As political leaders try to win over Australians interference from overseas continues.
Senior Democrat Senator Tim Kaine has warned that AUKUS submarines could be delayed, and could cost more, due to US tariffs.
He says around 35 per cent of the steel and aluminium used in ship and submarine building, comes from places like Canada and the UK, both of which have been hit with the import tax.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says AUKUS is safe.
"I'm confident about AUKUS because I've had those firsthand discussions with the President of the United States, and also with more than a hundred members of Congress and the Senate.
"Are you concerned, though, that it will cost more with these tariffs in place?
"I support the existing arrangements that we have with the United States."
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, seizing the opportunity to say Labor can't be trusted with defence.
"We negotiated the deal on AUKUS because we live in an uncertain world, we are an island nation, and a nuclear-powered submarine is the best technology in the world. But I do think it's at risk under Labor, because they're not putting money in. And if the Americans think, or the Brits think, that we're not serious about the program, why would they proceed with it?"
The original AUKUS deal was signed by former coalition Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and former democrat president Joe Biden, but has bipartisan support in Australia and the United States.
The third partner - the United Kingdom - is now reviewing the project.
The UK Parliament has launched an inquiry into the AUKUS pact, reviewing whether recent geopolitical changes present a threat to the agreement, and checking if there are issues in the industrial capabilities within the partner countries.
Independent MP Zoe Daniels says Australia should follow suit.
"There was already doubt about whether the submarines could be delivered, and now with Trump in the White House, everything is very uncertain. So I think both from the point of view of our defence capability and also the national budget, it makes sense to actually do a health test.”
John Blaxland from the Australian National University Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, says it is not time to panic.
"To talk about making a dramatic shift in our foreign and defence policy on the basis of the early weeks of a tumultuous period in any presidency. This one happens to be particularly tumultuous is, in my view, to call, you know, called Chicken Little. The sky isn't falling. Yes, it's stormy. Yes, there's a lot of moving parts. The dust has not settled. It will settle, and there are enduring American interests in making AUKUS work."
Domestically, the Coalition says it would roll back multi-billion-dollar penalties under Labor's Fuel Efficiency Standards, if elected.
The National Vehicle Emissions Scheme passed parliament last year and comes into effect on July 1.
It will penalise high-polluting vehicles, by placing an emissions' ceiling for each auto manufacturer fleet, incentivising consumers to buy low-emissions vehicles including hybrids and EVs.
The Coalition claims the fines levied on the sector would cost voters $2.7 billion by 2029.
Peter Dutton says it will be passed on to the consumer.
"To buy a new Ford Ranger under this government, it'll go up by $14,400 by 2029. A RAV4 hybrid goes up by almost $10,000 under Mr Albanese and Mr Bowen. I think, once Australians start to hear that message, they'll realise that they can't afford three more years of Labor."
The Prime Minister has criticised the Opposition's policy - saying before these laws were passed, Australia and Russia were the only countries without the standards.
He says it's a hypocritical move for someone campaigning on cutting the cost of fuel.
"And I find it extraordinary that Peter Dutton, who says he cares about the price of fuel, doesn't want people to have more fuel-efficient cars, which reduce the cost of filling up their car. It's a nonsensical policy that Mr Dutton has came up with but wait a couple of days’ time. He'll probably have another one on the same thing."
Earlier today, the Prime Minister announced $60m for a new residential aged care home in Darwin that will provide 120 beds.
