Media Roundup: Trump tariffs hit, AEC clears Chatfield, Kim William's Kanye moment, Amazon makes TikTok play and Markle's 'As Ever' sell-out

Trump's tariffs could flip the script on Australia’s fast-food fight

Donald Trump's new 10% tariff on Aussie beef exports may have an unexpected local twist, tipping the scales in favour of burger chains over fried chicken operators.

As Eli Greenblat writes in The Australian, analysts say fast-food giants like McDonald's and Hungry Jack's could score a margin boost if more beef stays in Australia, potentially pushing prices down just as cost-of-living pressures bite.

That's bad news for Collins Foods, owner of 285 KFC outlets, which relies on locally sourced chicken that isn’t cushioned by export market shifts.

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The Australian Electoral Commission has ruled that Abbie Chatfield's social media content featuring Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Greens leader Adam Bandt didn’t breach electoral laws.

The AEC had reviewed whether her posts required formal authorisation under rules that apply to political advertising, reports Olivia Ireland in The Sydney Morning Herald.

The scrutiny followed Instagram clips where Chatfield discussed Medicare policy with Albanese and praised Bandt's leadership, content that, while politically charged, didn’t meet the threshold for requiring an authorisation tag.

As Kishor Napier-Raman and Stephen Brook write in The Sydney Morning Herald, the tech and entertainment heavyweights reached out after Williams publicly criticised Rogan's podcast late last year.

What followed was a digital storm. Williams described a relentless flood of messages, some vile, that overwhelmed his devices and briefly took over his life

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Tesla slips as BYD reclaims EV crown

Tesla has posted its weakest quarterly result since 2022, delivering just 336,681 vehicles, well below analyst forecasts and trailing China's BYD, which clocked 416,388 units.

As Stephen Morris, Kana Inagaki and Edward White report in The Australian Financial Review, the miss highlights growing competitive pressure abroad and cooling demand at home.

Elon Musk's EV empire is grappling with a backlash in Europe and a price war in China, as rivals close the innovation gap and push harder into global markets.

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Celebrity chef backs wage cap tied to inflation

Restaurateur Neil Perry, speaking on behalf of the Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association, has argued against minimum wage increases above inflation, warning they would drive up menu prices and hit hospitality businesses already under pressure.

In a submission to the Fair Work Commission, the group is calling for a 2% lift, below the expected inflation rate, effectively a real wage cut for the sector’s lowest-paid workers, writes Paul Karp in The Australian Financial Review.

Perry said the current award system is outdated and doesn’t suit the demands of a 24/7 industry.

Social media

Premier tells tech giants to back off on social media age rules

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has called on federal leaders to hold the line against pressure from Big Tech, as social platforms ramp up lobbying efforts to overturn Australia’s under-16 social media ban.

The push comes amid reports of US trade complaints tied to the policy, reports David Penberthy for The Australian.

Malinauskas, who led the charge on the nation’s age restriction laws, dismissed tech industry objections as profit-driven spin.

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Meta hit with $2.4bn lawsuit over hate-fuelled content in Africa

Meta is facing a $2.4 billion legal battle after a Kenyan court gave the green light to a landmark case accusing the tech giant of fuelling violence in Ethiopia.

The lawsuit, brought by two Ethiopian nationals, argues Facebook's algorithm amplified hate speech during the country's civil war, reports Dan Milmo in The Guardian.

The plaintiffs are demanding Meta overhaul its content systems and invest in more moderators across Africa.

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