Australian news and politics live updates: Trump must be ‘taken by his word’ after tariff move, diplomat says

I know he has to do this, but it’s still extraordinary to hear these words coming from the Opposition Leader after he was asked if Kevin Rudd was the right person for the US ambassador job:

“The important message is we support the work of ambassador Kevin Rudd and I’m assuming he’s getting access to the White House and I think he has a functioning relationship with the chief of staff as Joe Hockey did and others.

“I assume those relationships are all developed. I don’t know the real answer as to whether that is the case or not but the Prime Minister can answer that. I want to make sure the ambassador is given every assistance to work with the administration to make the case, to argue the point that tariff should be reduced, should be removed and I’m sure that is the work being done.”

Mr Dutton was asked what he thought the Albanese Government’s next steps should be.

“It should be continued dialogue and we should be doing everything we can through the relationships we have into the administration to try and see a reversal in the executive order, we should be talking to those with expertise in the relationship and those who understand the Trump administration well,” he said.

“I think the Prime Minister deserves support in whatever measure is reasonably being taken to see a reversal in the tariff and we would support those measures.”

Mr Dutton says the relationship between Mr Trump and Australia has been made more difficult through past comments from Penny Wong and Kevin Rudd.

“The president will have noticed those comments and I think it’s difficult when that’s the starting point in relationship, but what’s important now is the Trump administration hears that there is a bipartisan position in Australia to stand up for our national interest and that national interest is best served by a removal of the tariff as it applies to Australia.

“And if it stays in place I think it damages the relationship and I’ve been clear about that.”

Asked about the impact tariffs would have on some of Australia’s biggest mining companies, Mr Dutton said he didn’t “support the imposition of tariffs in any circumstances.”

President Donald Trump confirmed he is considering tariff exemptions for Australia during another sensational press conference from the Oval Office.

Speaking on the new tariff orders Mr Trump said: “It’s 25 (per cent) without exceptions or exemptions and that’s all countries no matter where it comes from.”

“If it’s made in the United States there is no tariff. All you have to do is make it in the United States.”

But he did confirm he was considering an exemption for Australia from the steel tariffs.

“We have a (trade) surplus to Australia, one of the few. And the reason is they buy a lot of airplanes. They are rather far away and need lots of airplanes,” he said.

“I told (Mr Albanese) that’s something we will give great consideration to.”

Mr Trump went on to describe the PM as “a very fine man”.

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Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is giving his second press conference in a week, which is a rarity (unlike the PM).

He’s talking about the tariff issue.

“The tariff issue is an incredibly important issue for our country. It’s important for the US and Trump administration to hear there is a bipartisan position in relation to the Prime Minister’s call to remove the tariff from our very close and dear ally the US.

“I want there to be very clear message to the Trump Administration that we believe this tariff shouldn’t be put in place and if it remains in place and I believe it would damage the relationship between the United States and Australia.”

We’ll bring you all the latest as it happens.

President Trump has spoken out about foreign business deals and investigators on US soil.

“If an American goes over to a foreign country and starts doing business over there, legally, legitimately, or otherwise, it’s almost a guaranteed, investigation, and nobody wants to do business with the Americans because of it, Mr Trump said.

“They say, we can deal with China, they can do whatever they want, we can deal with Russia, you deal with America, the FBI goes over there.

“They don’t investigate death and murders on the street in New York, in Los Angeles, they go over and investigate a business trying to do business.”

Leading diversified business SGH has surged to another record half-year result as its chief executive Ryan Stokes predicts there could be more blue sky ahead.

SGH-owned building materials provider Boral and Caterpillar machinery supplier WesTrac were standout performers as the group’s bottom line soared during the final six months of 2024 to $526 million, up 134 per cent from $225m for the same period a year prior.

Boral’s earnings before interest and tax jumped 29 per cent to $259m in its maiden half-year under full ownership of SGH.

Read the full story here.

A consortium of investors led by billionaire Elon Musk is reportedly offering $US97.4 billion ($A155.2 billion) to buy the nonprofit that controls artificial intelligence startup OpenAI.

The offer, reported in the Wall Street Journal, intensifies a longstanding battle between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Musk over the future of the startup at the heart of a boom in generative AI technology.

Musk’s attorney, Marc Toberoff, said he submitted the bid to OpenAI’s board on Monday, according to the report.

Read the full story here.

Donald Trump has announced he has signed an executive order to impose 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from all countries without exemptions.

“Today I’m simplifying our tariffs on steel and aluminum,” Mr Trump said from the Oval Office in Washington.

“It’s 25 per cent without exceptions or exemptions.”

“It’s a big deal. This is the beginning of making America rich again.”

“Our nation requires steel and aluminium to be made in America, not in foreign lands,” he said.

Mr Trump also signalled he may impose tariffs on a range of other goods including the automobile industry, compuer hardwarde and pharmaceuticals.

Trump attacked on tariff order: Read the full story here.