Australia news live: Jim Chalmers meeting with US Treasury to discuss Trump’s steel tariffs; one dead after police standoff in Tamworth

<p>The treasurer will continue to lobby US officials for an Australian exemption to steel and aluminium tariffs </p><p><strong>Greens want Labor’s new Medicare plan implemented before election</strong></p><p>The federal Greens have welcomed the Albanese government’s plan to significantly boost bulk-billing rates, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/feb/22/labor-bulk-billing-85bn-medicare-investment-election-campaign">as part of an $8.5bn policy</a>, but claimed its campaigning influenced the decision.</p><p>Greens pressure works. In a wealthy country like ours everyone should be able to see a GP, psychologist, dentist or nurse with their Medicare card.</p><p>It’s good Labor has adopted part of our plan to help people see the GP for free. Now let’s make it law before the election.</p><p>Trade and tariffs will be part of the conversation, but not the whole conversation. That is an ongoing discussion that we’re having with our American counterparts. I don’t expect he will conclude those discussions on steel and aluminium while I’m in DC.</p><p>I am not going to pre-empt the outcome of those conversations, nor do I expect those discussions will necessarily be concluded this week, to be upfront with you.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/feb/23/australia-news-live-one-dead-after-overnight-police-standoff-in-tamworth">Continue reading...</a>