Australia news LIVE: Trump envoy meets Putin in Moscow; Indian tariffs doubled amid US push for Ukraine ceasefire

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6.55am

A super-sized GST – with a $3300 cheque in the mail for all

By Shane Wright, Paul Sakkal and Olivia Ireland

All Australians would receive $3300 a year in exchange for accepting a higher and broader GST under a plan which proponents claim would boost the budget by $28 billion a year while driving up the nation’s living standards.

Before this month’s economic roundtable, independent MP Kate Chaney has backed an idea first floated by leading Australian economist Richard Holden to lift the GST to 15 per cent and extend the tax on food, education, health and childcare services and water and sewerage.

Independent MP Kate Chaney says a higher GST, plus a $3300 rebate to all adults, would help reform the tax system.

This would raise an additional $92.5 billion in its first full year of operation, but would be offset by a $3300 rebate to every person over the age of 18 that would effectively erase the impact of the higher GST on the first $22,000 of an individual’s annual purchases.

6.52am

US Army sergeant shoots five Soldiers at Georgia base

An Army sergeant using a personal handgun opened fire on his unit at Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia on Wednesday, the base’s commander said. Five soldiers were wounded in the attack, which ended when soldiers tackled the gunman.

None of the injuries were life-threatening, base commander John W. Lubas said in a news conference. He said the victims would not be identified publicly until their families had been contacted. “All are expected to recover,” he said.

Army officials identified the suspect in custody as Sergeant Quornelius Radford, 28, an automated logistics sergeant assigned to 2nd Brigade Combat Team. They said they were not sure of his motivations or how he had concealed the weapon he used.

About 8,800 people live at Fort Stewart, about 40 miles southwest of Savannah.

The Army Criminal Investigation Division was leading the investigation of the shooting. President Donald Trump was briefed, said Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, and the FBI’s Savannah office was assisting the investigation.

The New York Times

6.45am

What’s making news today

By Daniel Lo Surdo

Hello and welcome to the national news live blog. My name is Daniel Lo Surdo, and I’ll be helming our live coverage this morning.

Here’s what is making news today:

White House special envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow hours ago, in an almost three-hour meeting that canvassed Donald Trump’s threat to intensify Russian sanctions and tariffs if an urgent move towards a ceasefire with Ukraine wasn’t achieved. Trump described the meeting as “highly productive”, noting that “great progress was made” towards ending Russia’s war in Ukraine.
A proposal that would see all Australians receive $3300 a year in exchange for accepting a higher and broader GST has been proposed ahead of this month’s economic reform roundtable. The plan would lift the GST to 15 per cent and extend the tax on food, education, health and childcare services and water and sewerage, with proponents arguing it would boost the budget by $28 billion a year and drive up national living standards.
Trump has signed an executive order to double tariffs on Indian exports to 50 per cent within three weeks, days after the Indian government warned against new trade penalties. The move is designed to penalise India for its purchasing of Russian oil, as Trump continues work to negotiate an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine. It comes as Trump prepares to meet Putin as early as next week, the New York Times reported, and to hold separate talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.