National snapshot Widodo accepts sugar tax cut
AUSTRALIA has struck a sweet deal with Indonesia to lower its tax on sugar imports.
The agreement was sealed between PM Malcolm Turnbull and President Joko Widodo during a stroll in Sydney’s Botanic Gardens yesterday.
The pair dined at Mr Turnbull’s Point Piper home on Saturday night and, during a press conference yesterday, were at pains to say the two countries were friends again.
Indonesia cut off military co- operation with Australia late last year after allegedly offensive material was discovered by Indonesian military staff at a West Australian training base.
“President Widodo and I have agreed to the full restoration of defence co- operation, training exchanges and activities,” Mr Turnbull said.
“The relationship is about much more than agreements and close ties between governments. Indonesia is our No. 1 holiday destination, with about a million Australians travelling to Bali alone last year.”
Mr Turnbull announced that, during talks between the pair, Indonesia had agreed to lower its sugar tariffs for Australian companies.
The tariff will go down to 5 per cent.
The issue had been a sticky matter for Australian exporters, who complained they were being charged more to import their product into Indonesia than other nations.
In return, Australia will eliminate tariffs on pesticides and herbicides coming into the country from Indonesia.
President Widodo revealed that much of diplomatic talks had been sealed during Saturday night’s dinner and the morning stroll the two leaders enjoyed around the Botanic Gardens yesterday.
But he had one pointed comment for Mr Turnbull, saying the relationship between the two countries could remain strong so long as the nations did not meddle in each other’s affairs.
This is believed to have been a reference to the diplomatic blow- up last year.
Dawson MP George Christensen yesterday praised the sugar tariff cut.
“That means more money into the pockets of cane growers who sell into Indonesia and therefore more money spent in the local towns and regions they live in,” he said.
“In recent years, this market has been disadvantaged by an 8 per cent tariff, which is higher than the 5 per cent tariff for ASEAN countries like Thailand.
“Lowering the tariff on Australian sugar to 5 per cent puts us on level playing field with South- East Asian nations.
“Australia is committed to supplying high quality sugar as a reliable trade partner with Indonesia.” VICTORIA’S Premier Daniel Andrews says his cabinet will immediately start work on overhauling the system that allowed two of his MPs to claim more than $ 140,000 to live by the sea instead of in their electorates.
Speaker Telmo Languiller and deputy speaker Don Nardella sensationally resigned on Saturday after it was revealed they claimed a second residence allowance them to live far away from the Melbourne CBD and their electorates.
Mr Andrews said he spoke to both MPs and “they were left in no doubt about how disappointed I was and that I required them to do the right thing”.
Asked if Mr Nardella should repay the allowance, Mr Andrews said: “That is a fair question. The most important thing though I think is to let the audit committee deal with these matters.”
Mr Andrews says the cabinet will begin work on reforming the rules from this morning.