TRANSCRIPT
- Donald Trump pauses tariffs on most nations for 90 days, but raises taxes on Chinese imports to 125 per cent
- Jim Chalmers and Angus Taylor outline their economic visions for Australia in the televised Treasurers' Debate
- In Tennis, Alex de Minaur advances to the round of 16 at the Monte Carlo Masters
United States President Donald Trump has announced a 90-day pause on higher tariffs for dozens of countries - but has also further increased levies on China to 125 per cent.
He says during the 90 days, countries other than China will be subject to a universal tariff of 10 per cent.
Mr Trump says the higher rate for China is because of "the lack of respect that China has shown to the world's markets".
Earlier, China announced plans to increase tariffs on US imports even further to 84 per cent - in response to the 104 per cent tariff on Chinese goods entering the US.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says as he sees it, China has insisted on escalation and it has only itself to blame for the current situation.
"Well, I'm not calling it a trade war. But I am saying that China has escalated. And President Trump has responded very courageously to that. And we are going to work on a solution with our trading partners."
---
The Treasurer Jim Chalmers says Labor is preparing Australia to weather the effect of the United States tariffs.
He and the Opposition's Treasury spokesman, Angus Taylor, faced off in the televised treasurers debate hosted by Sky News.
Dr Chalmers opened the debate by stating Labor's economic plan, as Australia experiences the impacts of volatility in the global economy,
"Now it's important to remember, when it comes to this new world of economic uncertainty, the most important thing we can do, the most important thing we are doing, our best defence against all of that, is to rebuild to incomes with higher wages and lower taxes, and also make our economy more resilient."
Mr Taylor responded, arguing Australians are worse off now than three years ago, and he vowed a Coalition government will guarantee health and education spending.
He also defended the Coalition's proposal to build seven nuclear power plants to replace Australia's ageing coal-fired power stations.
"If you can get gas prices down, it's not just get prices coming down for consumers, they clearly do, but also the price of food. The price of building materials, so much of our economy is energy. Energy is everywhere through our economy, if we can get those costs down - and we can - by getting more Australian gas, working for Australians, we can have a lower cost of living for all Australians."
---
Native title holders from the far north of South Australia have welcomed the High Court's ruling that recognise their native title rights over land near Oodnadatta.
A group of Arabana people lodged their first native title claim in 1993, and was granted a vast area near Oodnadatta in 2012.
However, one small area was left out of the claim, as the Federal Court ruled the group hadn't maintained physical cultural connection with the land.
In a judgment, the High Court has ruled the Federal Court judge didn't apply the principles of connection to land under the Native Title Act correctly.
---
Australia's hosts for the 69th Eurovision Song Contest have been revealed.
Television presenter and Gamilaroi man Tony Armstrong will join singer and T-V personality Courtney Act in the commentary booth for the first time in Basel, Switzerland.
Tony Armstrong says for him, it is an opportunity to represent Australia's First Nations people on the world stage.
"I'll be putting my best foot forward and hopefully giving the world an idea of what it's like to interact with and meet a Gamilaroi man, an Aboriginal man and also just over there to show them that we aren't so different. And I'm just excited, it's an honour."
Social media sensation Marty Zambotto - known as Go-Jo - will compete for Australia with his song 'Milkshake Man.'
Eurovision will be held from 13th to 17th May and will be broadcast on SBS and SBS On Demand.
---
In Tennis, Australian Alex de Minaur has reached the last 16 of the Monte-Carlo Masters by winning against Tomas Machac 3-6, 6-0, 6-3.
De Minaur will face the winner of the match between Russian Daniil Medvedev and Frenchman Alexandre Muller.
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic's quest for a 100th career title has hit a setback, after he suffered a shock defeat to Chilean Alejandro Tabilo.
The 6-3 6-4 result is the second time Tabilo has defeated the 24-time grand slam champ in 12 months, after their match in Rome last year.
Before arriving in Monaco, Djokovic struggled with an eye infection and the after-effects of a virus.
He says he makes no excuses and he apologises to fans for not delivering a better performance.
"Actually more like the worst day. Look, I was hoping this was not going to happen, but there was quite a high probability, I'm going to play this way. I don't know, it's just a horrible feeling to play this way. Sorry for all the people who had to witness this. Well, I expected myself to have put a decent performance - not like this. This is horrible."
