The US has currently placed a \u201cbaseline\u201d 10% tariff on Australia, rather than a higher \u201creciprocal\u201d tariff.<\/p>\n
Trump made the comments in Scotland, after negotiating a 15% tariff rate with the European Union this week.<\/p>\n
Trump said that his administration will notify about 200 countries soon of a new tariff rate for \u201cthe rest of the world\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would say it\u2019ll be somewhere in the 15 to 20 per cent range,\u201d he said. \u201cProbably one of those two numbers.\u201d<\/p>\n
It puts even more pressure on the government to negotiate with the US to avoid a higher rate.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.16 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n The government will expand its subsidy program for renewable energy projects, which it says will help power millions of homes.<\/p>\n Chris Bowen<\/strong>, the energy minister, will give a speech later today, announcing that the capacity investment scheme (CIS) will expand, to underwrite 3 gigawatts of generation and underwrite 5 gigawatts of dispatchable capacity or storage.<\/p>\n It\u2019s right that the sunniest and windiest continent remains at the forefront of solar and wind innovation \u2013 and this backing shows the Government intends for it to stay that way.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Bowen says the latest Gencost report, prepared by Csiro and the Australian Energy Market Operator, shows firmed renewables are the lowest cost form of new energy generation.<\/p>\n The report says the cost of solar fell by 8% and the cost of batteries fell by 20% last year.<\/p>\n Bowen says:<\/p>\n Now around halfway through the CIS, and with the cost of deploying solar and batteries declining faster than expected, we have an opportunity to supercharge our transition.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Nationals net zero debate \u2018total madness\u2019: Pocock<\/strong><\/p>\n We can\u2019t seem to stop talking about net zero in parliament, and independent senator (and known longtime climate action advocate) David Pocock<\/strong> says it\u2019s \u201ctotal madness\u201d to see the path the Coalition is taking on the issue.<\/p>\n But Labor\u2019s not off the hook, and Pocock says the government should be doing far more, and taking the opportunity as a country to \u201cpunch above our weight\u201d.<\/p>\n I think it\u2019s total madness to see the path that the Coalition is taking on this. The Labor government, yes, they\u2019re doing something, but they\u2019re not doing enough. It\u2019s not actually aligned with what climate scientists are telling us \u2026<\/p>\n Australians love punching above our weight. You look at on the sports field historically in terms of global diplomacy, we\u2019ve punched above our weight. This is an opportunity.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Pocock adds that it\u2019s \u201cso unhelpful\u201d to see the Nationals who he says should be helping farmers, when they\u2019re at risk of floods and drought due to climate change.<\/p>\n Independent senator David Pocock. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.35 EDT<\/p>\n Health minister says it\u2019s \u2018deeply concerning\u2019 doctor wrote 72,000 medical cannabis scripts in two years<\/strong><\/p>\n The health minister, Mark Butler,<\/strong> is doing the media rounds this morning, making his way through the press gallery.<\/p>\n On Sunrise, he\u2019s asked about a story in the Sydney Morning Herald, which reports that one doctor at an Australian medical cannabis company wrote out 72,000 prescriptions to 10,000 patients over two years.<\/p>\n Butler says he\u2019s \u201cstill struggling to get my head around how you do it physically\u201d, and says it\u2019s \u201cdeeply concerning\u201d.<\/p>\n There are some business practices that have emerged that are frankly, I think unsafe and certainly unscrupulous. I\u2019ve asked the regulators to look at this and a provide all health ministers \u2013 not just me but the state ministers as well \u2013 with advice how to regulate this industry in a more safe way.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Asked about laws around testing positive to cannabis in a workplace, Butler says the first principle should be about \u201csupporting people through their medical treatment\u201d.<\/p>\n There will obviously be questions about using heavy equipment and the like, I think it is time to have that debate about updating our laws.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Staying on regulation, he\u2019s asked about whether there need to be some more rules for e-scooters. Butler says it \u201cdoes need some regulation\u201d.<\/p>\n Minister for health, Mark Butler. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.33 EDT<\/p>\n Trump threatens higher tariffs for countries including Australia<\/p>\n Australia could face even higher tariffs from the US, as President Donald Trump<\/strong> says he plans a new tariff that could be \u201csomewhere in the 15 to 20% range\u201d.<\/p>\n The US has currently placed a \u201cbaseline\u201d 10% tariff on Australia, rather than a higher \u201creciprocal\u201d tariff.<\/p>\n Trump made the comments in Scotland, after negotiating a 15% tariff rate with the European Union this week.<\/p>\n Trump said that his administration will notify about 200 countries soon of a new tariff rate for \u201cthe rest of the world\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI would say it\u2019ll be somewhere in the 15 to 20 per cent range,\u201d he said. \u201cProbably one of those two numbers.\u201d<\/p>\n It puts even more pressure on the government to negotiate with the US to avoid a higher rate.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.16 EDT<\/p>\n Following a previous post on Victoria\u2019s bail laws \u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n The proposed changes to Victoria\u2019s bail laws follow reforms in March<\/a>, which scrapped the principle of remand only as a \u201clast resort\u201d for accused youth offenders. In its place, community safety has become the \u201coverarching principle\u201d when deciding bail for children and adults.<\/p>\n Two bail offences \u2013 \u201ccommitting an indictable offence while on bail for indictable offence\u201d and \u201cbreaching of condition of bail\u201d \u2013 were also reintroduced, each adding an additional three months of imprisonment to any other sentence imposed.<\/p>\n The offences had been scrapped by the government in 2023<\/a>, after advocacy by the family of Veronica Nelson and recommendations from a coronial inquest into her 2020 death in custody<\/a>.<\/p>\n Legal, First Nations and human rights groups all condemned the March changes at the time and are likely to oppose this latest round of reforms as well. The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service<\/strong> (Vals) and Flat Out<\/strong> already had a planned rally at parliament on Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n Vals have said since the March changes there has been a 100% increase in youth offenders remanded in custody, with a 300% increase among their clients. They said this has put youth facilities \u201cdrastically under pressure\u201d, resulting in more lockdowns and less access to education and support services.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.18 EDT<\/p>\n Good morning,<\/p>\n Krishani Dhanji<\/strong> here with you for what will be another busy day of parliament, thanks to Martin Farrer<\/strong> for getting us started.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a few key issues running through parliament this morning: the net zero debate continues to kick off in the Coalition, while the government promises to increase its subsidy scheme for renewables projects (I\u2019ll have more details on that in a moment).<\/p>\n As my colleague Josh Butler<\/strong> tells us, the government will try to speed through its reforms to childcare<\/a> this week, and will use the new powers as soon as it can to crack down on childcare safety.<\/p>\n There\u2019s plenty to come, so stick with us (and bring your favourite caffeinated beverage with you!).<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.16 EDT<\/p>\n Victoria to introduce further changes to state\u2019s \u2018toughest\u2019 bail laws People charged with serious offences such as aggravated burglary, carjacking and armed robbery while on bail will be subject to a tougher bail test under further changes to Victoria\u2019s bail laws being introduced to state parliament today.<\/p>\n The premier, Jacinta Allan<\/strong>, attorney-general, Sonya Kilkenny<\/strong>, and police minister, Anthony Carbines<\/strong>, will this morning announce a second round of bail reforms in just four months, amid concerns about the state\u2019s growing crime rate<\/a>.<\/p>\n Under the proposed reforms, bail will be refused for anyone accused of a serious offence while already on bail for another serious offence, unless the decision-maker is satisfied there is a \u201chigh degree of probability\u201d the person will not reoffend.<\/p>\n This new test, which is being described by the government as the \u201ctoughest\u201d in the country, would apply to alleged offenders of all ages \u2013 including youth \u2013 and covers six offences: aggravated home invasion, aggravated carjacking, armed robbery, aggravated burglary, home invasion and carjacking<\/p>\n (L-R) Victorian police minister Anthony Carbines, attorney general Sonya Kilkenny and premier Jacinta Allan. Photograph: Joel Carrett\/AAP<\/p>\n The government said the change will increase the \u201clikelihood that bail will be refused and prevents re-offending.\u201d<\/p>\n A new \u201csecond strike\u201d rule that is being proposed will also make it harder for people to get bail if they are accused of committing another indictable offence while already on bail. This will apply to charges such as theft, assault, sex offences and serious drug offences.<\/p>\n But the government said low-level offences like minor drug possession would be excluded to \u201cavoid remanding vulnerable people unnecessarily\u201d.<\/p>\n The government said other safeguards would also be in place to \u201cmitigate any disproportionate impact on vulnerable people\u201d but it did not outline these measures in the media release.<\/p>\n Kilkenny said:<\/p>\n These laws protect the community from serious repeat offenders who endanger Victorians, while ensuring vulnerable people aren\u2019t unfairly caught up.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.17 EDT<\/p>\n CSIRO report reveals renewable energy still cheapest<\/strong><\/p>\n Renewable energy production is the cheapest and nuclear reactors the most expensive on the latest figures, AAP<\/strong> reports.<\/p>\n The CSIRO, Australia\u2019s national science agency, released its GenCost report on Tuesday, revealing rising construction and finance costs would push up prices for energy projects of all kinds in the coming years.<\/p>\n Renewable technology continued to provide the cheapest energy generation, the report\u2019s lead author and CSIRO chief energy economist Paul Graham said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re still finding that solar PV and wind with firming is the lowest-cost, new-build low-emission technology,\u201d he told AAP.<\/p>\n \u201cIn second place is gas with (carbon capture storage) \u2026 then large-scale nuclear, black coal with CCS, then the small modular reactors.\u201d<\/p>\n Small modular nuclear reactors proved the most expensive technology of the eight options by a large margin.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Banks to refund charges to low-income customers<\/p>\n Banks will refund more than $93m to low-income customers who were charged high fees on their accounts, AAP<\/strong> reports.<\/p>\n More than a million people have already been moved to low-fee accounts, saving an expected $50m in annual fees, according to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission\u2019s (Asic) Better and Beyond report released today.<\/p>\n The review follows the Better Banking for Indigenous Consumers report, released in July 2024, which revealed at least 2 million low-income Australians, who relied on Centrelink payments, had bank accounts charging high fees.<\/p>\n There were 21 banks included in the latest report, which found even larger numbers of low-income Australians paying too much.<\/p>\n The Asic commissioner, Alan Kirkland<\/strong>, said:<\/p>\n What started as an initiative focused on addressing avoidable bank fees for low-income customers in regional and remote locations, particularly First Nations consumers, revealed a much wider problem affecting customers nationwide.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Asic commisisoner Alan Kirkland. Photograph: GeneRoss\/Choice<\/p>\n Since July 2024, the four banks involved in the initial report \u2013 ANZ, Bendigo Bank, Westpac <\/strong>and Commonwealth Bank<\/strong> (including Bankwest) \u2013 have paid more than $33m in refunds to the customers identified.<\/p>\n Three of those four banks have committed to refunds to a broader group of low-income customers who have been in high-fee accounts.<\/p>\n The Commonwealth Bank and BankWest have indicated they don\u2019t intend on making payments to customers outside the initial cohort, Asic\u2019s report said.<\/p>\n Several other banks have also reviewed the impact of high-fee accounts on low-income customers and have committed to remediation.<\/p>\n A further $60m will be refunded to more than 770,000 customers as a result.<\/p>\n The Asic chair, Joe Longo<\/strong>, said while banks had made improvements during the commission\u2019s surveillance, there was still work to be done.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>EU deal means Australia unlikely to secure US tariff exemption, experts say<\/p>\n Australia\u2019s hopes for a total tariff exemption are dwindling as Donald Trump\u2019s<\/strong> deals with other nations lay bare the limits of trade negotiations, Australian Associated Press<\/strong> reports.<\/p>\n Since pushing his tariff deadline to 1 August, the US president has struck trade agreements with Japan, and overnight, the European Union \u2013 much to the disgust of French ministers <\/a>who think the EU has caved in to Trump.<\/p>\n While the deals landed on tariffs lower than Mr Trump\u2019s initial threats, both were higher than the 10% baseline levy imposed on Australian goods.<\/p>\n No US trading partner has managed to completely dodge tariffs on their items.<\/p>\n So it seems unlikely that Anthony Albanese<\/strong> and his trade minister, Don Farrell<\/strong>, can negotiate their way out of any tariffs at all.<\/p>\n \u201cTrump really does see tariffs as something that is good in themselves,\u201d University of Sydney US politics expert David Smith<\/strong> told AAP.<\/p>\n \u201cEven though there were a lot of hopes at the beginning of this process that countries could negotiate their way out of tariffs altogether \u2013 that\u2019s not really happening.\u201d<\/p>\n Australia, like other nations, might instead have to pivot approaches and try to strategically position its industries within these deals.<\/p>\n\n
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![\"Benita](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753738992_883_Benita_Kolovos.png\")
Benita Kolovos<\/p>\n![\"Krishani](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Krishani_Dhanji.png\")
Krishani Dhanji<\/p>\nBenita Kolovos<\/p>\n\n
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