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The Biosecurity Act, 2015 and the Biosecurity Regulation, 2016 mandate the Department of Agriculture to review existing trade and to undertake risk analysis in response to requests to import goods that have never been imported into Australia, or have not previously been imported from a particular country or region. The risk analysis may be conducted through a regulated process provided for in the legislation (Biosecurity Import Risk Analysis – BIRA) or through a non-regulated procedure (e.g. a scientific review of existing policy and import conditions, a pest-specific assessment, a weed risk assessment, or a biological control agent assessment). If the identified biosecurity risks exceed the appropriate level of protection (ALOP) for Australia, goods may not be imported unless the proposed risk management measures reduce the risks to an acceptable level. Australia's risk assessment method has been used since 2001, and includes a risk estimation matrix that follows international principles consistent with World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and International Plant Protection Convention risk management standards. Australia's ALOP is only considered achieved when the estimated risk is at or below "very low".

Table 3.11 Exports subject to licensing or other restrictions, 2019
Item: Australian native animals and plant species
Justification: Animal welfare
Measure: An export permit from the Department of the Environment and Energy is required, except for items detailed on the List of Exempt Native Specimens. The exemption does not extend to live native animals and plants.

Australia's 200-mile Fishing Zone (AFZ) is the third largest in the world, and is larger than Australia's land area. However, biological productivity in the marine territory is relatively low, due to the generally shallow waters of the continental shelf and the scarcity of nutrient-rich currents. Regulatory responsibilities affecting the fisheries sector fall within eight jurisdictions, each of which develop their own policies with respect to resource management, research, reporting, and environmental standards. (...) The sustainability of Australia's fisheries has improved markedly over the last ten years. The 2018 Status of Australian Fish Stocks Reports showed that, of the 120 species made up of 406 separate stocks, no more than 7% of Australia's fish stocks (29 stocks in all) were depleted.[16] These reports are used by the Government as the foundation for reporting on the Sustainable Development Goals – Indicator 14.4.1 Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels.[17]

[16] Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, Key results. Viewed at: http://fish.gov.au/reports/key-results.
[17] The Government's Reporting Platform on the SDG Indicators. Viewed at: https://www.sdgdata.gov.au/goals/life-below-water/14.4.1.

Table A3.1 Non-agricultural subsidies notified to the WTO, 2016/17 and 2018/19
(AUD)
RESOURCES
Carbon Capture and Storage Flagships: (...)
Coal Mining Abatement Technology Support Package: (...)

Australia replies to the WTO questionnaire on import licensing procedures on a regular basis. The 2018 submission provided details of many of the restrictions on items enumerated in Table 3.7. In addition, information was provided on the licensing procedures employed to administer Australia's annual tariff quota on cheese and curd; import approvals for new and used motor vehicles; imports into Antarctica, the Heard Island and the McDonald Islands; and the regulation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Australia. In most cases, a licence is necessary for commercial dealings with a GMO.

The entry into force of the Biosecurity Act (in 2015), two basic implementing regulations and a host of related legal instruments constitute a major recent development in the area of sanitary and phytosanitary measures in Australia. The legislation provides for risk analysis to be conducted through a regulated process (Biosecurity Import Risk Analysis) for goods in the review of existing trade, and in response to requests regarding products that have never been imported into Australia, or have not previously been imported from a particular country or region. As before, imports are not permitted unless the estimated biosecurity risks are "very low" (or lower).

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.

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.

Box 4.2 State drought assistance programmes (June-December 2018)
New South Wales
Farm Innovation Fund: AUD 1 billion (originally AUD 150 million) for loans up to AUD 1 million (...) ensure long-term productivity and sustainable land use (...)

The transaction value method is used in nearly all cases. Instances where other methods are used typically involve situations where no previous sale occurred or the good is of a unique nature (e.g. endangered species or rare antique car).