News and politics live updates: Trump slaps new 12.5pc tariff on Australian exports over ‘forced labour’

Richard Marles has criticised the United States’ decision to impose tariffs on Australian goods, arguing the move is unjustified given Australia’s strict laws targeting forced labour.

Speaking after the annoncement, The Deputy Prime Minister said Australia remained committed to free trade and would continue making its case to Washington.

“We obviously are supportive of an open global trading system. That’s actually what has seen an enormous rise in productivity and prosperity around the world,” he told ABC Radio National.

“In relation to our trading relationship with the United States, the US Australia-US Free Trade Agreement has been really important in terms of promoting jobs in both countries and providing for freer trade and lower prices between both countries.”

The Albanese government has repeatedly condemned the Trump administration’s tariffs as unwanted and, in a formal submission lodged earlier this month, argued Australia already had some of the toughest laws in the world to prevent goods made with forced labour from entering supply chains.

Queensland has recorded its first suspected positive case of H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza (bird flu) after a deceased petrel washed up on Moreton Island tested positive during an initial screening.

The sample is now undergoing confirmatory testing at the CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, with the Federal Government expected to announce the final results. Authorities say there have been no detections of H5 bird flu in Queensland’s native birds or poultry, and no evidence of widespread animal deaths.

The State Government said the risk to human health remains unchanged and urged Queenslanders to continue buying and eating chicken and eggs as normal.

Residents are advised to avoid contact with sick or dead birds and report them to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

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The Coalition has accused Labor of refusing to strengthen the country’s counter-terrorism laws, renewing calls for legislation aimed at preventing third parties from helping Australians who joined Islamic State to return home.

The political clash comes after One Nation urged Opposition leader Angus Taylor to support tougher measures to stop ISIS fighters and sympathisers from returning to Australia.

But Deputy Liberal leader Jane Hume told Sunrise the Coalition’s proposal could not become law without Labor’s backing, dismissing suggestions Pauline Hanson’s party held the balance of power.

“The problem here, of course, is that it’s not One Nation’s votes that we need to pass this legislation. And Pauline should know that after 30 years in politics, we simply don’t have the numbers even with One Nation,” Ms Hume told host Natalie Barr.

“It’s Labor’s votes that we need to make sure that we can shut the door on ISIS terrorists, sympathisers coming back to our shores.

“So it’s up to Mark to tell us why we can’t get this done, because the legislation is there. We don’t need One Nation. We need Labor. Otherwise we simply don’t have the numbers.”

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A Chinese delegation has left the Labor Party’s National conference in Adelaide after it failed to have Taiwanese representatives removed from the event.

The Nightly this week revealed that Taiwan had been invited to the conference as an “observer”.

On Thursday three Chinese diplomats confronted the ALP National Secretary Paul Erickson over the move saying it did not align with Australia’s One China policy.

After Mr Erickson refused the demands diplomatic sources say the Chinese diplomats decided to leave the conference in protest.

The ALP and the Chinese embassy are yet to comment.

The Trump administration has confirmed Australian exports to the US will be hit with a 12.5 per cent tariff from later today, replacing the temporary 10 per cent levy that was due to expire.

Australia is among dozens of countries facing new tariffs, first proposed last month following a US trade investigation into forced labour.

The levy will take effect from 12.01am Friday local time (2.01pm Friday AEST and 12.00pm AWST), although some countries, including the UK, will face a lower 10 per cent rate.

The Trump administration says the move is aimed at tackling forced labour and slavery, arguing American businesses are being placed at a competitive disadvantage because other countries are not doing enough to address the issue.

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Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie has unleashed on One Nation’s claims domestic violence is a “two-way street” and insisted it was driven by people “losing their cool” in a fiery panel interview with the minor party’s Senator Sean Bell.

Senator McKenzie condemned Pauline Hanson’s recent controversial comments on Brisbane radio on Wednesday but also challenged Senator Bell’s defence of his leader.

“We’re going to work with anybody that will help us. But we don’t agree with One Nation, on everything,” she said.

“I’m a huge supporter of AUKUS, I’m not a fan of the chemtrail conspiracies, and on the domestic violence comments, perpetrators aren’t just ‘losing their cool’.

“They’re not just losing their cool. 37 women in 17 children have died as a result of domestic violence incidents this year alone.”

It promoted Senator Bell to accuse the Coalition of “dirty tactics” and “left wing media” exaggerating Senator Hanson’s comments.

“I just think it’s kind of disgraceful the way that the left-wing media, and unfortunately, the Coalition continue to play this dirty game to we could be working constructively,” he said.

“Bridget, I’m really glad that the Coalition has looked at our offer to work constructively and continues to respond with some gutter politics.”

His remark about gutter politics prompted Senator McKenzie to interrupt host Peter Stefanovic to ask, “domestic violence is politics is it, Sean?”

Health and workplace issues are set to dominate the agenda of Labor’s national conference, as extra funding is unveiled for nuclear submarine construction.

Day two of the triennial policy forum will focus on aged care, the NDIS and health care issues.

Policies focusing on women, Indigenous Australians, along with employment and workplace relations will also feature prominently.

But contentious issues are not expected to feature on the floor of the conference, with most of the bargaining happening behind the scenes.

It comes as expected debate on day one about a tax on gas exports, which had been at the centre of a viral campaign, failed to materialise in amendments.

While Labor conference determines the direction of the party and its policy stance, it remains up to its parliamentary team to determine how, and when, the measures are implemented.

The visit to South Australia for the three-day conference coincides with an extra $4.6 billion being unveiled for the nuclear submarine construction yard at Osborne, north of Adelaide.

- with AAP