Coalition split ‘going to be messy' for Australian democracy
Former defence minister Joel Fitzgibbon discusses the impact of the recent Coalition split on Australian democracy.
'Without some form of Coalition, we can't have a strong parliamentary democracy,' Mr Fitzgibbon told Sky News Australia.
'I think all of us are relying upon them to sort their stuff out and start rebuilding for the next election.
'If they don't, it's going to be messy for our parliamentary democracy.'
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The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'No justification': minister seeks tariff breakthrough
Australia will keep pressuring the US to remove tariffs imposed by Donald Trump, the trade minister says, ahead of a likely meeting between Anthony Albanese and the president. The two leaders could meet on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada next week, with the economic measures imposed by Mr Trump around the world set to dominate discussions. As Australia looks to negotiate for an exemption on tariffs, Trade Minister Don Farrrell was optimistic a deal could be reached. "I certainly haven't given up on the prospect of getting these tariffs removed, and every opportunity I get, I'll continue to pursue that argument with the United States," he told Sky News on Sunday. "There is no justification for the United States to impose tariffs on Australia ... we want all of the tariffs removed, not just some of them." Mr Trump recently signed off on doubling tariffs on exports on steel and aluminium from 25 to 50 per cent. All other Australian exports to the US have been slapped with a 10 per cent tariff. But opposition finance spokesman James Paterson said any meeting between the prime minister and US president should have happened sooner. He said an exemption on steel and aluminium secured by the UK showed it was possible Australia could receive a similar outcome. "Australia is at least as good an ally of the United States as the United Kingdom is and so there's no reason why the prime minister shouldn't at least be able to secure that exemption," Senator Paterson told ABC's Insiders program. Senator Farrell met with US trade representative Jamieson Greer last week and said he pushed the case for all of the economic measures to be removed. The minister was hopeful a similar approach that removed $20 billion worth of tariffs on Australian goods entering China could be used with America. "We didn't retaliate on that occasion, and bit by bit, we managed to get all of those tariffs that had been applied on Australia by China removed. I'd like to do the same with the United States," he said. "It's only by open discussion, honest discussion with out allies in the United States that I think we can do that." Senator Paterson said the coalition would be open to the idea of a critical minerals stockpile that could be used as a bargaining chip in any tariff negotiations. "It is something that Australia could do which would represent an economic opportunity and a strategic contribution," he said. As the US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Australia to increase its defence spending by billions of dollars to 3.5 per cent of GDP, Senator Farrell said the federal government had already proved its commitment through the AUKUS submarine deal. Australia is looking to up its total spent on defence to 2.3 per cent. "We are committed to the defence of this country, we are committed to a significant uplift in the amount of spending," Senator Farrell said. "(AUKUS) is going to be a project that's worth more than $360 billion, so I think we've talked the talk." Senator Paterson said the opposition was still committed to its election platform of increasing defence spending to three per cent. Australia will keep pressuring the US to remove tariffs imposed by Donald Trump, the trade minister says, ahead of a likely meeting between Anthony Albanese and the president. The two leaders could meet on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada next week, with the economic measures imposed by Mr Trump around the world set to dominate discussions. As Australia looks to negotiate for an exemption on tariffs, Trade Minister Don Farrrell was optimistic a deal could be reached. "I certainly haven't given up on the prospect of getting these tariffs removed, and every opportunity I get, I'll continue to pursue that argument with the United States," he told Sky News on Sunday. "There is no justification for the United States to impose tariffs on Australia ... we want all of the tariffs removed, not just some of them." Mr Trump recently signed off on doubling tariffs on exports on steel and aluminium from 25 to 50 per cent. All other Australian exports to the US have been slapped with a 10 per cent tariff. But opposition finance spokesman James Paterson said any meeting between the prime minister and US president should have happened sooner. He said an exemption on steel and aluminium secured by the UK showed it was possible Australia could receive a similar outcome. "Australia is at least as good an ally of the United States as the United Kingdom is and so there's no reason why the prime minister shouldn't at least be able to secure that exemption," Senator Paterson told ABC's Insiders program. Senator Farrell met with US trade representative Jamieson Greer last week and said he pushed the case for all of the economic measures to be removed. The minister was hopeful a similar approach that removed $20 billion worth of tariffs on Australian goods entering China could be used with America. "We didn't retaliate on that occasion, and bit by bit, we managed to get all of those tariffs that had been applied on Australia by China removed. I'd like to do the same with the United States," he said. "It's only by open discussion, honest discussion with out allies in the United States that I think we can do that." Senator Paterson said the coalition would be open to the idea of a critical minerals stockpile that could be used as a bargaining chip in any tariff negotiations. "It is something that Australia could do which would represent an economic opportunity and a strategic contribution," he said. As the US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Australia to increase its defence spending by billions of dollars to 3.5 per cent of GDP, Senator Farrell said the federal government had already proved its commitment through the AUKUS submarine deal. Australia is looking to up its total spent on defence to 2.3 per cent. "We are committed to the defence of this country, we are committed to a significant uplift in the amount of spending," Senator Farrell said. "(AUKUS) is going to be a project that's worth more than $360 billion, so I think we've talked the talk." Senator Paterson said the opposition was still committed to its election platform of increasing defence spending to three per cent. Australia will keep pressuring the US to remove tariffs imposed by Donald Trump, the trade minister says, ahead of a likely meeting between Anthony Albanese and the president. The two leaders could meet on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada next week, with the economic measures imposed by Mr Trump around the world set to dominate discussions. As Australia looks to negotiate for an exemption on tariffs, Trade Minister Don Farrrell was optimistic a deal could be reached. "I certainly haven't given up on the prospect of getting these tariffs removed, and every opportunity I get, I'll continue to pursue that argument with the United States," he told Sky News on Sunday. "There is no justification for the United States to impose tariffs on Australia ... we want all of the tariffs removed, not just some of them." Mr Trump recently signed off on doubling tariffs on exports on steel and aluminium from 25 to 50 per cent. All other Australian exports to the US have been slapped with a 10 per cent tariff. But opposition finance spokesman James Paterson said any meeting between the prime minister and US president should have happened sooner. He said an exemption on steel and aluminium secured by the UK showed it was possible Australia could receive a similar outcome. "Australia is at least as good an ally of the United States as the United Kingdom is and so there's no reason why the prime minister shouldn't at least be able to secure that exemption," Senator Paterson told ABC's Insiders program. Senator Farrell met with US trade representative Jamieson Greer last week and said he pushed the case for all of the economic measures to be removed. The minister was hopeful a similar approach that removed $20 billion worth of tariffs on Australian goods entering China could be used with America. "We didn't retaliate on that occasion, and bit by bit, we managed to get all of those tariffs that had been applied on Australia by China removed. I'd like to do the same with the United States," he said. "It's only by open discussion, honest discussion with out allies in the United States that I think we can do that." Senator Paterson said the coalition would be open to the idea of a critical minerals stockpile that could be used as a bargaining chip in any tariff negotiations. "It is something that Australia could do which would represent an economic opportunity and a strategic contribution," he said. As the US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Australia to increase its defence spending by billions of dollars to 3.5 per cent of GDP, Senator Farrell said the federal government had already proved its commitment through the AUKUS submarine deal. Australia is looking to up its total spent on defence to 2.3 per cent. "We are committed to the defence of this country, we are committed to a significant uplift in the amount of spending," Senator Farrell said. "(AUKUS) is going to be a project that's worth more than $360 billion, so I think we've talked the talk." Senator Paterson said the opposition was still committed to its election platform of increasing defence spending to three per cent. Australia will keep pressuring the US to remove tariffs imposed by Donald Trump, the trade minister says, ahead of a likely meeting between Anthony Albanese and the president. The two leaders could meet on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada next week, with the economic measures imposed by Mr Trump around the world set to dominate discussions. As Australia looks to negotiate for an exemption on tariffs, Trade Minister Don Farrrell was optimistic a deal could be reached. "I certainly haven't given up on the prospect of getting these tariffs removed, and every opportunity I get, I'll continue to pursue that argument with the United States," he told Sky News on Sunday. "There is no justification for the United States to impose tariffs on Australia ... we want all of the tariffs removed, not just some of them." Mr Trump recently signed off on doubling tariffs on exports on steel and aluminium from 25 to 50 per cent. All other Australian exports to the US have been slapped with a 10 per cent tariff. But opposition finance spokesman James Paterson said any meeting between the prime minister and US president should have happened sooner. He said an exemption on steel and aluminium secured by the UK showed it was possible Australia could receive a similar outcome. "Australia is at least as good an ally of the United States as the United Kingdom is and so there's no reason why the prime minister shouldn't at least be able to secure that exemption," Senator Paterson told ABC's Insiders program. Senator Farrell met with US trade representative Jamieson Greer last week and said he pushed the case for all of the economic measures to be removed. The minister was hopeful a similar approach that removed $20 billion worth of tariffs on Australian goods entering China could be used with America. "We didn't retaliate on that occasion, and bit by bit, we managed to get all of those tariffs that had been applied on Australia by China removed. I'd like to do the same with the United States," he said. "It's only by open discussion, honest discussion with out allies in the United States that I think we can do that." Senator Paterson said the coalition would be open to the idea of a critical minerals stockpile that could be used as a bargaining chip in any tariff negotiations. "It is something that Australia could do which would represent an economic opportunity and a strategic contribution," he said. As the US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Australia to increase its defence spending by billions of dollars to 3.5 per cent of GDP, Senator Farrell said the federal government had already proved its commitment through the AUKUS submarine deal. Australia is looking to up its total spent on defence to 2.3 per cent. "We are committed to the defence of this country, we are committed to a significant uplift in the amount of spending," Senator Farrell said. "(AUKUS) is going to be a project that's worth more than $360 billion, so I think we've talked the talk." Senator Paterson said the opposition was still committed to its election platform of increasing defence spending to three per cent.
Sky News AU
2 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Trade Minister Don Farrell confident in negotiations to finalise European Union free trade deal
Trade Minister Don Farrell has confirmed momentum is building for a free trade agreement with the European Union, more than 18 months after negotiations collapsed, with sticking points like beef exports and luxury car taxes still on the table. The Albanese government has expressed confidence it will strike a long-awaited free trade agreement with the European Union. Trade Minister Don Farrell told Sky News Sunday Agenda there was 'a lot of goodwill in the air' following revived negotiations with the EU. Mr Farrell met with European counterparts on Wednesday, the first face-to-face talks since free trade negotiations collapsed in October 2023. He acknowledged several sticking points remain unresolved, including Australia's luxury car tax and EU demands for exclusive naming rights for prosciutto and parmesan 'We haven't yet got an agreement, but there was a lot of goodwill in the air in Paris last week,' Mr Farrell said. 'I'm confident that if that goodwill continues, that we can secure a new free trade agreement with the European Union.' The comments follow Mr Farrell's meeting with European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic on the sidelines of an OECD summit in Paris. A visit by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to Australia is also expected in July or August. Mr Farrell said both sides now recognise the urgency of finalising an agreement in a 'rapidly changing global environment', amid US President Donald Trump's tariffs. 'Those countries that believe in free and fair trade have to work together,' Mr Farrell said. 'I'm very confident that with a little bit of time, a little bit of hard work on our part… we can get there and we can strike an agreement.' — Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) May 18, 2025 Australian officials have said that agriculture remains the biggest sticking point, which was a major cause of the failed negotiations in 2023. The government has signalled a willingness to consider abolishing the luxury car tax—an irritant to EU exporters—in exchange for greater access to lamb and beef markets. The issue of geographical indications—terms like feta, prosecco, parmesan, and prosciutto—also continues to be a flashpoint. Some European nations want to reserve these product names for EU-based producers only, a move resisted by Australian farmers and manufacturers. The EU is Australia's third-largest trading partner, representing a market of 450 million people and a GDP of about AUD$20 trillion. Mr Farrell said a trade agreement would unlock benefits across investment, education, supply chains and export growth. 'We've got lots of things that we can sell to the Europeans. I believe now that there's an appetite to reach an agreement on both sides,' he said. The renewed push comes amid heightened global uncertainty, with US President Donald Trump announcing plans to double steel tariffs to 50 per cent. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President Trump will likely meet for the first time in Kananaskis, Canada, between June 15 and 17.
ABC News
2 hours ago
- ABC News
Coalition sticks to defence spending pledge but won't say how it'll pay for it
The Coalition remains committed to lifting defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP but won't detail where the money will come from, as the shadow finance minister suggested the opposition would be open to considering broader tax reform. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to meet with Donald Trump on the sidelines of G7 summit next week, amid pressure from the United States to increase defence spending from the current level of 2.04 per cent to to 3.5. Trade Minister Don Farrell on Sunday said the government was committed to a "significant uplift in the amount of defence spending". "We're focused on what Australia needs to do and we'll make our decisions based on what's in our national interest," he told Sky News. The Coalition went to the election promising to earmark an additional $21 billion for the military between now and 2030, almost double what Labor had pledged. Appearing on Insiders on Sunday, Shadow Finance Minister James Paterson said the Coalition's target of 3 per cent of GDP in a decade had not changed since the party's devastating election loss last month. "The exact profiling of that increase is something that we'll determine through the policy process and closer to the next election. We'll be completely up front and transparent about that," he said. "But yes, we have an objective of reaching the 3 per cent of GDP because we think it is in our national interest." Senator Paterson said the Coalition had three years to outline where that additional funding would go, but listed some potential areas for investment as recruitment and retention, a munitions stockpile, northern military bases, air and missile defence and drones. "There is no shortage of good things we could spend on that would increase our ability to defend ourselves and safeguard our sovereignty," he said. But he would not be drawn on where the money to pay for the increase would come from, saying that work would occur over the coming years. Senator Paterson did suggest the opposition was open to a discussion about the way superannuation is taxed, despite its rejection of the government's plan to double the tax on super balances above $3 million from 15 to 30 per cent. "We're happy to contemplate tax reform. We're happy to talk to the government about tax reform. But we are not interested in increasing taxes, because I don't think that that is what the Australian economy needs right now," he said. "If the government was genuinely serious about a broad-based tax reform process, then we'd be up for that conversation. Now, the government has to take the first steps there." US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asked Defence Minister Richard Marles to increase spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP "as soon as possible" on the sidelines of a dialogue in Singapore this week, according to a statement from the US Department of Defense. Mr Hegseth had previously made similar requests, but it was the first time the administration nominated an exact figure. Negotiations with the United States over Mr Trump's 10 per cent tariffs on Australian exports continue, with the subject likely to dominate the anticipated meeting between Mr Albanese and Mr Trump. Access to Australia's critical minerals has been put forward as a potential bargaining chip as Australia continues to push for an exemption. The Coalition had previously said they would oppose Labor's plan to acquire stockpiles of critical minerals from commercial projects, to be held in a national reserve and made available to domestic industry and international partners. But Senator Paterson told Insiders it "might be necessary" for the government to support the mining and processing of critical minerals. "We're very happy to see what the government is proposing here. I can't commit to it in principle without having seen the details, but we're certainly open to it," Senator Paterson said. "Any sensible steps that represent an economic opportunity for Australia and an opportunity for us to demonstrate that we are a good alliance partner of the United States is something that we would offer bipartisan support to." Mr Farrell said Australia had offered the United States "an expanded arrangement in regards to critical minerals" as part of efforts to secure an exemption from the tariffs, which came into force in April. The trade minister met with his American counterpart, trade representative Jamieson Greer, in Paris last week, where he said he made clear that Australia wanted "all of the tariffs removed, not just some of them". "The position I put to Jamieson Greer is that the tariffs the United States has imposed on Australia are unjustified."
