TRANSCRIPT
- Concerns over China's surprise new beef tariffs ...
- New financial incentives for apprenticeships,
- Brisbane Lions Lachie Neale steps down as club co-captain.
China is being urged to respect a free trade agreement with Australia after shocking beef exporters with a 55 per cent tariff on beef imports for nations including Australia.
The tariff is to be imposed when shipments exceed certain quotas, with Australia allocated 205,000 tonnes of China's 2.7 million tonne import quota for 2026.
While the measures are designed to protect China's local producers and are not exclusive to Australia, critics say the move may contravene the free trade agreement Australia and China struck in 2016.
Nationals leader David Littleproud says it could have devastating impacts on Australian farmers.
"Well, this is devastating. This is potentially a billion dollars, not just ripped out of farmers pockets, but regional communities pockets. That's money that flows through the local town, from the cafe right through to the stock and station merchant. So we've got to understand, this is a huge shift. It's a tariff on anything above our quota. We usually hit that quota anywhere from between July and September every year, and that means that our beef will have a tariff and we'll have to find a new market."
Opposition Sussan Ley says Anthony Albanese is using national security as an excuse for inaction, as calls grow for a commonwealth royal commission into the Bondi attack.
Ms Ley says more than 130 business leaders, including former Reserve Bank governors and billionaire James Packer, are signing an open letter urging the prime minister to act.
Mr Albanese has so far rejected calls, instead saying his proposed security and law enforcement review will provide answers far sooner.
Ms Ley says Mr Albanese can not ignore the growing chorus of calls.
"The Prime Minister gives different excuses, it seems, every day, for failing to call this Commonwealth Royal Commission that is being demanded across Australia by so many and more every single day. First, he said that a Commonwealth Royal Commission would be too broad and too wide, failing to recognise that antisemitism is a national crisis."
Young Australians are being offered a financial boost of up to $10,000 to take up apprenticeships in the building and renewable energy sectors.
It comes as part of the federal government’s $22.7 billion Future Made in Australia plan, which is using public incentives to drive private investment into local manufacturing and the net-zero transition.
The payments began yesterday as part of the "Key Apprenticeship Program" designed to help reach the national goal of building 1.2 million homes by 2029 and meeting net-zero targets.
Minister for Social Services Tanya Plibersek describes the program as a vital investment to drive workers into high-demand trades where job opportunities are rapidly expanding.
“We also see apprentices benefiting by around $10,000 in that key apprenticeship program to encourage more Australians to undertake an apprenticeship, particularly in the building trades and in the renewable energy sector, where the jobs are booming.”
The Northern Territory government has announced it will introduce a bill on voluntary assisted dying after a months-long parliamentary inquiry into the matter finished in September 2025.
Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby says the government is drafting legislation now, with the bill to be introduced to parliament midway through 2026.
She says the legislation will be subject to a conscience vote, meaning party members could vote in line with their personal beliefs.
The proposed legislation comes almost two decades after the Commonwealth vetoed the NT's world first euthanasia legislation in 1997.
To sport now and in the AFL
Dual Brisbane Lions premiership hero Lachie Neale has stepped down as the club's co-captain.
Neale, who has lifted the last two AFL premiership cups aloft with Harris Andrews, will vacate his leadership role for 2026.
Neale has been at the centre of tabloid speculation about his marriage breaking down in recent weeks.
Speaking to media, Neale says the decision does not mean he's stepping away from the game.
"Yeah, I'm going to be here for this season coming up, and I'm fully committed to putting everything I can into footy and can't wait to get into training, and yeah, looking forward to it."
In his seven seasons with Brisbane, he has claimed two Brownlow medals, won four Merrett-Murray medals as the Lions' best-and-fairest, four All-Australians and starred in two grand final wins.
