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Bass Strait underwater electricity project in limbo amid cost blowout
Tasmania’s long-awaited Marinus Link project is in financial limbo after a cost blowout.
The underwater electricity project was set to connect Tasmania with the mainland, with 80 per cent of its funding from a loan scheme and the other 20 per cent shared equally between Tasmania, Victoria and the Commonwealth.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff on Friday said the Marinus Link was an important project to boost Tasmania’s renewable energy development and support economic growth - but only for the right price.
The Bass Strait project was slated to cost up to $3.8 billion and was expected to improve energy reliability.
But the Tasmanian government had since been advised of a “material and significant cost increase” for the project, Mr Rockliff said.
The government said it would not disclose the extent of the cost blowout because of a live procurement process.
“The right price does not mean any price and from day one we have said that the cost benefits of this project must stack up in favour of Tasmanians,” Mr Rockliff said.
“I have asked the prime minister to consider alternative funding options for the increased costs of this project.”
Tasmania has committed more than $100 million to the Marinus Link, the North West Transmission Development and the Battery of the Nation projects.
AAP
Referendum date won’t be announced at Garma festival: PM
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has ruled out using his attendance at the Garma Festival to announce the date of the referendum.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Albanese said he would instead be using the event, which is held over four days in northeast Arnhem Land, to gain more advice from First Nation voices on when the date should be.
Barley tariff lift ‘positive step’ toward full trade resumption with China: minister
By Eryk Bagshaw
Trade Minister Don Farrell has welcomed China’s decision to drop tariffs on Australian barley and believes it will set a precedent for the remaining restrictions on Australian exports to be removed.
“It’s another very positive step in the full resumption of normal trade between Australia and China,” he said.
Speaking alongside Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Adelaide on Friday, Farrell said Australia had made it clear to China that it preferred to resolve the disputes through discussion and dialogue rather than disputation.
But the World Trade Organisation case launched by the former Liberal government in 2020 (which China was expected to lose) gave Canberra leverage over Beijing in discussions with Chinese ministers once high-level diplomatic contact resumed last year.
Wong said Australia was confident of winning its other WTO case against China over anti-dumping tariffs of up to 200 per cent on Australian wines.
“We have a dispute before the WTO in relation to wine we are confident of our case. And we retain our view, which we have expressed publicly and to the Chinese officials that it is in the interest of both countries for these impediments to be removed,” she said.
“We do want Chinese consumers to be able to enjoy Australian wine.”
Wong said the removal of the tariffs on barley was a positive development but would not give a firm commitment to a visit to Beijing by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese later this year.
“What I would say is the prime minister has made clear he would welcome a visit and we hope we can continue on the positive path that we are on,” she said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also labelled the move from China a positive step.
“I have said very clearly on China, that we will co-operate where we can, disagree where we must, but will engage in our national interest,” he said.
Support for Voice will grow as referendum approaches: PM
By Michael Foley
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is still speaking at the Garma Festival, and he’s addressing questions about wavering public support for the Voice to parliament.
Albanese declared the Voice would succeed, and he said polling showing the referendum to establish the Voice could fail would turn around as people focused on it as voting day draws near.
The Resolve Political Monitor shows that the Voice falling from a high of 64 per cent public support in September last year to to 48 per cent support in June.It also showed that more people expect the referendum will be defeated than think it will succeed and four states would vote No if the national vote were held tomorrow.
“There will be a focus in the weeks leading up to people voting, particularly in the four weeks leading up because this is an issue which isn’t about politicians, isn’t about Canberra, it’s about every Australian getting one vote, one value in this referendum,” Albanese said.
The PM said Indigenous recognition was long overdue in Australia.
“We are the only former colony of Europe that does not recognise that there were inhabitants here before 1788, in our case.
“In New Zealand’s case that was recognised in the 19th century, in Canada’s case in the 20th century.
“This is something that is for First Nations people but it is more than that. It is something for all of us for all of us to be lifted up.”
Watch: Foreign minister press conference
Penny Wong and Trade Minister Don Farrell spoke to reporters earlier today in Adelaide.
The press conference came after China announced it would scrap anti-dumping and anti-subsidy tariffs on Australian barley from August 5.
You can watch the press conference below:
PM says Garma visit shows what Yes vote can achieve
By Michael Foley
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is visiting the Garma Festival in East Arnhem land today, declaring that the local Dilak Council of cultural leaders is an example of how the Indigenous Voice to parliament would work.
The Dilak Council includes senior cultural leaders of 13 clan groups in a decision-making body based on traditional structures.
Albanese said the referendum to establish constitutional recognition of the Voice would be held in the last quarter of this year, and he was confident a successful result would deliver outcomes like he as seen on his trip to Arnhem Land.
Anthony Albanese arrives at Garma on Friday, with his partner Jodie Haydon, Linda Burner Australian and Marion Scrymgour.Credit: Tamati Smith
“The Dilak Council, is an example of exactly how a voice with local structures can work giving a voice to Canberra about how we achieved better results because we know that when we listen to people who are directly affected by issues, you get better outcomes,” he said.
Albanese said he’d had an opportunity to listen and opportunity to listen about the vision that the community here has have on your country of education advancement for the people of health.
“It doesn’t envisage one size fits all because different communities have different histories have different organisations as well,” Albanese said.
“It has driven reform from the ground up and it’s ensured that communities have their say.”
China lifts tariffs on Australian barley
By Eryk Bagshaw
China has dropped its tariffs against Australian barley, putting an end to a three-year dispute that went to the World Trade Organisation as relations between Beijing and Canberra fell to historic lows.
China’s Commerce Ministry on Friday said it had decided to end tariffs of up to 80 per cent on the $1.2 billion export after a request from the China Wine Industry Association.
“In view of the changes in China’s barley market, it is no longer necessary to continue to impose anti-dumping duties and countervailing duties on imported barley from Australia,” the ministry said.
Barley, which is mainly used in animal feed and beer production in China, is the second Australian export to have restrictions removed by the Chinese government after more than three years of diplomatic hostility over national security, human rights and COVID-19. Australian coal returned to China in February.
Barley, exports of which had been worth $600 million a year, was the first commodity hit by China’s campaign of economic coercion.Credit: Bloomberg
Relations with Beijing have stabilised since the Labor government came to power last year but restrictions on wine, lobsters, beef and cotton remain in place.
China imposed more than $20 billion in tariffs across half-a-dozen industries between 2020 and 2022.
Beijing has maintained the restrictions were due to pests, labelling and concerns over dumping.
Those claims were disputed by the Australian government which accused Beijing of economic coercion.
Watch: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Garma
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke earlier today at Garma on the Voice.
You can watch him speak below:
Albanese declares Voice will succeed
By Michael Foley
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has arrived at the Garma Festival in East Arnhem Land, declaring the referendum to establish an Indigenous Voice to parliament will succeed.
The Garma Festival is the nation’s largest and most influential annual First Nations event.
The latest Resolve Political Monitor confirms a months-long downward trend in public support for the Voice, but Albanese was buoyant when he arrived at the event on Friday.
“I’m here to say to you that my word matters, and we will put it to the Australian people and we will succeed together in ensuring a “yes” vote in the referendum because there is everything to gain and nothing to lose from this,” Albanese said.
“I’m very confident that Australians will listen to the gracious and generous request of Indigenous Australians to listen and to walk that journey of reconciliation.”
The Resolve Political Monitor shows that the Voice falling from a high of 64 per cent public support in September last year to 48 per cent support in June.
It also showed that more people expect the referendum will be defeated than think it will succeed and four states would vote No if the national vote were held tomorrow.
Albanese is set to speak at 2.15pm AEST. We will bring you that live shortly.
This afternoon’s headlines
By Caroline Schelle
Thanks for reading our live coverage this morning.
If you’re just joining us, here’s what you need to know:
- The Australian Federal Police admitted it got it wrong when the force told parliament it briefed Peter Dutton about an investigation into an Australian businessman who was later convicted of corruption offences.
- Garma Festival director and Yothu Yindi Foundation boss Denise Bowden says she’s a “little bit disappointed” Dutton is not attending the event.
- Bruce Lehrmann has announced his plans to sue the Australian Capital Territory over its handling of Brittany Higgins’ sexual assault claims.
- Australia’s competition watchdog has rejected ANZ’s $4.5 billion bid to merge with Suncorp.
- Defence Minister Richard Marles defended the use of MRH-90 Taipan choppers following a catastrophic crash which claimed the lives of four army members.
- The Canadian province of Alberta has withdrawn its support for a bid to have Calgary and Edmonton host the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
- Looking ahead, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is due to speak at Garma in north-east Arnhem Land, at 2.15pm AEST. We will bring you that live.
My colleague Sarah Keoghan will be anchoring the blog this afternoon.
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2023-08-04 06:32:42Z
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