United States trade
David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan) (09:46): Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on our iron and steel exports to the US. In towns like Portland, Whyalla and Port Kembla this will result in the loss of hundreds of jobs, which will impact the lives of thousands of Australians. This is not just unfriendly; it is wanton destruction of Australian lives and livelihoods, and it is likely to be only the first of many such attacks. We have been friends and allies with the US for over 80 years, yet this pathologically narcissistic presidential gorilla clearly accords no weight to our relationship or, for that matter, to that with any of its other allies. Trump is happy to turn his back on long-term friends and bully and damage them on a whim. What are these US tariffs? They are simply a massive tax on imports paid by US consumers, generating huge revenues for the US administration. The benefits of this windfall will be largely shared by the wealthiest Americans via proposed tax cuts to a brotocracy of billionaires, all born-again Trumpers made even richer at the expense of working folks in America and abroad. We must ask ourselves whether we can continue to shape our society and our entire defence policy around US loyalty. AUKUS is now at best a hugely costly gamble. It is time for us to actively develop foreign trade and defence policies that better reflect our geopolitical realities. As a modest protest, Australians can and should wherever possible boycott American products.