Part 7/9:
Barnaby Joyce, a prominent Australian politician, emphasized the importance of diplomatic engagement, criticizing the lack of effective negotiation and the absence of a dedicated ambassador to the U.S. in this matter. He highlighted that Australia’s power prices and economic policies have already weakened the economy and that the government needs to be more active in protecting its interests.
Joyce expressed confidence that the PBS is a strong scheme but warned that Australia must understand precisely what the U.S. is demanding and whether it can participate in those negotiations. The perceived absence of high-level engagement has led to concerns that Australia is not maximizing its influence in these critical negotiations.