SYDNEY (January 14, 2026)— Humane World for Animals Australia (previously known as Humane Society International Australia) is proud to have secured protection for two Murray Darling Basin wetland ecosystems under Australia’s new nature laws announced by Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt today. The Lower Murray, including the Coorong at the river mouth, and the Macquarie Marshes have both been listed as Critically Endangered “Threatened...
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.
