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The Australian Government examined import risk analysis (IRA) processes in 2014 to ensure arrangements are sufficiently robust to minimise the risk of exotic pests and disease incursions in Australia. The Department of Agriculture sought input from stakeholders and trading partners on specific elements of the IRA process. Recommendations for administrative and regulatory improvements are being considered in the context of developing regulations and policies for import risk analyses under the Biosecurity Bill 2014.

(…) Regulated risk analyses, non-regulated risk analyses and reviews of existing policy released as drafts but not yet finalised between 2011 and August 2014, include: (…) review of gamma irradiation as a treatment to address pathogens of animal biosecurity concern.

Import prohibitions and restrictions, in the form of generally strict quarantine or technical requirements, have remained in place to preserve, inter alia, human, animal or plant life or health, the environment, safety, or security. (...)

Import prohibitions and restrictions in the form of generally strict quarantine or technical requirements have remained in place to preserve, inter alia, human, animal or plant life or health, the environment, safety, or security. These are considered necessary to meet Australia's relevant appropriate level of protection (ALOP). (...)

Import prohibitions or restrictions are applied for various reasons, including public health or safety concerns, animal and plant life, environmental conservation, security, and international commitments. (…)

Table 3.4 Prohibited and restricted imports, 2014
- Goods: Cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises)
- Reason: Environmental conservation
- Policy agency/permit-issuing agency: Department of the Environment

- Goods: Endangered animal and plant species
- Reason: International commitment (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES))
- Policy agency/permit-issuing agency: Department of the Environment

- Goods: Fish/toothfish
- Reason: Environmental conservation
- Policy agency/permit-issuing agency: Australian Fisheries Management Authority

- Goods: Hazardous waste
- Reason: International commitments (Basel Convention, OECD Council Decision C(92)39)
- Policy agency/permit-issuing agency: Department of the Environment

- Goods: Hydroflurocarbons (HFCs)
- Reason: Environmental conservation
- Policy agency/permit-issuing agency: Department of the Environment

- Goods: Incandescent lamps
- Reason: Energy saving
- Policy agency/permit-issuing agency: Department of Industry

- Goods: Ozone-depleting substances/synthetic greenhouse gases
- Reason: Environmental conservation/international commitment (Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989)
- Policy agency/permit-issuing agency: Department of the Environment

- Goods: Pesticides and other hazardous chemicals
- Reason: Public health or safety concerns
- Policy agency/permit-issuing agency: Department of Agriculture

- Goods: Polychlorinated biphenyls, terphenyls, and polyphenyls
- Reason: International commitments – Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions
- Policy agency/permit-issuing agency: Department of Environment

- Goods: Radioactive substances
- Reason: Community protection/international commitments
- Policy agency/permit-issuing agency: Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency

Australia's priority sectors for market opening in global services trade reform efforts include financial services, telecommunications, professional services, education, mining-related and environmental services.

Australia's G20 energy agenda for 2014 included building the resilience of energy markets, strengthening global energy architecture, strengthening gas markets, and bolstering energy efficiency. The Group developed the G20 principles on Energy Collaboration and the G20 Energy Efficiency Action Plan. The G20 principles established a set of priorities for G20 collaboration on energy and lay the foundation for future work. The Energy Efficiency Action Plan documents six areas of practical energy efficiency work for ongoing collaboration among G20 members. In 2014, the G20 also held the inaugural G20-International Energy Forum Gas Market Dialogue.

(…) During the review period, sectoral policy developments have focused largely on ensuring a sustainable, productive and resilient agricultural base, supported by measures on drought relief, water and land management, farm finance and rural research. (...)

(…) Sectoral policy developments have focused largely on ensuring a sustainable, productive and resilient agricultural base supported with measures on drought-relief, water- and land-management, farm finance and rural research. (...)