.
Welcome to SBS News in Easy English.
+++
Donald Trump is considering a request to grant an exemption to wide-ranging tariffs on Australian exports after a phone call with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Mr Albanese says he had a warm and productive call with the US president overnight (Thu 13 Aug AEST).
Mr Albanese says he made the case for the US to drop its 12.5 per cent tariffs on Australia, which came into effect last month.
"I informed him about our record when it comes to dealing with issues of modern slavery, the strengthening that we have put forward as well to look and hold companies accountable for the supply chain process as well. And over 20 years, the United States has had a trade surplus with Australia of US$442 billion ."
Mr Albanese says the two leaders also discussed the AUKUS submarine deal between the two countries, the Iran war, as well as Australia's recent alliances in the Pacific.
--
A Senate inquiry into the whistleblower scandal at consultancy firm KPMG has is hearing from representatives at companies caught up in the alleged misconduct by KPMG's senior audit partners.
The chair of property firm Dexus, Warwick Negus, has told the inquiry, it was shocking to hear the allegations about ethical failures at KPMG while it was engaged as Dexus' internal auditor.
"We are disappointed by what we understand at the moment. And that understanding continues to develop. When we were first told about the issue, KPMG characterised it as a matter concerning a dissatisfied employee. We were subsequently advised that the issues concerning Dexus were unsubstantiated and that an independent legal review had confirmed this. We were not provided particulars."
(He says a central issue for them is whether KPMG used confidential Dexus information that it held in 2023-24, as a result of its position as Dexus' internal auditor, to prepare its tender for the external audit of Dexus.)
--
Australia is investing eight million dollars* to help Fiji and its Pacific neighbours prevent and treat HIV, as infections in Fiji surge.
New HIV infections in the country have increased more than ten-fold since 2014 (from under 500 in 2014 to nearly 6,000 by 2024).
In the past year alone, new HIV diagnoses tripled compared to 2023.
The program will support community-led testing, treatment and prevention, particularly for vulnerable and affected communities.
The investment comes as part of a 48-million-dollar Australian package - announced last year by Foreign Minister Penny Wong - which is aimed at strengthening HIV responses and health security in Australia, and across the Pacific.
*The Australian Support for Pacific HIV Action coalition funded by the Commonwealth Government.
***
