Australia news live: Richard Marles left adrift as UK counterpart quits hours before scheduled visit to naval yard
Australia’s defence minister had been due to visit a naval base in Portsmouth with British defence secretary John Healey. Follow today’s news live Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, has defended remarks he made about Angus Taylor, saying he has no issue with wealthy Australians - but maintained the opposition leader is disconnected from the reality of the housing market. In a speech on Thursday, Chalmers said Taylor was born “at the top of the ladder”. Not at all. I want more people to succeed in our economy and in our society... Angus Taylor talks about a ladder and the point that I’ve made about the ladder is it’s not much point in having a ladder if the first few rungs are missing. Angus Taylor was born at the top of the ladder, good on him, but I think that that means he doesn’t understand that a lot of people are struggling. The point that I’m making about Angus Taylor is that not everybody is born already at the top of the ladder... Not everybody has had the same experiences that Angus Taylor has had. Our responsibility, which we embrace enthusiastically, is to make it easier for more people to do well, whether that’s at work with better wages, whether it’s helping with the cost of living and tax cuts, or whether it’s helping people get a foothold into a housing market that’s been too difficult for too long, especially for young people. Continue reading...