Australia news live: Andrew Hastie says US alliance weakened Australia; Sri Lanka hackers steal millions owed to Australia | Australia news
Hastie says US alliance erodes Australia’s ‘capability to dominate’
Dan Jervis-Bardy
Pioneer of liberals, Andrew Hastie, He warned that the country needed to “get serious” about national security to rebalance the alliance, saying doubling down on relations with the US was eroding Australia’s capacity to dominate, including in its defense industry.
Speaking at the Robert Menzies Institute in Melbourne last night, the shadow minister for industrial and sovereign capacity said relying on the US meant “strategic concessions” that accelerated Australia’s deindustrialisation and “weakened our hard power”.
This, he said, cost Australia “sovereign capabilities such as a strong defense industry” and “freedom of strategic action”; This we see clearly now in the midst of the Middle East war.
Hastie said that under Donald Trump the US “should not be expected to guarantee much other than its own strategic interests”, which means Australia needs to “get serious about our own national security” by rebuilding its industrial base and a “formidable” defense force.
Frankly, if Anzus is to continue for another 75 years, we need to invest in our industrial base and defense force.
The former soldier has been an outspoken critic of Trump and his war in Iran, and addressed the opposition leader in a different tone. Angus Taylor.
important events
Catie McLeod
Woolworths jacked up short-term prices, court hears
Under cross-examination by ACCC counsel, Michael Hodge K.C.Robinson acknowledged that Woolworths planned for the high short-term price of $6.50 to become the “previous” price of the product before it changed.
Robinson also acknowledged that the supermarket negotiated profit margins with the supplier based on the third “Prices Down” price of $6.
The court was shown the proposed introduction plan for baby rice from 2022; That plan said the number of weeks it would be at the new shelf price of $6.50 was “zero,” while the number of weeks it would be sold for $6 thereafter was 52.
Woolworths denies the ACCC’s claim that in many cases it inflated prices simply to set a higher “previous price” and thus make customers think they were getting a discount.
Sam WoodcockMr Wendy, who has worked in management positions at Woolworths for more than nine years, also appeared as a witness.
Woodock accepted that Woolworths planned price increases in discussions with product suppliers and subsequent reductions were promoted as discounts.
“In fact, if a supplier proposes a cost price increase effective from a certain date and we, as a retailer, do not accept this, there is a risk that the supplier may choose not to supply us with that product any longer,” he told the court.
The case continues.
Catie McLeod
Woolworths gives evidence about price changes in ACCC case
A court heard Woolworths planned to increase the shelf price of products in advance so it could later display desired “was” price comparisons on promotional tickets.
The case, involving the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and Woolworths, continued yesterday with the test of allegations that the supermarket concealed price increases for hundreds of products between 2021 and 2023.
Stuart RobinsonWoolworths’ baby products category manager gave evidence in federal court in Melbourne and was asked about Nestlé Cerelac baby rice, one of 12 products the hearing examined in detail.
Woolworths’ long-term shelf price was $5, according to court documents. It then raised the price to $6.50 for 22 days, then lowered it to $6, its new long-term price.
The supermarket advertised the $6 price as a “Prices Dropped” discount on the item’s ticket, alongside the higher “previous” price of $6.50.
Robinson admitted in court that the “previous” price of $6.50 advertised in store was higher than the price Woolworths was charging for the product at the time.
Hackers steal US$2.5 million owed to Australia from Sri Lankan finance ministry
According to Agence France-Presse, cybercriminals infiltrated the computer system of the Sri Lankan finance ministry and seized $2.5 million.
This is the largest amount of cash ever stolen by hackers from a government institution in the debt-ridden country, which is trying to recover from a crippling economic crisis in 2022 after Colombo defaulted on its US$46 billion foreign debt.
The money was to be used to repay the debt to the Australian finance ministry secretary. Harshana Suriyapperumahe told reporters in the capital.
Following the breach, four senior officials at the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) were suspended, the official said.
Authorities were alerted to the attempt to infiltrate the department’s email server and investigations showed that a US$2.5 million payment owed to Australia had disappeared.
“Criminal investigators are investigating this and we are not in a position to provide further details,” Suriyapperuma said, adding that Sri Lankan authorities were seeking assistance from foreign law enforcement agencies.
Australian high commissioner to Sri Lanka Matthew DuckworthHe said Canberra was aware of “irregularities” in payments owed to him.
“Sri Lankan authorities are investigating the matter and are coordinating with Australian officials who are assisting with the investigation,” Duckworth told X.
“Australia remains committed to supporting Sri Lanka’s return to debt sustainability.”
Hastie says US alliance erodes Australia’s ‘capability to dominate’
Dan Jervis-Bardy
Pioneer of liberals, Andrew Hastie, He warned that the country needed to “get serious” about national security to rebalance the alliance, saying doubling down on relations with the US was eroding Australia’s capacity to dominate, including in its defense industry.
Speaking at the Robert Menzies Institute in Melbourne last night, the shadow minister for industrial and sovereign capacity said relying on the US meant “strategic concessions” that accelerated Australia’s deindustrialisation and “weakened our hard power”.
This, he said, cost Australia “sovereign capabilities such as a strong defense industry” and “freedom of strategic action”; This we see clearly now in the midst of the Middle East war.
Hastie said that under Donald Trump the US “should not be expected to guarantee much other than its own strategic interests”, which means Australia needs to “get serious about our own national security” by rebuilding its industrial base and a “formidable” defense force.
Frankly, if Anzus is to continue for another 75 years, we need to invest in our industrial base and defense force.
The former soldier has been an outspoken critic of Trump and his war in Iran, and addressed the opposition leader in a different tone. Angus Taylor.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I Martin Farrer with the most talked about night stories before Nick Visser guides you through the holiday weekend.
Andrew Hastie He warned that the country needed to “get serious” about national security to rebalance the alliance, saying doubling down on relations with the US was eroding Australia’s capacity to dominate, including in its defense industry. More follow.
At least two children were treated in hospital recently after dingo attacks at the same remote campsite in Western Australia. More details are coming.
Hackers broke into the Sri Lankan finance ministry’s computer system and hijacked $2.5 million earmarked for debt payments to Australia. More on this subject, coming soon
