'This masks other problems': Matt Canavan warns Australia's relationship with US isn't fixed after Trump's tariff decision
The World According To Rowan Dean is available to view for SkyNews.com.au subscribers. Join SkyNews.com.au to watch the full episode.
Despite Australia holding steady on the lowest rate of international tariffs for the US at 10%, Mr Canavan told Sky News host Rowan Dean on Friday Australia has to do more to strengthen ties with the U.S. government.
'It's great that we're not facing the higher tariffs as some other countries (are), but there is another side of the relationship here that seems to be just going missing, because the Prime Minister's missing,' he said.
Mr Canavan said it is a strong concern that Anthony Albanese has made little effort to engage with President Trump since his election in November 2024, and believed the relationship cannot be mended until this has changed.
'The Prime Minister hasn't taken the effort to go to the United States and meet Donald Trump when 20 other world leaders have done so, including the President of Mauritania,' he said.
'Small countries in Africa have got audiences with the President, but our Prime Minister hasn't.
'It's getting close on a year now since the President was elected, and it's hard to explain why the Prime Minister is seemingly running scared from Washington DC.'
Another key issue Mr Canavan pointed towards as an example for fractured tensions between the US and Australia was the approach to defence. Mr Canavan said the government's lack of response towards a public signal from the US government to increase defence manufacturing with Australia, as well as Australia's own defence spending, is still a simmering issue.
'The U.S. administration has signalled through Pete Hegseth that they'd like to work with Australia to develop more manufacturing of 115-millimetre artillery shells, guided weapons systems and radar repair facilities,' he said.
'There's been basically zero response from the Australian government, certainly nothing in public.
'The US administration at the same time have asked us to lift our defence spending, which is reasonable if they're going to help us with our industrial capacity.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
21 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Japan wins $10 billion contract to build warships for Australia
Japanese firm Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has won a keenly fought contest to build $10 billion worth of warships for the Australian navy, beating its German rival and overcoming concerns about a lack of export experience. Strongly backed by Japan's diplomatic nand military apparatus, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries won favour with its ultra-modern Mogami frigate, which was widely acknowledged as a more advanced warship than German firm TKMS's Meko A-200 vessel. TKMS sought to capitalise on its cheaper offer and the fact that modern Japan has no experience exporting warships in its attempt to win the contest. The general purpose frigate program will see 11 new warships built to replace the ageing Anzac-class frigates, which are regarded as the warhorse vessel of the Australian navy and are being gradually retired from service. In a bid to avoid the cost overruns and delays that have marred the Hunter-class frigate program, the government has ordered that the first three general purpose frigates be built overseas and that there be minimal changes to the existing ship design. The first frigate is scheduled to be delivered in 2029, with most of the ships to be built at the Henderson shipyards in Perth. Loading A lack of support from the Japanese government was blamed for the failure to win a contract to build a fleet of submarines for Australia, a contract that instead went to France's Naval Group before being scrapped when the AUKUS pact was agreed. Tokyo was determined to correct that mistake, arguing that awarding the contract to Mitsubishi would solidify Australia and Japan as 'special strategic partners' in the Indo-Pacific, allowing their navies to operate more closely at a time of rising tensions in the region.
The Age
21 minutes ago
- The Age
Japan wins $10 billion contract to build warships for Australia
Japanese firm Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has won a keenly fought contest to build $10 billion worth of warships for the Australian navy, beating its German rival and overcoming concerns about a lack of export experience. Strongly backed by Japan's diplomatic nand military apparatus, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries won favour with its ultra-modern Mogami frigate, which was widely acknowledged as a more advanced warship than German firm TKMS's Meko A-200 vessel. TKMS sought to capitalise on its cheaper offer and the fact that modern Japan has no experience exporting warships in its attempt to win the contest. The general purpose frigate program will see 11 new warships built to replace the ageing Anzac-class frigates, which are regarded as the warhorse vessel of the Australian navy and are being gradually retired from service. In a bid to avoid the cost overruns and delays that have marred the Hunter-class frigate program, the government has ordered that the first three general purpose frigates be built overseas and that there be minimal changes to the existing ship design. The first frigate is scheduled to be delivered in 2029, with most of the ships to be built at the Henderson shipyards in Perth. Loading A lack of support from the Japanese government was blamed for the failure to win a contract to build a fleet of submarines for Australia, a contract that instead went to France's Naval Group before being scrapped when the AUKUS pact was agreed. Tokyo was determined to correct that mistake, arguing that awarding the contract to Mitsubishi would solidify Australia and Japan as 'special strategic partners' in the Indo-Pacific, allowing their navies to operate more closely at a time of rising tensions in the region.
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
First woman appointed to lead Australian Federal Police as Reece Kershaw retires a year early
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw is retiring a year early to spend more time with his grandchildren, and will be replaced by the first woman to head the nation's police force. Deputy commissioner Krissy Barrett, who most recently oversaw the AFP's national security portfolio, will replace Kershaw in October. Kershaw's early retirement comes after the police chief faced scrutiny over his handling of the Dural caravan plot in Sydney, which was first described as a terrorist act but was later revealed to be a fake plot by powerful crime figures to distract police and influence prosecutions. The commissioner refused to answer questions at a hearing in February about whether he had briefed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about the plot. But in announcing Kershaw's departure at a press conference in Canberra on Monday, Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said he would leave his role on good terms with the government after his six-year tenure. 'Commissioner Kershaw has made an extraordinary contribution to public life, and we are deeply grateful for his service,' Albanese said. '[He] has been absolutely on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week with his commitment to his fellow Australians.' Burke said Kershaw was retiring with his head held high to spend more time with family. 'Commissioner Kershaw asked to meet with me with no staff present and in the meeting, to my surprise … said that he had set October 3 as the date that he was intending to retire,' Burke said. Kershaw said his time as commissioner has taken its toll on his family but that he was grateful for his time with the AFP.
