Australian news and politics recap for Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles says Donald Trump’s tariffs make no sense economically, and that the news Australia won’t be exempt is disappointing but not the end of the road.

Mr Marles said Australian steel and aluminium exporters would find other markets for their products, but the Government will continue to advocate for a carve-out.

“We’re obviously really disappointed with this, I would say though, we’ll keep advocating to the United States on this issue,” Mr Marles told 2GB.

“Last time around, it was nine months before we got an exemption in relation to steel and aluminium out of the Trump administration in its first term.

“We’ll keep pressing the case. We’ll keep diversifying our own trade, but there’s no hiding this: we’re really disappointed with the decision.”

Health Minister Mark Butler has called Washington’s “bad economic decision” on aluminium and steel tariffs “deeply disappointing” but insists the Government will still push for an Australian exemption.

“We’ve been working very hard on this. Today’s news is disappointing, but we don’t see this issue as being over by any means. We will continue to press the case for an exemption from Australian exports from these new tariffs,” he told ABC news.

“The Free Trade Agreement between our two countries. that’s more than 20 years old, has served both of us well, but if anything, it served America particularly well. They sell much more to us than we sell to them,” he said.

Mr Butler pointed to the nine months it took former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull under “very different circumstances” in the first Trump administration to safeguard Australia from steel and aluminium levies.

“We’re still absorbing this, so we’ll have more to say, more broadly about the decision,” he said.

Rain has finally eased in flood-hit regions, but dozens of warnings remain in parts of southeastern Queensland and northern NSW.

Many areas are still cut off as the focus shifts to recovery efforts in areas where water has subsided.

Damage assessments have started, even while some 85,000 homes and businesses in both states remain without power.

One resident says he has been overwhelmed by a foul stench seeping out of his possessions as he carried each to the curb for the council to take away.

“It’s exhausting - 2022 took a lot out of me, then this one is a little bit more,” he told AAP as he threw away much of what was downstairs.

“Thankfully it didn’t get up so high.”

Read the full story here.

Labor has taken a slim lead over the coalition in a weekly survey ahead of a federal election expected in May.

The Roy Morgan poll puts Labor on 51.5 per cent to the coalition’s 48.5 per cent on a two-party-preferred basis, with a two-point rise in support for the government and a two-point dip for the opposition flipping the prior week’s result.

A Roy Morgan survey issued in the last week of February had also had Labor leading the coalition, 51 per cent to 49 per cent.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday he would not pick April 12 as election day and that the federal budget scheduled for March 25 will go ahead.

Other Saturdays later in April have been ruled out for an election due to the Easter and Anzac Day long weekends.

While the election must be held by May 17, the next most likely date is May 3.

Read the full story here.

The full statement from the Ukraine and US delegations involved in peace talks in Saudi Arabia has been released.

“Today in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - under the gracious hospitality of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman - the United States and Ukraine took important steps toward restoring durable peace for Ukraine.

“Representatives of both nations praised the bravery of the Ukrainian people in defence of their nation and agreed that now is the time to begin a process toward lasting peace.

The Ukrainian delegation reiterated the Ukrainian people’s strong gratitude to President Trump, the US Congress and the people of the United States for making possible meaningful progress toward peace.

Ukraine expressed readiness to accept the US proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, and which is subject to acceptance and concurrent implementation by the Russian Federation.

The United States will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace.

The United States will immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine.

The delegations also discussed the importance of humanitarian relief efforts as part of the peace process, particularly during the above-mentioned ceasefire, including the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children.

Both delegations agreed to name their negotiating teams and immediately begin negotiations toward an enduring peace that provides for Ukraine’s long-term security.

The United States committed to discussing these specific proposals with representatives from Russia.

The Ukrainian delegation reiterated that European partners shall be involved in the peace process.

Lastly, both countries’ presidents agreed to conclude as soon as possible a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraine’s critical mineral resources to expand Ukraine’s economy and guarantee Ukraine’s long-term prosperity and security.”

Read the full story here.

Hopes of Australia securing a crucial tariff exemption on aluminium and steel imports have failed as the White House confirmed they will be imposed on Tuesday.

Soon after taking office, President Donald Trump announced a raft of tariffs set for implementation against various countries including Canada, Mexico, China and Australia.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke directly to President Trump weeks ago in a bid to secure a tariff exemption but that request has been dismissed with Mr Trump confirming the US will follow through and will impose a 25 per cent tariff on Australian steel and aluminium imports.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told the ABC that President Trump considered Australia’s situation and decided not to allow an exemption.

“He considered it, and considered against it. There will be no exemptions,” Ms Leavitt said.

Read the full story here.

The federal government believes “it still has time” to convince Donald Trump not to impose tariffs on Australian steel and aluminium, despite his ‘no deal’ stance.

Whitehouse spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told Australian media in Washington the hoped-for exemption from the 25 per cent levy was off the table.

“He considered it and considered against it. There will be no exemptions,” she told the outlets, including the ABC, in reports published on Wednesday.

“American-first steel. And if they want to be exempted, they should consider moving steel manufacturing here.”

The tariffs, which affect all steel and aluminium imports into the US, are due to take effect from Thursday Australian time.

While the statement dented Australian hopes for an exemption on Wednesday, Labor minister Clare O’Neil believes there’s still time.

“We’re still in a discussion with the US government about this,” she told Seven television.

“So I’m not going to accept this as the situation yet.

“We still have a little bit of time and lots of discussions (are) continuing to happen ... We have a never-say-die approach to these things.”

Hello and welcome to a Wednesday where Donald Trump said yes to Australian steel and aluminium tariffs, Ukraine says yes to a ceasefire deal and we say yes to all the latest news and updates.