Australian news and politics live: Murray Watt says environment reform talks were very ‘Nature Positive’

Environment Minister Murray Watt has opened talks on a revamped version of the 25-year-old environmental laws with 14 stakeholders in a meeting room in Canberra and another 15 joining from online.

The minister noted there was widespread agreement that the current laws weren’t working for business or the environment and said his early talks with people revealed goodwill about achieving change.

The laws were reviewed five years ago but Graeme Samuel’s recommendations are yet to be acted on. Senator Watt pointed out the next review was due in five years’ time, uringing everyone to work together to get the reforms in place well before then.

“Clearly, not everything has been solved. Clearly, there are still areas of disagreement that we’ll need to work through,” he said.

“But having spoken to many of you, what really strikes me is that there is also quite a lot of common ground.

“No one yet has told me they don’t support the notion of national environmental standards. No one is saying that they want approvals to take as long as they are now, or even longer.

“Of course, it’s when you get into the detail that it becomes a bit harder to solve.”

The Foriegn Minister was also asked this morning whether she would support the assassination of Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, after US President Donald Trump labelled the Supreme Leader an “easy target” that could be taken out at any time.

“I’m not going to get into commentary on that,” she told Channel 9 when asked if she would support it.

The Opposition says it is open to working with Labor on tax reforms but is warning against putting further pressure on Australians.

Shadow finance spokesman James Paterson welcomed “the government’s recognition that we have a productivity crisis” and said a planned roundtable was a good “first step”.

“But we need more than just a meeting. We need a plan of action to come out of it,” Senator Paterson told Sky News.

Mr Chalmers has flagged reform that would open opportunities for tax breaks for some but warned there would be “trade-offs” that could leave some paying more.

“I am concerned that the Treasurer is possibly preparing the ground here for higher taxes and in the middle of a productivity crisis, and particularly in the middle of a business investment crisis, which is at decade lows, the last thing the Australian economy needs right now is higher taxes,” Senator Paterson said.

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The pay gap between Australia’s top company bosses and their workers has blown out again, according to closely-watched data that also reveals the 10 best-paid ASX chief executives take home a combined $235 million.

The annual study by the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors shows average ASX 100 CEO realised pay in the 2024 financial year jumped to 55 times average adult earnings as bosses took home an increased average of $5.7 million, up 14 per cent on the year earlier.

That’s up from 50 times in 2023 but still well off the hefty multiples in the likes of the US where bosses can pocket eye-watering amounts often running into the hundreds of millions of dollars.

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Senator Wong wouldn’t say how Australia would respond if Donald Trump asked for any help in potential US military involvement, saying we are “a long way from from this conflict”.

“We are not a central player in the Middle East,” she said.

Asked whether Australia was moving any defence assets to the region, as the US has done, Senator Wong said again: “We’re not a central player in the Middle East”.

Penny Wong has confrimed 1500 Australians in Iran and 1200 in Israel have registered for evacuation with the Australian government.

A small group had been evacuated from Israel by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade by “land crossing” yesterday.

“Iran is a very complicated situation, a very risky situation. I think we all know that,” she said.

“Our travel advice remains the same and it is that people, if you are able to leave safely, you should do so. If not, shelter in place.”

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has urged Iran to come to the negotiating table, saying it is time the country stop its nuclear program.

“The world faces a dangerous moment. We know that conflict in the Middle East historically has led to instability, to security risks beyond the region,” she said on Sunrise.

“We agree with President Trump that nothing is too late. Iran has a choice here. And the choice should be to return to the table and engage in dialog and diplomacy.

“We see the situation there and as tough as (Iran’s) words might be, I think we all know the situation that they face and it’s time for them to return to the table.

“Obviously in relation to the region more broadly, what we have always been concerned about is the risk of regional escalation of this conflict getting larger, spreading, the consequences for all the people’s of the region and more broadly the globe.”

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Jim Chalmers said the Prime Minister will make a call on attending the coming NATO summit for a chance to meet with Donald Trump “before long”.

Speaking on ABC AM, the Treasurer also noted a face-toface meeting was “not the only way” to advance Australia’s interests.

“No doubt he’ll come to a decision on (attending NATO) before long,” Mr Chalmers said.

“It’s not the only way to advance our engagement with the Americans.

He said ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd was doing a “terrific job” of engaging with the Americans.

“And so we’ve made it clear it would be good to sit down for Prime Minister Albanese to sit down with President Trump for understandable reasons that wasn’t possible in Canada.

“We’ll look for opportunities, but it’s not the only opportunity for us to engage with our American counterparts on this issue. It’s a relationship of mutual economic benefit.”

Chris Bowen has announced a raft of proposed reforms designed to save Australian households from soaring power prices.

Speaking at Australian Energy Week in Melbourne on Wednesday, Mr Bowen said reform to the way the energy price cap mechanism worked outside of Victoria was needed in order to make price caps effective.

Mr Bowen said the vast majority of bill payers, “some 80 per cent”, could be getting a better deal.

“It’s difficult to defend the DMO when the customer is required to do the deal hunting,” he said.

“We know it could be so much simpler.”

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Australia’s jobless rate is tipped to remain low, while those seeking new work are in line for a boost to their pay packets.

Labour force figures for May, to be released today, are tipped to show the unemployment rate hold steady at 4.1 per cent.

Economists predict about 20,000 new jobs will be added to the economy for the month, following a bumper increase of 89,000 in April.