Key events
Joyce describes Trump-Zelenskyy clash as ‘unusual’ but says politics ‘a tough game’
Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce, who was also on Sunrise, labelled the explosive clash between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy as evidence “the way the world of politics works is a tough game.”
I think what we saw was of something happening on live television which happens in a back room … This idea of everything will be fine because you can just turn up [to the] United States and they will open the chequebook … from what we can see clearly [during] the conversation, he was saying Europeans have to do their bit.
Joyce argued people need to “start reading the tea leaves and have to become very resilient in their own right.”
Which means you have to be ruthless in how you deal with your own domestic politics and your other issues floating around, such as intermittent power, and say what matters is our capacity to defend our nation.
Asked if this is how Australian politicians talk with world leaders behind closed doors, Joyce responded, “No, that is unusual.”
But you’re talking about the leader of the free world … Some people in this euphemistic position don’t worry because America will just come and pick something up … Don’t have this idea that … they will do what we want because Mr Zelenskyy is seeing right now, that that is not necessarily the case.
Plibersek on Ukraine, Australia-US relationship
Speaking on Sunrise earlier this morning, the environment minister Tanya Plibersek has restated Australia’s position that it “absolutely stands with Ukraine.” She said:
We absolutely reject the idea that Russia was not the aggressor here. It is very plain that the Russian invasion was illegal and immoral … we continue to stand with Ukraine. I’m pleased to see European leaders reiterate that on the weekend.
On the Australia-US relationship, she described this as “very close” and continued:
The prime minister has had several very warm conversations with US president. It is a really strong invitation of the closeness of the relationship that our foreign minister was one of the few invited to the inauguration of the president … the relationship is long and strong and deep. It is very good.
Funding to boost female trade workforce
Krishani Dhanji
The government has announced 10 projects that will receive a share of $45m to increase the female workforce in trade industries.
The funding, through the Building Women’s Careers Program, will go to projects including the “Give her a Chance” program run by Master Builders Australia, to tackle bias in construction through education campaigns, mentoring and networking.
Labor says women make up less than 8% of all trade apprentices in male-dominated trades, and less than 5% in construction.
The skills minister, Andrew Giles, said boosting female participation would also help address skills shortages in the sector:
We are taking the important first steps to introduce new pathways for women to enter traditionally male-dominated industries and make industry workplaces safer and more equitable.
These projects are tackling the structural and cultural barriers that often stop women from considering careers in these industries head on.
The program was announced in the 2024 budget as part of the government’s $22bn Future Made in Australia package.
Welcome
Emily Wind
Good morning, and happy Monday – welcome back to a new week on the Australia news live blog. I’m Emily Wind, and I’ll be taking you through our rolling coverage for most of today.
A navy ship is on a rescue mission for a stranded Lithuanian rower off Australia’s east coast, after a two-day wait. Rower Aurimas Mockus ran into trouble about 740km east of Mackay while attempting a 12,000km Pacific Ocean crossing from San Diego to Brisbane in his solo rowing boat.
A rescue ship is expected to arrive in the Coral Sea shortly. You can read the full details on this from AAP below:
Meanwhile, the federal government has announced ten projects to receive a share of $45m to boost the female workforce in trade industries.
The funding will go to projects including the “Give her a Chance” program run by Master Builders Australia to tackle bias in construction through education campaigns, mentoring and networking. Krishani Dhanji will bring us more on this soon.
And this year’s Oscars kick off in a few hours – we’ll have rolling coverage, so keep your eyes peeled.
As always, you can reach out with any tips, feedback or questions via email: [email protected]. Let’s get started.
