Search

Fuel and petroleum products produced or manufactured in Australia are subject to excise duties. The excise regime extends to crude oil and condensate; petroleum fuels such as petrol and diesel; gaseous fuels; biofuels; solvents; lubricants; and recycled fuel and fuel products.

In its most recent notification to the WTO Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, Australia listed three federal programmes directed towards the agricultural sector in financial years 2017/18 and 2018/19.[8] (...) Two programmes related to water management were notified under the heading environmental programmes.

[8] WTO document G/SCM/N/343/AUS, 14 October 2019.

In June 2017, the COAG Energy Council created the Energy Security Board, which is tasked with fostering coordinated reforms across the NEM regarding reliability, security and emission reduction policies.

Table 3.7 Imports subject to prohibition or non-automatic licensing, 2019
Item: Hazardous waste
Justification: International commitments (Basel Convention, and OECD Council Decision C(92)39)
Measure: Imports prohibited under the Hazardous Waste (Regulations of Imports and Exports) Act, 1989 unless a permit has been granted by the Minister for the Environment or an authorized person.

Table A2.2 RTAs in force, 2019
Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement (KAFTA)
Coverage (selected features): Services, government procurement, intellectual property, competition policy, environment, and labour.

Australia's export controls reflect a number of factors, notably international commitments it undertook regarding the (...) the protection of endangered animals and plants (Table 3.11).

According to the OECD, total factor productivity (TFP) growth in Australia's agriculture sector averaged 2% per year during 2006-15, which was well above the world average (1.5%) during that period. (...) However, productivity growth is increasingly being constrained by water availability, which may be exacerbated by climate change.

Agriculture makes a significant contribution to the economy (...) Support to the sector is limited, as Australia does not provide market price support. Current programmes target risk management, environmental conservation, and the provision of general services.

Table 3.7 Imports subject to prohibition or non-automatic licensing, 2019
Item: Toothfish
Justification: Protected under international instrument through the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, to protect against illegal poaching
Measure: Permit may be granted by an authorized officer from the Australian Fisheries Management Authority.

Table A3.1 Non-agricultural subsidies notified to the WTO, 2016/17 and 2018/19
(AUD)
SUB-FEDERAL PROGRAMMES
New South Wales
NSW Forest Industries Innovation Fund: (...)
Queensland
Vessel Tracking Rebate Scheme: (...)
Business Energy Savers Program: (...)
Queensland Waste to Biofutures Fund: (...)
Biofutures Industry Development Fund: (...)
South Australia
South East Forestry Partnerships Program: (...)
South Australian River Murray Sustainability Program: (...)
Western Australia
Marine Stewardship Council Certification: (...)