News live: Australia gives Ukraine another $100m for fight against Russia; AFL great in hospital after truck crash | Australia news
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Angus Taylor says he won’t join Pauline Hanson in judging people by their skin color or race
opposition leader, Angus TaylorHe said he would disagree with One Nation’s Pauline Hanson in judging people “by the color of their skin or their race”.
“I judge people by their character and their behavior… if they want to judge people by the color of their skin or their race, One Nation needs to explain that,” Taylor told reporters in Sydney on Thursday.
Immigration is too high in this country, standards are too low and this needs to change.
But what we prefer is a values-based immigration policy, where people who come to this country embrace our core values, regardless of race, religion or where they come from.
In his speech on Wednesday, Hanson rejected accusations that One Nation was a racist party and claimed it was prudent to oppose what he called the “failed policy of multiculturalism.”
Asked whether Australia was still at risk of Muslim immigration, as he claimed in 2016, Hanson replied: “Not if I have anything to do with it.”
He accused the media of double standards and petty attacks of hijacking the party’s reemergence and its role in speaking on behalf of disgruntled voters.
“Australians are no longer buying this nonsense from the political establishment and its media supporters,” he said.
“I understand people are angry. I really understand that,” Taylor said Thursday.
“But what we need in response is a credible plan, and we didn’t get that yesterday.”
-AAP
Good morning and happy Friday – Nick Visser I’m here to finish the week with you. Let’s get to the point.
Jim Chalmers defends tax reform changes
kelly burke
Accountant, Jim ChalmersHe defended the federal government’s handling of the controversial capital gains tax (CGT) changes, rejecting claims that Labor had been forced into a humiliating retreat by angry business groups.
Appearing on ABC’s 7.30 programme, Chalmers faced intense questioning. sarah ferguson Following the announcement that the turnover threshold for small business exemptions will increase from $2 million to $10 million. The $475 million regulation effectively isolates 98% of active Australian businesses from the new tax nets.
Ferguson argued that this arrangement revealed hasty policy and a government whose commitments were based on “shifting the sands”. Chalmers said the concessions were the result of “meaningful consultation” rather than surrendering to industry backlash.
“We chose the harder path of reform rather than the political path of least resistance,” he said, arguing that wider policy to help young first home buyers was vital.
Chalmers also ruled out reintroducing the previously in force gas export tax and insisted the government was “fully focused” on enacting the current, highly controversial tax agenda over the next two weeks.
Asked whether Australia’s Asian trading partners could take Australia’s word that the gas export tax was permanently off the table, given recent developments on other policies, Chalmers said:
I understand that people will level this accusation against us, but then it is more important for us to get the substance right than to get the politics right.
AFL great Tony Modra in serious condition after truck crash
AFL is great Tony Modra He was seriously injured in a truck crash on his property in South Australia, according to the Australian Associated Press.
Modra, known as one of the AFL’s brightest players during a career that spanned 1992 to 2001 at Adelaide and Fremantle, was in hospital in a serious condition with undisclosed injuries on Thursday night.
Modra was driving a truck on his property in Back Valley, about 90km south of Adelaide, when the vehicle crashed into a tree at around 5.15pm ACST (5.45pm AEST) on Thursday.
“Police and emergency services responded to reports that a truck had crashed into a tree on Range Road in the Back Valley,” South Australian police said.
“The driver and sole occupant of the truck, a 57-year-old Waitpinga man, was taken to hospital for treatment for serious injuries.”
Fremantle coach Justin LongmuirThe player, who played alongside Modra for the Dockers from 1999 to 2001, was shocked by the news.
“Of course he’s a big part of the Freo family and all I can say is I wish him and his family well,” he said.
“I hope he can get through this. I’m thinking of him. We’re all thinking of him and his family.”
Modra has lived on a cattle and cattle farm in Waitpinga since 2003. Born in McLaren Vale, south of Adelaide, Modra, an All-Australian and five-time Crows leading goalkicker, has scored 588 goals in 165 AFL matches.
Australia announces new $100 million support to Ukraine
Tom McIlroy
The federal government announced that it will provide an additional $100 million in support to Ukraine, which continues its fight against Russian occupation.
Australian Ambassador to NATO, Angus CampbellRepresenting Australia at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting in Brussels, he announced plans to increase Australia’s overall support to Ukraine to over $1.8 billion.
The new contribution will come in the form of two payments of $50 million to the Priority Ukraine Requirements List, of which Australia is a major supporter.
The government said this would help secure the military equipment and capabilities the country needs to defend itself, including air defense capabilities and ammunition.
Secretary of Defence, Richard Marlesin question:
What’s happening in Ukraine matters in the Indo-Pacific; That’s why it’s so important that Australia stays its course and continues to stand with Ukraine until it finds peace on its own terms.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I Martin Farrer with the best night stories and then it will be Nick Visser with the main action.
Jim Chalmers He defended the government’s changes to controversial capital gains tax reforms, rejecting claims it amounted to a backflip pushed by business interests. More to come soon.
The federal government announced last night that it would provide an additional $100 million in support to Ukraine, which continues its fight against Russian occupation. More is coming.
And the AFL is great Tony Modra He is in hospital following a serious truck crash near Adelaide. We’ll have more information about this soon.
