Latest news with #Don Farrell
News.com.au
19 hours ago
- Business
- News.com.au
‘Dog's breakfast': Karl Stefanovic slams US beef deal, David Pocock backs inquiry calls
A trade deal to accept US beef into Australia has been labelled a dog's breakfast by Karl Stefanovic after the Trade Minister's apparent gaffe claiming Donald Trump personally lobbied for the deal. Trade Minister Don Farrell on Sunday said the US President raised the issue directly with Anthony Albanese in one of the three phone conversations the leaders shared. The Prime Minister said that was incorrect, and on Tuesday Stefanovic put criticism of the beef deal to Labor frontbencher Amanda Rishworth. 'I think he has clarified his comments,' Ms Rishworth said of Senator Farrell. 'We've discussed it on this show, that Donald Trump made public his issues around beef imports and exports. That was not a secret. 'I think this is making a mountain out of a molehill. Quite frankly, just silly politics on the side. 'What's important here is putting forward our best foot forward, for the national interest, to be prosecuting our case with the US, and that's what our government will keep doing.' Stefanovic suggested the US beef deal had become a shambles and asked senator David Pocock what needed to happen. 'David, do you think there should be an inquiry? I mean, it's starting to look more and more like a dog's breakfast,' Stefanovic said. 'I think there's real questions to answer around the timing of this,' the senator replied. 'And on the bigger issue, who's going to buy American beef? We have some of the best beef in the world here in Australia. I certainly won't be buying US beef. 'I think a lot of Australians will see it on the shelf, if it even gets here, and say 'well, I'm going to support Australia'.' The Coalition has already called for an inquiry into the beef deal, arguing the government has put biosecurity at risk as a bargaining chip for a US tariff exemption. The Coalition wants a Senate inquiry into the government backflip, citing the timing of the decision amid stalled tariff negotiations. Labor has rejected claims of the link to ongoing tariff discussions, saying the decision follows a lengthy review undertaken by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, which found new tracing protocols eliminated risks posed by beef sourced from Canada and Mexico but slaughtered in the US. However, Nationals Leader David Littleproud said an inquiry was required to give 'assurance' that 'Labor isn't sacrificing our high biosecurity standards'. As of Monday, July 28, Australian businesses were able to apply for import licences to get US fresh beef and beef products. Mr Littleproud has accused Agriculture Minister Julie Collins of ignoring advice regarding oversight by independent scientific experts. 'Minister Collins needs to explain why the advice of the Inspector-General of Biosecurity wasn't considered and why it has fallen on deaf ears when it comes to such an important decision,' Mr Littleproud said in a statement released Tuesday morning. 'Is Labor willing to undermine Australia's high biosecurity, just so Prime Minister Anthony Albanese can obtain a meeting with US President Donald Trump?' In question time on Monday, Mr Littleproud asked Ms Collins if the Inspector-General's recommendations had been implemented. Risk-based assessments were done by department staff on a scientific basis, she said. 'We have not compromised on biosecurity at all in any way, shape or form, and the member opposite would know, of course, we've had to put around $2bn additional into biosecurity since we came to office because of the way they left our biosecurity system,' Ms Collins said. 'The other thing I would say to the member opposite is he would be aware that this decision has been coming for some time. 'The US and Australia traceability systems are equivalent and that the decision has been taken, based on science, around the US system and the Australian traceability system, and all food imported into Australia must be safe and compliant with our food standards. 'This has been done on a scientific basis.'
Daily Telegraph
19 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Telegraph
Stefanovic slams US beef deal, senator David Pocock backs call for inquiry
Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News. A trade deal to accept US beef into Australia has been labelled a dog's breakfast by Karl Stefanovic after the Trade Minister's apparent gaffe claiming Donald Trump personally lobbied for the deal. Trade Minister Don Farrell on Sunday said the US President raised the issue directly with Anthony Albanese in one of the three phone conversations the leaders shared. The Prime Minister said that was incorrect, and on Tuesday Stefanovic put criticism of the beef deal to Labor frontbencher Amanda Rishworth. Senator Don Farrell admitted to making a mistake when he said Donald Trump had raised the issue of beef with Anthony Albanese. Picture: Jason Edwards / NewsWire 'I think he has clarified his comments,' Ms Rishworth said of Senator Farrell. 'We've discussed it on this show, that Donald Trump made public his issues around beef imports and exports. That was not a secret. 'I think this is making a mountain out of a molehill. Quite frankly, just silly politics on the side. 'What's important here is putting forward our best foot forward, for the national interest, to be prosecuting our case with the US, and that's what our government will keep doing.' Stefanovic suggested the US beef deal had become a shambles and asked senator David Pocock what needed to happen. Amanda Rishworth defended her colleague, Trade Minister Don Farrell. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman 'David, do you think there should be an inquiry? I mean, it's starting to look more and more like a dog's breakfast,' Stefanovic said. 'I think there's real questions to answer around the timing of this,' the senator replied. 'And on the bigger issue, who's going to buy American beef? We have some of the best beef in the world here in Australia. I certainly won't be buying US beef. 'I think a lot of Australians will see it on the shelf, if it even gets here, and say 'well, I'm going to support Australia'.' A trade deal to accept US beef into Australia has been labelled a dog's breakfast by Karl Stefanovic after the Trade Minister'sapparent gaffe claiming Donald Trump personally lobbied for the deal. Picture: Nine The Coalition has already called for an inquiry into the beef deal, arguing the government has put biosecurity at risk as a bargaining chip for a US tariff exemption. The Coalition wants a Senate inquiry into the government backflip, citing the timing of the decision amid stalled tariff negotiations. Labor has rejected claims of the link to ongoing tariff discussions, saying the decision follows a lengthy review undertaken by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, which found new tracing protocols eliminated risks posed by beef sourced from Canada and Mexico but slaughtered in the US. Agriculture Minister Julie Collins says Australia's biosecurity has not been compromised. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman However, Nationals Leader David Littleproud said an inquiry was required to give 'assurance' that 'Labor isn't sacrificing our high biosecurity standards'. As of Monday, July 28, Australian businesses were able to apply for import licences to get US fresh beef and beef products. Mr Littleproud has accused Agriculture Minister Julie Collins of ignoring advice regarding oversight by independent scientific experts. 'Minister Collins needs to explain why the advice of the Inspector-General of Biosecurity wasn't considered and why it has fallen on deaf ears when it comes to such an important decision,' Mr Littleproud said in a statement released Tuesday morning. 'Is Labor willing to undermine Australia's high biosecurity, just so Prime Minister Anthony Albanese can obtain a meeting with US President Donald Trump?' In question time on Monday, Mr Littleproud asked Ms Collins if the Inspector-General's recommendations had been implemented. Risk-based assessments were done by department staff on a scientific basis, she said. 'We have not compromised on biosecurity at all in any way, shape or form, and the member opposite would know, of course, we've had to put around $2bn additional into biosecurity since we came to office because of the way they left our biosecurity system,' Ms Collins said. 'The other thing I would say to the member opposite is he would be aware that this decision has been coming for some time. 'The US and Australia traceability systems are equivalent and that the decision has been taken, based on science, around the US system and the Australian traceability system, and all food imported into Australia must be safe and compliant with our food standards. 'This has been done on a scientific basis.' Originally published as 'Dog's breakfast': Karl Stefanovic slams US beef deal, David Pocock backs inquiry calls
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Australia should compromise to reach EU trade deal, says minister
Australia and the EU are expected to conclude the second phase of a trade pact by the end of the year. (EPA Images pic) CANBERRA : Australia should accept compromises to reach a trade deal with the EU and demonstrate that such agreements can still be reached in a more protectionist world, trade minister Don Farrell said today. Farrell said in a speech at the Lowy Institute in Sydney that free trade was under threat and that Australia should work with other countries to defend it. In a question and answer session after the speech, Farrell said Australia-EU trade negotiations that restarted this year would be successful and it was in both sides' national interest to make it so. 'It will require some compromises in our negotiations, but I think the imperative here is to show the rest of the world we're fair dinkum about free and open trade and we can do agreements with other countries,' he said, using an Australian phrase meaning honest, genuine or sincere. Asked if he meant that Australian industry would have to step up in the national interest, he said: 'I'm saying exactly that'. A previous attempt to reach a trade deal failed in 2023, with Canberra wanting more ability to sell farm goods in Europe. The EU is seeking greater access to Australian critical minerals and lower tariffs on manufactured goods. Farrell also said a trade agreement with India should be reached 'in the very near future'. The two countries are aiming to conclude the second phase of a trade pact by the end of the year. Australia is also seeking to negotiate with the US to reverse tariffs enacted by President Donald Trump and prevent new ones from being imposed. Yesterday, Canberra loosened biosecurity rules to allow greater access to US beef, though it said this was the result of a long-running scientific assessment rather than a part of trade talks.
