Australian news and politics live: PM denies he’s been snubbed but still vague about Trump meet

Latika M Bourke writes:

It is obvious Prime Minister Anthony Albanese sees no need for improvement. Instead, he has taken his election win as a gold star endorsement to remain mediocre.

He won a landslide because Peter Dutton was a dud of a political leader and because Donald Trump is liked only above Xi Jinping, Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin, and the ousted opposition leader spent a bit too much time leaning into MAGAism.

Instead of vowing to do better with his reprieve, which, six or seven months ago, was no guarantee, the Prime Minister seems intent on reverting to type, especially when it comes to making key decisions on national security.

This might have been tolerated in ordinary times, such as when former US President Joe Biden was in the White House, but with the world order being junked and re-ordered by our security ally, a no longer benign but radical United States — and our economic partner — authoritarian China, Mr Albanese’s stubborn complacency is becoming dangerous.

Read Latika M Bourke’s opinion piece.

Anthony Albanese says proposed changes to superannuation that would increase earnings tax on balances over $3m are “very modest”.

His comment comes after criticism from former Labor prime minister Paul Keating, the architect of Australia’s superannuation scheme, opposed the plans.

Mr Keating says younger generations on average earnings could reach the $3m mark by the 2050s.

Mr Albanese noted Mr Keating’s support for supeerannuation more broadly.

“Our superannuation guarantee being lifted to 12 per cent is a very good outcome, as is for the first time ever, superannuation being paid on paid parental leave, will make an enormous difference to the retirement incomes of women, in particular,” Mr Albanese said on Sky News.

“That’s been something that’s been a gap in the system: women retire with incomes far less than men as across the board, and that delivers unfairness in the system, and that’s why delivering superannuation on paid parental leave is a productivity outcome.”

The Prime Minister has dismissed suggestions he’s prioritising Australia’s relationship with China over the United States.

Anthony Albanese is slated to travel to China later this month if a meeting with Xi Jinping can be locked in.

Challenged on why he had met the Chinese President more times than he had met US President Donald Trump, Mr Albanese took umbrage.

“Well, Xi Jinping has been in office for some time and the person who had Xi Jinping address our national parliament here was Tony Abbott, just for the record,” Mr Albanese said.

“I’ve met with the US President more than I have met with the President of China since I’ve been the Prime Minister and I’ve travelled five times to the United States and one time to China.”

Read the story.

Continuing his rounds on brekkie TV, the Prime Minister appeared on ABC to spruik a raft of measures that should ease the financial burden on millions of Aussies.

Among them was a 3.5 per cent pay increase for three million people.

“They are people on the minimum wage or on award wages, some of the lowest paid people. That will make a difference. We know people are doing it tough,” Mr Albanese said.

“In addition to that, for people who are thinking about starting a family, the additional two weeks paid parental leave, lifting it up to 24 weeks, 26 weeks will be in the full six months next year will make a difference.

“In addition to that, we are paying superannuation for the first time on paid parental leave.”

For all the July 1 cost-of-livign measures read Nicola Smith’s story.

Anthony Albanese has shot down a report suggesting military chiefs failed for more than two years to provide formal updates to Defence Minister Richard Marles calling it “absurd”.

The Australian Financial Review report revealed a scathing Auditor-General’s audit had raised questions over the relationship between Mr Marles and his department.

“That’s just ridiculous. Frankly, haven’t seen that report, but we sit in the National Security Committee with the chief of the Defence Force. We meet regularly,” he said on Today.

“I certainly have met with heads of all of the armed forces regularly. And, you know, that is just completely incorrect.

“We came to office, we initiated a defence strategic review that outlined what elements we need in the lead up to budget.

“The idea this $57 billion that we’ve added to our defence investment of our capability has come directly after discussions and engagement, obviously, with defence.

“And in the last budget in March, indeed, we brought forward $1 billion of additional spending, bringing to over $10 billion our additional commitments over the forward estimates as well.”

Anthony Albanese has denied a suggestion Donald Trump has snubbed him, the leader of the US’ close ally.

“No, not at all. And we’ve had really constructive discussions,” he said during an appearance on Today.

“They’ve been respectful. I’ve been respectful of the president. And I must say that he’s been respectful of me as well when he rang to congratulate me on the election.

“And that’s a positive thing.

“And I’ve also had, of course, constructive discussions with members of the US administration, as have my ministers.

“But, you know, the president has a view about tariffs. It’s different from Australia’s view. And it must be said that it’s different from past presidents view as well.

“What most economists realise is that free and fair trade is a good thing for the world ans America has benefited from that.

“Now this president has a right to adopt his America First policy, as he calls it. We have a right to represent Australia’s national interests, that’s what I will do.”

Anthony Albanese said he’ll have a “constructive dialogue on tariffs and the AUKUS defence partnership.

“The United States is an important ally of Australia, but Australia contributes to that partnership.

“When you look at some of the coverage, you would think we were this country that just did nothing, contributed nothing to it.

“I will talk Australia up because we are an important ally.

“We contribute so much to peace and security in our own region by investing in our capabilities. But importantly as well, the role that we play in investing in our relationships in the region is absolutely critical.”

Asked about US tariffs, the Prime Minister indicated Australia was relatively lucky but again called it an act of economic self harm on the US’ part.

“The truth is that we have, as a tariff, which is of course, a cost on US purchases of Australian goods and services of 10%.

“There’s no country in the world that has a lower tariff than Australia.

“Indeed, if you look at our beef exports were up 91 per cent by value when it comes to April this year compared with April last year, when there weren’t tariffs.

“So the goods are still being exported. It’s just that those purchasing those goods are paying more for them.

“And that is why tariffs are an act of economic self-harm. That’s why we haven’t reciprocated by imposing tariffs on US imports into Australia, consistent with our free trade agreement.

The Prime Minister said he’ll meet US President Donald Trump “in coming months” but admitted the date was “open ended”.

Q. “In terms of meeting Donald Trump. Do you have a date? It sounds a bit open ended “in coming months’.”

A. “We’ll have a meeting. We’ve had a few constructive discussions. I’m sure when we meet it will be constructive as well.

As you know, the president left the G7 because there was going on with Iran and Israel and the president’s intervention is something that we supported and something that has led to a ceasefire, which is good news.”

Tax incentives and artificial intelligence lessons in schools could help ensure Australia doesn’t miss out on the benefits of the AI wave, according to the firm behind industry giant ChatGPT.

For OpenAI chief economist Ronnie Chatterji, a visit to Australia to meet with business leaders, investors and policy makers comes at an opportune moment.

The federal government has embraced AI as a key plank in its mission to fix the nation’s stagnant productivity growth and improve living standards ahead of an economic reform roundtable in August.

“It’s a good time where there’s a big conversation in economic policy circles right now about how to increase productivity,” Dr Chatterji told AAP.

AI can make the economy more productive and society more prosperous by freeing workers from mundane administrative tasks, OpenAI said in an economic blueprint for Australia released on Tuesday.

“A nurse unburdened by paperwork can spend more time with patients,” its report said.

“A business owner with more bandwidth can pursue bold ideas.”

Tax incentives should be offered for businesses to increase adoption and training programs should be rolled out to increase the capability of the workforce.

In education, AI literacy and ethics lessons should be introduced to schools to give students the skills to harness the technology when they enter the workforce.