TRANSCRIPT
The Prime Minister says he has put a strong case for Australian tariff exemptions to the United States, as the start date for a 25 percent duty on steel and aluminium imports draws closer.
The PM has given the reassurance during a visit to Shellharbour on the New South Wales south coast, part of the seat Finance Minister Stephen Jones is retiring from and where around 3000 people are directly employed in steel manufacturing.
Anthony Albanese says he has taken Donald Trump at his word during their previous phone conversation that an exemption would be given strong consideration.
The PM says he has also taken note of the US President's pronouncement earlier today that the US will also impose reciprocal tariffs on trading partners going forward.
"Well, Australia has none on the US. We have a free trade agreement. We support jobs. We support jobs - and we support as well jobs including - steel turbines are made of steel by the way. And we want them to be made with Illawarra steel and domestic manufacturing as well."
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Muslims in Australia have joined in the condemnation of a viral video featuring two nurses in New South Wales allegedly making antisemitic remarks.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Western Australia has released a statement saying it vehemently condemns the comments, saying they violate the sanctity of human life.
Muslim community leader Dr Jamal Rifi has told Sky News people definitely do not agree with the view expressed by the two nurses.
Meanwhile New South Wales nurse Ahlam Nazzal has told SBS Arabic she and her colleagues have been appalled by what was said in the video, and says the pair's behaviour does not reflect the views or values of Muslims.
ARABIC THEN ENGLISH VO: "Just as I am respected here, I must respect others, regardless of religion or nationality. I hope people consider our feelings. Do not generalise or make assumptions."
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Anglicare Australia has called for the re-introduction of inheritance taxes as a way to address growing wealth inequality across the country.
The so-called estate tax was abolished in Australia in the late 1990s, though Former Treasury secretary Ken Henry extolled the benefits of the levy in his landmark tax review under the Rudd Labor government.
Anglicare executive director Kasy Chambers say it's time to bring it back.
She says Australia's tax burden has increasingly fallen on working Australians through personal income tax, while assets attract generous concessions for those already well off.
"Australia is actually a complete outlier in this. We are the only country not to tax wealth at the time that the owner of that wealth passes away... Why this matters and why Anglicare Australia is concerned is that when we move wealth from one generation to another without capturing any of it for the public purse, we actually embed wealth inequality."
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The Australian Federal Police say they are flipping the script on romance scammers this Valentine’s Day by revealing the real-life dialogue used to target the bank accounts – and hearts – of thousands of potential victims online.
The script has been uncovered during an operation to bring down a scam compound in the Philippines which the AFP says targeted Australians via online dating apps.
AFP Commander Graeme Marshall says the scammers portrayed a kind-hearted Filipino woman living in Australia or a local female in the Philippines, who would subtly introduce cryptocurrency trading into the conversation and frame it as a successful financial venture that helped them achieve significant wealth.
He says he hopes releasing this information helps people to avoid being taken advantage of.
"We want to make sure everyone using dating apps has the tools and information to be safe online and to swipe left on romance scammers."
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U-S President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have foreshadowed closer economic and security ties between their two countries.
The two men have met at the White House, with Mr Trump says Mr Modi has agreed to start talks addressing what Mr Trump says is a long-running disparity in trade between the two nations.
Mr Modi says they are targeting nearly 800 billion dollars in bilateral trade between the two nations by 2030.
The leaders also say their two nations will fight Islamic extremism together, and Mr Modi has thanked Mr Trump for allowing the extradition of a person allegedly involved in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.
Mr Trump says the U-S will sell its most expensive fighter jet to India.
"The US-India compact for the 21st Century is a historic initiative that will deepend every aspect of our partnership and our friendship. Starting this year, we will be increasing military sales to India by many billions of dollars. We're also paving the way to ultimately provide India with the F-35 stealth fighters."
Mr Modi has also met with Elon Musk in Washington.
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English football club Chelsea says they will not discipline Sam Kerr now her court case in London has concluded.
The English club's manager has instead offered a glowing testimonial and vote of support for the Australian captain.
Coach Sonia Bompastor says she is happy that Kerr has been acquitted of causing racially aggravated harassment of a police officer, and that her subsequent apology is enough to ensure no further action is taken.
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Australian driver Oscar Piastri has declared he believes this is the year he can become the Formula One world champion.
If he makes it, he would become the first home world champion since Alan Jones in 1980.
The Australian finished fourth in the Formula One championship last year after winning two Grand Prix races.
But he says he expects to accomplish much more this year, beginning with a season start at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne in a month's time.
