Australia election 2025 live: Dutton faces questions over vetting of Liberal candidates

Back to tariffs: it’s pointed out to Albanese that when he says no one’s got a better deal than Australia, most countries are all in the same boat now, facing 10% tariffs on goods sold in the US.

The best deal is zero: that is why we are continuing the to put forward at every avenue at our disposal. The changes that have occurred from day-to-day, what they emphasise is the need for a considered, calibrated, clear position when negotiating over these international issues.

Albanese says the government were prepared for the tariffs. He takes aim at Peter Dutton’s approach – he had suggested that defence should be put on the negotiating table. Albanese says:

You do not dial it up to 11 at every opportunity, which is what Peter Dutton’s plan is on everything.

Asked as well whether Australia will “join hands” with China – as its ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, has suggested in an op-ed in the Nine Newspapers, Albanese says:

We will speak for ourselves. Australia’s position is that free and fair trade is a good thing