News and politics live updates: Victorian Premier Ben Carroll vows construction royal commission

Senator Penny Wong says the Federal Government will continue to push back against the latest US tariffs, arguing the measures are “not justified” and insisting Australia has some of the world’s strongest modern slavery laws.

Speaking on ABC News Breakfast, Senator Wong also addressed allegations raised in a Four Corners investigation about Chinese tomatoes produced with forced labour potentially entering Australian supply chains. While not commenting directly on the claims, she said consumers had a right to expect products were accurately labelled. “Australians expect suppliers, retailers, to deliver on what they say. And if they say something is made in Australia or made in Italy, then what the consumer should be assured of receiving.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong says the Federal Government is focused on securing Australia’s fuel supplies rather than extending fuel excise relief, as conflict overseas continues to put pressure on global energy markets and drive up prices at the bowser.

Speaking on ABC News Breakfast, Senator Wong said the Government’s priority was ensuring fuel and fertiliser continued flowing into Australia through international partnerships while strengthening the nation’s long-term energy security.

She confirmed the temporary fuel excise cut would end as planned this weekend, saying the Government remained focused on broader cost-of-living measures and flagged further announcements from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on boosting Australia’s domestic oil refining capacity.

Victorian Deputy Premier Ben Carroll has arrived for Tuesday morning’s Labor caucus meeting, where he is expected to challenge Jacinta Allan for the party leadership.

Mr Carroll, the only MP to publicly nominate against the Premier, kept his comments brief as he entered the meeting.

“I will have more to say later but right now my focus is on talking to my colleagues and I will have more to say later, but they’re my focus,” he said.

Victorian Deputy Premier Ben Carroll has officially launched a challenge for the Labor leadership after a delegation of ministers and MPs urged Premier Jacinta Allan to step down during a meeting on Monday morning.

Ms Allan had already vowed to contest any leadership challenge in a letter to the Labor Party’s state secretary.

Announcing his candidacy on X, Mr Carroll said colleagues had asked him to nominate, writing, “It is clear that the Premier has lost the majority of our Caucus.”

He added, “I have visited the Premier to inform her that I will be nominating for the leadership of the Labor Party. This decision is not easy, but the stakes at the upcoming election are simply too high.”

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan is expected to face a leadership spill on Tuesday morning, with supporters inside the Labor party room believing she is likely to lose the motion.

Ms Allan has already said she will contest a leadership ballot if the spill proceeds. Under Labor’s rules, that would trigger a four-week vote of the party’s membership, while MPs appoint an interim leader who cannot stand as a candidate in the ballot.