Australia news LIVE: Treasurer makes case for Trump tariff exemption; Calls for Coalition to detail public service cuts

As public servants worry about their futures, Labor has thrown down the gauntlet and urged the opposition to shed light on whose jobs and rights could be on the chopping block.

Though the coalition has threatened to slash the public service if it forms government, the exact details of its plan are unclear, prompting Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt to challenge his opposition counterpart Michaelia Cash to a National Press Club debate.

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“No more weasel words, no more delay, front up and tell the Australian people what you intend to do to their jobs and wages after the election,” he said.

“I challenge Michaelia Cash to come out of hiding, reveal her secret plan to cut wages and debate me.”

Senator Watt warned the coalition’s proposal would send Australia backwards as taxpayers would end up paying more to outsource government work to consultants.

Almost $21 billion was spent on an external workforce of 53,000 employees during the final year of Scott Morrison’s Coalition government.

AAP