Australian news and politics live: Unions use Economic Reform Roundtable to push for new taxes
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Key Events
Trump confirms he called Putin during Zelensky’s White House visit
US President Donald Trump has posted his thoughts after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders in the White House.
“I had a very good meeting with distinguished guests,” he said on Truth Social.
“During the meeting we discussed Security Guarantees for Ukraine, which Guarantees would be provided by the various European Countries, with a coordination with the United States of America.
“Everyone is very happy about the possibility of PEACE for Russia/Ukraine.
“At the conclusion of the meetings, I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelenskyy.
“After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself. Again, this was a very good, early step for a War that has been going on for almost four years.”
PM promises swift action on economic roundtable proposals
At the start of a three-day economic reform roundtable at Parliament House, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that several proposals from the discussions would be rapidly considered by the cabinet.
“There’ll be things that we can do immediately,” he said.
“Jim (Chalmers) and Katy (Gallagher) will take to the cabinet processes in the coming days literally and say, ‘righto, this is a good idea, we can get this done’.”
“What you will have is ideas and input that will shape that agenda and public discourse as well.”
Jim Chalmers’ productivity roundtable looks to find the ‘secret sauce’
The next chapter of Australia’s economic story is set to be written as the nation’s top economic minds brainstorm answers to ailing productivity.
After weeks of anticipation, the Federal Government’s three-day economic roundtable will kick off on Tuesday in Canberra.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has already been bombarded with proposals ranging from winding back property investor tax breaks to environmental law reform and cutting red tape.
But he has insisted all invited parties bring specific ideas and be willing to find common ground as the outcomes of the roundtable will help steer Australia’s economic agenda.
“Three days to inform three budgets - and beyond,” Dr Chalmers will say in his opening remarks.
“(The Prime Minister) has been clear that this is about writing the next chapter of economic reform and I want to acknowledge the leadership he’s shown.”
‘Peace is attainable’: Trump meets Zelensky at White House
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine met with US President Donald Trump and an extraordinary delegation of European leaders at the White House on Monday, seeking to defend his nation’s interests as Trump presses for a quick peace agreement with Russia that would require Ukraine to make sweeping concessions.
Wearing a black suit instead of his usual military clothing, and backed by European presidents and prime ministers who had rushed to Washington to support him, Mr Zelensky was greeted warmly by Mr Trump.
Inside the Oval Office, the two presidents showed few signs of their once-frayed relationship, talked positively about the United States’ playing a role in security guarantees for Ukraine, and expressed their eagerness to arrange a trilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“All of us would obviously prefer an immediate ceasefire while we work on a lasting peace... President Zelensky and President Putin can talk a little bit more about that... But I believe a peace agreement at the end of all of this is something that’s very attainable,” Mr Trump said at The White House.
Hamas agrees to ceasefire
Hamas has accepted the latest proposal for a 60-day ceasefire with Israel that includes the return of half the hostages the group holds in Gaza and Israel’s release of some Palestinian prisoners, an Egyptian official source says.
Senior Hamas official Basem Naim wrote on Facebook: “The movement has handed over its approval to the new proposal presented by the mediators”.
There was no immediate response from Israel.
The Egyptian official source said the latest proposal included a suspension of Israeli military operations for 60 days and a path to a comprehensive deal to end the nearly two-year war.
A source familiar with the matter said the proposal was nearly identical to one put forward previously by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, which Israel had accepted.
Treasurers’ summit will ignore Australia’s greatest problem
From privileged seats around the cabinet table, lobbyists, unionists and policy exerts will press their pet projects upon Treasurer Jim Chalmers over the next three days. But the problem at the heart of the economy — the one strangling innovation, enterprise and ambition — may barely be mentioned.
In the modern age, government in Australia has never been this pervasive. Spending by federal, state and local authorities will hit a record 27.6 per cent of the economy in the current three-month period, according to forecasts from Westpac Bank.
This represents one of the greatest expansions of government economic interference in Australian history. Back in 2016, when Liberal Malcolm Turnbull was prime minister, all-government spending was 21 per cent. Under Gough Whitlam’s Labor government in the 1970s — long considered the standard for left-wing economic intervention — it was almost as low as 19 per cent.
Wong slams ‘unjustified’ reaction as Israel cancels Australian diplomats’ visas
The Foreign Minister of Israel Gideon Sa’ar has cancelled the visas of Australian diplomats operating in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, saying the decision to block a far-right MP from speaking in Australia was ‘shameful.’
And in a drastic escalation of the breakdown in relations between the Albanese and Israeli governments, Mr Sa’ar suggested members of the Albanese Government could be blocked from entering Israel.
Mr Sa’ar said he was responding to the Australian government’s decision to recognise Palestine as a state, as well as the refusal to grant visas to several Israeli figures, including last year to the former minister Ayelet Shaked and this week to the Chairman of the Knesset’s Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, MK Simcha Rotman.
Mr Sa’ar said he had informed Australia’s Ambassador in Israel of his decision to expel Australian representatives.
Australia’s representative in the occupied Palestinian territories is career diplomat Bethany Randell. She was only recently appointed to the post and is based in Ramallah.
