Follow our live coverage here.
Follow our live coverage here.
We’re here at Crown Perth this morning, where Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has laid bare how the government’s battle for a tariff exemption was lost while rubbishing the opposition leader’s claims it could strike a deal.
During a business breakfast on Tuesday, Wong told attendees the government had highlighted the two-to-one trade surplus the US had enjoyed with Australia and the fact the country was a top 10 investor in its discussions with the world power.
But that wasn’t enough to stave off a hardening of the US’s position in favour of tariffs, with not a single one of the 36 nations that benefited from exemptions in the first Trump administration securing one.
“Indeed, the administration has been very clear and explicit that the exemptions granted in their first term were a mistake,” she said.
The leader of the senate said the government’s response had been clear – that the measure was entirely unjustified and against the spirit of the relationship between the two nations.
She vowed to continue to advocate for the existing economy wide access commitments to be maintained while expressing concern about Dutton’s claim he was confident he could negotiate a deal, fearing that would be done at “any cost”.
“Unlike Mr Dutton, we are not going to give away the farm, and we don’t have to,” she said.
“We’ve always put this interest of Australian industries and workers.”
Wong dismissed suggestions the country should place a reciprocal tariff on the US, claiming it would have a detrimental impact on the cost of living and the cost of doing business.
The senator went on to emphasise the importance of diversifying the nation’s economic partnerships, including by deepening its relationships in South East Asia – particularly Indonesia.
Road rage, impatience and distracted driving are the worst behaviours road users are witnessing, according to an RAC survey released this morning.
Nearly one third of the 14,000 people polled said road rage was their worst gripe.
Driver distraction and mobile phone use came in second with almost 3000 people nominating it as a serious problem.
Surprisingly, poor merging came in at fifth, just after poor knowledge of road rules and speeding.
RAC spokesman Will Golsby said modifying risky road behaviours should be a high-priority following a tragic 19 per cent surge in road deaths last year.
“Last year, we witnessed a horrific year on the roads with 188 deaths recorded – the highest figure since 2017,” he said.
“Already this year 32 people have lost their lives on WA roads.
“It’s crucial we don’t allow complacency to set in; instead, we all need to prioritise safe road behaviours to ensure everyone gets home safely to their loved ones.”
Here’s what’s making news this morning.
Mostly sunny today, with a top of 31 degrees.
Good morning readers, and welcome to our live news blog for Tuesday, March 18.
Making headlines this morning, three friends killed in a crash east of Perth on Sunday have been remembered as “sweet souls” whose deaths are “heart shattering”.
The trio were in a white Nissan Patrol when it veered off the road and crashed into a tree just after 3pm on Sunday as it was driving westbound on Brookton Highway in Lesley, east of Armadale.
They had been on their way home from a camping trip.
Meanwhile, we’re up nice and early and at Crown Perth today for a Business News breakfast with Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong.
With AUKUS in the headlines and the omnipresent chaos of the second Donald Trump administration, what better time than to hear from the minister at the vanguard of Australia’s international diplomacy? (Not to mention how it all affects WA.)
It’s a packed room this morning, so stay tuned as we bring you all the updates as they happen.