Trump holds tariff rate on Australia at 10 per cent
Productivity Commission Chair Alex Robson joined Sky News Australia to discuss the announcement.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Sky News AU
11 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
‘Undercurrent' of antisemitism at pro-Palestine protests
Former Victorian Liberal Party president Michael Kroger discusses the pro-Palestine march which took place on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Mr Kroger told Sky News Australia there was an 'undercurrent' of antisemitism at the protest. 'And intimidation of the Jewish community.'

Sky News AU
23 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
Penny Wong refuses to confirm whether she discussed Canberra woman charged with Chinese foreign interference with Beijing officials
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has refused to reveal whether she raised the case of a Chinese woman charged with foreign interference by the Australian Federal Police with Beijing officials. The AFP on Monday announced a Chinese woman had been charged with foreign interference over the alleged covert collection of sensitive information. The woman, an Australian permanent resident, was arrested and charged on Saturday after a series of police raids across Canberra. It is alleged the woman was acting on behalf of a public security bureau in China to secretly compile information about the Canberra Guan Yin Citta branch, a Buddhist sect that is outlawed in China. The woman is the third person to be charged under foreign interference laws that were rolled out in 2018, sparking concerns of rising tensions with China. Ms Wong on Tuesday morning repeatedly ruled out saying whether she or any government minister had broached the foreign interference case with Beijing officials and said Australia remained 'clear eyed' on China. 'I think we all are very clear eyed about China and its interests, we've made that clear,' she told Today show host Karl Stefanovic. 'And I'd make this point, we've never said that dialogue eliminates differences. Clearly it doesn't. The Foreign Minister also declined to make comments on the case and insisted Australia had 'strong frameworks around foreign interference.' "I can't comment on this specific case that's before the courts. But good try," Ms Wong said. She did not explicitly say whether she trusted China when pressed to do so and reiterated that China would pursue its interests regardless of Australian commentary. 'I trust China to do what China thinks is in its interest, and I trust Australia to do what's in our interests,' Ms Wong said. 'I think we all are very clear eyed about China and its interests; we've made that clear. 'The question is, how do we manage that? And dialogue and engagement is part of it. It doesn't eliminate differences, but it does enable us to put our views.' The case has sparked fears of newly inflamed tensions with China. AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt on Monday alluded to the threat of espionage on Australian shores. 'At a time of permanent regional contest, offenders will attempt to spy on individuals, groups and institutions in Australia', he said in an apparent reference to Beijing. The woman's name cannot be revealed due to a temporary suppression order which was granted after her lawyer James Maher argued her safety would be put in jeopardy if her identity was not concealed. She was refused bail by Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker, who agreed with prosecutors that the woman could be a potential flight risk. The offence of reckless foreign interference carrying a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment. ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess, whose agency provided the AFP with the information to launch their investigation, last week warned about the rising cost of espionage to the Australian economy, which he said amounted to $12.5 billion a year. He said that ASIO had foiled 24 significant espionage and interference operations in the past three years alone.

Sky News AU
32 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
Nyrstar secures $135m bailout from federal, South Australia, Tasmania govts as it struggles with Chinese market distortion
An embattled metals producer will receive a $135m bailout from the federal, South Australian and Tasmanian governments as it struggles with alleged market distortions by China. Lead and zinc refiner Nyrstar, a global company which is a subsidiary of Singapore-headquartered commodities company Trafigura, has loss making ventures in South Australia's Port Pirie and in Hobart. It pushed for government assistance earlier this year amid concerns of going under. Local boss Matthew Howell has claimed that China is 'distorting global markets' and 'eroding global operating margins' which has 'imperilled the commercial viability of domestic processing' across Western nations. Industry Minister Tim Ayres and South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas addressed reporters on Tuesday to confirm it would back the company which directly employs 1400 workers and indirectly supports 6600 jobs, according to Nyrstar. Mr Ayres said the funds would enable Nyrstar to upgrade its facilities which Mr Howell had previously said needed refreshing to compete with China. 'The maintenance and engineering upgrades are going to require hundreds of additional workers as contractors here in Port Pirie and in Hobart,' he said on Tuesday. 'That's going to make a big difference in terms of the maintenance supply chains and the economic viability of this vital industrial community.' Mr Malinauskas said the South Australian government's contribution for the Port Pirie plant was crucial for setting the location up for a 'more prosperous future' as the industry faces domination by China. 'We know there is a journey in front of us to be able to tackle the challenges we see, particularly coming out of China,' the SA Premier said. 'We should be up-front and honest about them. When people contemplate - is this an appropriate investment on behalf of taxpayers? - one also has to think about the counterfactual. 'The counterfactual would be to allow the Western world to see China consolidate all of … the world's smelting capacity, which would mean that we don't get to participate in the critical mineral and critical metal supply chain of the future.' Mr Howell has claimed the Chinese government subsidises companies to purchase Australian materials at prices local smelters could not afford. China then subsidises the processing of these materials and enforces export controls on the finished metals. The practice was crippling Nyrstar's Australian operations, according to Mr Howell who in June warned its Port Pirie operation was losing tens of millions each month and needed urgent government help. Nyrstar's Global CEO Guido Janssen said the company was particularly appreciative of the help in 'the face of extremely challenging global market conditions'. 'This support demonstrates the strategic importance of the Australian operations for sovereign capability and delivering the products needed globally for modern economies,' Mr Janssen said. 'This announcement is a credit to the teamwork and excellence of our teams at Port Pirie and Hobart and is an important step forward as part of our global focus on increasing critical and strategic metals production.' The manufacturer will receive $57.5m from the federal government, $55m from South Australia and $22.5m from Tasmania. Nyrstar produces materials that are critical for batteries, flame retardants, semiconductors and solar panels amongst other items.