Australia to miss out on tax top-up from multinationals
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News AU
3 hours ago
- Sky News AU
High-level Chinese diplomat probes Newcastle City Lord Mayor for AUKUS submarine location in private meeting
A high-level Chinese diplomat based in Australia has pressed Newcastle City Mayor Ross Kerridge for information on AUKUS nuclear submarines during a private meeting between the pair. Australia's ability to secure nuclear submarines is a main pillar of the trilateral AUKUS security agreement and the country has already committed $3 billion to assist United States defence manufacturing in exchange for being able to purchase Virginia class vessels. However, questions have been raised over the availability of US-built of submarines following the Trump administration's announcement it was reviewing the deal, which Australia sees as a critical defence investment of deterrence in the region. The Daily Telegraph has now revealed an encounter on July 17 where the future docking location of AUKUS submarines was discussed, prompted by the Consul General of China in Syndey, Wang Yu. According to minutes of the meeting obtained by masthead, notes taken show that the diplomat asked if submarines secured under AUKUS would be based at Newcastle. '(Consul General) explained that China is concerned that Chinese interests in Australia will be affected by strategic defence decisions,' the meeting document read, according to the masthead. 'For example, is Newcastle Port a potential base for AUKUS submarines? '(The Lord Mayor) explained that we are a nuclear free city, but we will not have the means to stop a decision of this nature taken by the state and/or federal governments. 'China expects that Australia and Newcastle will have good relations with other countries and is also looking to build good relations, but would not like us… to use our good relations with other countries to adversely affect China.' The Daily Telegraph also reported the New South Wales city's Taiwanese and Tibetan communities were talked about during the meeting. It comes just days after The Australian revealed Shanghai Xinyang Chamber of Commerce president Wang Yongxin's family ties to the purchase of commercial port properties at Newcastle and Kembla. Wang family members have reportedly denied they have links to the Chinese Communist Party's United Front. Meanwhile, there have been suggestions Australia may need to increase its financial commitments to ensure Virginia class submarines are provided in line with the terms of the original AUKUS agreement. Last month, Defence Minister Richard Marles said he was not prepared to "speculate" on the Trump administration's review of the pact and insisted the government's focus was directed at "pursuing the optimal pathway" that would see Virginia class submarines being available to Australia from 2032.
News.com.au
4 hours ago
- News.com.au
Australian passport losing its power compared to many other nations
Australia has fallen from sixth to seventh place in the latest Henley Passport Index, trailing countries such as Singapore, New Zealand and the UK. The Henley Passport Index ranks passports according to the number of places travellers can enter without a visa or with visa-on-arrival access. Australia now shares seventh place with Czechia, Hungary, Malta and Poland. Singapore is the world's most powerful passport, with visa-free access to 193 destinations out of 227. Japan and South Korea are in equal second place, each giving citizens access to 190 destinations visa-free. Seven countries are in third place including France, Germany, Ireland and Italy. They have access to 189 destinations. In fourth place there are also seven countries including Belgium, Sweden, Norway and Portugal. They have visa-free entry to 188 destinations. New Zealand is in fifth spot, along with Switzerland, while the UK is in sixth place. The US has slipped to 10th place and is close to falling out of the top 10 for the first time since the index began almost 20 years ago. Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the list, with its citizens able to access just 25 destinations without a prior visa. Australians are still able to enter many countries without needing a visa beforehand. The data shows a general global shift towards more openness, mobility and passport strength. Over the past decade, more than 80 passports have climbed at least 10 places, and the global average number of destinations travellers can access visa-free has almost doubled from 58 in 2006 to 109 in 2025. Notably, China has climbed 34 places from 94th to 60th since 2015. China has granted visa-free access to more than a dozen new passports since January, bringing its total to 75. These include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia. Henley and Partners chief executive Juerg Steffen said Americans were leading the demand worldwide for alternative residence and citizenship options, with British nationals also among the top five. 'As the US and UK adopt increasingly inward-looking policies, we're witnessing a marked rise in interest from their citizens seeking greater global access and security,' he said. 'Your passport is no longer just a travel document – it's a reflection of your country's diplomatic influence and international relationships.
News.com.au
4 hours ago
- News.com.au
New $800m payment for AUKUS was scheduled, Prime Minister says
Australia has sent another $800m to the US as part of the AUKUS deal, which the Trump administration has under review, but the Prime Minister says it was simply a part of the 'schedule'. Anthony Albanese was asked about the new payment that took the total to $1.6bn, which was reported in Nine newspapers on Wednesday. 'There is a schedule of payments to be made, we have an agreement with the United States as well as with the United Kingdom,' Mr Albanese told ABC's Afternoon Briefing. 'It is about increasing the capacity, their industrial capacity, and as part of that, we have Australians on the ground, learning the skills so that when it comes to the SSN-AUKUS, the submarines being built here in Australia, we have those skills.' Defence Minister Richard Marles earlier confirmed the report saying 'the payments are occurring in line with Australia's commitment to contribute US$2bn by the end of 2025, which underscores our commitment to the successful delivery of AUKUS Pillar I outcomes'. The US' review was announced in June and is being headed up by Elbridge Colby, the US undersecretary of defence. Mr Colby recently made headlines when it was revealed he was pressuring the Australian and Japanese governments to reveal what they would do if China invaded Taiwan. The AUKUS deal is a long-term arrangement that will cost upwards of $268bn, and as much as $368bn, over the next 30 years. Australia would buy nuclear submarines from the US, while developing our own capacity to build submarines in Adelaide. The new payment came as Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor said he was 'worried' about the government's position on defence. 'I worry that the government – I think it's not just me worried, I think every expert looking at this is making these comments – they're deeply worried that we're not on our way to having the defence force we need in such an uncertain time,' Mr Taylor said.
