Latest news with #USStudiesCentre
ABC News
29-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Elon Musk leaves DOGE after criticising Trump's 'big beautiful' tax bill
Jared Mondschein from the US Studies Centre examines the impact Elon Musk had during his time within the Trump administration leading DOGE.
ABC News
30-04-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull labels Trump a 'bully' at final Your Say panel
Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has called US President Donald Trump a "bully" and criticised Australia's major parties for not standing up to him. Speaking at the ABC's final Your Say panel — hosted by ABC Radio Sydney Mornings presenter Hamish Macdonald at the broadcaster's Parramatta studios — Mr Turnbull said he had counselled Australian leaders to take a harder stance in negotiations with the president. Stay updated: Catch the latest interviews and in-depth coverage on "The Australian prime minister should go to Washington [D.C.] and stand up for Australia. I mean, it makes me want to vomit," Mr Turnbull told the program. "There has been a conga line of sycophants and lobbyists and grifters and advisors saying, 'Oh, you've got to flatter Trump, suck up to him,' and all they end up getting is more bullying." The Your Say panel also included former home affairs secretary Mike Pezzulo, the US Studies Centre's Hayley Channer and Macquarie Univeristy's Lavina Lee. ( ABC News: Marcus Stimson ) He said newly elected Canadian President Mark Carney had taken a more effective approach. "Is Mark Carney on his knees? Are the Canadians on their knees? You know what their motto is, 'Elbows up', which basically means a bit of biffo in ice hockey." Hayley Channer from the US Studies Centre, argued the softer approach taken by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was more likely to get a favourable outcome. Mr Turnbull pointed to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's approach to Mr Trump as the example Australian leaders should follow. "If you think about the way that the current prime minister, Anthony Albanese tried to evade the tariffs, it was all about packaging up a deal," Ms Channer said. " If we use something like critical minerals, for instance, and we do something that looks attractive to him, we can use our soft power and our natural resources to actually get something out of the next four years. " AUKUS, risk of Asia-Pacific conflict discussed The panel also discussed the AUKUS deal, with Mr Turnbull arguing Australia was unlikely to receive any nuclear submarines from the agreement. "The problem we've got at the moment is that both sides of politics are in denial, it is bipartisan gaslighting," he said. Photo shows The blue-and-white Vote compass logo: The words, with a tick through the "o" of "Vote". The ABC's Vote Compass can help you understand your place in the political landscape. "They don't have to sell us any [submarines], unless they conclude that their navy doesn't need them, and their navy is currently about 20 subs short of what they say they need, and they're producing about half as many as they need to replace the ones that are retiring." Former home affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo agreed that the US has a capability gap with its own submarines. He said the government should stay the course with the deal but also look at contingencies. "I think there is a timing imperative to start putting in place some lateral, I don't mean substitute, but lateral policies in place which can go forward simultaneously," Mr Pezzullo said. The AUKUS deal was also discussed, with Mike Pezzullo advising for contingency plans to be considered. ( US Navy ) The panel also discussed the risk of conflict in the Asia-Pacific, with Lavina Lee from Macquarie University arguing that issue hasn't been given enough air time in the election. "There are not enough frank conversations about the actual seriousness of the strategic competition that's going on around us and the risk of conflict in the region, and it's sooner rather than later," Dr Lee said. "If we look forward in five to 10, years' time, people will be looking back at this election and judging our political leaders and both sides politics for not making this more of an issue." Having trouble seeing this form? Try
ABC News
30-04-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Federal election 2025 live: China, the US and AUKUS: Expert forum tackles Australia's future
The final ABC Your Say panel of the election campaign is underway. It will explore how Australia represents itself on the world stage, including how we navigate our friendship with an unstable United States. Host Hamish Mcdonald is joined by former home affairs secretary Mike Pezzulo, former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, US Studies Centre director of economic security Hayley Channer, and Lavina Lee from Macquarie University. Follow the day's events on our live blog below. Or you can try out the ABC's Loading YouTube content Key Events 43m ago 43 minutes ago Wed 30 Apr 2025 at 5:16am 1h ago 1 hours ago Wed 30 Apr 2025 at 4:53am 1h ago 1 hours ago Wed 30 Apr 2025 at 4:12am Show all key events Submit a comment or question Log in to comment Live updates Latest Oldest 1m ago Wed 30 Apr 2025 at 5:58am Can Australia bridge the gap between China and the US? J By Joshua Boscaini Jonathan from Melbourne has asked the panel whether Australia can bridge the gap between China and the United States . Malcolm Turnbull says he thinks Australia has played that role at times, and affirms that Australia is not disconnected or alienated from our region. He says Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping both believe "might is right". Dr Lavina Lee has been asked whether Australia should just sit back and watch the relationship between the two superpowers deteriorate. She says Xi has clear intentions and objectives, and has territorial ambitions for the South China Sea and wants to break through what is called the "first island chain", which is a string of islands in the Pacific, and "dominate this region". React React 3m ago Wed 30 Apr 2025 at 5:56am Calls to be 'clear-eyed' about China threat H By Holly Tregenza Tim from Adelaide has called in and my goodness, does he have a question. He asks the panel: "Can you explain Australia's oscillation between opportunism and paranoia in regard to Asia generally, and China specifically? He continues: "Could our ignorance of the 5,000 years of Asian history... mean that we are incapable of crafting a truly informed, independent relationship with China?" Dr Lavina Lee takes a crack at answering. "There's plenty of opportunism in our relationship. We get an enormous amount from China," she says. "But we have to be really clear eyed on this. Peter Dutton said it explicitly in the debate, Albanese refused to say it - but China is a major security threat. "It is the most disruptive and threatening country in our region." React React 10m ago Wed 30 Apr 2025 at 5:48am Panel discusses differences of foreign policy between major parties J By Joshua Boscaini Hayley Channer says there are distinct differences between the two parties on foreign policy this election, including on China . She says it's not unique for adversaries to have strong trading relationships. Channer points out that Australia was trading with Japan right up until the start of World War II. Channer says the relationship with China needs to be carefully managed because trade with them is enormous. "They're a friend and a foe, I would say, because the trade with them is enormous, like I can't explain how enormous it is. It's a third of our our two way trade, a quarter of our expert exports," she says. React React 12m ago Wed 30 Apr 2025 at 5:46am Deb callls in with a question about her son in the navy H By Holly Tregenza Deb from Canberra has called in and has a son who is a mechanical engineer in the Navy. "He's currently in the US at the nuclear power training facility, learning the very skills that are meant to come back in a couple of years time and maintain these submarines over in Perth," she says. "What will happen to the Australians who are currently over there if this deal doesn't go ahead?" Malcolm Turnbull tells Deb not to worry. "The one part of the AUKUS deal which will definitely go ahead is Australia providing the United States navy with a nuclear submarine base in Perth, and maintenance facilities," he says. "Those maintenance roles will be here, whether we get nuclear submarines or not." React React 17m ago Wed 30 Apr 2025 at 5:41am Should we have more substantial defence relationships beyond the US? J By Joshua Boscaini The next question is from Ron in Victoria . He's asked whether Australia should have more substantial defence relationships with Europe , New Zealand , Indonesia and Japan instead. Mike Pezzullo says Australia provides the US with "critical" coverage in the southern hemisphere. "There are some critical functions we provide from our geography that literally keeps America safe. This is things like Pine Gap, for example," he says. Dr Lavina Lee says Australia is fostering its relationships with other countries, including India. He says Australia doesn't have the industrial capability in the military space to completely replace the alliance with the US. React React 20m ago Wed 30 Apr 2025 at 5:39am Australia should leverage it's soft power with US, Channer says J By Joshua Boscaini On the topic of dealing with Donald Trump , Hayley Channer says Australia has the skill set to extract what it wants from the United States. She says Trump is a transactional president , and that Australia should use it's "soft power" — like sending celebrities to the US — to its advantage. Malcolm Turnbull take a different view and says Australia should stand up to Trump. "Informed by my own experience as a Australian prime minister dealing with him [Trump] is that the way to to succeed with the United States is to stand up for our position, and rather than going there with trinkets and gifts," he says. React React 21m ago Wed 30 Apr 2025 at 5:38am 'Get off your knees': Turnbull H By Holly Tregenza The panel is shown a photo of US President Donald Trump and Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meeting inside the Vatican as they both attend the Pope's funeral over the weekend. Macdonald asks the panel what they think about either Anthony Albanese or Peter Dutton going to the White House after the election to front up to Trump. 'We've sent Greg Norman in the past," Macdonald quips, referencing a former professional golfer. Malcolm Turnbull stops him there. "Get off your knees, Hamish," he says. "It makes me want to vomit." React React 30m ago Wed 30 Apr 2025 at 5:28am Trump believes 'might is right', Turnbull says J By Joshua Boscaini Malcolm Turnbull says China is developing the capability to challenge Australia's independence and sovereignty . But Turnbull has turned the focus to US President Donald Trump and says his values are aligned with Vladimir Putin and believes "might is right". "Donald Trump has threatened, used economic coercion against Canada, and repeatedly said he believes it should be the 51st state, right? He has said that he will get Greenland the territory of Denmark … Can you imagine what we would all be saying if Xi Jinping said Vietnam should be a province of China," he says. React React 31m ago Wed 30 Apr 2025 at 5:28am Should Australia just build our own subs? H By Holly Tregenza Alan in Adelaide has dialled. Here's his question: Should we fast track the development and manufacture of or own drone submarines in Australia? We're going to expert Hayley Channer from the US Studies Centr e first. "The second pillar of AUKUS is advanced capabilities... which we will be sharing and co-developing with the US and the UK," she says. "I think it's really important not to forget the middle part of AUKUS, which is the UK part." But she says drone technology is simply not up to scratch at this point to compete. "But also, very developed country in the Indo-Pacific is investing in submarines, and the best counter to a submarine... is a submarine." React React 37m ago Wed 30 Apr 2025 at 5:22am Has there been some panic over AUKUS? J By Joshua Boscaini Hamish Macdonald has asked Malcolm Turnbull whether there's been some panic over AUKUS . Turnbull says he's not saying Australia should pull out of AUKUS, but instead there's real prospect we won't get any Virginia class submarines. "This possibility is being widely canvassed in Washington, and it is canvassed in congressional documents and reports, and what they suggest is, in those circumstances, maybe it'd be smarter for Australia to let the Americans do the submarine and instead spend money on other long range strike capabilities," he says. React React 38m ago Wed 30 Apr 2025 at 5:21am Will Australia get what it pays for with AUKUS? H By Holly Tregenza Host Hamish Mcd onald throws the question back to Former Home Affairs department secretary Mike Pezzulo. He asks about the US administration "making noise" about Australia increasing defence spending up to three per cent of GDP, and asks if Australia is at risk of not getting what we've paid for with AUKUS. "I think there is a timing imperative to start putting in place some lateral, I don't mean substitute, but lateral policies in place which can go forward simultaneously," Mr Pezzulo says. React React Key Event 43m ago Wed 30 Apr 2025 at 5:16am Should Australia reconsider the AUKUS partnership? J By Joshua Boscaini The first question is from Susan in Melbourne . She asks if with all the mixed messaging on AUKUS and defence policy whether it would be prudent for Australia to revisit the French naval group submarines option. Mike Pezzullo says he diagrees and thinks we should stay the course. "We have to be realistic about the chances of getting a Virginia class submarine off the American production line. So we need to deal with that. We need to be very hard nosed with our British partners about the design of the AUKUS submarine as well," he says. Hayley Channer says AUKUS should be seen through the lens of a nation building project rather than a defence project. She says she thinks it needs more time to see how it can actually be success. Malcolm Turnbull has chimed into the discussion. He says he didn't drink the "kool aid" on AUKUS and says we should be asking difficult questions about the project. "I think it's important that Australians do ask difficult questions, and that is to say to both the government and the opposition, who wants to be the government, what is your plan if ... we end up with no submarines at all...?" he says React React 53m ago Wed 30 Apr 2025 at 5:05am ABC Your Say panel answers your questions on national security J By Joshua Boscaini For weeks we've been asking what you're concerned about this election, and Australia's place in an uncertain world was one of your top responses. The ABC's Hamish Mcd onald is putting your questions on everything from AUKUS to our relationship with China to our panel of experts. Follow us live. React React Key Event 1h ago Wed 30 Apr 2025 at 4:53am Join us for the final ABC Your Say panel J By Joshua Boscaini We're standing by for the final ABC Your Say panel of the election campaign which is due to start at 3pm (AEST ). It will explore how Australia represents itself on the world stage, including how we navigate our friendship with an unstable United States. Host Hamish Mcdonald will be joined by former home affairs secretary Mike Pezzulo , former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull , US Studies Centre director of economic security Hayley Channer, and Dr Lavina Lee from Macquarie University. You can follow what the panelists say here on our live blog or in the YouTube link at the top of the page. React React 1h ago Wed 30 Apr 2025 at 4:25am 🎥 ICYMI: Chalmers on core inflation falling G By Georgie Hewson React React Key Event 1h ago Wed 30 Apr 2025 at 4:12am Courting the Chinese-Australian vote over some Yum Cha P By Pablo Vinales, on the trail with Dutton (ABC News: Matt Roberts ) A significant factor in the Morrison government's 2022 election loss was the backlash from Chinese-Australians , arising from its hawkish stance on China. Dutton is trying to repair the damage that caused with a large cohort of voters, especially in parts of Melbourne and Sydney . Today he made a lunch stop at a Yum Cha restaurant in the seat of Chisholm held by Labor on a margin of 3.3 per cent . Former MP Katie Allen is contesting the seat against Carina Garland . Dutton has faced questions over his previous comments like Over the past couple of years Dutton has softened is language on China, though at the last leaders' debate he named the Chinese Communist Party as the biggest threat to Australia's national security. React React 1h ago Wed 30 Apr 2025 at 4:00am That's a wrap H By Holly Tregenza Anthony Albanese has exited the stage, his National Press Club address complete. Here's what was covered: The PM used his speech to talk about Medicare and take aim at Peter Dutton for not attending the National Press Club in the final week of the campaign. He says he's confident in the bulk billing incentives modelling from Labor. He's also stuck to his guns on Labor's critical minerals reserve plan, saying it is in Australia's best interests. He responded to Penny Wong's suggestions The Voice, although voted down by the majority of Australians, may not be gone forever. The PM wouldn't say if he has any regrets he has about his first term in office. He rule out putting AUKUS up for discussion in the case of a hung parliament. He's also asked about a bizarre endorsement from Joe Exotic - from Tiger King fame. Albanese says he only has the support of one animal, and it's his dog, Toto. React React 2h ago Wed 30 Apr 2025 at 3:55am More on the Tiger King's endorsement of the PM O By Olivia Caisley If you're wondering why the prime minister was asked about a convicted American murderer at the press club, let's get you up to speed. Remember the collective fever dream that was the early pandemic — and the chaotic Netflix series Tiger King? Back in March 2020, as the world ground to a halt, millions of us were glued to the saga of Joe Exotic — the flamboyant former zookeeper turned convicted felon whose wild world of big cats, rivalries, and criminal plots became a lockdown obsession. Well, in the update no one saw coming, Joe Exotic has clawed his way back into the headlines. Speaking to 2DayFM from his prison cell, the self-declared "Tiger King" gave a wide-ranging interview that somehow veered into #auspol. And yes — he gave a full-throated endorsement of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. "Re-elect him," Joe said. In an accompanying Instagram post, which appears to show an AI-generated image of Mr Exotic posing with the PM, he writes: "Keep Australia safe and awesome. All of my friends in Australia vote for @albomp." A spokesperson for Labor's campaign told ABC News: "The Labor Party had no role in an endorsement from Joe Exotic, nor has anyone from the Labor campaign ever had any contact with him." An endorsement from the Tiger King in prison wasn't on our bingo card — but at this point in the campaign, what even is? React React Key Event 2h ago Wed 30 Apr 2025 at 3:52am AUKUS, foreign policy not up for discussion in potential hung parliament, PM says J By Joshua Boscaini Peter Hobson from Reuters has asked the final question of today's National Press Club . He's asked the PM whether AUKUS and foreign policy would be up for discussion with minor parties and independents in order to achieve minority government. Anthony Albanese's answer is "no". He doesn't elaborate further. React React Key Event 2h ago Wed 30 Apr 2025 at 3:49am In the event of a hung parliament, will Labor negotiate deals? H By Holly Tregenza After that brief Tiger King interlude, we're back to the serious stuff. Dan Jervis-Bardy from the Guardian asks about Albanese's refusal to answer questions about the possibility of forming a minority government, particularly with the prospect of further global insecurity. "In the event of a hung parliament, would it not be preferable to negotiate deals rather than negotiate in a legislation by legislation basis?" he asks. "No," the PM says. "You don't want to elaborate on that?" says Jervis-Bardy. "We've got 78 seats," the PM says. "We're aiming to hold every single one of them and we're out there campaigning hard in Coalition-held seats and in Greens part-held seats as well. "It's as simple as that." React React Show more posts
