President Donald Trump has agreed to consider an exemption for Australia from US tariffs on steel and aluminum following a telephone call with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, even after he initially said there would be no exceptions from the imposts.

Australia dodged the tariffs in Trump’s first term but the Coalition is asking if US ambassador Kevin Rudd can do the same.

We should be embarrassed that it’s taking almost gangster like pressure for us to spend the minimum sensible to provide for our security in the world we live in now.