labor.
There is no time for complacency, no opportunity for complacency here… let’s face it, we’ve got a brand new leader down there. Brad Battin has only been in the hot seat for a few weeks, but clearly his message is beginning to resonate.
Updated
Coalition minister responds to government’s pricing guarantees
On the government’s commitment to guarantee lower prices for essentials in remote Indigenous communities, Coalition shadow minister Kerryanne Liddle says the current pricing is “outrageous”.
The shadow minister for child protection and the prevention of family violence was speaking to ABC News Breakfast and says she’s seen the disparity between prices in cities and remote areas.
But she won’t promise a Coalition government would also issue price guarantees for essentials.
I’ve done the pricing when I’ve been in those remote communities, it is outrageous that non-perishable items like Band-Aids, home brand Band-Aids, are several dollars more in a remote community than in a surrounding community like Alice Springs … We need to ask what is happening in these organisations that run these stores, one of the problems is we haven’t tackled governance.
Updated
‘What are we getting back?’: Lambie
While the government should be able to pass its production tax credits legislation this week, independent senator Jacqui Lambie wants to see some pretty significant changes.
She’s on Sky News asking what the public will get out of handing companies thousands of dollars in tax credits.
What are we getting back? Why aren’t we taking equity shares in these companies and actually feeding that back into health and education? We still want to talk about that up here, but seriously, we need to take some ownership here.
Lambie is also asked about the byelection results in Victoria, and its federal implications. She says it shows Australians are looking for options other than the two major parties.
I think the people have had about a gut full of the major parties … I think people are looking for options.
She also says in her state of Tasmania, both Liberal and Labor held seats will be up for grabs.
Updated
Minister spruiks government’s women’s health package
‘Lower costs, more choices’ is the line of the morning on the government’s $573m package for women’s health. It was repeated by minister for finance and women Katy Gallagher, who spoke to the Today Show a little earlier.
The whole package – because it covers UTIs and pharmacy and HRT [hormone replacement therapy] and menopause assessments – is about making the cost cheaper. So, lower costs, more choices, and better services.
We’ve been forgotten in these areas for too long and this will make a huge difference for younger women and older women.
Gallagher is also asked about the byelection results in Victoria, and pins a portion of the result on cost of living.
Asked whether it means the Labor will be forced to spend more in the state to bolster its numbers, Gallagher says her party has been “responsible”.
I think we know what happens regardless of a state byelection in Victoria that this election is going to be really close. I think that’s pretty clear. We take nothing for granted, we’ve got to continue to talk and address people’s cost-of-living needs.
Updated
Barnaby Joyce denies he's being sidelined for election campaign
Over the weekend there were reports from Nine papers that a new rule requires all shadow ministers in the Nationals to get permission from leader David Littleproud to travel to other electorates, in a move to hide Barnaby Joyce.
Joyce was asked on Sunrise a little earlier if he’s been asked to stay in his lane, and replied “not directly”.
I’m not going to deny that they have said that everybody has to coordinate through the leader’s office, but maybe that’s the case in all parties … I don’t know if it’s directed at me.
I did not go to an election where the Nationals did not pick up a seat, including the massive swings against us in the Morrison government.
Asked how he’s getting along with David Littleproud, he says “very well”.
Tanya Plibersek told the panel on Sunrise Joyce should visit her electorate in Sydney
I think the more people that see him the better.
Updated
Health package to address contraception, menopause and perimenopause
Yesterday the government announced a $573m package for women’s health to reduce costs on contraception and menopause treatments.
The health minister, Mark Butler, is talking up the announcement on ABC RN Breakfast calling it a “significant package”:
Women face a whole range of fairly significant costs simply because they’re women around contraception, menopause and perimenopause, and yesterday’s landmark package really reverses the decades of neglect that those two Senate reports really highlighted and delivers Australia’s women finally, more choice, better care and lower costs.
The two Senate reports he’s referring to there are on reproductive health and menopause – the former which a parliamentary committee handed to the government back in May 2023.
The reproductive health inquiry recommended abortion access at all public hospitals, which was also a Labor platform commitment in 2019, before the party walked away from it.
Butler says it’s not the government’s policy to “force” state governments to provide services in their hospitals.
Tying state government hospital funding, which is such a crucial part of our health system, to some sense from Canberra about what the operational arrangement should be in every one of the 700 public hospitals, given we have no line of sight about the workforce that they employ and a range of other important things like that, is just not our approach to that.
You can read more on the health package here:
Updated
Federal MPs respond to Victorian byelection results
While doing the rounds this morning, federal MPs have been probed on what the Victorian byelection results will mean when the whole nation goes to the polls within months.
Tanya Plibersek was asked on Sunrise and put the focus straight on the cost of living:
We know that people have been under a lot of cost of living pressure, and that’s why we’re 100% focused on taking some of that pressure off … of course you pay attention [to the results], but I think one of the interesting things about the results is that there was a significant drop in the Labor vote, but most of it didn’t go to the Liberals.
Malarndirri McCarthy was also asked about the wash-up on ABC News Breakfast:
We’ve shown we’re working hard. We’ve shown we’ve got a plan going forward. I’ve certainly watched the byelection results in Victoria. I know it’s difficult. Certainly for Labor in Victoria, but we will keep fighting, right up to the time that we go to an election.
Updated
Renting retirees ‘really struggling’
Two in three retirees who rent privately owned homes live in poverty and the problem will get worse, a new report has found.
Most older working Australians who rent do not have sufficient savings to keep paying rent in their retirement, according to the report from the Grattan Institute.
More than half of households aged 65 and older who rent report a total net financial worth of less than $25,000, compared with just 6% of homeowner households of that age.
Grattan’s Brendan Coates said Australia was failing too many retirees who rent.
The report really identifies that while most retirees are doing pretty well – they’re actually more financially comfortable than many working-age Australians – it’s retirees who rent who are really struggling… And they’re in a lot of strife.
Read the full story here:
Updated
Malarndirri McCarthy is also speaking with ABC’s AM, on implementing price caps on essential items in regional areas. She says the 30 items include flour, milk, cereal and fresh fruit, to reduce the cost of living in remote and regional areas.
Why are the prices so high? McCarthy says the added cost comes from transporting the goods into remote areas:
Well, this is actually more about reducing the extra cost in remote and regional Australia is largely due to food supply chain you would have seen and we do currently with flooding, with extreme temperatures. We see roads cut off. We see bridges collapse. They were usually usually lots of issues that create difficulties for those food supplies to get into our communities across the country.
McCarthy also talks about increasing nutrition in First Nations communities.
What we want to see is food products that actually assist as well in healthy living nutritionists and nutrition-filled foods. And this is what this announcement today is all about, is making sure that we are concentrating not just on the costs of food, but the quality of food.
Chronic kidney disease is a huge issue across all Aboriginal families, really, but mostly in remote region Australia,
Updated
PM to pitch production tax credits bill
The prime minister is pitching his production tax credits bill to business, in a speech to the Ai Group dinner tonight.
Labor will prioritise passing the bill this week, the main pillar of its Future Made in Australia plan that includes $13.7bn worth of tax breaks for processing critical minerals on-shore and green hydrogen production.
The Coalition has opposed the plan, but Labor has the numbers from the crossbench to pass the bill in the senate.
Anthony Albanese will tell the business group he values “constructive engagement”, and the bill will help ensure economic resilience.
That’s why our government has focused on providing business with the incentives, opportunity and certainty to invest - in new energy, new projects, new technology and new markets in our region and around the world.
Deloitte’s investment monitor in June found almost $30bn of private investment was being pursued in WA to receive the tax credits, which have also been supported by the Liberal and National leaders in the state.
Updated
Plan to tackle issue of cost of products in remote Indigenous areas
The minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, is doing the rounds this morning, first on ABC News Breakfast, on the Closing the Gap report, and the announcement to ensure the cost of products in remote Indigenous areas is the same cost as products in cities.
McCarthy says there’s no specific date for when those food prices will come down, but says she’s working on a national plan to tackle the issue, which she’ll announce soon with the states and territories.
Along with the high prices of food, is access to food, as we’ve just seen with the Townsville coverage, people get cut off. Roads get cut off bridges get cut off. So infrastructure and all those needs that are required to make it essential to get good food into remote and regional Australia is imperative.
McCarthy’s also asked about the state of the youth justice system and the high rates of youth incarceration. She says she’ll be meeting with states and territories to work with them on the issue.
[I] raised this issue directly with the [state and territory] Indigenous affairs ministers about our concerns of First Nations people and the high rates of incarceration, but also remand … Many, many people are in remand, and what other options could we look at instead of overcrowding in remand?
Updated
Government to give Closing the Gap update
The government will provide its latest closing the gap update today, after Anthony Albanese announced $842.6m over six years for remote First Nations communities in the Northern Territory on Friday.
The prime minister will also announce that the government will ensure the costs of 30 essential products in more than 76 remote stores will be the same as the cost in metropolitan areas.
Last year Choice found people living in remote Indigenous areas were sometimes paying twice the cost of basic goods like flour and milk compared to capital cities.
Anthony Albanese will make a speech in parliament today, saying the closing the gap report “lays bare” the areas in which Australia’s population “are not together.”
The latest Productivity Commission reporting shows that while we are seeing improvements on 11 of the 19 targets in the National Agreement, only five are on track to be met.
Today is about facing up to what’s not working and learning from what is.
Updated
Good morning!
Krishani Dhanji here with you, welcome to the second sitting week of the fortnight, there’s plenty on as time ticks down towards the election campaign.
The government has its production tax credits legislation high on the list to pass this week. Labor will also hand down its latest closing the gap update, which the prime minister will speak on later today.
Both the Coalition and Labor will also be considering the federal implications of the byelection results in Victoria over the weekend.
It’s going to be a big one! Let’s get started.
