Australian news and politics live: Littleproud presses Collins on US beef import standards

Agriculture Minister Julie Collins says she is open to give Opposition and industry briefings on the decision to lift biosecurity import controls on US beef but says it would be “unusual” to make the reasoning public.

Speaking in Canberra on Thursday, Ms Collins said she had received biosecurity assurances from the US and that Australian officials were confident after touring America’s beef industry and a “science based assessment”.

REPORTER: “Will you make those findings public?”

COLLINS: “That is not what is done, usually. I am happy for experts to brief the Opposition and to brief industry further if people have more questions”.

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Nationals leader David Littleproud has expressed “suspicion” over the rapid decision to lift restrictions on US beef imports, urging the government to prioritise biosecurity and transparency.

He wants an independent review of the agriculture department’s findings to ensure the decision is truly science-based.

“I want to see the science and it should be predicated on science. I’m suspicious by the speed in which this has been done… It looks as though it’s been traded away to appease Donald Trump, and that’s what we don’t want,” Mr Littleproud told ABC RN.

He said he was only informed about the decision yesterday and is due to receive a briefing from the department soon.

“We’ve been flat-footed in trying to deal with President Trump,” he added, warning that the lifting of beef import restrictions risks being “used to catch up at the expense of biosecurity.”

“Anthony Albanese hasn’t been near the White House.”

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Cattle Australia CEO Will Evans has clarified that lifting the ban on US beef imports comes with significant technical restrictions and will not open the door to an uncontrolled domestic market that might compromise Australian biosecurity.

Evans emphasised that the agreement contains “lots of restrictions” and maintains trade terms favorable to Australian farmers, with only a small volume of US beef expected to enter the market.

“The trade terms are not in favour of the US, the way this economy works is that we go to them,” Evans told ABC Radio National on Thursday morning.

“In terms of trade, there could be some that comes in, there could be some boutique products that come in, but in terms of volume … my expectations would be that if there were any volumes, they’d be very low,” he said.

“We have to put faith in them (the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry). They’ve made this assessment themselves. They’ve said, look, we’ve looked at this. We’ve looked at the best science. This is a decision we feel comfortable with.”

Australia could become the subject of legal action after an international court said countries have an obligation to prevent climate change harm and redress damage caused by greenhouse gas emissions.

The non-binding advisory opinion was issued by a 15-judge panel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague in The Netherlands overnight.

It opens the way for countries to potentially sue each other over climate change impacts.

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Opposition finance spokesman James Paterson has called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to explain the decision to lift the ban on Canadian and Mexican beef processed in the United States.

mR Paterson emphasised the need for clarity on biosecurity assurances to reassure Australian beef farmers.

“Perhaps the Prime Minister has found a way through this problem. Perhaps he’s found a way of ensuring that beef is only imported, that is raised and reared in the United States ... but if he has, he should explain how he’s done so,” Mr Paterson told Sky News on Thursday morning.

“He should stand up today and explain to the beef farmers of Australia that there is no risk for their biosecurity and that he hasn’t watered it down. But if he has watered it down, I think this is what’s going to be a very difficult one for the government to explain,” he said.

Opposition spokesman Tim Wilson has expressed caution about the Albanese government’s decision to lift the ban on US beef imports, emphasising that any such move must prioritise Australia’s national interest and biosecurity over political appeasement.

The ban’s removal follows repeated demands from US President Donald Trump, who cited the restriction as a reason for imposing sweeping tariffs on Australia’s exports.

“We’re obviously cautious about, particularly, biosecurity measures. Biosecurity shouldn’t be compromised, and I really hope the government knows what it’s doing,” Mr Wilson told ABC Radio National.

“The United States is obviously doing a number of things on the trade front right now, and it’s not always in Australia’s national interest. We need to make decisions about Australia’s national interests.

“We need to make sure that the biosecurity framework was strong, robust and in Australia’s national interest.”

New legislation set to be introduced to parliament today will protect penalty rates and overtime pay for 2.6 million Australians, safeguarding an important source of income for low-paid workers.

“What this legislation will do is make sure that the safety net, which is our award system, can’t be eroded,” Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth told Sunrise.

“At the moment, there’s a number of applications in front of the Fair Work Commission trying to erode the penalty rates and overtime of those workers that really are low paid and rely on the award,” she added.

“So what this legislation will do is protect those that rely on penalty rates, rely on overtime. Because this often makes up a very large amount of their home pay.

“We think this is really important to put beyond doubt that you can’t strip away penalty rates and overtime from our safety system. It can’t be lumped in with the base salary, basically. It has to be separated out.”

US alliances and partnerships must be strengthened to push back against Chinese economic coercion, former Australian prime minister Scott Morrison has told a US congressional panel.

“This is as true in the economic sphere as it is in the security sphere,” Mr Morrison said in a rare appearance by a country’s former leader before Congress.

He shared with the House Select Committee on China his experience of coping with the country’s trade punishments - including restrictions on imports of Australian wine, barley and more - when his government called for an independent inquiry into the origin of COVID-19.

Mr Morrison said US allies and partners can be tapped to build an alternative supply chain of rare earths, used in technology such as smartphones.

For such alliances and partnerships to work, “there has to be a strong core, and that requires a strong America,” he said.

Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth has confirmed Australia is lifting its ban on US beef.

“The Department of Fisheries and forestries and agriculture are satisfied that there is no threat to biosecurity,” she told Sunrise on Thursday morning.

“Need to be really clear, this is a decision by the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and forestries. This review has been happening over 10 years. What they do is make sure that we will not ever compromise on biosecurity.

“What the department has now been assured of and feels confident about, is that there is the right safeguards put in place.

“There’s been significant scientific, risk based assessment here.”

The Albanese government has lifted the biosecurity restrictions on US beef imports, opening the door for full resumption of beef exports from the United States to Australia.

This move removes a major justification the Trump administration used to impose heavy tariffs on Australian goods, including a 10 per cent tariff on beef.

US President Donald Trump said in April: “Australia bans , and they’re wonderful people, and wonderful everything, but they ban American beef,” while announcing blanket tariffs on Australian imports and most other nations.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasised in June, “If things can be sorted out in a way that protects our biosecurity, of course, we don’t just say no, we don’t want imports in here for the sake of it. But our first priority is biosecurity and there’ll be no compromise on that,” he said.

The decision follows a rigorous, science-based review extending over 18 months, ensuring Australia’s biosecurity protections remain uncompromised.

The lifting of the ban is expected to boost trade negotiations as Australia seeks tariff relief from the US on steel, aluminium, and pharmaceuticals.

Australian businesses will be able to apply for permits to import fresh US beef starting July 28, marking a significant step toward easing trade tensions with Washington.