Greens and Nationals clash over importance of AUKUS in heated debate
The Greens senator weighed in on the AUKUS deal labelling it as a 'dud deal for Australia'.
'Australian tax payers that are front footing most of the costs upfront, were the ones putting the money on the table, billions of dollars already, now Donald Trump and his administration think that they can get more out of us,' Ms Hanson-Young said.
'This is a shakedown, from a guy who is clearly just out of control… This has got nothing to do with the economics, nothing to do with what's in the interest of American people, this is all about Donald Trump trying to make political friends and make political statements for his corrupt mates.'
The deputy Nationals leader fired back at her comments, saying 'some of the things Sarah said there are quite important and quite dangerous, to say Trump is out of control and to say all of these anti-American things'.
'America and the longstanding alliance we have with them is very important,' he added.
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The Advertiser
41 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
World stocks slip as US tariff threats heat up
World shares are ticking lower, with European shares slipping as the latest salvo of threats in the US President Donald Trump's tariff wars keep investors on edge. The pan-European STOXX 600 index was last down 0.3 per cent in morning trade on Monday. Other regional indices also declined, barring the UK's FTSE 100, which was up 0.4 per cent. MSCI's broadest index of world shares dipped 0.1 per cent. Trump on Saturday said he would impose a 30 per cent tariff on most imports from the European Union and Mexico from August 1, even as they are locked in long negotiations. The EU said it would extend a suspension of countermeasures to US tariffs until early August and continue to press for a negotiated settlement, though Germany's finance minister called for firm action if the levies went ahead. German 10-year government bond yields briefly hit their highest since early April on Monday after settling back to 4.63 per cent. Yields move inversely to price. "To use the biggest cliche in the book, it continues to be a rollercoaster ride for all of us following the trade story, even if the market has increasingly overcome its queasiness and ensured it has been well stocked up on motion sickness tablets," said Deutsche Bank strategist Jim Reid in a note to clients. A rise in Japanese government bond yields also added to upward pressure on borrowing costs elsewhere, said Jens Peter Soerensen, chief analyst at Danske Bank. Japanese bond yields surged as concerns grew that an upcoming election could pave the way for increased fiscal spending. Chinese blue chips closed 0.1 per cent higher as data showed annual export growth topped forecasts at 5.8 per cent in June, even as exports to the US fell almost 10 per cent. Retail sales figures, industrial output and gross domestic product are due Tuesday. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures both eased 0.4 per cent. Earnings season kicks off this week with the major banks leading the pack on Tuesday. In bond markets, Treasuries got a very marginal safety bid and 10-year yields held at 4.41 per cent. US consumer prices data for June are due on Tuesday and could finally start to show early upward pressure from tariffs, though retailers still have pre-levy inventory to draw on and some companies are absorbing the costs into margins. The impact on supply chain costs could show in producer price and import price figures this week, while a reading on retail sales will indicate how consumers are faring. Among currencies, the euro dipped 0.1 per cent to $US1.1684, edging away from its recent four-year top of $US1.1830. The dollar lost 0.1 per cent on the yen to 147.29 while the dollar index was little changed about 97.89. Bitcoin crossed the $US120,000 level for the first time to reach a top around $US123,153. Gold picked up a modest safe-haven bid and rose 0.1 per cent to $US3,359 an ounce. Oil prices rose more than one per cent on speculation Trump could announce stiffer sanctions on Russia later on Monday, including levies on major customers buying Russian oil. Brent jumped 67 cents to $US71.03 a barrel, while US crude added 70 cents to $US69.15 per barrel. World shares are ticking lower, with European shares slipping as the latest salvo of threats in the US President Donald Trump's tariff wars keep investors on edge. The pan-European STOXX 600 index was last down 0.3 per cent in morning trade on Monday. Other regional indices also declined, barring the UK's FTSE 100, which was up 0.4 per cent. MSCI's broadest index of world shares dipped 0.1 per cent. Trump on Saturday said he would impose a 30 per cent tariff on most imports from the European Union and Mexico from August 1, even as they are locked in long negotiations. The EU said it would extend a suspension of countermeasures to US tariffs until early August and continue to press for a negotiated settlement, though Germany's finance minister called for firm action if the levies went ahead. German 10-year government bond yields briefly hit their highest since early April on Monday after settling back to 4.63 per cent. Yields move inversely to price. "To use the biggest cliche in the book, it continues to be a rollercoaster ride for all of us following the trade story, even if the market has increasingly overcome its queasiness and ensured it has been well stocked up on motion sickness tablets," said Deutsche Bank strategist Jim Reid in a note to clients. A rise in Japanese government bond yields also added to upward pressure on borrowing costs elsewhere, said Jens Peter Soerensen, chief analyst at Danske Bank. Japanese bond yields surged as concerns grew that an upcoming election could pave the way for increased fiscal spending. Chinese blue chips closed 0.1 per cent higher as data showed annual export growth topped forecasts at 5.8 per cent in June, even as exports to the US fell almost 10 per cent. Retail sales figures, industrial output and gross domestic product are due Tuesday. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures both eased 0.4 per cent. Earnings season kicks off this week with the major banks leading the pack on Tuesday. In bond markets, Treasuries got a very marginal safety bid and 10-year yields held at 4.41 per cent. US consumer prices data for June are due on Tuesday and could finally start to show early upward pressure from tariffs, though retailers still have pre-levy inventory to draw on and some companies are absorbing the costs into margins. The impact on supply chain costs could show in producer price and import price figures this week, while a reading on retail sales will indicate how consumers are faring. Among currencies, the euro dipped 0.1 per cent to $US1.1684, edging away from its recent four-year top of $US1.1830. The dollar lost 0.1 per cent on the yen to 147.29 while the dollar index was little changed about 97.89. Bitcoin crossed the $US120,000 level for the first time to reach a top around $US123,153. Gold picked up a modest safe-haven bid and rose 0.1 per cent to $US3,359 an ounce. Oil prices rose more than one per cent on speculation Trump could announce stiffer sanctions on Russia later on Monday, including levies on major customers buying Russian oil. Brent jumped 67 cents to $US71.03 a barrel, while US crude added 70 cents to $US69.15 per barrel. World shares are ticking lower, with European shares slipping as the latest salvo of threats in the US President Donald Trump's tariff wars keep investors on edge. The pan-European STOXX 600 index was last down 0.3 per cent in morning trade on Monday. Other regional indices also declined, barring the UK's FTSE 100, which was up 0.4 per cent. MSCI's broadest index of world shares dipped 0.1 per cent. Trump on Saturday said he would impose a 30 per cent tariff on most imports from the European Union and Mexico from August 1, even as they are locked in long negotiations. The EU said it would extend a suspension of countermeasures to US tariffs until early August and continue to press for a negotiated settlement, though Germany's finance minister called for firm action if the levies went ahead. German 10-year government bond yields briefly hit their highest since early April on Monday after settling back to 4.63 per cent. Yields move inversely to price. "To use the biggest cliche in the book, it continues to be a rollercoaster ride for all of us following the trade story, even if the market has increasingly overcome its queasiness and ensured it has been well stocked up on motion sickness tablets," said Deutsche Bank strategist Jim Reid in a note to clients. A rise in Japanese government bond yields also added to upward pressure on borrowing costs elsewhere, said Jens Peter Soerensen, chief analyst at Danske Bank. Japanese bond yields surged as concerns grew that an upcoming election could pave the way for increased fiscal spending. Chinese blue chips closed 0.1 per cent higher as data showed annual export growth topped forecasts at 5.8 per cent in June, even as exports to the US fell almost 10 per cent. Retail sales figures, industrial output and gross domestic product are due Tuesday. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures both eased 0.4 per cent. Earnings season kicks off this week with the major banks leading the pack on Tuesday. In bond markets, Treasuries got a very marginal safety bid and 10-year yields held at 4.41 per cent. US consumer prices data for June are due on Tuesday and could finally start to show early upward pressure from tariffs, though retailers still have pre-levy inventory to draw on and some companies are absorbing the costs into margins. The impact on supply chain costs could show in producer price and import price figures this week, while a reading on retail sales will indicate how consumers are faring. Among currencies, the euro dipped 0.1 per cent to $US1.1684, edging away from its recent four-year top of $US1.1830. The dollar lost 0.1 per cent on the yen to 147.29 while the dollar index was little changed about 97.89. Bitcoin crossed the $US120,000 level for the first time to reach a top around $US123,153. Gold picked up a modest safe-haven bid and rose 0.1 per cent to $US3,359 an ounce. Oil prices rose more than one per cent on speculation Trump could announce stiffer sanctions on Russia later on Monday, including levies on major customers buying Russian oil. Brent jumped 67 cents to $US71.03 a barrel, while US crude added 70 cents to $US69.15 per barrel. World shares are ticking lower, with European shares slipping as the latest salvo of threats in the US President Donald Trump's tariff wars keep investors on edge. The pan-European STOXX 600 index was last down 0.3 per cent in morning trade on Monday. Other regional indices also declined, barring the UK's FTSE 100, which was up 0.4 per cent. MSCI's broadest index of world shares dipped 0.1 per cent. Trump on Saturday said he would impose a 30 per cent tariff on most imports from the European Union and Mexico from August 1, even as they are locked in long negotiations. The EU said it would extend a suspension of countermeasures to US tariffs until early August and continue to press for a negotiated settlement, though Germany's finance minister called for firm action if the levies went ahead. German 10-year government bond yields briefly hit their highest since early April on Monday after settling back to 4.63 per cent. Yields move inversely to price. "To use the biggest cliche in the book, it continues to be a rollercoaster ride for all of us following the trade story, even if the market has increasingly overcome its queasiness and ensured it has been well stocked up on motion sickness tablets," said Deutsche Bank strategist Jim Reid in a note to clients. A rise in Japanese government bond yields also added to upward pressure on borrowing costs elsewhere, said Jens Peter Soerensen, chief analyst at Danske Bank. Japanese bond yields surged as concerns grew that an upcoming election could pave the way for increased fiscal spending. Chinese blue chips closed 0.1 per cent higher as data showed annual export growth topped forecasts at 5.8 per cent in June, even as exports to the US fell almost 10 per cent. Retail sales figures, industrial output and gross domestic product are due Tuesday. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures both eased 0.4 per cent. Earnings season kicks off this week with the major banks leading the pack on Tuesday. In bond markets, Treasuries got a very marginal safety bid and 10-year yields held at 4.41 per cent. US consumer prices data for June are due on Tuesday and could finally start to show early upward pressure from tariffs, though retailers still have pre-levy inventory to draw on and some companies are absorbing the costs into margins. The impact on supply chain costs could show in producer price and import price figures this week, while a reading on retail sales will indicate how consumers are faring. Among currencies, the euro dipped 0.1 per cent to $US1.1684, edging away from its recent four-year top of $US1.1830. The dollar lost 0.1 per cent on the yen to 147.29 while the dollar index was little changed about 97.89. Bitcoin crossed the $US120,000 level for the first time to reach a top around $US123,153. Gold picked up a modest safe-haven bid and rose 0.1 per cent to $US3,359 an ounce. Oil prices rose more than one per cent on speculation Trump could announce stiffer sanctions on Russia later on Monday, including levies on major customers buying Russian oil. Brent jumped 67 cents to $US71.03 a barrel, while US crude added 70 cents to $US69.15 per barrel.
Courier-Mail
41 minutes ago
- Courier-Mail
Lawyer claims Hannah Thomas ‘punched in face' by cop at anti-Israel protest
Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News. Lawyers have claimed a police officer used excessive force with 'brutal and life-changing consequences' when former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas was allegedly 'punched in the face' during a scuffle at an anti-Israel protest. Ms Thomas was involved in a protest picketing SEC Plating in Belmore in Sydney's southwest on June 27, following reports the company provided jet components used by the Israel Defence Forces. Police issued a move-on order to about 60 people, but a scuffle broke out when some failed to comply with directions, a NSW Police spokesperson previously said. Ms Thomas was pictured with a swollen eye and blood caked on her face following the protest, with the former Greens candidate claiming she may have suffered permanent vision damage as a result. Former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas was charged over an anti-Israel protest in June. Picture: Supplied. She was spotted with a swollen eye and blood dripping down her face following the protest. Picture: Supplied. Ms Thomas was charged with hinder/resist police and refuse to comply with direction to disperse, with an additional charge related to a rarely-used emergency anti-riot power since dropped. Her lawyer, Peter O'Brien from O'Brien Solicitors, has since called for all charges against Ms Thomas to be dropped, claiming he is 'satisfied' his client was 'punched in the face'. 'My office has now viewed all available footage of the incident giving rise to the moments leading to the injury to Ms Thomas' eye on the 27th of June, and I am satisfied that Ms Thomas was punched in the face by a male police officer, causing extensive and serious injury to her eye,' Mr O'Brien said in a statement. Mr O'Brien claimed Ms Thomas was an 'innocent victim of gratuitous police brutality', condemning the actions of police as 'completely and entirely unjustifiable'. He said he's called on the NSW Police and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to withdraw all the charges, and confirmed Ms Thomas would file a civil claim for compensation against the state over her 'apprehension, injury, detention, and prosecution'. 'It is our position that the charges against Ms Thomas are wholly unsustainable and should be immediately withdrawn,' Mr O'Brien said. Ms Thomas challenged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the federal seat of Grayndler at the federal election earlier this year. Picture: Tim Hunter. He argued the charge of resisting police could not hold up, citing claims police were acting outside their powers by enforcing an unlawful direction and using excessive force 'with brutal and life-changing consequences'. Further, failing to comply with a direction would 'most certainly fail', he claimed. 'The charge of failing to comply with a direction will most certainly fail as the direction was plainly and on its face unlawful, and reflected the directing police officer's complete misunderstanding of the law,' Mr O'Brien said. He noted it was 'not ordinary' for lawyers to comment on cases against their clients, but that there were 'such stark and serious concerns' raised by evidence which required an immediate public response. 'This is especially so where comments have been made by senior police officials and politicians downplaying the gravity of the incident, apparently justifying police actions and comments that have been detrimental to my client's position,' Mr O'Brien said. Peter O'Brien from O'Brien solicitors has called for all charges against Ms Thomas to be dropped. Picture: Supplied Ms Thomas earlier claimed her injuries were a result of the 'draconian anti-protest laws' currently subject to a constitutional challenge in the NSW Supreme Court launched on behalf of the Palestine Action Group. The laws in question gave police fresh powers to prevent protesters from harassing, intimidating or threatening people accessing or leaving — or attempting to access or leave — places of worship, with a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment. The laws were brought in less than a month after news of an explosives-laden caravan being found in Dural broke, which later proved to be a fake terrorism plot rather than an anti-Semitic attack. Mr O'Brien claimed it was 'noteworthy' the incident at the June protest happened amid an attempt by the state government to broaden police powers regarding public assemblies, which he called 'arguably contrary to constitutional principles'. 'It cannot be known what goes through the mind of a police officer who uses gratuitous violence like this, but the context and timing appear unavoidably revealing,' Mr O'Brien said. Ms Thomas is set to face Bankstown Local Court on August 12. Four others were handed various charges following the protest in June. NSW Police were unable to comment on calls for the charges to be dropped, or Mr O'Brien's claims, as a critical incident investigation remains ongoing. The ODPP declined to comment on the matter as it's before the court. Originally published as Lawyer claims Hannah Thomas was 'punched in the face' by cop at anti-Israel protest
The Advertiser
41 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
BMW and Mercedes-Benz get new bosses in Australia as sales race remains tight
Arch-rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz have a close competition going on – just six deliveries separate them in this year's sales race – but unusually both brands have simultaneously announced local leadership changes. In press releases both dated July 14, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have confirmed new Australian bosses. Vikram Pawah is returning to the position of CEO of BMW Group Australia from September 1, 2025, having previously held the role between 2018 and 2020 and more recently served as head of BMW Group India – where, BMW notes, he presided over "consistent year-on-year [sales] increases". He takes over from Wolfgang Buechel, who has been promoted to vice president and head of Mini Global Sales, where he'll be responsible for developing and executing Mini's global sales strategy. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. ABOVE: Vikram Pawah (left) and Wolfgang Buechel (right) Mr Buechel served as BMW Group Australia CEO for five years, and leaves after leading BMW to reclaim its position, after 11 years, as the leading premium automotive brand in Australia in 2023. It remained ahead of Mercedes-Benz in 2024 – 26,341 versus 24,831 deliveries, the latter including the three-pointed star brand's van division – and sits ahead of it so far this year. It's a tighter race this year, with BMW sitting at 13,712 deliveries against 13,706 for Mercedes-Benz. At the same time, the CEO and managing director of Mercedes-Benz Australia-Pacific, Jamie Cohen, is stepping down from his role after just over a year. ABOVE: Homero Becerra Gonzalez (left) and Jaime Cohen (right) He's being succeeded by Homero Becerra Gonzalez, who assumes the role on November 1, 2025. Mr Cohen will work closely with Mr Becerra Gonzalez before departing the company on December 31, 2025. Mr Becerra Gonzalez has an extensive background in finance, having headed up Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Iberia since earlier this year, serving in this role while simultaneously being managing director of Mercedes-Benz fleet and mobility subsidiary Athlon Iberia since 2021. He also has previously served as the head of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services in Italy. He takes over from Mr Cohen, who joined the Australia/Pacific division in April 2024, following a five-year tenure as the CEO and managing director of Mercedes-Benz Mexico. The outgoing local boss has more than 35 years of experience within the Mercedes-Benz Group. "Under his leadership, Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific achieved sustained sales and market share growth in a challenging and dynamic geopolitical environment, including a steady rise in the share of electric vehicle deliveries," the company said in its release announcing the change. Mr Cohen joined after Mercedes-Benz moved to an agency sales model in Australia for its Cars division, which resulted in a sales downturn. The agency move saw Mercedes-Benz take ownership of dealership stock, and remove the ability for customers and dealership staff to negotiate on prices – a change that saw dealers sue the brand over what it called inadequate compensation. The Federal Court ruled against the dealers, and this month dismissed an appeal made against its ruling. Deliveries of vehicles from Mercedes-Benz Cars fell from 28,348 in 2021 to 26,801 in 2022, before dropping again in 2023 to 24,315, and then 19,989 in 2024. But there's light at the end of the tunnel, it would appear, with deliveries in the first half of 2025 up 15.9 per cent on the same period last year to 11,146 in total – Mercedes-Benz's best first-half of a year since 2023. BMW is well ahead of Mercedes-Benz in terms of electric vehicles (EVs), however. To the end of June, BMW has delivered 3090 EVs so far this year, while Mercedes-Benz has delivered 1581 – a figure that also includes EVs from its Mercedes-Benz Vans division. Content originally sourced from: Arch-rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz have a close competition going on – just six deliveries separate them in this year's sales race – but unusually both brands have simultaneously announced local leadership changes. In press releases both dated July 14, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have confirmed new Australian bosses. Vikram Pawah is returning to the position of CEO of BMW Group Australia from September 1, 2025, having previously held the role between 2018 and 2020 and more recently served as head of BMW Group India – where, BMW notes, he presided over "consistent year-on-year [sales] increases". He takes over from Wolfgang Buechel, who has been promoted to vice president and head of Mini Global Sales, where he'll be responsible for developing and executing Mini's global sales strategy. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. ABOVE: Vikram Pawah (left) and Wolfgang Buechel (right) Mr Buechel served as BMW Group Australia CEO for five years, and leaves after leading BMW to reclaim its position, after 11 years, as the leading premium automotive brand in Australia in 2023. It remained ahead of Mercedes-Benz in 2024 – 26,341 versus 24,831 deliveries, the latter including the three-pointed star brand's van division – and sits ahead of it so far this year. It's a tighter race this year, with BMW sitting at 13,712 deliveries against 13,706 for Mercedes-Benz. At the same time, the CEO and managing director of Mercedes-Benz Australia-Pacific, Jamie Cohen, is stepping down from his role after just over a year. ABOVE: Homero Becerra Gonzalez (left) and Jaime Cohen (right) He's being succeeded by Homero Becerra Gonzalez, who assumes the role on November 1, 2025. Mr Cohen will work closely with Mr Becerra Gonzalez before departing the company on December 31, 2025. Mr Becerra Gonzalez has an extensive background in finance, having headed up Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Iberia since earlier this year, serving in this role while simultaneously being managing director of Mercedes-Benz fleet and mobility subsidiary Athlon Iberia since 2021. He also has previously served as the head of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services in Italy. He takes over from Mr Cohen, who joined the Australia/Pacific division in April 2024, following a five-year tenure as the CEO and managing director of Mercedes-Benz Mexico. The outgoing local boss has more than 35 years of experience within the Mercedes-Benz Group. "Under his leadership, Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific achieved sustained sales and market share growth in a challenging and dynamic geopolitical environment, including a steady rise in the share of electric vehicle deliveries," the company said in its release announcing the change. Mr Cohen joined after Mercedes-Benz moved to an agency sales model in Australia for its Cars division, which resulted in a sales downturn. The agency move saw Mercedes-Benz take ownership of dealership stock, and remove the ability for customers and dealership staff to negotiate on prices – a change that saw dealers sue the brand over what it called inadequate compensation. The Federal Court ruled against the dealers, and this month dismissed an appeal made against its ruling. Deliveries of vehicles from Mercedes-Benz Cars fell from 28,348 in 2021 to 26,801 in 2022, before dropping again in 2023 to 24,315, and then 19,989 in 2024. But there's light at the end of the tunnel, it would appear, with deliveries in the first half of 2025 up 15.9 per cent on the same period last year to 11,146 in total – Mercedes-Benz's best first-half of a year since 2023. BMW is well ahead of Mercedes-Benz in terms of electric vehicles (EVs), however. To the end of June, BMW has delivered 3090 EVs so far this year, while Mercedes-Benz has delivered 1581 – a figure that also includes EVs from its Mercedes-Benz Vans division. Content originally sourced from: Arch-rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz have a close competition going on – just six deliveries separate them in this year's sales race – but unusually both brands have simultaneously announced local leadership changes. In press releases both dated July 14, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have confirmed new Australian bosses. Vikram Pawah is returning to the position of CEO of BMW Group Australia from September 1, 2025, having previously held the role between 2018 and 2020 and more recently served as head of BMW Group India – where, BMW notes, he presided over "consistent year-on-year [sales] increases". He takes over from Wolfgang Buechel, who has been promoted to vice president and head of Mini Global Sales, where he'll be responsible for developing and executing Mini's global sales strategy. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. ABOVE: Vikram Pawah (left) and Wolfgang Buechel (right) Mr Buechel served as BMW Group Australia CEO for five years, and leaves after leading BMW to reclaim its position, after 11 years, as the leading premium automotive brand in Australia in 2023. It remained ahead of Mercedes-Benz in 2024 – 26,341 versus 24,831 deliveries, the latter including the three-pointed star brand's van division – and sits ahead of it so far this year. It's a tighter race this year, with BMW sitting at 13,712 deliveries against 13,706 for Mercedes-Benz. At the same time, the CEO and managing director of Mercedes-Benz Australia-Pacific, Jamie Cohen, is stepping down from his role after just over a year. ABOVE: Homero Becerra Gonzalez (left) and Jaime Cohen (right) He's being succeeded by Homero Becerra Gonzalez, who assumes the role on November 1, 2025. Mr Cohen will work closely with Mr Becerra Gonzalez before departing the company on December 31, 2025. Mr Becerra Gonzalez has an extensive background in finance, having headed up Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Iberia since earlier this year, serving in this role while simultaneously being managing director of Mercedes-Benz fleet and mobility subsidiary Athlon Iberia since 2021. He also has previously served as the head of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services in Italy. He takes over from Mr Cohen, who joined the Australia/Pacific division in April 2024, following a five-year tenure as the CEO and managing director of Mercedes-Benz Mexico. The outgoing local boss has more than 35 years of experience within the Mercedes-Benz Group. "Under his leadership, Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific achieved sustained sales and market share growth in a challenging and dynamic geopolitical environment, including a steady rise in the share of electric vehicle deliveries," the company said in its release announcing the change. Mr Cohen joined after Mercedes-Benz moved to an agency sales model in Australia for its Cars division, which resulted in a sales downturn. The agency move saw Mercedes-Benz take ownership of dealership stock, and remove the ability for customers and dealership staff to negotiate on prices – a change that saw dealers sue the brand over what it called inadequate compensation. The Federal Court ruled against the dealers, and this month dismissed an appeal made against its ruling. Deliveries of vehicles from Mercedes-Benz Cars fell from 28,348 in 2021 to 26,801 in 2022, before dropping again in 2023 to 24,315, and then 19,989 in 2024. But there's light at the end of the tunnel, it would appear, with deliveries in the first half of 2025 up 15.9 per cent on the same period last year to 11,146 in total – Mercedes-Benz's best first-half of a year since 2023. BMW is well ahead of Mercedes-Benz in terms of electric vehicles (EVs), however. To the end of June, BMW has delivered 3090 EVs so far this year, while Mercedes-Benz has delivered 1581 – a figure that also includes EVs from its Mercedes-Benz Vans division. Content originally sourced from: Arch-rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz have a close competition going on – just six deliveries separate them in this year's sales race – but unusually both brands have simultaneously announced local leadership changes. In press releases both dated July 14, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have confirmed new Australian bosses. Vikram Pawah is returning to the position of CEO of BMW Group Australia from September 1, 2025, having previously held the role between 2018 and 2020 and more recently served as head of BMW Group India – where, BMW notes, he presided over "consistent year-on-year [sales] increases". He takes over from Wolfgang Buechel, who has been promoted to vice president and head of Mini Global Sales, where he'll be responsible for developing and executing Mini's global sales strategy. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. ABOVE: Vikram Pawah (left) and Wolfgang Buechel (right) Mr Buechel served as BMW Group Australia CEO for five years, and leaves after leading BMW to reclaim its position, after 11 years, as the leading premium automotive brand in Australia in 2023. It remained ahead of Mercedes-Benz in 2024 – 26,341 versus 24,831 deliveries, the latter including the three-pointed star brand's van division – and sits ahead of it so far this year. It's a tighter race this year, with BMW sitting at 13,712 deliveries against 13,706 for Mercedes-Benz. At the same time, the CEO and managing director of Mercedes-Benz Australia-Pacific, Jamie Cohen, is stepping down from his role after just over a year. ABOVE: Homero Becerra Gonzalez (left) and Jaime Cohen (right) He's being succeeded by Homero Becerra Gonzalez, who assumes the role on November 1, 2025. Mr Cohen will work closely with Mr Becerra Gonzalez before departing the company on December 31, 2025. Mr Becerra Gonzalez has an extensive background in finance, having headed up Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Iberia since earlier this year, serving in this role while simultaneously being managing director of Mercedes-Benz fleet and mobility subsidiary Athlon Iberia since 2021. He also has previously served as the head of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services in Italy. He takes over from Mr Cohen, who joined the Australia/Pacific division in April 2024, following a five-year tenure as the CEO and managing director of Mercedes-Benz Mexico. The outgoing local boss has more than 35 years of experience within the Mercedes-Benz Group. "Under his leadership, Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific achieved sustained sales and market share growth in a challenging and dynamic geopolitical environment, including a steady rise in the share of electric vehicle deliveries," the company said in its release announcing the change. Mr Cohen joined after Mercedes-Benz moved to an agency sales model in Australia for its Cars division, which resulted in a sales downturn. The agency move saw Mercedes-Benz take ownership of dealership stock, and remove the ability for customers and dealership staff to negotiate on prices – a change that saw dealers sue the brand over what it called inadequate compensation. The Federal Court ruled against the dealers, and this month dismissed an appeal made against its ruling. Deliveries of vehicles from Mercedes-Benz Cars fell from 28,348 in 2021 to 26,801 in 2022, before dropping again in 2023 to 24,315, and then 19,989 in 2024. But there's light at the end of the tunnel, it would appear, with deliveries in the first half of 2025 up 15.9 per cent on the same period last year to 11,146 in total – Mercedes-Benz's best first-half of a year since 2023. BMW is well ahead of Mercedes-Benz in terms of electric vehicles (EVs), however. To the end of June, BMW has delivered 3090 EVs so far this year, while Mercedes-Benz has delivered 1581 – a figure that also includes EVs from its Mercedes-Benz Vans division. Content originally sourced from:
