What we learned, Sunday 4 June
That’s where we’ll leave the blog for today – thanks so much for joining us. Here is a wrap of the day’s main news:
The Australian government has played a leading role in supporting the inclusion of binding measures to limit the production of plastics in a draft global plastics treaty.
The Australian defence minister, Richard Marles, met his Chinese counterpart and called for “safe and professional interactions” between military planes and ships in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Greens called for national rent freeze after the party’s announcement they will offer a compromise on Labor’s stalled housing bill.
The government responded cooly – saying while it would work “constructively across the parliament” to try to secure passage of the $10bn Housing Australia Future Fund legislation, it will not support “proposals that won’t work, are not backed by evidence and would only make our housing challenges worse”.
Marles said understands the defamation ruling in the Ben Roberts-Smith case “will be evoking a lot of feelings around the country” but that the ADF must be held to the “highest standards”.
Voice advocate Noel Pearson accused the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, of “being a bit duplicitous” in his claims that the proposed change to the constitution “will re-racialise our nation”.
The NSW transport minister warned of “massive disruptions” every weekend for at least a year for already weary and longsuffering rail commuters across Sydney.
Mining magnate Gina Rinehart was awarded the Western Australian of the Year by the nonprofit Celebrate WA. Australia’s richest person was recognised for her “outstanding contribution to the state and national economy” at the awards, which have run for 50 years and are sponsored by BHP, the WA government and Lotterywest.
Australia will deliver a $105m package to aid Vietnam in its clean energy transition. The prime minister, Anthony Albanese announced the package will support sustainable infrastructure planning, stimulating private investment in clean energy infrastructure, and deliver technical assistance to develop Vietnam’s critical mineral sector.
Updated
Don Farrell to head to France for OECD ministerial council meeting
The trade minister, Don Farrell, will then head on to France where he will lead Australia’s delegation at the annual OECD ministerial council meeting, alongside the assistant minister for trade, Tim Ayres.
In advocating for Australia’s interests in the rules-based multilateral trading system, he says he will raise the important role that open international markets play in addressing major global challenges including rising food and energy insecurity, and climate change.
While in France, Farrell and Ayres will also host Australia’s annual informal gathering of key World Trade Organization ministers to shape expectations ahead of the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference in February 2024.
Farrell says Australia will continue to advocate for the restoration of the WTO dispute settlement system, after longstanding blockages as the US vetoes appeal judge appointments.
Updated
