Albanese confirms no US ban on Australian beef exports
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More news: The Albanese government has announced an expansion to treatment options under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), amid calls by pharmaceutical giants in the US to add Australian PBS manufacturers to President Donald Trump's tariff list.
Tafinlar and Mekinist will be expanded for eligible children diagnosed with glioma, one of the most common forms of paediatric cancers. Tafinlar and Mekinist work together to slow down or stop cancer cells from growing.
Omjjara will available on the PBS for the first time to treat the rare bone marrow cancer myelofibrosis in patients who also have anaemia. Ultomiris will also be listed on the PBS to treat neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, a central nervous system disorder that can cause blindness.
Health Minister Mark Butler said last month that "there is no way the PBS will be up for negotiation with any overseas government" and noted "this is not a new position from Big Pharma in the US".
What they said: "The Albanese government is committed to making medicines cheaper for all Australians," Butler said. "These life changing medications now become affordable for thousands of Australia."
"Since coming to government we've added over 300 new and amended listings to the PBS."
Albanese confirms no US ban on Australian beef exports
More news: Anthony Albanese has confirmed that Australian beef exports will not be banned by the US. The prime minister said he has received assurances that beef exports would be subject to the 10% tariffs, similar to other products.
Albanese also noted that "there's no country that has received a better outcome than Australia" following Trump's latest tariff announcement. He said Labor will "continue to put our case for what we regard is a reciprocal arrangement which is for our products to be tariff free, just as products into Australia from the US are tariff-free."
What they said: "We have received confirmation on what we thought was the case, it is just the 10% tariff," Albanese said.
"I just spoke with the head of the National Farmers Federation and confirmed that with him … I’ve also spoken with beef producers and confirmed it with them."
Government plays down comparisons to Chinese tariffs
More news: The Albanese government has played down comparisons between Trump’s tariffs, and those imposed by China during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Albanese insisted that Canberra had not been “singled out” by Washington this time around, unlike tariffs imposed by Beijing during the Morrison government. The White House has imposed the minimum tariff – 10% – on Australia, compared to a 67% rate imposed on China.
Albanese twice declined to reveal when the White House confirmed its final decision to Canberra, but described it as “no surprise”.
The prime minister also took aim at Peter Dutton for politicising the development, after the Opposition leader described Albanese’s inability to speak directly to Trump via the phone as a “failure”.
What they said: “What I'd like Peter Dutton to do is stand up for Australia and to back Australia's national interest. This isn't a time for partisanship,” Albanese said.
Tech giant regulation not changing, says Albanese
More news: Albanese has insisted Australia will not back down from its efforts to regulate tech giants, which have complained to Trump’s administration over the measures.
Taking questions from reporters after his opening remarks, Albanese said his “understanding” was that tariffs on Australian beef would be 10% – despite Trump specifically singling the industry out. But he accepted it was an evolving situation, and he would provide more details when possible.
Major tech giants have also flagged aggrievement at Australia imposing age limits on social media, and to force social media companies to pay for news on their platforms.
Albanese insisted those measures were not up for negotiation, saying: “If you speak to a parent who's lost their child, you cannot help but act”.
What they said: “There's no doubt that no one has got a better deal, and people will see that themselves. That doesn't mean it's a good thing. Very clear that President Trump was determined to go down this road,” Albanese said.
‘Not the act of a friend’: Albanese lashes Trump’s tariffs
The news: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has lashed Trump’s tariffs as “not the act of a friend” and said it would have consequences for how Australians view their relationship with the US.
The context: Speaking in Melbourne moments after Trump’s Rose Garden speech concluded, Albanese said the 10% tariff imposed on Australia was not unexpected – again insisting it will not impose retaliatory measures.
In a long-flagged move, Trump confirmed he would impose “reciprocal tariffs” of at least 10% on all imports from every country around the world, though significantly higher sanctions have been imposed on a handful of other countries.
Albanese said “reciprocal tariffs” with Australia would be “zero”, saying Canberra would continue to advocate for it to be lifted.
The US president also flagged tariffs on Australian beef exports, accusing Canberra of “banning” American beef imports. Albanese revealed his government would strengthen anti-dumping laws to safeguard impacted sectors – steel, aluminium and manufacturing – against “unfair competition”. Another $50 million will also be provided to impacted sectors, with Albanese saying some would be dispersed through the Nationals Farmers Association.
A returned Labor government would also establish a new economic resilience program to the National Reconstruction Fund, including $1 billion in zero-interest loans for terms to capitalise on new export opportunities, Albanese said.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the development demonstrated the wisdom of Labor deepening additional ties in the region, saying Australia would respond “calmly and maturely”.
“Certainly, we won't be picking fights in our region,” Wong said.
The prime minister stressed Australia had avoided the worst of Trump's economic ire, insisting no country was better prepared to handle the fallout – with his government deepening its engagement with the ASEAN region.
The prime minister has gradually sharpened his language on Trump in recent weeks, as Australia became increasingly pessimistic over securing a carve-out. He used his strongest language yet on Thursday, saying Australians have “every right” to view the move as undermining “our long standing friendship”.
“This will have consequences for how Australians see this relationship,” he said.
What they said: “The administration's tariffs have no basis in logic, and they go against the basis of our two nations' partnership. This is not the act of a friend,” Albanese told reporters on Thursday.
The source: Prime Minister’s press conference
