TRANSCRIPT
Australia has made a major concession to the United States as it bids for tariff exemptions, lifting a ban on US beef.
Until now, the ban had applied to beef from cattle who came from third countries, or whose origins whose origins could not be determined.
Australian Agricultural Minister Julie Collins says this move is not a compromise in safety and bio-security laws will be upheld.
"Our biosecurity risk assessment process is very robust and I have faith in the officials in my department to do this appropriately. These are experts in the field. Australia's biosecurity system is world-renowned for a reason."
Two and a half million Australians could be affected by a new bill aimed at protecting penalties for casual workers.
Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth is introducing laws to parliament to ensure workers who are required to perform weekend and overtime shifts, are paid around $40 an hour.
That rate has been calculated by Fair Work Australia, based on the required time-and-a-half penalty on Saturdays and double-time on Sundays.
There will be exceptions based on individual agreements made with workplaces.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the move is part of a push to help low-income households.
"You know, we want people to earn more and then we want them to keep more of that. So the tax cuts that are coming in will particularly benefit people who are on low and medium incomes."
The United States has approved almost half a billion dollars in arms sales, to bolster Ukraine’s air defences and combat vehicles.
Ukraine and Russian representatives met in Istanbul today in the third round of peace talks that have resulted in a prisoner swap and the repatriation of thousands of soldiers bodies.
US President Donald Trump has set a deadline on Russia to negotiate a ceasefire and eventual peace deal, more than three years after it invaded Ukraine.
The US is threatening significant sanctions if Vladimir Putin does not make efforts to negotiate.
As Ukraine calls on Mr Putin to meet Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russia's delegate for the talks, Vladimir Medinsky, says that won't happen without an existing agreement.
“In order for such a meeting to take place, it is necessary to work out the terms of the agreement in advance, to understand what to discuss at this meeting, and in fact, at this meeting it is necessary not to discuss the agreement, but to put a period, to sign.”
To sport now and in AFL,
Melbourne defender Steven May has been banned from playing in three upcoming matches, in an AFL Tribunal decision overnight.
May was found guilty of a charge of rough conduct, graded as careless, severe impact and high contact.
Carlton forward Evans had a broken nose and chipped tooth after the impact.
