Australian news and politics live updates: Reactions from Donald Trump’s plan to ‘take over’ Gaza
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Key Events
Watt demands Coalition ‘comes clean’ on lunch money
The Government is stepping up its attack on the Coalition’s “long lunches” policy for small businesses, with Employment Minister Murray Watt demanding the Opposition “come clean” on what it would cost the taxpayer.
Under the Coalition’s policy, small businesses would be allowed to claim $20,000 a year for spending on food and drinks, excluding alcohol.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers this week said by his department’s own calculations, this would cost the national budget $1.6 billion to $10 billion a year.
The Government has the issue in its sights as a vulnerability for the Coalition before the Federal election.
“It doesn’t matter what it is, they’ve all got a different answer about what’s going to be eligible, and they’ve all got a different answer for what this policy is going to cost,” said Mr Watt.
But Coalition finance spokesperson Jane Hume hit back that the Treasury costings were “ridiculous” and that the Opposition’s own cost analysis was on the way.
“Of course, we’ve costed this policy,” she told ABC Radio News Breakfast. “We will release all of our costings prior to the election.
Albanese, Zelensky discuss Oscar Jenkins
Ukraine will work with Australia to investigate “all circumstances” surrounding Oscar Jenkins, who travelled to Ukraine to fight and is being held by Russia as a prisoner of war.
In a phone call between Anthony Albanese and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky overnight, ahead of the third anniversary of Russia’s war in Ukraine, the pair discussed expediting defence aid and ongoing questions around Mr Jenkins.
“We must establish all the circumstances surrounding the case,” Mr Zelensky wrote on X.
In a statement from Mr Albanese, he said in the call he had “underlined Australia’s ongoing support for Ukraine through military equipment and other assistance including our action through sanctions to hold Russia to account”, and that Mr Zelensky had “expressed his gratitude for Australia’s support”.
“The prime minister raised the welfare of Australian citizen Oscar Jenkins,” he said.
Australia has ‘very strong argument’ to put to Trump
Trade Minister Don Farrell is adamant Ausralia has got “a very strong argument” to be exempt from Donald Trump’s tariff agenda.
Senator Farrell, who is awaiting his US counterpart to be confirmed before the pair can talk, said the fact that Australia buys “almost twice as much” from the US would work in Canberra’s favor
“Why would you impose a tariff on a on a country where you’ve got a surplus. And of course, that was the argument that former prime minister returnable used with Mr Trump last time,” he told ABC Radio.
“So I think we’ve got a very strong argument.”
He said he hoped to be one of the first overseas ministers to speak with Mr Trump’s commerce secretary nominee Howard Lutnick.
“I hope to be the first person, or first overseas minister to speak with [Lutnick], to be one of the first, and when we get that opportunity, we will push our argument in our national interests, that we believe in free and fair trade, that there is no reason for the American government to impose tariffs on Australia,” Senator Farrell said.
Electoral reform negotiations ongoing
Opposition finance spokesperson Jane Hume said questions were best directed to the Government about the electoral reform laws but that “negotiations have been held in good faith, and they will continue to be held in good faith.”
Special Minister of State Don Farrell said he was talking to “everybody” about electoral reforms but won’t be drawn on whether he’s reached a deal.
Senator Hume understood that Senator Farrell had spoken to the crossbenchers, adding that the goal of negotiations with the Government was to “make sure that there is an opportunity for all parties to run on an even playing field.”
“Minister Farrell has been pretty clear about removing that influence of big money from political donations,” she said.
“I can understand exactly why that might be - when we saw the rise of the teals and also United Australia party, we can see where big money was influencing political outcomes, and that’s something that I know Minister Farrell has been concerned about from day one of this government.”
