Albanese's China visit signals trade-led reset: Professor
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Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
Australia's Tasmania on track for minority government in the state after poll
Find out what's new on ST website and app. SYDNEY - Australia's island state of Tasmania appeared headed for a minority government on July 20 as vote counting continued after an election that did not produce a clear winner. The conservative Liberal government was on track to win more seats than the main Labor opposition in the new parliament but would likely fall short of a majority after the July 19 election, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The strong performance by the Liberals under Mr Jeremy Rockliff, premier since 2022, comes after the party suffered a heavy defeat at the May national election, which saw Anthony Albanese-led Labor returned for a second term with an increased majority. Mr Rockliff said in televised remarks from state capital Hobart that the July 19 vote showed Tasmanians 'have no confidence in the Labor party to form government and they have voted to reindorse our Liberal government'. The result for Labor, on track to win nine seats out of a possible 35, was shaping up as the worst-ever result for the party in Tasmania, Guardian Australia reported. The election, triggered by a no-confidence vote against Mr Rockliff, came less than two years after the state's most recent poll in which the Liberals were unable to win a majority of seats. Tasmania is the only Australian state that uses proportional representation to elect its lower house and has a long history of minority governments. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Tampines regional centre set to get more homes, offices and public amenities Multimedia How to make the most out of small homes in Singapore Life US tech CEO Andy Byron resigns after viral Coldplay 'kiss cam' video Asia From toy to threat: 'Killer kites' bring chaos to Indonesian airspace Opinion I thought I was a 'chill' parent. Then came P1 registration Singapore 'God and government are the only things beyond our control,' says Group CEO Business Me and My Money: He overcomes a $100k setback to build a thriving online tuition business Asia At least 37 killed as tourist boat capsizes in Vietnam's Halong Bay The southern state is a one-hour flight or 10-hour ferry crossing from the mainland city of Melbourne, 445km away. Forty per cent of the island is wilderness or protected areas. REUTERS
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
Australia's Tasmania state on track for minority government after poll
SYDNEY - Australia's island state of Tasmania appeared headed for a minority government on Sunday as vote counting continued after an election that did not produce a clear winner. The conservative Liberal government was on track to win more seats than the main Labor opposition in the new parliament but would likely fall short of a majority after Saturday's election, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corp. The strong performance by the Liberals under Jeremy Rockliff, premier since 2022, comes after the party suffered a heavy defeat at May's national election, which saw Anthony Albanese-led Labor returned for a second term with an increased majority. Rockliff said in televised remarks from state capital Hobart that Saturday's vote showed Tasmanians "have no confidence in the Labor party to form government and they have voted to reindorse our Liberal government". The result for Labor, on track to win nine seats out of a possible 35, was shaping up as the worst-ever result for the party in Tasmania, Guardian Australia reported. The election, triggered by a no-confidence vote against Rockliff, came less than two years after the state's most recent poll in which the Liberals were unable to win a majority of seats. Tasmania is the only Australian state that uses proportional representation to elect its lower house and has a long history of minority governments. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Tampines regional centre set to get more homes, offices and public amenities Multimedia How to make the most out of small homes in Singapore Life US tech CEO Andy Byron resigns after viral Coldplay 'kiss cam' video Asia From toy to threat: 'Killer kites' bring chaos to Indonesian airspace Opinion I thought I was a 'chill' parent. Then came P1 registration Singapore 'God and government are the only things beyond our control,' says Group CEO Business Me and My Money: He overcomes a $100k setback to build a thriving online tuition business Asia At least 37 killed as tourist boat capsizes in Vietnam's Halong Bay The southern state is a one-hour flight or 10-hour ferry crossing from the mainland city of Melbourne, 445 km (275 miles) away. Forty percent of the island is wilderness or protected areas. REUTERS
Straits Times
a day ago
- Straits Times
Australia confident issues raised in US review of submarine project will be resolved
FILE PHOTO: Former Australian Prime Minister and ASPI President Kevin Rudd gives a speech during the 2017 Asia Game Changer Awards and Gala Dinner in Manhattan, New York, U.S. November 1, 2017. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky/File Photo WASHINGTON - Australia's ambassador to Washington said on Friday his country is working with the Pentagon on the U.S. Defense Department's review of the AUKUS submarine project and is confident that all issues raised will be resolved. Kevin Rudd made the comment at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado and stressed the longstanding U.S.-Australia alliance and his close relationship with Elbridge Colby, the U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy, who initiated the review. "We're working with Bridge and the team on the AUKUS review ... and we are confident that we'll work our way through each and every one of the issues which he has raised in the context of this internal Defense Department review," Rudd said, referring to Colby. "Bridge has been around my place a lot of times, and so we have known each other for a long period of time, and that's why I'm confident, quite apart from the mature relationship within our two defense establishments ... that we'll work our way through this stuff." Rudd, a former Australian prime minister, said the U.S.-Australia alliance had endured through 15 presidents and 15 prime ministers from different parties. In 2023, the United States, Australia, and Britain unveiled details of the AUKUS plan to provide Australia with nuclear-powered attack submarines from the early 2030s, part of efforts to counter China's ambitions in the Indo-Pacific. It is Australia's biggest ever defense project. The Pentagon said in June it was reviewing AUKUS to ensure it was "aligned with the President's America First agenda," amid concerns about the ability of the U.S. to meet its own submarine needs and whether Australia's vessels would be used in support of U.S. policy in the future. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Critical infrastructure in S'pore under attack by cyber espionage group: Shanmugam Singapore What is UNC3886, the group that attacked Singapore's critical information infrastructure? Singapore Alleged Kpod peddler filmed trying to flee raid in Bishan charged with 6 offences Asia Indonesia court jails former trade minister for 4½ years in sugar graft case Singapore Singapore police in contact with Indonesian authorities over baby trafficking allegations Singapore NTU upholds zero grade for student accused of using AI in essay; panel found 14 false citations or data Singapore 7-year-old girl, cabby taken to hospital after vehicle pile-up in City Hall area Singapore Former NUH male nurse charged after he allegedly molested man at hospital On Sunday, Australia's Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy responded to a report that Colby had pressed Australia and Japan to clarify what role it would play if the U.S. and China went to war over Taiwan by saying Australia would not commit troops in advance to any conflict. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also rebuffed U.S. requests to commit to lifting defense spending from 2% to 3.5% of gross domestic product, saying instead Australia would spend what was needed for its defense. The reported call by Colby on Australia to clarify its role regarding Taiwan raised eyebrows, given that Washington itself maintains a policy of "strategic ambiguity" and not saying directly how it would respond to any Chinese attack on the island. Rudd said U.S. President Donald Trump viewed unpredictability as one of his strengths as a leader, whereas China's Communist leadership craved predictability. "Being unpredictable is no bad thing in terms of the way in which the Chinese view their strategic future on the critical question ... (of) the future of Taiwan," he said. Rudd added that Taiwan currently occupied Beijing's entire military strategic focus, and if the island were to fall, China's "capacities and capabilities would be unleashed more broadly." "I believe that logic is galvanizing here in the United States as well as across allies," he said. Asked about Colby's reported pressure on Australia and Japan and Australia's response, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said: "The United States has longstanding alliances with both Japan and Australia. We regularly consult with our allies on a range of regional and global issues." REUTERS
