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Exports and/or production of certain dairy, grain, horticulture, livestock, and wine/grape commodities remain subject to over 90 different non ad valorem (except for sheep, lamb, deer velvet, and wine) levies. These levies are administered, collected, and distributed by the Department of Agriculture on behalf of primary industries to 19 levy recipient bodies which in turn service 54 industry representative bodies.[19] (...)

[19] Agricultural levies and export charges (requested by industry) are in place to fund research and development, marketing, residue-testing, plant and animal biosecurity programmes and emergency responses for industry (Department of Agriculture online information. Viewed at: http://www.daff.gov.au/agriculture-food/levies/publications; and Department of Agriculture, 2013).

(…) 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. (...)

Australia's key commercial stocks are managed in accordance with the Commonwealth Fisheries Harvest Strategy Policy and Guidelines which applies an evidence-based, precautionary approach to setting catch levels. Resource Assessment Groups provide advice on the status of fish stocks and the impact of fishing on the marine environment, including recommendations to the AFMA Commission on issues such as: the setting of total allowable catches (TACs); stock rebuilding targets; biological and economic reference points; and risk assessments. AFMA sets the TAC based on estimates of the take by state commercial fishers and recreational anglers as well as other mortality sources. By October 2013, Australian fish stocks were considered in good shape as key wild fish stocks were largely sustainable. Of the 93 Commonwealth managed stocks assessed in 2012, 63 were classified as not overfished (59 in 2009) and 77 stocks are classified as not subject to overfishing (73 in 2009); 9 stocks were classified as overfished (12 in 2009) and 4 stocks as subject to overfishing (10 in 2009). Similarly stocks managed by state and Northern Territory governments appear to be in generally good condition, with the national Status of Key Australian Fish Stocks Report 2012 indicating that most stocks were neither overfished nor subject to overfishing.

Introduced in 2001, the Product Stewardship for Oil programme encourages oil recycling.[39] (...) The revenue generated by the levy is used to offset the costs of oil recyclers by granting them a benefit. The recycler must undertake the final processing stage, and use, or sell, the output for its end use.[41] The amount of benefit paid (per litre or kilogram) depends on the type of recycled output (eight end-product categories).[42]

[39] The Product Stewardship (Oil) Act, Act No. 102 of 2000, as amended, and the Product Stewardship (Oil) Regulations, 2000 set out the general framework for the levy-benefit system.
[41] The levy amounted to AUD 0.05449 per litre/kg prior to that date.
[42] The benefit is not paid for the stockpiling of recycled oil.

In 2011/12, budgetary assistance for the electricity, gas, water and waste services industries, mainly in the form of transitional assistance under the industry-specific Energy Security Fund (92.8% of total assistance to the sector), peaked ($A 1.1 billion) and was the highest among all sectors. This assistance was a one-off and in 2012/13 budgetary assistance for this sector dropped markedly to just $A 129.6 million. (...)

The 1992 National Drought Policy aims at farmers and rural communities adopting self-reliant approaches to managing climate variability, the maintenance and protection of the resource base during periods of climatic stress, and the early recovery of agricultural and rural industries consistent with long-term sustainable levels.

No changes were brought to GM-related labelling requirements. Since 2001 GM foods, ingredients, additives, or processing aids that contain novel DNA or protein must be labelled with the words "genetically modified". GM foods that do not contain any novel DNA or protein or do not have altered characteristics do not require labelling. Flavours containing novel DNA or protein in a concentration of no more than 0.1% are also exempt from labelling. Labelling is also not required when there is no more than 1% (per ingredient) of an approved GM food unintentionally present as an ingredient or processing aid in a non-GM food.

In April 2015, the Government detailed its energy strategy in the Energy White Paper (EWP). (...) Additionally, under the Paris Agreement, Australia increased its international climate change ambitions, and aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26%, to 28% below 2005 levels, by 2030. However, the EWP does not incorporate the Government's climate change pledge.

During the review period, efforts to update the energy policy framework were undertaken. A comprehensive draft Energy White Paper (EWP)2 was published in November 2011, seven years after the release of the previous EWP. The draft energy policy provided an assessment of future energy needs to 2030 and set out a policy framework to guide the further development of the sector. The draft EWP2 set three clear policy objectives: the provision of accessible, reliable and competitively priced energy for all Australians; enhancement of domestic and export growth potential; and the delivery of clean and sustainable energy. It also identified four priority areas for future action and outlines a set of initiatives to advance this agenda: strengthening the resilience of the energy policy framework; reinvigorating the energy market reform agenda; developing critical energy resources – particularly its gas resources; and accelerating clean energy outcomes. The final EWP2 was to be published in late 2012. However, the current Government committed to develop a new Energy White Paper in light of changed market conditions and policy. As at December 2014, an Energy White Paper was under development. The new Energy White Paper is to set out a coherent and integrated approach to energy policy to reduce cost pressures on households and businesses, improve Australia's international competitiveness and grow its export base and economic prosperity. An Energy Green Paper, the precursor to the Energy White Paper, was released for public consultation in September 2014. Consultation closed in early November 2014 and submissions are being used to inform the development of the Energy White Paper.

Table 3.7 Imports subject to prohibition or non-automatic licensing, 2019
Item: Incandescent lamps
Justification: Energy saving
Measure: Prohibited unless permission has been granted by the Minister for the Environment and Energy or an authorized person in the Department of the Environment and Energy. Retrospective permits will not be issued.