Humane World for Animals has criticised the Crisafulli Government’s decision to reverse the former government’s phase-out of shooting flying foxes for crop protection. The animal protection charity says the move seriously undermines progress toward effective non-lethal management and brings back animal suffering. The phase-out of flying-fox shooting in Queensland was due to conclude on 1 July 2026, having given landholders three years to transition to non-lethal crop...
In June 2018, the European Union and Australia formally opened negotiations for a free trade agreement. Australia is presently ranked as the EU’s nineteenth largest trading partner in goods, while the EU is Australia’s third largest trading partner.
The proposed trade agreement between the EU and Australia is viewed by both parties as an opportunity to increase trade and the deal is likely to further increase trade – or, at a minimum, increase trade opportunities – in animal agricultural products, including meat, egg and dairy products. Likewise, while Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) open markets, create business and employment opportunities, and can increase economic growth, new increased access to markets also leads to increases in legal and illegal trade in a wide variety of products, including wildlife and wildlife products.
