What is caretaker mode and what does it mean for tariff negotiations?

Once an election is called, the government goes into caretaker mode. 

This means that no major decisions can be made by the government of the day without agreement from the opposition parties.  

But that doesn’t mean that decisions can halt completely. Crises overseas may still need a unified response, even during an election campaign.  

And while foreign policy is not always a front-of-mind issue during such times, this year there may be some headline-dominating issues grabbing Australians’ attention.  

Professor Don Rothwell, an expert in international law at ANU, says that there are a number of international wild cards that could make this year’s election unusual. 

 “ Whilst the election is inevitably focusing on local issues there will be this constant distraction of what’s happening each day in Washington and perhaps wider,” he says.  

“And that will create a real issue for local politicians and the opposition in responding to those dynamics.” 

From the impact of changed conditions on the ground in Gaza to the economic uncertainty created by tariffs and trade wars, there’s plenty that could need urgent and unified responses.