Australia politics live: Matt Canavan says US tariffs have ‘fig leaf of a justification’; Greens condemn Jim Chalmers’ ‘Henry VIII powers’

Nationals leader says tariffs are unjustified and ‘a clear breach of the free-trade agreement Australia has with the US’. Follow today’s news live Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Jim Chalmers ’ budget bill will face debate and a vote in the House today, and he poses the legislation as a “really simple choice” for the Coalition. As we know, the government has set up the bill as a wedge for the opposition, by including both tax changes to CGT and negative gearing and tax cuts for workers. Really simple choice in the parliament today: Labor lower taxes on workers, a fair go for first home buyers. The Coalition opposing both of those things. Yet another beat-up about the sensible, commonsense tax reforms at the core of the budget. Not unusual, as I said, for definitions to be settled this way, and the parliament can disallow them if they want. Continue reading...