Australia news live: Dutton rejects reciprocal tariffs in response to Trump’s trade war; Shorten accuses US leader of treating free world as ‘reality show’
Dutton worried that US could apply more tariffs but doesn’t support reciprocal Australian action
Dutton says he is concerned the US will impose more tariffs on other Australian goods, but he doesn’t think we should retaliate.
Asked by a journalist if he agreed with the idea of reciprocal tariffs, Dutton said:
No, I don’t. I’ve made that clear.
I am concerned about a second round [of tariffs], and I think there are some worrying signs at the moment.
If the government doesn’t get its skates on, we’re going to have further tariffs applied to Australia.
Key events
Second death from Japanese encephalitis this year recorded in NSW
A second person has died from Japanese encephalitis in New South Wales this year, NSW Health has confirmed.
The man in his 70s had earlier been reported to have acquired the disease while holidaying in the Murrumbidgee region, and was receiving care for it in hospital. He died on 6 March.
He is the second person to have died from the mosquito-borne virus in NSW this year, and the fourth since it was first detected in the state in 2022.
Another probable case of Japanese encephalitis – the fifth this season – has also been identified in a man in his 20s in northern NSW, who is considered most likely to have acquired the infection when travelling between Moree Plains, Tamworth and Gunnedah shires. He has been discharged from hospital and is recovering at home.
Japanese encephalitis is spread by mosquitoes and can infect animals and humans, but cannot be transmitted between humans. In some cases it can cause severe neurological illness, with headache, convulsions, reduced consciousness and death. There is no specific treatment.
NSW Health executive Dr Jeremy McAnulty emphasised the importance of vaccination and taking steps to prevent mosquito bites as protection against the disease:
People need to take mosquito borne infections seriously, especially as people start the clean-up from recent floods in an environment where mosquitoes thrive.
Standing water, like that left after mass rainfall and floods, makes for ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes. This increases people’s risk of being bitten, especially if they’re working outdoors.
Vaccines for Japanese encephalitis are available through GPs and pharmacists for anyone who lives or works in some inland LGAs or high-risk occupations, and some people may be able to access it for free.
Health Services Union welcomes inquiry into Northern Beaches hospital
The Health Services Union has welcomed the announcement of a parliamentary inquiry into Northern Beaches hospital, saying the investigation is long overdue.
As we reported earlier, the NSW health minister promised the inquiry after the death of two-year-old Joe Massa at the hospital’s emergency ward in September.
In a statement this morning the HSU secretary, Gerard Hayes, said the union had repeatedly raised “serious concerns” about the hospital’s operations since it opened in 2018.
Hayes said the effects of the “profit-driven” public-private partnership model needed to be examined as part of the inquiry. The union had documented “numerous concerning practices” at the hospital, he said, including critical understaffing, low staff morale, charging of certain fees that had been abolished in public hospitals, and failure to properly implement patient safety protocols.
Hayes said:
We have consistently seen evidence that Northern Beaches Hospital prioritises commercial interests over patient care. From renting out maternity wards to film crews while mothers struggle with understaffed services, to charging grieving families unnecessary fees to release their loved ones’ bodies – these practices reveal a disturbing pattern.
While other hospitals across NSW are struggling with bed block, Northern Beaches Hospital has entire wards sitting empty or being used as film sets. This is a slap in the face to the patients who funded this facility through their taxes.
The HSU has grave concerns about a healthcare model that generates income by renting out its wards and equipment while patients wait for care …
The union is calling for the inquiry to carefully examine the financial incentives built into the public-private partnership agreement with Healthscope and whether these incentives conflict with the delivery of quality public healthcare.
Mike Cannon-Brookes says he ‘can appreciate double-take’ on Atlassian’s Formula One sponsorship
On his company’s Formula One sponsorship, Cannon-Brookes says he understands why people would be taken aback.
In the LinkedIn post, he says:
I can appreciate the double-take on Atlassian’s F1 sponsorship because … cars = fuel.
I’ve had conversations with the FIA, and am impressed with their plans to get to net zero.
They’ve shown consistent commitment (the 2026 cars are 50% electric, 50% combustion engine, and running on sustainable fuel). Atlassian Williams Racing is even further along (see their Sustainability Report). Their drive to net zero mirrors Atlassian’s own journey.
Every climate journey is about setting a target, having a plan, reporting publicly and demonstrating meaningful progress.
F1 can set a global example for sustainability in sports – and I believe it will.
Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes defends purchasing a private jet
The Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes, a leading campaigner for action to address the climate crisis, has defended his decision to sponsor the Formula One and buy a private jet.
Cannon-Brookes has written a LinkedIn post to explain his reasoning, after the Australian Financial Review’s Rear Window column published a story revealing the billionaire had picked up a Bombardier 7500.
In the LinkedIn post, Cannon-Brookes says this of buying a jet:
I’m not denying I have a deep internal conflict on this.
There’s a couple of reasons I’ve purchased a plane. Personal security is the primary reason (an unfortunate reality of my world), but also so I can run a global business from Australia, and still be a constantly present dad.
So, this is a hard, continual trade-off I’ve decided to make.
Although private aviation is far from a big contributor to global emissions, it is a carbon-intensive way to travel. Aviation is one of the most difficult sectors to decarbonise due to the distance of flights and the energy density of fuel.
It probably comes as no surprise, I have an extremely rigorous carbon regime for all my flying – including using direct air capture and sustainable fuels for the carbon and contrails, to far exceed my flight footprint.
Andrew Messenger
Queensland to indefinitely delay implementing anti-discrimination legislation
The Queensland government plans to indefinitely delay implementing human rights laws passed under the previous parliament.
The Respect at Work and Other Matters Amendment Act, which amended the Anti-Discrimination Act and passed over LNP opposition last September, is due to take effect in July.
Among other reforms, the bill introduces a positive duty on private businesses to eliminate workplace discrimination, and extends protection against discrimination to the homeless and to people suffering domestic and family violence.
The attorney-general, Deb Frecklington, told parliament on Friday morning she would introduce legislation to delay the bill from being enforced until further notice.
She said the legislation could create “unnecessary burden on organisations and institutions” and might create “very serious unintended and unwanted consequences”, and had been rushed by the previous government.
Frecklington said her department was “particularly concerned” about a section in the legislation protecting people with a criminal record.
She said:
Of key concern is whether the new attribute will undermine several high risk discretionary decisions, including decisions relating to weapons licensing, police protection notices and security provider licensing.
Reforming discrimination law is difficult and complex process that attracts significant stakeholder interests, which is why it shouldn’t have been rushed through by the former Labor government.
Sparked by a scandal around transgender students at a Brisbane Christian school, the Queensland Human Rights Commission conducted a years-long review of the state’s anti-discrimination act, developing draft legislation which was released for consultation last February.
You can read more here:
Dutton worried that US could apply more tariffs but doesn’t support reciprocal Australian action
Dutton says he is concerned the US will impose more tariffs on other Australian goods, but he doesn’t think we should retaliate.
Asked by a journalist if he agreed with the idea of reciprocal tariffs, Dutton said:
No, I don’t. I’ve made that clear.
I am concerned about a second round [of tariffs], and I think there are some worrying signs at the moment.
If the government doesn’t get its skates on, we’re going to have further tariffs applied to Australia.
Dutton criticises Albanese government’s handling of tariff negotiations
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has criticised the Albanese government’s approach to dealing with the Trump administration’s tariff regime.
Dutton has been speaking to reporters on the New South Wales Central Coast, where he said the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, could have negotiated a better deal for Australians.
Dutton, who is in campaign mode before the federal election, sought to paint the US’ imposition of 25% tariffs on Australian aluminium and steel imports as a failure by Labor.
When Trump first introduced a tariff on aluminium imports in 2018, the then-Coalition government led by Malcolm Turnbull negotiated an exemption after agreeing to limit exports to the US.
Dutton pointed to this at the press conference, saying:
We actually rolled our sleeves up. We negotiated with the Trump administration, and we got an exemption.
This prime minister can’t even get a phone call. And I don’t agree with what President Trump has done at all.
I think it’s not in our country’s best interests, and it’s not in the US long term best interests either. And I believe very strongly the prime minister could have got a better deal for Australia, but didn’t.
Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred causes heavy beach erosion at Surfers Paradise
Speaking of Surfers Paradise, we’ve got some photos of beach erosion caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, last weekend. The wild weather washed huge amounts of sand from the famous coastline.
Currumbin Beach on the Gold Coast was also badly affected by erosion, as you can see here in this photo from Monday:
Here’s some video footage of the Surfers Paradise hotel fire we brought you news of earlier. Fire crews had extinguished the pool deck fire by about 2.20am and put out the roof fire by about 2.40am, with guests allowed to return to their rooms at about 3am.
Matildas captain Sam Kerr recovering well from surgery, nearing return to Chelsea
Matildas captain Sam Kerr is recovering well but no date has yet been set for her return to action after being named in Chelsea’s Champions League squad, AAP reports.
Kerr hasn’t played since a knee reconstruction in January last year and Chelsea coach Sonia Bompastor is tempering expectations of the striker’s return.
Chelsea’s next Champions League fixture is against Manchester City on 20 March and Bompastor says it’s “difficult to predict” when the Australian ace will make her comeback.
Speaking to reporters in London, Bompastor said:
She is progressing really well in her rehab but I just want her to feel like the main focus for her will be to work really hard, be the best version of herself.
If we have positive news and she can bring into the team her experience but also her competencies, it will be great.
I just want her to focus, step by step, but the main thing for me is to make sure she works hard and she just comes back in the squad.
I just want to make it clear, I think it is not really fair to expect from a player who has been injured for now 15 months … to be the hero in the team.
Bill Shorten suggests retaliation against Trump administration’s tariffs
Former opposition leader Bill Shorten says Donald Trump is leading the free world “as if it’s a reality TV show” and his administration’s tariff regime won’t “help anyone”.
Shorten, now the vice-chancellor of the University of Canberra, was on Seven’s Sunrise earlier this morning where he said the tariffs were “unjustified”.
Like ordinary civilians, which I am these days, it’s like drinking from a fire hose watching Donald Trump lead the free world as if it’s a reality TV show.
The prime minister has correctly said – and I think Peter Dutton has agreed with him – these tariffs are unjustified.
We don’t dump our material in America. We pay first-world wages. So our aluminium and steel industry – and I used to be their union leader – doesn’t deserve this treatment from our ally.
Shorten also suggested Australia should consider retaliatory measures if the US refused to budge, saying:
Tariffs don’t help anyone, but if President Trump thinks he can push other countries around, sooner or later you have to push back.
At the end of the day, if they keep putting tariffs on all of our goods, then we’ve got to reciprocate dollar for dollar, tariff for tariff.
This is not the argument that Australia wants to be in, but I’m confident this government, and I think all reasonable Australians, will say at a certain point, “You push us, we push you”.
To lighten your Friday morning, James Colley has made a video featuring the best bits of the pre-election campaign so far.
You can watch it here:
Inquiry will also look at previous scrutiny of Northern Beaches hospital operations
The inquiry will also consider how the findings and recommendations of the last parliamentary inquiry into the Northern Beaches hospital in 2019, which looked at its operation and management, have been implemented.
Park said the inquiry was a commitment he made to Joe Massa’s parents “to undertake the necessary reviews to understand how they and their son have been let down, as well as to learn what changes need to be made to prevent such a tragedy from occurring again”.
I am grateful to the Massas for their generosity in time and spirit in working with us to honour Joe’s memory.
The chair of the committee holding the inquiry, Jason Yat-Sen Li, said they would announce the opening of submissions as well as hearing dates in due course.
Parliamentary inquiry into Northern Beaches hospital announced
Natasha May
The parliamentary inquiry into Northern Beaches hospital, which the NSW health minister promised would take place after the death of two-year-old Joe Massa at the hospital’s emergency ward in September, has been announced.
The NSW Health minister, Ryan Park, confirmed this morning the state parliament’s Public Accounts Committee will conduct the inquiry into the safety and quality of health services provided by Northern Beaches hospital.
The chair of the committee, Jason Yat-Sen Li, said “I am determined to get this inquiry under way as quickly as possible, but I also want to get it right.
The scope of the inquiry will stretch back to the hospital’s start as a privately operated facility in October 2018, and will consider incidents at the hospital, including those that are the subject of serious adverse event reviews, how the hospital responded, and the extent to which it implemented changes prompted by those incidents.
The inquiry will look at how the hospital supports patient and carer escalation, including the REACH protocol that allows relatives and carers to trigger an independent review of a patient’s treatment – an initiative Park acknowledged was “insufficiently accessible” in the case of Joe Massa.
It will also examine the adequacy of systems and processes designed to prevent adverse events, as well as staff standards and capabilities.
Scott Morrison weighs in on Trump’s actions relating to Ukraine war
Former prime minister Scott Morrison says he doesn’t believe a Trump presidency will alter US intelligence sharing relationships with its allies, including Australia.
In an interview with Times Radio, Morrison has weighed in on the Trump administration’s potential effect on the Five Eyes partnership given his position on the war in Ukraine.
After more than three years of war after Russia invaded its smaller neighbour, Trump has outlined a ceasefire deal, which the Kremlin has yet to agree to.
Morrison said it was a “misread” to interpret this as Trump being prepared to “go it alone”.
I think what the president is trying to do here is end a war that has reached a stalemate.
For the last three years we have been engaged in this at terrible cost to everybody involved – most significantly, the people of Ukraine.
Morrison said he didn’t think Trump put the Five Eyes intelligence sharing arrangement between Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the US in jeopardy.
He said:
You don’t go into all of these particular events as a collective; everybody has their own capabilities, and there are ways that that is shared between all of us.
But how individual parties share what they have access to with third parties outside the agreement is a matter for them.
Thousands of people in Qld remain without power after ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred
Thousands of households remain without power in south-east Queensland nearly a week after ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred made landfall.
Energex, the Queensland government-owned electricity company that distributes power to 1.5m homes and businesses across the region, says 17,101 customers were still without power as of 7am, this morning.
A massive clean-up operation is under way after severe weather associated with Alfred hit the state.
You can read more about that here:
Coalition’s Hogan: Aukus funding could be tariff bargaining chip
Hogan says Australia could use also its funding for the Aukus security partnership to negotiate US tariffs.
We have the $800m Aukus cheque that [defence minister] Richard Marles just went over and threw on the table as part of the deal with Aukus.
Hogan’s comments come after Australia made its first $800m (US $500m) payment under the Aukus defence agreement, under which it will acquire nuclear-powered submarines.
Reuters reported that the US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, said president Donald Trump supports the trilateral security agreement between Australia, the US and the UK.
Under the pact, Australia will pay the US $4.78bn to boost the capacity of the US submarine industry, and Washington will sell several Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines to Australia in the early 2030s.
Britain and Australia intend to later build a new Aukus-class submarine as part of the agreement.
You can read more here:
