Is Australia's multicultural project in trouble?
And as NAIDOC week celebrates its 50th anniversary, the Minister for Aboriginal Australians has indicated a willingness to consider truth-telling at a federal level, but is Anthony Albanese on board?
Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber break it all down on Politics Now.
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News.com.au
15 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Labor lifts US beef ban amid tariff talks
Australia is lifting a ban on US beef from cattle originating in third countries, a senior minister has confirmed. American beef imports have emerged as a key negotiating item in the Albanese government's efforts to secure a tariff carve out. The Trump administration has been pushing for Australia to loosen import rules to include beef from cattle originating in Canada and Mexico but slaughtered in the US. The Prime Minister confirmed last month biosecurity officials were reviewing the request but vowed his government would not 'compromise' Australia's strict bio laws amid outrage from the Nationals and cattle farmers. Confirming reporting overnight that the ban had been lifted, Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth denied the Albanese government had not been transparent in its handling of the US demand. 'Obviously, for national security reasons, at times, governments of all persuasions haven't put everything into the public domain,' she told Nine's Today. 'But when it comes to what's known as the beef review … that review has been underway for a decade or over a decade, looking at how we can make sure that our biosecurity is safe. 'We will not compromise on biosecurity. 'That review has been undertaken and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry believe that there are the right controls in place in the US to lift that ban.'
News.com.au
15 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Prime Minister lifts US beef ban, sets stage for Trump tariff talks
The Prime Minister has moved to dump the ban on US beef imports to Australia that Donald Trump's billionaire trade adviser Howard Lutnick slammed as 'nonsense' in a major olive branch to end the tariff war. The big move removes the Trump administration's key excuse for imposing steep tariffs on Australian beef exports to the US. Australia's bans on fresh beef from the US was to protect against foot-and-mouth outbreak that could cost Australia $80 billion and Mad Cow disease. But in late 2024 and early 2025, the US introduced more robust movement controls which means that all cattle, from Canada and Mexico, can be identified and traced to the farm and through the supply chain. The Albanese Government confirmed the big move on Thursday with government sources confirming it was communicated to the US government overnight Wednesday (AEST). 'The Albanese Labor Government will never compromise on biosecurity,'' Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Julie Collins MP: 'The US Beef Imports Review has undergone a rigorous science and risk-based assessment over the past decade. 'The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is satisfied the strengthened control measures put in place by the US effectively manage biosecurity risks. 'Australia stands for open and fair trade – our cattle industry has significantly benefited from this.' The announcement will allow for expanded access to include beef sourced from cattle born in Canada or Mexico which is legally imported and slaughtered in the US. Despite the recent tariff war, Australian beef has had back-to-back record-breaking export years, with last year worth $14 billion. The Albanese maintains it was a Departmental decision based on scientific advice following a review of the restrictions initiated more than 18 months ago, prior to Donald Trump re-election as President for a second term. The US buys in fresh beef from central and South America, where outbreaks of these diseases have been reported. Prime minister Anthony Albanese had previously warned we won't back down on biosecurity protections. 'The beef issue was about mad cow disease and about also the fact that beef to Australia couldn't be guaranteed – whether it had also come from Canada or Mexico as well,' he said at a media conference. Mr Lutnick, who is the US Commerce Secretary had rubbished Anthony Albanese's claims that the laws are to protect Australia from diseases insisting it is simply a protectionist tactic to block American imports. 'Our farmers are blocked from selling almost anywhere. Europe won't let us sell beef, Australia won't let us sell beef,' Mr Lutnick said. The interviewer interjected to say this was 'because of hormonal chemicals'. Lutnick replied: 'No, no, that's not why. It's because they just wanna protect, they want to say: oh, what, the seeds are different? Other people in the world are using seeds? Come on, this is nonsense. This is all nonsense. What happens is they block our markets.' 'When we open those markets ...the price of groceries will come down. Let Donald Trump run the global economy. He knows what he's doing. Let him fix it. Let Donald Trump fix the US economy.' As Australia fights to secure a better deal Mr Lutnick had also warned the US President 'won't back off.' 'I don't think there's any chance the President is going to back off the tariffs. This is the reordering of global trade,'' Mr Lutnick told CNN on Friday AEDT. 'The president is not going to back off. But countries can fix their tariffs, their non-tariff trade barriers, which are much, much rougher. They are the monster that needs to be slayed. 'Then, and only then, will Donald Trump make a deal with each country – when they've really, really changed their ways.' 'Negotiate is talking. No talking. Too late. These countries have abused us and exploited us, as he said yesterday. They need to change their ways, let's see them change their ways. It's going to be a long time, let's see what they do. Not talking. Talking is nonsense.' Mr Lutnick previously come out swinging against Australia as he strongly defended the 25 per cent tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on steel and aluminium 'Look, you've got dumpers in the rest of the world. Japan dumps steel. China dumps steel. What that means is they make it, they over produce and they sell it dirt cheap to try to drive our guys out of business,' he said. 'The President is here to protect American workers. He's here to protect American industry. We're going to stop that nonsense and bring steel here.
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Penalty rates set to be secured
Sabra Lane: More than two million workers will have their penalty rates locked in under new laws being introduced into federal parliament today. The laws will stop an attempt by big retailers like supermarkets from negotiating to pay their workers a larger salary instead of penalty rates for overtime and weekend work. The major retailers lobby opposes the change, saying businesses want some certainty in what they pay their staff. Political reporter Isobel Roe. Isobel Roe: The Australian Retailers Association, which represents big supermarket chains such as Coles and Woolworths, wants to see less of a reliance on penalty rates. It's applied to the Fair Work Commission, proposing to allow some staff to opt out of penalty rates, overtime and some allowances in favour of a 35 per cent pay rise. But federal Labor will introduce legislation today to prevent that. That move is backed by the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association. Their national secretary is Gerard Dwyer. Gerard Dwyer: The legislation will provide proper protection for lower paid workers working unsociable hours in the service sector like retail, like hospitality. Isobel Roe: The Retailers Association says it's not trying to remove penalty rates. It argues workers opting into an annual salary would gain financial stability. And businesses would have more certainty on worker wages, improving productivity. The shop union's Gerard Dwyer rejects that. Gerard Dwyer: It's got nothing to do with improving productivity. People are saying, oh, this will be simpler. But that's not the motivation. The motivation is to reduce the payment to lower paid workers who work unsociable hours. Isobel Roe: It's rare for the federal government to intervene in a Fair Work Commission matter. But in a statement, Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth says the government wants to protect the penalty rates of 2.6 million of the country's low paid workers. The legislation is likely to receive the support of the Greens, although there's been no decision made by the party yet. The Coalition's industrial relations spokesman, Tim Wilson, has been briefed on the bill and is not yet guaranteeing his party's support either. Tim Wilson: When the minister was asked whether it was going to have an impact on small business, she gave a very explicit firm commitment that it wouldn't. But we're not going to know that till we have a clear consultation with small business and hear that from them. No penalty rates are being paid on jobs that don't exist. Isobel Roe: Not all small businesses see it that way, like Nat Latter, who owns a bookstore in Perth. Nat Latter: We choose to stay closed on a public holiday because we don't make enough money on those days to cover penalty rates. However, we're happy to do that. We're happy to have the day off and for other organisations they might make a different choice. Isobel Roe: Labor's bill will be introduced to the lower house later today. Sabra Lane: Isobel Roe there.
