Australian news and politics live: Penny Wong slams Coalition’s tariff politics, defends Labor’s US diplomacy

Anthony Albanese says it’s “beyond comprehension” for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his representative in Australia to claim there is no starvation happening in Gaza.

The Prime Minister told his caucus colleagues on Tuesday he was firmly committed to a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, saying that was what Australia had always envisaged for the Middle East.

Mr Albanese was prompted in part by photos of starving children in Gaza to issue a strong personal statement on Friday that said the situation had gone beyond the world’s worst fears and called on Israel to comply with international law, including allowing the UN and aid organisations to carry out their work.

Israel allowed more aid into Gaza over the weekend, including via air drops.

Mr Netanyahu has denied claims Palestinians were starving, saying in a video posted to social media, “There is no starvation in Gaza, no policy of starvation in Gaza.”

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Nationals Senator Matt Canavan has openly dismissed concerns that the ongoing net zero emissions debate within the Coalition is damaging the party’s image.

Speaking on 2GB with Ben Fordham, Senator Canavan said the Coalition is currently “irrelevant” following its election defeat, and that political appearance matters less than achieving results.

“We’re irrelevant right now, who cares what it looks right now. We have got to get the results. That’s what’s important. It doesn’t have to be neat or tidy or pretty, it has to be effective,” he said.

“I’m sick and tired of this place ... we prioritise tidiness and neatness over effectiveness, and that’s why we’re in the mess … as a country.”

Foreign Minister Penny wong has welcomed the ​ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia​ after the two countries agreed to an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire” to try to halt their deadliest conflict in more than a decade after five days of fighting that displaced more than 300,000 people.

“Australia welcomes Cambodia and Thailand’s agreement to an immediate & unconditional ceasefire. We urge both parties to honour it & work towards a lasting & peaceful resolution,” Ms Wong posted to X on Tuesday morning.

“We appreciate PM Anwar & Malaysia’s leadership as ASEAN Chair, and the role played by President Trump.”

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The Coalition is yet to announce its climate plan amid a sweeping post-election review of its policies, but its support for a net zero target is being challenged by Nationals backbenchers Barnaby Joyce, Michael McCormack and Matt Canavan.

Liberal frontbencher Tim Wilson, who supports the previous Coalition government’s plan to reach net zero by 2050, said the path to that target must not compromise price and reliability.

“I see the basis of getting to net zero emissions is contingent on net zero price increases and net zero outages if you want to get net zero emissions,” he told Sky News.

“If you actually have prices rise, if you don’t have stability in our electricity grid and security in our electricity grid, unsurprisingly, support for emissions reduction declines with it.”

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A gunman has opened fire in a upscale New York skyscraper killing at least three people, including a police officer.

Several others are also believed to be injured.

The man was seen carrying a weapon on the street before he entered the Midtown building on Park Avenue that houses Blackstone and NFL headquarters about 6.30pm local time.

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Shadow Finance Minister James Paterson has criticised Israel for delaying essential food and humanitarian aid to Gaza, saying it harms Israel’s international standing.

Mr Paterson described the humanitarian situation as “very dire,” and emphasised that innocent civilians “should not be made to be punished” for the actions of Hamas.

“Although I’m a strong supporter of Israel, and I strongly support the campaign to disband Hamas and free the 50 hostages, or bodies of deceased hostages that Hamas is still holding, I also accept as the military power in the region which has effective control of Gaza, Israel does have a responsibility to ensure the civilian population is fed, and they need to do all reasonable steps to make sure that’s the case,” he told Sky News.

“It is doing harm, in my judgement, to Israel’s international standing that so far in recent months, they have not been able to do that.”

Shadow Finance Minister James Paterson has raised concern over the Albanese Government’s failure to secure a meeting with Donald Trump following another surprise tariff announcement.

Mr Paterson pointed to the US threatening tariffs of 15 to 20 per cent—significantly higher than the 10 per cent baseline applied to Australian goods.

He criticised Anthony Albanese for not yet arranging a face-to-face meeting with former US President Donald Trump.

“I am concerned by the way in which the Australian Government continually seems to be surprised by these developments,” Mr Paterson told Sky News.

“I absolutely concede this is an unconventional US administration that changes its policy, often at short notice, but I think there’s enough evidence now in the public realm that we do have a problem in the bilateral relationship between Australia and the United States.”

The UN Climate Chief Simon Stiell has warned of the severe economic costs Australia faces if it fails to act on climate change.

He argued on the benefits from business as usual versus the cost of inaction, outlining that for Australia, by 2050, there will be a GDP loss of somewhere in the region of $6.8 trillion based on the climate impacts.

“So yes, you have economic benefits from that business as usual, but you have the economic costs which far outstrip that,” he said.

“That is why within the Paris Agreement, the focus is on a just and equitable transition.

“All countries are not in the same position, and the actions that need to be taken ... are different for all. But we are still governed by that underlying science that how we are consuming, how our industries are run, how we live our lives is generating excess of emissions, which are then causing the global climate impacts that we’re seeing. That is costing lives and also damaging the economy.”

The United Nations climate chief, Simon Stiell, has called on Australia to address the impact of mining exports that sustain its economy.

“Science tells us we need to transition away from all fossil fuels as rapidly as possible,” Mr Stiell said on ABC radio on Tuesday morning.

“Addressing your own domestic emissions is part of it but exporting carbon emissions also needs to be addressed.

“We need to look at that global picture in terms of not just the supply of fossil fuels, but it is cutting our dependency, demand for fossil fuels. And that requires global effort.”

Mr Stiell also backed green hydrogen as a renewable energy source and reiterated the economic risks of inaction.

“The economic cost of inaction would be far greater than that of a net zero transition,” he said.

Trade Minister Don Farrell has argued any tariff on Australian goods are “unjustified and an act of economic self-harm”.

He made the call after US President Donald Trump’s recent that tariffs on global trade partners, including Australia, could increase to 20 per cent.

A spokesperson for Mr Farrell said Australia’s stance remained unchanged.

“We will continue to engage at all levels to advocate for the removal of all tariffs, in line with our free trade agreement with the United States,” a statement from the minister’s office said.

Speaking at a press conference in Scotland, Mr Trump said he was planning a new universal tariff “for the world.”

Asked just how high it would go, he replied: “I would say it’ll be somewhere in the 15 to 20 per cent range. I just want to be nice. Probably one of those two numbers.”