Treasurer urges parties to get behind productivity drive
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Chalmers’ plea to opposition, Victoria banner stoush, Trump’s arms for Ukraine | The Guardian

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Treasurer Jim Chalmers.
15/07/2025

Chalmers’ plea to opposition, Victoria banner stoush, Trump’s arms for Ukraine

Martin Farrer Martin Farrer
 

Morning everyone. Jim Chalmers has used an interview with Guardian Australia to urge the opposition to take a constructive attitude into next month’s big productivity as he tries to find ways to fix the issue that has dogged Australia’s economy. In other news, a study showing the extent of low pay endured by young workers sheds some light on the treasurer’s pet problem; Victorian politics is engulfed by a battle over a rally banner; Trump announces a big arms deal for Ukraine; and a recipe to reclaim the unloved brussels sprout.

Australia

The unsuccessful Liberal candidate for Bradfield, Gisele Kapterian

Bradfield bid | The New South Wales Liberal party will challenge votes counted in independent Nicolette Boele’s wafer-thin win in the Sydney seat of Bradfield, asking a judge to recount some of the ballots that led to her 26 vote margin.

Chalmers offensive | Jim Chalmers has warned the opposition will have no credibility with voters or key economic decision makers if it plays politics at next month’s productivity summit and has called on the Coalition to work with Labor to boost growth and prosperity. He explains more in conversation with Tom McIlroy in our Australian politics podcast.

Pay pain | More than one-third of young workers are exploited by their employers, according to a new study, with many paid less than the minimum wage, forbidden to take entitled breaks, compelled to pay for work-related items, or given food and products instead of money.

Rally row | The Victorian opposition leader, Brad Battin, and firefighters union boss, Peter Marshall, have sparked backlash after attending a rally in Melbourne’s west where the slogan “ditch the bitch” – apparently aimed at the state premier, Jacinta Allan – was emblazoned on a fire truck.

Stone charge | A man from Sydney has appeared in a court in Scotland charged with “malicious mischief” following reports a glass case containing the famous historical artefact, the Stone of Scone, was broken in Perth.

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World

Donald Trump meets with Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte

Ukraine deal | Donald Trump has agreed with Nato allies to supply a large amount of arms to Ukraine, including Patriot missiles, and warned Russia that it will face severe sanctions if Moscow does not make peace within 50 days. At home, Trump faces rare discontent from his Maga base over his administration’s claim that it did not have a list of Jeffery Epstein’s alleged clients.

Israel feud | A feud has broken between the Israeli government and the military over the cost and impact of a planned camp for Palestinians in southern Gaza as politicians attacked former prime minister Ehud Olmert for warning that the project would create a “concentration camp” if it goes ahead.

Letby miscarriage | A senior coroner’s officer who first reviewed the deaths of babies at at the Countess of Chester hospital now believes Lucy Letby – who convicted of murdering seven babies – has suffered a miscarriage of justice.

Summary execution | A man in Pennsylvania has been given life in prison for shooting his father, who worked for the federal government, decapitating him and brandishing the severed head in an online video that called for the execution of other civil servants.

Web of intrigue | German customs officials have seized roughly 1,500 young tarantulas found inside plastic containers that were hidden in chocolate sponge cake boxes shipped to an airport.

 

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The controversy over Jillian Segal’s antisemitism plan

Political reporter Josh Butler and education reporter Caitlin Cassidy speak to Reged Ahmad about why the proposed antisemitism plan has some people worried.

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In-depth

Jim Chalmers

As Jim Chalmers prepares for his big economic summit, we have invited three academics to write about why Australia has struggled to improve productivity and ease the cost of living pressures on ordinary people. They argue that the reasons are complex, ranging from the impact of the GFC to political failures by all parties – but all warn that neoliberalism “lite” is not the answer.

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Not the news

Sprouts with kaiserfleisch

Alice Zaslavsky looks at the history of our relationship with brussels sprouts and makes the arguable case for us to eat more of the brassica. Having said that, her suggestion of teaming them with apple and smoked pork belly sounds pretty tasty.

Sport

England spin bowler Shoaib Bashir (67) removes India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj (13) during the International Test Match 2025

Cricket | England won the third Test against India by 22 runs as a dramatic, nail-biting final day at Lord’s saw the visitors fall just short after recovering from a seemingly hopeless 112-8 at lunch chasing 193 to win.

Rugby union | Wallabies back Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i has resisted the temptation to throw fuel on the fire ahead of a possible spicy rematch with British and Irish Lions centre Sione Tuipulotu in Saturday’s opening Test in Brisbane.

Cycling | An epic Bastille Day stage of the Tour de France ended with an Englishman winning in the Auvergne, an Irishman in the yellow jersey and a French hope falling by the wayside.

Media roundup

The Telegraph hears from a “leading China expert” who claims that the Beijing government has tried “to weaponise” the Chinese Australian diaspora to the benefit of the Labor party. Dog owners in South Australia are worried the state’s algal bloom is making their pets sick, the Advertiser reports. An opinion piece in the Herald Sun asks whether the Liberal party should copy the tactics used by Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party to stem its slide. The son of Eileen Bond paid tribute to her “colourful personality” at a funeral service in Perth yesterday, WAtoday reports.

What’s happening today

Reserve Bank | The RBA will release a consultation paper on retailer card payments costs and surcharging.

Universities | A “people’s inquiry” into campus free speech on Palestine will hold public hearings in Sydney.

Sydney | Theformer Greens candidate Hannah Thomas will appear at Bankstown local court over a protest in which she sustained a serious injury.

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