Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Australian National Party

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Source: South Australia Police

The City of Wanneroo welcomes the State Government’s approval of the first East Wanneroo precincts, paving the way for development in the new urban growth area.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Source: Australian Attorney General’s Agencies

Andrew Clennell: Well, joining me live on the program from Canberra is the Trade Minister, Don Farrell. Don Farrell, thanks so much for your time.

I wanted to start with an appointment you were part of today in terms of your involvement in Cabinet, and that’s Krissy Barrett as the Federal Police Commissioner. This is obviously a bit of a surprise, Reece Kershaw’s departure.

Has there been strained relations there between the Minister and the police? Was the government unhappy they didn’t get more timely information that the terror caravan plot was a hoax, and why wasn’t there some sort of panel process before Krissy Barrett was appointed, as there are often in these situations?

Minister for Trade: Good to be with you, Andrew. No, I think what you see is what you get here. Mr. Kershaw, who I’ve often sat with during Estimates, a very fine man and a great public servant for Australia, he’s made a decision about his personal life, and the government has accepted his resignation and has appointed the first female Head of the AFP.

So, no, I don’t think there’s anything more to see here than what has been said by Mr. Kershaw himself, and I think it’s an excellent appointment here, and I think we should be very grateful that we as a country have so much talent in our Australian Federal Police.

Andrew Clennell: All right. Well, let me ask about the other big issue of the day: the march on the Harbour Bridge. The New South Wales Premier said more than 100,000 people turned up. The PM made his comments sympathetic to the cause today.

This is something I can’t imagine that the PM did not raise with his senior ministers, whether it’s in Cabinet or other forums today, when he sees you all in Canberra. Can you tell me what you understand the PM’s sort of views and position is on this issue, and in terms of the protest?

Minister for Trade: Oh, look, I always get into trouble on your show when I talk about the position of the Prime Minister, Andrew, so I’ll leave it – I’ll leave it to him to make it clear what his point of view is.

But look, we’re a democracy, Andrew, and people are entitled to peacefully protest. You know, a lot of people did that over the weekend over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, but as the Prime Minister said in his earlier comments at his press conference today, it has to be done peacefully, and we don’t want to bring conflicts from other countries into Australia.

Andrew Clennell: And the PM’s welcome on this show tomorrow afternoon, I just want to put that out there for himself and his Office.

Now the PM, as I revealed yesterday, has put a request out for a phone call with the Israeli PM, Benjamin Netanyahu. Do you know if there’s been any advance on that, and is that something you would encourage Mr. Netanyahu to agree to, and what might such a call achieve?

Minister for Trade: Look, my understanding is the same as yours, Andrew, that the Prime Minister has requested a call to Mr. Netanyahu. As I understand it, the Prime Minister is also speaking to other world leaders on this issue. Obviously, there is concern in the Australian community about what’s happening in the Middle East and, in particular, between the Palestinians and the Israelis.

I think the Prime Minister will be explaining to Mr. Netanyahu what the position of the government is. We want a peaceful outcome of this dispute. Of course, as Premier Minns said, people were horrified about the actions of Hamas almost two years ago, and people are concerned about the humanitarian issues in Gaza.

So, there’s a range of issues, I’m sure, that the Prime Minister will discuss if and when he gets a return call from Mr. Netanyahu.

Andrew Clennell: Now the Opposition are pretty black and white, if you like, on this issue, more so than the government, I think. They say basically Israel’s in the right, and we can’t forget the hostages, or the fact that there can be no recognition of Palestine without Hamas. What do you say to that?

Minister for Trade: Well, look, we can’t forget the hostages, Andrew; these people have been kept in apparently quite appalling conditions for far too long, and the government supports Israel in its demand for the return of those hostages.

That would obviously be part of some ceasefire proposal, some peace settlement. So, to the extent that, you know, we can influence events in the Middle East, we want to see a peaceful outcome, we want to see a ceasefire, we want to see the return of the hostages, and we want to ensure that Hamas makes no further part in the government of Gaza.

Andrew Clennell: The only time I can recall 100,000 people turning up for a protest in Australia would be in Melbourne for some sort of Trades Hall-organised unions protest. Is it one of the biggest gatherings you’ve seen? I’ll hasten to add that 250,000 turned out for the Reconciliation March at the turn of the century on the Harbour Bridge, however.

Minister for Trade: Look, it was obviously a very big turnout, and it does reflect the fact that many Australians feel very strongly about this issue, and of course, the Prime Minister has made his comments about the protest over the weekend.

Andrew Clennell: Let’s talk now about the tariffs result that Australia has achieved. The US kept us at that 10 per cent tariff level. What did the US Trade Secretary Howard Lutnick tell you on your phone call with him about why this decision was made?

Minister for Trade: Look, he made it clear to me that there was a lot of pressure within the American system to push that rate of 10 per cent up to a higher level, and that that had been resisted by the President, and he kept the level at 10 per cent.

Now we say 10 per cent is still too high. I mean, obviously, we welcome the fact that we didn’t get an increase in that tariff. One of the obvious outcomes of that is that when you compare the tariff rate for Australia with many of our competitors in the United States, we are in a more competitive position than we were before this decision was made. We take no satisfaction in that, but it does give us the opportunity to sell more of our wonderful food and wine into the US system, and we’ll be encouraging Australian companies to do exactly that.

But Mr. utnick was, I think, pleased that – we were pleased that we didn’t get an increase, and we’ll continue those discussions. I invited Mr. Lutnick to come to Australia. He said that those decisions [indistinct] and his diary was much freer, and I hope that we can take the opportunity now that these decisions have been made to ensure that we can continue to prosecute our argument that these tariffs are – they’re certainly bad for the Australian economy, but they’re also bad for the American economy.

Already, we’re seeing an increase in inflation, an increase in unemployment. These are by‑products of those high tariffs, and we’d like to see them removed.

Andrew Clennell: There’s a bit of a joke around the place in Australian political circles that the fact the PM hasn’t met the President yet could have helped us get a lower tariff. What do you say to that?

Minister for Trade: Look, we have been working at all levels of government to ensure that the Americans hear our argument that there was no justification for the tariffs in the first place, and there was certainly no justification for putting them up any higher.

We have a trade surplus with the United States. The United States sells us twice as much as we buy from them —

Andrew Clennell: The Opposition says ‑‑

Minister for Trade: Which makes absolutely ‑‑

Andrew Clennell: It’s funny you mention that, because the Opposition said on Friday, we just got lucky, and that’s the reason the US put the tariff rate, kept it the same, and they did the same with everyone else with a trade surplus; is that right?

Minister for Trade: Look, I don’t think – well, you make your own luck in politics. When we got the $20 billion worth of tariffs removed from China, I suppose you could have said that was lucky. When we got our Free Trade Agreement with the United Kingdom, and we’re now selling 500 per cent more beef into the United Kingdom, I suppose you could say that was lucky. When we got our Free Trade Agreement with India, where we’re now selling 170 per cent more agricultural products in India, and when last Thursday the United Arab Emirates Free Trade Agreement was passed unanimously in the Australian Senate, I suppose you could say we got lucky there.

You make your own luck in this game, Andrew, and we’ve had a policy, and I mentioned it on Friday; cool, calm diplomacy, that’s how you make gains in trading relationships, and we’ll continue to do that. We don’t use a loudspeaker to project our views; we sit down calmly and discuss these issues with our trading partners and we’re going to continue to do that.

Andrew Clennell: In your view, did the decision around allowing in US beef imports, that you said on Sunday Agenda a week ago, was a departmental one, assist the US in their decision on the tariff level?

Minister for Trade: Look, I’m sure that, you know, that decision was well received; in fact, the President made a comment that he appreciated the fact that Australia had made that decision. But as I said a week and a half ago on your program, we don’t mix biosecurity issues with trade issues; they’re too important.

Andrew Clennell: Okay. I accept your position that all the proper biosecurity measures have been gone through. But did Mr. Lutnick, on the call to you, mention that beef decision, did he welcome it to you?

Minister for Trade: Look, look, look, look, I think it was welcomed in the American system, and as we know, President Trump made that comment himself that he was surprised that we had made that decision because he didn’t see that decision coming. But we went through all of the processes that we ordinarily go through to ensure that we have, continue to have the highest —

Andrew Clennell: Did Mr. Lutnick mention it to you?

Minister for Trade: Look, look, look, we had a range of discussions when I chatted to him, and he certainly made it clear that the President, as he, himself, has announced, appreciated the decision.

Andrew Clennell: Do you think that was critical to where we find ourselves at though, or just one factor?

Minister for Trade: No, I don’t think it was critical. We prosecuted our argument that we thought that the tariff issues were, you know, was not appropriate for the United States to impose tariffs on Australia. We have a Free Trade Agreement, that Free Trade Agreement is 20 years old, it has specific provisions that make it clear that tariffs are not to be applied. We want the American government to honour the terms of that Free Trade Agreement. It was entered into freely 20 years ago.

Andrew Clennell: Yep.

Minister for Trade: It’s been operating very successfully for both of our countries since that time, and that’s the argument that I’m going to continue to pressure ‑‑

Andrew Clennell: Well, last ‑‑

Minister for Trade: ‑‑ on our American colleagues.

Andrew Clennell: Look, I’ve got to mention this: last time you were on with me on Sunday Agenda, you said you misspoke when you said there was a conversation about the US right to import beef into Australia between Donald Trump and Anthony Albanese, because Anthony Albanese corrected you on that.

Have you been able to ascertain since if Mr Albanese spoke about it in his replacement meetings with Scott Bessent and Jamieson Greer in Canada during the G7?

Minister for Trade: No, as you say, I made a mistake on that occasion, but I’m not aware that the issue has been raised by those American officials. Certainly, in the discussions that I had with Mr. Greer in Paris two months ago, he did not raise that as an issue with us.

Andrew Clennell: Okay. But did Mr Albanese and Mr Rudd raise it with those officials, do you know?

Minister for Trade: Not to my knowledge, Andrew.

Andrew Clennell: Where is our offer at; where does this leave our offer in relation to critical minerals? I mean, we’ve gone to them with this offer on critical minerals to say, “Look, lift the tariff and we can help you in this space”. Is that now gone, or is this set for some time, this tariff level? Should we withdraw that? Where is that critical minerals offer at?

Minister for Trade: No, we shouldn’t withdraw it, Andrew. We have presented an offer to the Americans in respect of critical minerals. That offer is still on the table, and when we get the opportunity to talk to the Americans next, we will continue to prosecute that argument. We think we have a very good offer that the Americans should pick up. It means, you know, improving the supply chain, guaranteeing the supply chain of critical minerals.

Australia has the largest reserves of critical minerals of any country in the world. We’re happy to share them with the United States, and we think that that is something that the Americans should find attractive, and that we can offer to them to encourage them to reduce that tariff rate further.

Andrew Clennell: Do you think this keeps Kevin Rudd’s job safe?

Minister for Trade: Look, Kevin’s doing a very good job in the United States; he’s exactly the right man for that job. And look, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. We have managed to keep our tariff rate at the lowest level of any country, and as I said earlier, that significantly improves our competitive position.

Just look at one product, Andrew, beef: we’re now selling record amounts of beef into the United States despite the fact that there’s a 10 per cent tariff.

Our major competitor to supplying the American market is Brazil. Brazil’s now been hit with a 50 per cent tariff on their beef coming into the United States. So that significantly improves our competitive position in the United States, and I think that’s going to lead to an increase in our exports, certainly in the area of beef.

Andrew Clennell: Well, there you go. Well, I wanted to ask now about the Economic Reform Roundtable, because it seems to me Jim Chalmers, the Treasurer, has a lot of enthusiasm about this, but the Prime Minister’s not as enthusiastic. What do you think?

Minister for Trade: Oh, look, I don’t think that’s fair to say. I think they are equally enthusiastic about the Roundtable. Jim Chalmers, the Treasurer, has been doing a terrific job in that role. He delivered two consecutive surpluses for the first time in 20 years, inflation is coming down, unemployment is stable. Jim wants to engage with Industry to come up with new ideas as to how to take the country forward.

Andrew Clennell: Do you know whose idea it is?

Minister for Trade: In that respect I think ‑‑

Andrew Clennell: Is it Jim’s idea, not Anthony Albanese’s?

Minister for Trade: Look, you’d have to ask them the answer to that question.

Andrew Clennell: All right. Fair enough.

Minister for Trade: I know for sure, I know for sure that both Jim and the Prime Minister are fully behind the Roundtable, and I’m hopeful that some good ideas will come out of it. I myself have put some ideas forward to simplify our trading system. I’m hoping that’s one of the items that gets discussed at the meeting.

Andrew Clennell: What does that involve? Cutting taxes or charges? What does it involve?

Minister for Trade: No, no, no, simplifying, simplifying, the way in which we require companies to fill out forms to import or export goods. We can do that far more efficiently; we can significantly improve the productivity on the wharves if we go down that track, and I’ve encouraged the Treasurer to give some consideration to that issue.

Andrew Clennell: Well, just finally, what do you make of this ACTU call ahead of the roundtable to say, let’s look at charging more Capital Gains Tax and ending negative gearing laws on multiple properties?

Minister for Trade: Look, all of the parties who’ve got an interest in this will be coming up with their suggestions. I think what we should do is allow the process to go ahead, allow the various organisations in this country to put their best foot forward, put their best ideas forward, and then see what comes out of that at the end of the roundtable.

Andrew Clennell: Trade Minister Don Farrell, thanks so much for your time.

Minister for Trade: Thanks, Andrew.

Source: Australian Attorney General’s Agencies

Minister for Trade: Well, good morning, everyone to the Whitmore Square here in Adelaide. This morning, I spoke with my American counterpart Howard Lutnick, the United States Commerce Secretary. And he confirmed that the tariff on Australian goods into the United States would remain at 10 per cent and that there would be no increase in the rate. He did indicate that there had been some pressure in the American system for an increase, but that President Trump had decided to maintain that 10 per cent. I think this is a vindication for the Albanese Government and particularly the Prime Minister, in the cool and calm way that we have conducted diplomacy with the United States. What this decision means, in conjunction with all of the other changes to other countries, is that Australian products are now more competitive into the American market. This means products like wine, like beef, like lamb, like wheat, in a relative sense, are cheaper into the United States. And as a government, we will assist all of our exporters in ensuring that we take advantage of this situation and increase the volume of exports, not just to the United States, but to all of those other countries that we have diversified with. Interestingly, yesterday the Australian Parliament approved our Free Trade Agreement with the United Arab Emirates.

This means that virtually every Australian product that we sell goes into the United Arab Emirates, tariff-free. That’s obviously a very good story for Australian agriculture and Australian producers. We don’t want to leave the issue here. We believe in free and fair trade, and we will continue to put the argument to the United States that they should remove all tariffs on Australian products in accordance with our Free Trade Agreement. And we will continue to prosecute that argument. In fact, I’ve invited Commerce Secretary Lutnick to come to Australia to continue the discussions. So, as I said, we believe this is a vindication of our cool and calm negotiations with our trading partners. At no stage did we introduce tariffs on American goods. America still has a significant advantage in terms of our trading relationship. The Americans export about double to us what we export to them. But we will continue the discussions until we get all of those tariffs removed.

Journalist: So, Don, from your conversations this morning, was there any indication there could be sometime in the near future where that 10 per cent tariff is dropped?

Minister for Trade: Look, that certainly wasn’t raised with me. I am hopeful. I’m hopeful that this is the end of the matter now and that the American government maintains that 10 per cent and that our producers, our winemakers, can get back to a normal relationship with the United States where we don’t have to worry about changes in tariff rates. 

Journalist: Do you believe allowing US beef imports into Australia helped to maintain that 10 per cent tariff for Australian goods into to the US?

Minister for Trade: Look, we took that decision independently of these trade negotiations. We never as a government, the Albanese Government never ever risks our biosecurity issues. We’ve got a wonderful reputation for producing clean and green produce. We want to maintain that. However, just as we are entitled to put our case to export our goods to other countries including the United States, they’re also able to apply under our rules for access to the Australian market. The Americans did that 10 years ago. That process was completed in the last week and in accordance with our rules, we made a decision to allow the import of American beef. I have to say this decision will obviously be very good for Australian beef producers into the United States because in a relative sense our produce, our very good produce, is now cheaper than most of our competitors.

Journalist: The maintaining of the 10 per cent, is that a good sign for where the conversations are around AUKUS agreement at the moment?

Minister for Trade: Look, we’ve never linked our trade relationship with our defence relationship. The United States is our greatest ally, our most important ally. Just like with trade, we have an agreement with the United States to produce and make here in Adelaide submarines. High quality, highest tech submarines in the world. We’ll continue to have discussions with the United States about the AUKUS, but it will be completely independent of our trade relationship. There’s no job that’s more important for a Federal Government than our national security. The Albanese Government takes our national security very seriously and will continue to have discussions with the United States. You might have seen last week, decision by the UK government for another 50 years of agreements with them. That’s a good sign. But I would be confident that the United States will continue with the AUKUS arrangement. It’s good for Australia, but it’s good for America and it’s good for the United Kingdom.

Journalist: When do you predict that the Prime Minister will be able to meet with President Trump?

Minister for Trade: I don’t make predictions. The Prime Minister has had two very good discussions with President Trump and I’m sure that at the appropriate time there will be further discussions. Obviously, this decision by the United States Government is a very positive one for our relationship.

Journalist: At what point does Australia say, “if they don’t drop the 10 per cent tariff, why don’t we impose a tariff on them?”

Minister for Trade: Look, I haven’t seen any case or any example where the retaliatory imposition of tariffs has resulted in a country being in a better position. When I came to this job three years ago, we had 220 per cent tariffs on our wine, 80 per cent tariffs on our barley and many other impediments with China. We didn’t retaliate. What we did do was negotiate and use cool and calm diplomacy to prosecute our case that these tariffs were counterproductive. That’s the approach we’ll now take with the United States. And we’ll continue to prosecute our argument that all tariffs on all Australian products should be removed.

Journalist: Trump has demand US drug companies guarantee US prices for new drugs are no more expensive than in other countries saying it will require them to negotiate harder with foreign freeloading nations. Do you have any concern that that will impact drug prices in Australia?

Minister for Trade: Look, I don’t believe that that statement will have an impact on Australian drug prices. But in terms of pharmaceuticals, we have made it very clear that at no stage will we put at risk the PBS system. Australians will continue to get cheaper drugs under the Albanese Government.

Journalist: And have you heard any updates from the US Administration on its plans to impose a 200 per cent tariff on pharmaceuticals?

Minister for Trade: No.

Source: Australian Attorney General’s Agencies

Laura Jayes: There’s been a big development this morning. We have confirmation that beef biosecurity laws will be relaxed. Joining me live now is a Trade Minister, Don Farrell. Is that right? What does that mean?

Minister for Trade: Well, it means that the process – good morning to you, Laura.

Laura Jayes: Good morning.

Minister for Trade: Nice to be talking with you. What it means is that a process that’s been going now for about 10 years at the request of the United States to review bans that had been placed on the export, certain exports of American beef into Australia has now been decided. That review has taken place. It’s been a very lengthy review, and the review has found that it is now appropriate for Australia to receive American beef. You know, we’re a free trading country. We like to export our beef all around the world and it’s a wonderful product. So, we have to accept that other countries are entitled to request their product to be allowed to come into Australia. We apply really, really strict biosecurity rules. And as I say, it’s been a 10-year process. And as a result of that process by the officials at the Agriculture Department, we have decided that it is appropriate now, based on all of those biosecurity rules and tests, that we should allow American beef to come back into Australia.

Laura Jayes: Okay. Convenient that Trump raised this as one of the impediments for getting a tariff deal and now this review is concluded as such. But what has changed as American beef? What did the review find exactly? And what do our then new laws when it comes to American beef actually look like?

Minister for Trade: Look, we, we apply a very strict test in terms of whether a product is safe to be brought into Australia and that there is no risks to the Australian beef or cattle industry. Those tests have been done. As I say, it’s been a 10-year process. This, this is not a process that’s started since the election of President Trump. It goes back a very, very long period of time.

Laura Jayes: Sure.

Minister for Trade: We have scientists who, who look after these things. The Albanese government is very focused on ensuring that we protect our biosecurity in Australia. We have a clean and green industry here. And all of those tests have now been satisfied by the Department of Agriculture, and we are prepared to allow American beef to come into Australia.

Laura Jayes: Minister, are you really saying this review has taken 10 years and it just happens to be, you know, a couple of months after Trump raised this as an impediment? The timing seems a little suspicious, if you’ll forgive me.

Minister for Trade: There’s nothing suspicious about this at all, Laura. This has been a process that’s been underway for a very long period of time, and we are satisfied now. And you know, I was listening to the cattle industry people speak earlier this morning. If we want to export our beef overseas, then we have to accept that other countries will want to import their beef into Australia.

Laura Jayes: Sure.

Minister for Trade: The job of the Federal government is to make absolutely certain that there is no biosecurity risk as a result of that. We’ve done that. We’ve got some of the top scientists in the world. We’ve kept out disease for a very long period of time in Australia. We want to continue keeping it out. But if the Americans are able to satisfy those tests, and that’s what they’ve done, then we’re prepared to allow them to import their beef.

Laura Jayes: Ok, so you say you’re absolutely certain there’s no biosecurity risk. Is there an origin story here? Can you ensure that the beef coming from the United States doesn’t come from Canada or Mexico where they don’t have the stringent laws that we require or stringent biosecurity guardrails that we require? What has been done in that sense to make sure the origin-

Minister for Trade: My understanding, Laura, is all of those things have been done to the satisfaction of the Australian scientists who are in charge of this, of this area, and that we are very clear that the product that we are prepared to accept from the United States comes from the United States.

Laura Jayes: Well, how do you do that?

Minister for Trade: Look, I’m not a scientist, unfortunately.

Laura Jayes: But do you have to be a scientist to know, you know, we just need to know that this cattle, this beef was actually raised at American farms.

Minister for Trade: Yeah, yeah. And we are satisfied as a result of what advice we’ve received from the American government that they meet those tests. So, we are not going to risk our biosecurity by allowing product in that doesn’t meet those tests. That test has to be met. I mean, we’ve got to do the same thing when we export our product, obviously.

Laura Jayes: But I’m just wondering, do Americans have to provide proof that this cattle originated in the US or do we just take them on their word?

Minister for Trade: The Americans have to satisfy the very high standards of biosecurity that the Australian government applies to every product.

Laura Jayes: Yeah, I appreciate that and I appreciate that this has happened even though it’s been a 10 year review. But do we have that kind of detail? Do we know what the threshold of satisfaction is? Is it proof that this cattle was raised in America?

Minister for Trade: Look, look, can I say this to you, Laura? Our Australian agricultural scientists would not be allowing any product to come into Australia that does not meet our very strict biosecurity rules. We’re not going to. We’re not going to risk our industry. I mean, one of the reasons that we sell so much beef overseas, it’s one of our biggest exports, one of our biggest agricultural exports, is that people have great faith in our biosecurity rules and we’re very strict about them. That’s why they accept our product overseas. We’re not going to drop our standards in any way when we allow beef to come in from overseas. But, you know, if those countries can satisfy those rules, then we’re prepared to allow them to bring their product into Australia.

Laura Jayes: Okay, so have you told the US about this? Was this one of the impediments to getting a trade deal? Have you spoken with your counterpart?

Minister for Trade: I haven’t spoken with my counterpart since this decision in the last 24 hours. We don’t link biosecurity issues with trade issues. They’re separate issues. We continue-

Laura Jayes: They do though.

Minister for Trade: Well, you know, the Americans can do whatever they like, I guess, but we have our standards and our rules and our principles. We’re going to continue to argue with the United States government that their decision to impose tariffs on Australia is the wrong course of action. And every opportunity I get, every opportunity the President gets or the Foreign Minister gets, we push the case for the removal of these tariffs and we’re going to continue to do that, but we’re not going to do anything that risks our biosecurity and we’re not going to do anything that impacts on our national interest. We think, you know, the fact that America sells twice as much product into Australia tariff free, so we are honouring the strict terms of our free trade agreement means that we should not be subject to any tariff whatsoever. And that’s the argument that we will continue to prosecute.

Laura Jayes: Minister, is there any movement at the station. Is there any movement at the station since, you know, in the intervening couple of weeks since I was in Washington, since I exchanged texts with you, is there any movement? Are we any closer, even if it’s a tiny step closer to a trade deal?

Minister for Trade: Well, look, can I say we’re not going to allow our biosecurity rules to be impacted by the trade issues. We’ll continue to prosecute the argument.

Laura Jayes: But do you expect this to be a bit of a sweetener for the US though, given what Trump said publicly? I mean, it’s not going to hurt.

Minister for Trade: Look, we believe that we have a very strong argument to prosecute with the United States government that they should remove all tariffs on Australian products. We’re going to continue at every opportunity we get to prosecute that argument. And just like with China, don’t forget it took us two and a half years to get all of the tariffs removed from our relationship.

Laura Jayes: But do you accept that this will help your argument just a little bit, right?

Minister for Trade: Look, I can’t read the minds of the Americans, particularly not President Trump. Can I assure you, Laura, that my objective and the objective of the Albanese government, from the Prime Minister down, we are going to continue to sensibly prosecute the argument, as we did with China, that tariffs are not the way to go. Tariffs simply increase the cost of living for America. We want those tariffs removed and we’ll continue to prosecute that argument to the best of our ability.

Laura Jayes: I mean, do you have any faith in that happening given they’ve done the trade deal with Japan? They’ve got a 15 per cent reciprocal tariff. They did one with Malaysia? No, the Philippines. The Philippines leader even went to meet Donald Trump in the Oval Office. It was sitting at 20 per cent reciprocal tariffs. And then after the meeting, it went down to 19. Australia, nothing. It’s crickets.

Minister for Trade: Well. Well, we are at the lowest level, Laura.

Laura Jayes: Yep.

Minister for Trade: Don’t forget that. And from, from day one of these tariffs, we were at the lowest level. But we think that because of our trading relationship with the United States and the fact that it is so much in the favour of the United States that all of these tariffs should be removed. And we’ll keep saying it. I said that for two and a half years in our relations with. With China. And just before Christmas last year, the last of those impediments on lobster were removed. We’ve got a very strong argument, almost an irrefutable argument, can I say, Laura, as to why these tariffs should not be applying to Australia. Those other countries you mentioned have got different trading relationships with the United States. My job and the job of the Albanese government is to prosecute the argument with the Americans until such time as they realise that these tariffs on Australia are a mistake.

Laura Jayes: Ok. Hopefully you’re not out of breath doing that anytime soon. Don Farrell. Minister, thank you for your time.

Minister for Trade: Thanks a lot.

Source: Mental Health Australia

Road users are advised of changed overnight traffic conditions from Sunday 17 August 2025 on High Street and Worth Street, Penrith for road work. 

The work involves installing new arrows on the existing traffic light poles to allow pedestrians to more safely cross the intersection while holding motorists on red arrows and updating the pedestrian crossing line marking at the intersection. 

Additional work includes installing new traffic light infrastructure, including traffic light cabling, within the footpath and road area.

Work will be completed between Sunday 17 August and Thursday 2 October 2025, weather permitting.

We will be on site for up to eight shifts in total, weather permitting. 

We will work between Sunday to Thursday between the hours of 8pm and 5am, the next day. We will not work on Friday nights and Saturdays.

There will be temporary traffic changes to make sure the work zone is safe. Lane closures and a 40km/h speed limit will be in place for the safety of our workers and motorists. 

Temporary traffic lights will also be used, at times, while we install the new arrows. Traffic controllers will be on site to assist motorists and pedestrians. 

For the latest traffic updates across the network download the Live Traffic NSW App, visit livetraffic.com or call 132 701.

Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

The ACCC has issued a draft determination proposing to grant authorisation to establish a voluntary, industry-led scheme to collect and recycle soft plastic packaging from consumers.

The scheme will be run by Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia (SPSA) and aims to increase the collection and recycling of soft plastic packaging from consumers, such as shopping bags and food wrappers. Initial members of the scheme are Woolworths, Coles, Aldi, Nestlé, Mars and McCormick Foods.

“It is clear that many Australians are concerned about the environmental impacts of soft plastic packaging and want to recycle it,” ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh said.

The ACCC has previously authorised the major supermarkets to engage in conduct as part of the Soft Plastics Taskforce to process the stockpile left over from REDcycle and to restart instore collection pilots until July 2026.

“We believe the proposed scheme will result in an environmental benefit as it aims to take over and expand the current in-store collection and kerbside pilots for recycling soft plastic packaging, meaning some soft plastics are likely to be diverted from landfill,” Mr Keogh said.

“While we know that soft plastic recycling has faced many challenges in Australia, we consider that the SPSA scheme is an important stepping stone to expanding collections and recycling.”

The ACCC considers that these public environmental benefits outweigh any potential detriment to competition that results from the collaboration through SPSA’s scheme.

The ACCC is proposing to grant authorisation for eight years and to include a reporting condition to ensure transparency of the performance of the scheme. An additional condition is proposed to ensure that there is no exclusive contracts with processors.

The ACCC has also granted interim authorisation to SPSA to allow it to engage in part of the conduct now including the sharing of operational information and data to allow for existing arrangements of the Soft Plastics Taskforce to be transferred to SPSA.

Submissions on the ACCC’s draft determination are due by 25 August 2025.

Note to editors

The ACCC is not an environmental regulator. The ACCC’s role as Australia’s competition regulator includes assessing applications for authorisation. ACCC authorisation provides statutory protection from court action for certain conduct by competitors that might otherwise raise concerns under the competition provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act.

In this instance, authorisation is proposed in respect of Division 1 of Part IV and sections 45 and 47 of the Act.

Broadly, the ACCC may grant an authorisation when it is satisfied that the public benefit from the conduct outweighs any public detriment.

Background

According to data published by the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), between 2022 and 2023, more than 540,000 tonnes of soft plastic packaging was used by manufacturers in packaging their products, however only 6 per cent of this soft plastic was recovered.

The soft plastic packaging comprised both business-to-consumer and business-to-business packaging (such as wrapping goods on pallets). It is estimated that 70% of soft plastic packaging is business-to-consumer.

The SPSA scheme is proposed to be funded through a levy on scheme participants based on the amount of business to consumer soft plastic packaging they place on the market, meaning the first occasion on which soft plastic packaging is supplied.

For example, when a manufacturer sells its product to a supermarket, the manufacturer will have placed the soft plastic on the market, or where a supermarket sells its ‘own brand’ products in its stores.

Scheme participants may decide to pass on the cost of the levy through the supply chain, including to consumers.

The ACCC has previously authorised Aldi, Coles and Woolworths to work together to remediate the stockpile of soft plastics following the collapse of REDcycle soft plastics recycling program.

The Australian Government, including the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, is working to reform Australia’s packaging regulations to minimise packaging waste and pollution and build a circular economy for packaging. This reform is separate to this scheme.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested an 18-year-old man in relation to drug driving offences in Palmerston overnight.

Around 9:15pm, Darwin Traffic Unit members observed a grey Ford Falcon travelling along Elrundie Avenue towards Durack at approximately 98km/hr in an 80km/hr zone.

The vehicle failed to stop and a pursuit was initiated.

A short time later, the Falcon attempted to pass a Blue Suzuki Balino on Elrundie Avenue, in the vicinity of Driver Avenue, however collided with the rear left of the vehicle causing significant damage.

The driver of the Suzuki did not receive any injuries.

The offending vehicle continued on for a short distance before stopping on Elrundie near the Kirkland Road roundabout, where the driver was apprehended and tested positive for cannabis.

He was conveyed to Royal Darwin Hospital for assessment and has since been charged with:

• Drive vehicle in a dangerous manner
• Drive with Prohibited drug in body
• Drive a motor vehicle while suspended
• Overtake incorrectly – unsafe to do so
• Not stop after crash
• Drive unregistered motor vehicle
• Drive uninsured motor vehicle
• Drive unregistered motor vehicle plates to deceive
• Possess schedule 2 less then trafficable drug
• Possess thing to administer drug

He was remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court today.

Commander David Moore said “ It is incredibly lucky that not only the offending driver and victim weren’t injured, but neither were the attending police.

“ Driving is a privilege, not a right, and this young man will now face court for his actions.”

Source: Mental Health Australia

Road users are advised of changed traffic conditions on the M7 Motorway in Rooty Hill and Eastern Creek between 8pm Friday 22 August and 10pm Sunday 24 August 2025.

There will be temporary southbound right lane closures along the M7 Motorway near the following locations for the M7 Motorway bridge concrete pour activities: 

Location	Closure Type
Rooty Hill Railway Bridge, Rooty Hill	Southbound right lane closure
Great Western Highway Bridge, Eastern Creek	Southbound right lane closure

Vehicles travelling under a permit must not travel off the approved route listed in their permit unless an updated permit is obtained from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR).

Please keep to the speed limits and follow the direction of traffic controllers and signs.

Transport for NSW thanks road users for their patience during this time.

For the latest traffic updates across the network download the Live Traffic NSW App, visit livetraffic.com or call 132 701.