Australian news and politics live: Burke cancels visa of Israeli MP over fears of ‘hate and division’
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Key Events
PM says international community must stand up for ‘the international rule of law’
Anthony Albanese says the “resolve was clear” among the Coalition of the Willing meeting overnight that they were not just standing up for Ukraine sovereignty but also “the international rule of law”.
The Prime Minister told Sky on Monday that the Russian invasion has claimed lives, disrupted trade and markets, as well as the world order.
“Australia’s position has been very clear from the beginning, which is that Ukraine sovereignty is important.
“This isn’t just a struggle about Ukraine, it’s also a struggle for the international rule of law.
“If a large, more powerful country can just invade a smaller country, then that has implications for stability around the world. So, Australia has participated.”
Albanese says virtual Coalition of the Willing meeting overnight ‘constrictive’
Anthony Albanese has revealed that he had a “constrictive” virtual meeting with the Coalition of the Willing overnight.
Speaking on Sky on Monday, the Prime Minister said the meeting was hosted in the early hours of the morning in the wake of US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin meeting in Alaska.
“The meeting was convened by (UK) Prime Minister Keir Starmer and (French) President Emmanuel Macron,” he said.
“It was attended by almost all of the European leaders, as well as the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney and Prime Minister (Shigeru) Ishiba of Japan.
“We heard reports of what had occurred at Anchorage, at Alaska, the summit. I think everyone was enthusiastic about, of course, pushing and pursuing peace.
“I spoke in the meeting last night. It was a very constructive meeting.”
ACCC slaps Google with $55m fine over Telstra, Optus deals
Internet giant Google could pay a $55 million fine after signing anti-competitive deals with Australia’s two largest telcos that banned the installation of competing search engines on some smartphones.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission launched proceedings against the US technology firm in Federal Court on Monday over the behaviour, which Google has admitted.
The court will be asked to determine if the $55 million penalty agreed by both parties is appropriate.
The legal action follows court-enforceable undertakings from Telstra, Optus and TPG in 2024 to refrain from renewing or making similar deals with Google to limit search services.
The anti-competitive deals, in place between December 2019 and March 2021, required Telstra and Optus to pre-install Google’s Search app on Android smartphones and to exclude competing search services from the devices.
In exchange, the telcos received a share of revenue from advertisements shown alongside Google’s search results on the phones.
Transport Workers Union wins $50m for fighting Qantas outsourcing case
Justice Michael Lee has determined that $50 million of the $90 million penalty against Qantas will be awarded to the Transport Workers Union for its pivotal role in successfully pursuing the case.
Justice Lee noted that, unlike the Fair Work Ombudsman, government agencies didn’t act, and the Commonwealth failed to initiate proceedings.
The union took on significant financial risk and used its expertise to secure a win for sacked workers, with Justice Lee stating, “Greater rewards might be appropriate in the circumstances of greater risk,” to encourage others to pursue similar cases.
However, he also said there’s insufficient evidence to guarantee that affected staff will be fully compensated for their losses, while the remaining $40 million is yet to be allocated.
Qantas to be fined $90 million dollars for outsourcing jobs
Qantas has been ordered to pay $90 million for illegally outsourcing ground staff in 2020, following years of court battles and appeals that delayed compensation for more than 1,800 workers.
Justice Michael Lee said the airline’s apology was “the wrong kind of sorry,” focused on the company rather than the lives impacted.
He emphasised that the penalty was meant to deter large companies from breaking the law for profit, setting a strong example for corporate Australia as affected staff finally prepare to receive long-awaited compensation.
Qantas set for big fine after illegally sacking more than 1800 workers
Australia’s largest airline is staring down the barrel of another nine-figure fine for illegally sacking more than 1800 workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Federal Court will hand down a hefty penalty to Qantas on Monday in what will be the latest court blow for the airline after a scandal-plagued recent tenure.
Qantas outsourced its baggage handlers, cleaners and ground staff in 2020, in a move the court ruled was designed to curb union bargaining power in wage negotiations.
It appealed the ruling to the High Court but the decision was not overturned, paving the way for Monday’s penalty.
The Transport Workers Union has sought the maximum penalty of $121 million, while Qantas has urged Justice Michael Lee to impose a “mid-range” penalty between $40 million and $80 million.
Chalmers slams Oppositions for peddling ‘scorred earth’ IR ideas
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has slammed the Opposition for peddling “scored earth” industrial relations ideas.
“The Coalition always think the answer is lower wages or harsher conditions. Or scorched earth industrial relations,” he told reporters in Canberra.
“Never forget that this Coalition took to the last election - this year - a policy for higher income taxes for all 14 million tax-paying working Australians, a policy for lower wages, higher deficits and more debt.
“I think that goes to the lack of credibility when it comes to the Coalition.
“My fear is that they have learned nothing from the last election.”
He also slammed shadow treasurer Ted O’Brien for not fronting media appearances on Sunday, leaving it instead for his colleague Tim Wilson and Alex Hawke.
Chalmers says productivity ‘bedevilling’ Australian economy
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says productivity has been “bedevilling our economy” for decades and now was the time to act.
“We need cumulative and ambitious effort over time to make our economy more productive,” he told reporters in Canberra on Monday ahead of the roundtable.
“This is not something that has just shown up in the course of the last couple of months or the last few years.
“This productivity challenge has been bedevilling our economy for a couple of decades.
“We have got a lot going for us in this country. We have a lot coming at us from around the world. We have a lot of work to do.”
Jim Chalmers says he ‘doesn’t intend to waste’ roundtable opportunity
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says he “doesn’t intend to waste” the opportunities the economic reform roundtable could deliver amid Opposition criticism it could be another talk fest or has come about to rubber stamp Labor pre-determined policies.
Speaking in Canberra on Monday, he told reporters he was looking forward to the three day event starting in the Cabinet room on Tuesday.
“This week is all about building consensus and momentum,” he said.
“We have been working really hard in the lead-up to this roundtable and I am confident that all of the effort that has gone into this has already been worth it.
“This is a really important opportunity, we intend to make the most of it. We don’t intend to waste it.”
Poll shows Australians fear US tariffs more than China’s military build up
Australians fear Donald Trump’s tariffs more than China’s military build-up, according to a major poll.
The US president has mulled whether to slap further levies on sectors that would hit Australian producers hard, such as 250 per cent rates on pharmaceuticals.
While Australia managed to dodge a higher baseline rate earlier this month, exports to the US are still subject to a blanket 10 per cent impost.
Some exports, including steel, aluminium and copper, are hit with separate 50 per cent duties.
