The Morrison government has formally signed a new agreement with the United States to boost Australia’s emergency fuel stockpiles.
Australia took advantage of historically low fuel prices in April by spending $94 million to establish a reserve, but due to a lack of storage it will be stored in America.
Alongside the US Ambassador, Energy Minister Angus Taylor participated in a virtual signing ceremony with his US counterpart. This formalised Australia’s ability to lease space in the US to store and access oil during a global emergency. Image: Getty
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Confronting footage shows Aus news crew attacked by US police | Sky News AustraliaThere are calls for an official response from Washington over an attack on an Australian television news crew outside the White House.\n\nAustralia's embassy in Washington is now investigating the incident, in which police charged at a cameraman and a reporter covering the protests. \n\nImage: AP
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US protests 'blurred' between race issues and anarchy | Sky News AustraliaUS correspondent Cam Stewart says while the majority of protesters in the United States are peaceful, it is a small percentage “that’s really causing the problem”. \n\nViolent demonstrations have spread across the US following the death of unarmed black man George Floyd who was killed by police, sparking riots over police brutality. \n\nMr Cameron told Sky News incentives for citizens to riot became “a blur” between real race issues and anarchy. \n\nHe said protests ramped up in Washington DC where protesters lit the basement of St John’s Church – traditionally the place of worship for presidents – on fire. \n\n“Even to see that was such a symbolic gut punch, if you like, to America,” he said. \n\nImage: AP
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Fears US riots will end with martial law, people ‘shot by military’ | Sky News AustraliaSky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell says he fears the week of violent protests triggered by the fatal arrest of George Floyd will end with people “shot by the military”.\n\nAfter failing to suppress protesters from coast to coast across the states, US President Donald Trump warned he would deploy the military to “quickly solve the problem” if a city or state refused to “take the actions necessary to defend the life and property of their residents”.\n\nMr Clennell said he believed the situation would only be resolved with military action. \n\n“Essentially, you will see the President using the Insurrection Act to overrule the governors if this goes on, which you anticipate it might even if they call in the National Guard,' he said. \n\n“We’ll effectively have several cities in the US under martial law.\n\n“What are the rules of engagement there? Are the military going to be in a position to arrest people? Are they going to have weapons? It’s a scary three or four days ahead. \n\n“Nothing any political leader seems to say stops these protests and stops the violence.”\n\nImage: AP
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PM, Trump discuss US riots | Sky News AustraliaPrime Minister Scott Morrison and President Donald Trump discussed the ongoing violent riots and protests across the US in a phone call on Tuesday.\n\nSky News understands the when the prime minister spoke to President Trump he was unaware of a brutal police attack on an Australian news team at an anti-racist rally where crowds were forcibly moved away from the White House.\n\nForeign Minister Marise Payne will be in contact with Australian Ambassador to the US Arthur Sinodinos who will in turn contact local police to investigate the incident.\n\nThe president rang Mr Morrison to invite him to attend this year’s G7 summit, which has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.\n\n
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US political system ‘unconnected with the people’ | Sky News AustraliaUS protesters should not stop until major reforms are implemented, Black Agenda Report Editor Margaret Kimberley says, who equates the upheaval to an expression of the fierce anger the American public has towards a racist and oppressive system.\n\nThe prominent civil rights activist told Sky News “the spark was George Floyd’s killing, which we all saw endlessly on television, but I think there are many things wrong in this country and there’s a lot of deep anger”.\n\n“Anger about a system that doesn’t meet our needs in inspiring people to continue.”\n\nMs Kimberley said neither US President Donald Trump or his rival Joe Biden have shown willingness to address the issues which have led to such stark inequality in the country.\n\n“We have a political system that is unconnected with the people,” she said.
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US protests inflamed by 'intolerable' living conditions | Sky News AustraliaSenior writer at The Undefeated Michael Fletcher says there appears to be “no end in sight” for protests happening across the United States as the nation enters an eighth night of demonstrations. \n\nViolent protests have now spread across the globe, bringing attention to police brutality and violence against African Americans, following the death of George Floyd in police custody. \n\n“Certainly the murder of Mr Floyd was the spark right, but I think once the fire was lit so many other issues have come to the fore,” Mr Fletcher said. \n\nHe told Sky News African Americans were often worse off than the average American citizen, especially throughout the coronavirus crisis, due to the nature of frontline jobs that many were employed in as well as limited access to healthcare. \n\n“Even the imagery of the murder with the police officer kneeing on his neck I think that evoked the horrible legacy of lynching this country and that kind of thing,” he said. \n\n“They keep saying they want to be heard – they want the highest levels of corporate America and middle America to respond to the inequities that we sort of take for granted. \n\n“[Change] won’t happen overnight of course but I think they want a show of empathy and some acknowledgement that these conditions are intolerable.” \n\nImage: AP
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