'Rank political opportunism': Barr defends Japan trade mission against 'junket' jibe
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ABC News
2 days ago
- ABC News
Australians still travelling to the US despite Trump-era border crackdowns
Australians are defying a global downturn in travel to the United States, with new figures showing a rise in visitor numbers, despite Donald Trump's tough new border controls and concerns about detentions and deportations. Nearly 70,000 Australians travelled to the United States in May — up almost 8 per cent on the same time last year, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).Year-on-year, travel from Australia to the US rose 4.8 per cent. Meanwhile, US government figures show there was a 3.4 per cent drop in overall international visits to the US this year. Tourism researcher Professor Sara Dolnicar, from the University of Queensland, said the figures showed Australians remained curious and open-minded travellers, even when politics got prickly. "Australians don't necessarily feel an acute fear or danger entering the US, unlike some other countries that have reacted strongly to announcements by the current US administration," Ms Dolnicar said. "There's a strong cultural tie between the US and Australia. "Australians don't feel like they're not welcomed by Americans." Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has upgraded its travel advice for the US multiple times in 2025 amid a tougher approach at the border. While the US remains at DFAT's lowest warning level, Australians are now urged to carry identification at all times and warned they could be detained on arrival. Melbourne woman Laura Hall booked her family's three-week US holiday more than a year ago — well before the tough US border stance and before Australian writer Alistair Kitchen was denied entry. By the time the family boarded the plane earlier this month, Ms Hall said she was nervous. "I thought they'd go through my socials or grill us," she said. "But it was seamless, the officer even recommended restaurants." Ms Hall used the free Mobile Passport Control app, which lets Australians with an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) pre-submit customs details. She said it helped the family skip the long immigration queue. But not every traveller feels so relaxed. Professor Dolnicar said while many Australians still view the US as a bucket-list destination, concerns are bubbling beneath the surface, particularly around privacy and how border officials exercise their powers. "The way borders are handled, phone checks, probing questions, that's very foreign to us. "Australians are used to privacy and freedom." She said some travellers may even be rushing to visit before things potentially got worse. "There's a sense of urgency. People say, 'If I want to go to New York, I'll go now, before it gets harder'." And while international arrivals may seem critical to the US travel boom, she said nearly 90 per cent of tourism in the US was domestic. "So the sector's dependence on international travellers is actually quite low, though of course it matters more in places like New York or Hawaii." While travel to the US is holding steady, the bigger picture shows Australians are flocking to Asia in droves, lured by cheaper holidays and shorter flight times. In the year to May 2025, outbound travel jumped 12.5 per cent to 12.21 million trips, with Asia leading the charge. Japan was the stand-out, with Aussie visits up 32.4 per cent, followed by Vietnam (+25.8 per cent) and China (+26.9 per cent). Professor Dolnicar said Australia's growing cohort of "confident, independent travellers" was less likely to be deterred by global headlines. "This is about disposable income and pent-up travel demand after lockdowns. Australians want to travel again," she said. Still, the current enthusiasm for the US masks a less rosy picture for American tourism overall, an industry that brings more than $215 billion into the country in visitor spending each year. Canada — usually the US's biggest international market — recorded nearly one million fewer visits in the first half of 2025, down more than 14 per cent. That followed a simmering tariff war and Trump's suggestion that Canada should become the US's 51st state. Middle Eastern and European arrivals have also dropped sharply to the US, as have visitors from South Korea and China. At the same time, the Trump administration has slashed funding to Brand USA, the country's official tourism body, by US$80 million — a move experts warn could reduce the US's visibility overseas. "If you were dependent on international travellers, you'd be worried. Cutting Brand USA funding undermines the country's visibility and risks losing market share," Ms Dolcinar said From later this year, a new US$250 "visa integrity fee" will also be imposed on most non-immigrant visa applicants. While Australians travelling under the visa waiver program won't be affected — experts say it could be a deterrent for other travellers. "It sends a message that the US is making entry harder," Ms Dolnicar said. "And that could shift tourism flows to more welcoming destinations." Despite the politics, Laura Hall said she's already planning a return trip. "I don't like what Trump stands for, but it's not the American people's fault," she said. "Everyone we met was kind — they made our trip really special."
Daily Telegraph
3 days ago
- Daily Telegraph
Campaigners say tanker carrying Russian oil to dock in WA
Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News. A tanker purportedly full of Russian oil is set to dock in Western Australia within days, despite sanctions being in place against Moscow, Ukrainian and anti-Russian oil campaigners According to DFAT, the 'import, purchase or transport' of several goods is prohibited 'if they were exported from, or originated in, Russia'. That includes oil and petroleum products. The ship Seferis left Sika in India two weeks ago full of oil from the Jamnagar refinery, and it is due to arrive in the outer-Perth suburb of Kwinana by 4am Sunday. The Jamnagar refinery is notoriously fed by Russian crude oil, with as much as 55 per cent of their 2025 stock coming from the European pariah. This means the imported oil, which originated in Russia, could end up fuelling Australian vehicles on the road. Anti-Russian oil campaigners allege this ship is full of covertly imported Russian oil The alarm has been raised about a 'loophole' that allows Russian oil to be bought and sold in Australia, with local campaigners and parliamentarians calling for immediate action. Independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie raised the issue in Question Time on Thursday, asking the Defence Minister Richard Marles 'Why are the loopholes in our sanctions so big you can drive a tanker through them?' 'In July, two vessels reportedly docked in Botany Bay, with some 175,000 tonnes of petrol from the Jamnagar refinery in India, which uses up to 55 per cent Russian oil,' Mr Wilkie said. 'So these vessels effectively carry some 90,000 tonnes of Russian-sourced petrol, paid for by Australians, which will help fund Putin's war in Ukraine.' Independent MP Andrew Wilkie questioned the government about the 'loophole'. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman Mr Marles largely avoided the question instead focusing on the sanctions that had been put in place. 'Sanctions, which is the topic of the question the member has asked, is an important part of what we are putting in place to stand with Ukraine,' Mr Marles said. 'And our government will stand with Ukraine. 'I know the Australian people will stand with the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes for Ukraine to resolve this conflict on its terms.' The loophole has recently been closed in the European Union, which has banned the importation of petroleum products refined form Russian crude oil in its 18th sanctions package against Russia. Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles defended Australia's sanctions. NewsWire / Simon Bullard. The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations has urged Australia to take similar action. 'This decisive action closes a glaring and deeply exploited loophole that has allowed Russian crude to enter global markets through refineries in third-party countries – undermining sanctions and fuelling the Kremlin's war machine. 'We urge the Australian government to take similar action and close this loophole in Australia's own sanctions regime. 'Since February 2023, Australia has imported an estimated $3.7bn worth of Russian crude, as a component in refined petroleum products from Indian refineries – sending around $1.8bn in tax revenue to the Kremlin. 'This flow of profits directly helps fund Russia's brutal war against Ukraine.' Originally published as Tanker carrying Russian oil set to dock in WA despite sanctions, campaigners say
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Perth Now
Russian oil ‘bound for Australia'
A tanker purportedly full of Russian oil is set to dock in Western Australia within days, despite sanctions being in place against Moscow, Ukrainian and anti-Russian oil campaigners According to DFAT, the 'import, purchase or transport' of several goods is prohibited 'if they were exported from, or originated in, Russia'. That includes oil and petroleum products. The ship Seferis left Sika in India two weeks ago full of oil from the Jamnagar refinery, and it is due to arrive in the outer-Perth suburb of Kwinana by 4am Sunday. The Jamnagar refinery is notoriously fed by Russian crude oil, with as much as 55 per cent of their 2025 stock coming from the European pariah. This means the imported oil, which originated in Russia, could end up fuelling Australian vehicles on the road. Anti-Russian oil campaigners allege this ship is full of covertly imported Russian oil Credit: Supplied The alarm has been raised about a 'loophole' that allows Russian oil to be bought and sold in Australia, with local campaigners and parliamentarians calling for immediate action. Independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie raised the issue in Question Time on Thursday, asking the Defence Minister Richard Marles 'Why are the loopholes in our sanctions so big you can drive a tanker through them?' 'In July, two vessels reportedly docked in Botany Bay, with some 175,000 tonnes of petrol from the Jamnagar refinery in India, which uses up to 55 per cent Russian oil,' Mr Wilkie said. 'So these vessels effectively carry some 90,000 tonnes of Russian-sourced petrol, paid for by Australians, which will help fund Putin's war in Ukraine.' Independent MP Andrew Wilkie questioned the government about the 'loophole'. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia Mr Marles largely avoided the question instead focusing on the sanctions that had been put in place. 'Sanctions, which is the topic of the question the member has asked, is an important part of what we are putting in place to stand with Ukraine,' Mr Marles said. 'And our government will stand with Ukraine. 'I know the Australian people will stand with the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes for Ukraine to resolve this conflict on its terms.' The loophole has recently been closed in the European Union, which has banned the importation of petroleum products refined form Russian crude oil in its 18th sanctions package against Russia. Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles defended Australia's sanctions. NewsWire / Simon Bullard. Credit: News Corp Australia The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations has urged Australia to take similar action. 'This decisive action closes a glaring and deeply exploited loophole that has allowed Russian crude to enter global markets through refineries in third-party countries – undermining sanctions and fuelling the Kremlin's war machine. 'We urge the Australian government to take similar action and close this loophole in Australia's own sanctions regime. 'Since February 2023, Australia has imported an estimated $3.7bn worth of Russian crude, as a component in refined petroleum products from Indian refineries – sending around $1.8bn in tax revenue to the Kremlin. 'This flow of profits directly helps fund Russia's brutal war against Ukraine.'
