Australia's defence force has been ‘stripped to the bone' under Labor
Sky News host Andrew Bolt slams the Albanese government for not spending enough on defence.
'Our defence force has been stripped to the bone at the very time that the government itself says the world has never been this dangerous since World War 2,' Mr Bold said.
'The Australian Institute of Strategic Policy today issued a report pointing out exactly that.
'Spending on our military was too low, we lacked the right weapons, we weren't recruiting enough soldiers.
"So for the next few years, we're left with a paper Australian defence force that lacks the readiness and size to meet near-term threats.'
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"They are an act of economic self-harm that will only hurt consumers and businesses who rely on free and fair trade," he said on Saturday. "We will continue to engage and advocate strongly for the removal of the tariffs." Opposition trade spokesman Kevin Hogan said the latest move was concerning for Australian jobs The coalition expected the US to honour its obligations under both nations' free trade agreement, he added. "The Albanese government needs to double its efforts to protect our steel industry and local jobs for our steel workers," Mr Hogan said in a statement. "This is why it is imperative that the Australian prime minister personally meets with President Trump ... to develop a personal rapport with the United States president and protect Australian industries." Labor has sought to temper expectations on whether it can land a deal with the US to remove the tariffs, like it did after nine months of lobbying in the first Trump administration. 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The US imported 289 product categories in 2024, costing $US147 billion ($A229 billion), with nearly two-thirds of those aluminium and one-third steel, according to Census Bureau data from the US International Trade Commission. The 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium were among the earliest implemented following Mr Trump's return to the White House in January and came into effect in March. Australia will continue to push for Mr Trump to drop his tariffs after a US federal court blocked his Liberation Day taxes on imported goods from going into effect. Goods from Australia are subject to a 10 per cent baseline tariff, while all steel and aluminium imports to the US face 25 per cent tariffs before Mr Trump's latest announcement. The New York-based Court of International Trade found the US president had overstepped his authority by imposing the tariffs. The administration launched an appeal, decrying "unelected judges" should not decide how to address a "national emergency". 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"They are an act of economic self-harm that will only hurt consumers and businesses who rely on free and fair trade," he said on Saturday. "We will continue to engage and advocate strongly for the removal of the tariffs." Opposition trade spokesman Kevin Hogan said the latest move was concerning for Australian jobs The coalition expected the US to honour its obligations under both nations' free trade agreement, he added. "The Albanese government needs to double its efforts to protect our steel industry and local jobs for our steel workers," Mr Hogan said in a statement. "This is why it is imperative that the Australian prime minister personally meets with President Trump ... to develop a personal rapport with the United States president and protect Australian industries." Labor has sought to temper expectations on whether it can land a deal with the US to remove the tariffs, like it did after nine months of lobbying in the first Trump administration. 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The Advertiser
3 hours ago
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'Unjustified': PM-Trump talks push after tariff hike
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Opposition trade spokesman Kevin Hogan said the latest move was concerning for Australian jobs and the coalition expected the US to honour its obligations under both nations' free trade agreement. "The Albanese government needs to double its efforts to protect our steel industry and local jobs for our steel workers," he said in a statement. "This is why it is imperative that the Australian prime minister personally meets with President Trump ... to develop a personal rapport with the United States president and protect Australian industries." The US imported 289 product categories in 2024, costing $US147 billion ($A229 billion), with nearly two-thirds of those aluminium and one-third steel, according to Census Bureau data from the US International Trade Commission. The 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium were among the earliest implemented following Mr Trump's return to the White House in January and came into effect in March. Australia will continue to push for Mr Trump to drop his tariffs after a US federal court blocked his Liberation Day taxes on imported goods from going into effect. Goods from Australia are subject to a 10 per cent baseline tariff, while all steel and aluminium imports to the US face 25 per cent tariffs before Mr Trump's latest announcement. The New York-based Court of International Trade found the US president had overstepped his authority by imposing the tariffs. The administration launched an appeal, decrying "unelected judges" should not decide how to address a "national emergency". Labor has sought to temper expectations on whether it can land a deal with the US to remove the tariffs. Pressure is again mounting for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to personally meet with Donald Trump amid fresh alarm over the US president's "unjustified" tariff hike on steel imports. Mr Trump on Saturday announced plans to increase tariffs on foreign imports of steel from 25 to 50 per cent to "further secure the steel industry in the United States". The latest decision could impact Australia's industry, which exported more than $414 million worth of iron and steel to the US in 2024. Trade Minister Don Farrell says the tariffs are unjustified and not the act of a friend. "They are an act of economic self-harm that will only hurt consumers and businesses who rely on free and fair trade," Mr Farrell said on Saturday. "We will continue to engage and advocate strongly for the removal of the tariffs." Opposition trade spokesman Kevin Hogan said the latest move was concerning for Australian jobs and the coalition expected the US to honour its obligations under both nations' free trade agreement. "The Albanese government needs to double its efforts to protect our steel industry and local jobs for our steel workers," he said in a statement. "This is why it is imperative that the Australian prime minister personally meets with President Trump ... to develop a personal rapport with the United States president and protect Australian industries." The US imported 289 product categories in 2024, costing $US147 billion ($A229 billion), with nearly two-thirds of those aluminium and one-third steel, according to Census Bureau data from the US International Trade Commission. The 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium were among the earliest implemented following Mr Trump's return to the White House in January and came into effect in March. Australia will continue to push for Mr Trump to drop his tariffs after a US federal court blocked his Liberation Day taxes on imported goods from going into effect. Goods from Australia are subject to a 10 per cent baseline tariff, while all steel and aluminium imports to the US face 25 per cent tariffs before Mr Trump's latest announcement. The New York-based Court of International Trade found the US president had overstepped his authority by imposing the tariffs. The administration launched an appeal, decrying "unelected judges" should not decide how to address a "national emergency". Labor has sought to temper expectations on whether it can land a deal with the US to remove the tariffs. Pressure is again mounting for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to personally meet with Donald Trump amid fresh alarm over the US president's "unjustified" tariff hike on steel imports. Mr Trump on Saturday announced plans to increase tariffs on foreign imports of steel from 25 to 50 per cent to "further secure the steel industry in the United States". The latest decision could impact Australia's industry, which exported more than $414 million worth of iron and steel to the US in 2024. Trade Minister Don Farrell says the tariffs are unjustified and not the act of a friend. "They are an act of economic self-harm that will only hurt consumers and businesses who rely on free and fair trade," Mr Farrell said on Saturday. "We will continue to engage and advocate strongly for the removal of the tariffs." Opposition trade spokesman Kevin Hogan said the latest move was concerning for Australian jobs and the coalition expected the US to honour its obligations under both nations' free trade agreement. "The Albanese government needs to double its efforts to protect our steel industry and local jobs for our steel workers," he said in a statement. "This is why it is imperative that the Australian prime minister personally meets with President Trump ... to develop a personal rapport with the United States president and protect Australian industries." The US imported 289 product categories in 2024, costing $US147 billion ($A229 billion), with nearly two-thirds of those aluminium and one-third steel, according to Census Bureau data from the US International Trade Commission. The 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium were among the earliest implemented following Mr Trump's return to the White House in January and came into effect in March. Australia will continue to push for Mr Trump to drop his tariffs after a US federal court blocked his Liberation Day taxes on imported goods from going into effect. Goods from Australia are subject to a 10 per cent baseline tariff, while all steel and aluminium imports to the US face 25 per cent tariffs before Mr Trump's latest announcement. The New York-based Court of International Trade found the US president had overstepped his authority by imposing the tariffs. The administration launched an appeal, decrying "unelected judges" should not decide how to address a "national emergency". Labor has sought to temper expectations on whether it can land a deal with the US to remove the tariffs. Pressure is again mounting for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to personally meet with Donald Trump amid fresh alarm over the US president's "unjustified" tariff hike on steel imports. Mr Trump on Saturday announced plans to increase tariffs on foreign imports of steel from 25 to 50 per cent to "further secure the steel industry in the United States". The latest decision could impact Australia's industry, which exported more than $414 million worth of iron and steel to the US in 2024. Trade Minister Don Farrell says the tariffs are unjustified and not the act of a friend. "They are an act of economic self-harm that will only hurt consumers and businesses who rely on free and fair trade," Mr Farrell said on Saturday. "We will continue to engage and advocate strongly for the removal of the tariffs." Opposition trade spokesman Kevin Hogan said the latest move was concerning for Australian jobs and the coalition expected the US to honour its obligations under both nations' free trade agreement. "The Albanese government needs to double its efforts to protect our steel industry and local jobs for our steel workers," he said in a statement. "This is why it is imperative that the Australian prime minister personally meets with President Trump ... to develop a personal rapport with the United States president and protect Australian industries." The US imported 289 product categories in 2024, costing $US147 billion ($A229 billion), with nearly two-thirds of those aluminium and one-third steel, according to Census Bureau data from the US International Trade Commission. The 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium were among the earliest implemented following Mr Trump's return to the White House in January and came into effect in March. Australia will continue to push for Mr Trump to drop his tariffs after a US federal court blocked his Liberation Day taxes on imported goods from going into effect. Goods from Australia are subject to a 10 per cent baseline tariff, while all steel and aluminium imports to the US face 25 per cent tariffs before Mr Trump's latest announcement. The New York-based Court of International Trade found the US president had overstepped his authority by imposing the tariffs. The administration launched an appeal, decrying "unelected judges" should not decide how to address a "national emergency". Labor has sought to temper expectations on whether it can land a deal with the US to remove the tariffs.
