On the tariff threat, Jim Chalmers says:

Some of those reports today, which I’ve obviously read, you know, they’re about issues from almost a decade ago, and we’re focused on what’s in front of us.”

Asked about whether ‘Trump sometimes seeks to take revenge on what he sees are perceived wrongdoings’ Chalmers says he “wouldn’t necessarily describe it that way”.

The point that I’m making, Sabra is the conversation between the PM and the President was yesterday. It was very productive. It was very positive. The President said that he would consider an exemption. And both sides have acknowledged how important this economic relationship is to both countries. The President himself pointed to the fact that the Americans run a trade surplus with us, that makes us different, sure to some of the other countries, which have been his focus in recent days.

…But again, to remind your listeners, we’re talking about something from almost a decade ago under a previous Coalition government, it may be that our predecessors can clear this up or provide some more context and commentary around it, but we’re not focused on what happened almost a decade ago. We’re focused on what’s in front of us. We’re focused on the significant announcements coming out of DC, and we’re focused on this productive and positive conversation that Prime Minister Albanese had with President Trump as part of our efforts to stand up for a really important industry in this country.

(The reports have emerged from wording on the executive order that claimed in 2018 Australia broke a verbal agreement to limit aluminum shipments, given it had the tariff exemption. There are disagreements over whether it was only supposed to apply to steel, and the timeframe the Trump administration are talking about)

Again, isn’t it strange that we have to work so hard with an ally? Is no one looking at this relationship and thinking – maybe this isn’t so great for us?