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REUTERS/Loren Elliott/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Australia faces an increased risk of bushfires during the approaching summer, authorities warned on Thursday, with the El Nino weather pattern expected to generate hotter and drier conditions across large swathes of the country. Three years of incessant rain has increased vegetation, but the intense heatwaves common during Australia's December-February summer can quickly turn this into tinder-dry bushland, fuelling fires. Australia declared an El Nino weather pattern - which usually brings below-average rain and above-average daytime temperatures - was under way in September. The Bureau of Meteorology said it was not unusual to have wet weather during El Nino as it increases but does not guarantee drier conditions. Reporting by Renju Jose and Cordelia Hsu in Sydney; Editing by William MallardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Loren Elliott, Murray Watt, Simon Bradshaw, Renju Jose, Cordelia Hsu, William Mallard Organizations: New South, New South Wales Rural Fire Service, REUTERS, Rights, El, Emergency, Sydney, National Council for Fire, Emergency Services, Climate Council, Meteorology, El Nino, Thomson Locations: New, New South Wales, Arcadia, Sydney, Australia, Turkey, El Nino, Australia's, El

☆ Australia, EU trade deal likely years away after talks fail
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Canberra — Australia has rejected European Union proposals for a free trade agreement, and a deal is now unlikely to be reached for several years, Australian government ministers said Monday. “I came to Osaka with the intention to finalize a free trade agreement,” Farrell said in a statement. “We just weren’t able to see the EU increase its offer for things like beef, sheep, dairy, sugar enough for us to think that this deal was in Australia’s national interest,” he told ABC Radio. The EU signed a trade deal with New Zealand last year that lowered tariffs for EU exports including clothing, chemicals and cars, and allowed more New Zealand beef, lamb, butter and cheese into the EU. “It’s disappointing the Europeans weren’t willing to put something commercially meaningful on the table,” National Farmers’ Federation President David Jochinke said in a statement.

Persons: Don Farrell, “, ” Farrell, ”, Murray Watt, —, Valdis Dombrovskis, Australia’s Watt, “ It’s, David Jochinke Organizations: Canberra, EU, Australian Trade, Australia, ABC Radio, New Zealand, National Farmers ’ Federation Locations: Australia, Europe, Osaka, New Zealand, Canada, South America, Zealand

☆ Australia says EU trade deal is likely years away after rejecting terms
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The two sides have been negotiating since 2018, with Australia eager to boost agricultural exports by removing EU tariffs and expanding quotas, and Europe likely to gain greater access to Australia's critical minerals industry. "I came to Osaka with the intention to finalise a free trade agreement," Farrell said in a statement. "Negotiations will continue, and I am hopeful that one day we will sign a deal that benefits both Australia and our European friends." Watt said it would be some time before the Australian government and EU leadership would be able to negotiate a deal because of upcoming elections in EU. The EU signed a trade deal with New Zealand last year that lowered tariffs for EU exports including clothing, chemicals and cars, and allowed more New Zealand beef lamb, butter and cheese into the EU.

Persons: Don Farrell, Valdis Dombrovskis, Farrell, Murray Watt, Watt, David Jochinke, Peter Hobson, Gerry Doyle Organizations: CANBERRA, EU, Australian Trade, Australia, ABC Radio, New Zealand, Farmers ' Federation, Thomson Locations: Australia, Europe, Osaka, EU, Australian, New Zealand, Canada, South America, Zealand

☆ Australia seeks separate dialogue on China wine dispute
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Bottles of Australian wine are seen at a store selling imported wine in Beijing, China November 27, 2020. REUTERS/Florence Lo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Australia wants a separate dialogue with China on their dispute over wine, the agriculture minister said on Sunday, rejecting Beijing's proposal to link wine with other trade issues as the two nations slowly seek to improve battered relations. China's removal of tariffs last month on Australian barley has raised hopes for an easing of wine tariffs, in place since 2021, which have hammered the country's wine exports. China on Thursday proposed a "packaged solution" that would tie the wine dispute to those about duties on Australian imports of Chinese railway wheels, wind towers and stainless steel sinks, state news agency Xinhua reported. China was Australia's top wine export market before COVID, peaking at A$1.2 billion ($770 million) for the 12 months to January 2020 when the pandemic hit.

Persons: Florence, Murray Watt, Watt, Sam McKeith, William Mallard Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Xinhua, Agriculture, Australian Broadcasting Corp, World Trade Organization, COVID, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Australia, COVID, Sydney

☆ Indonesia pauses some Australian cattle imports after cows found with LSD
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, July 31 (Reuters) - Indonesia has paused live cattle imports from four Australian facilities after lumpy skin disease (LSD) was detected in a small number of cattle some time after arrival, the Australian government said. Australia is free of LSD and cattle exports to Indonesia continues from other facilities, Watt said. Given the presence of LSD in Indonesia, positive results in cattle after reaching Indonesia were not unexpected, Australia's Chief Veterinary Officer Mark Schipp said. Indonesia is the largest market for Australian live cattle exports, accounting for about 56% in 2021–22, data showed, worth about A$900 million ($600 million). ($1 = 1.5020 Australian dollars)Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Murray Watt, Watt, Mark Schipp, Renju Jose, Christopher Cushing Organizations: SYDNEY, Australia, Thomson Locations: Indonesia, Australia, Sydney

Two weeks later, we're back into major floods," NSW emergency services' Chief Superintendent Ashley Sullivan told ABC television from Forbes. To help with relief efforts, 18 flood rescue specialists from Singapore reached Sydney on Thursday, authorities said, who will join a team from New Zealand and hundreds of Australian defence personnel already deployed to the worst-hit regions. Help has also been sought from the United States for the relief operation, which authorities have flagged will be the biggest flood rescue exercise in New South Wales' history. The damage from the latest flood could cost "billions of dollars", Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said. "The bill is really racking up and that's before we look at the immense cost of road and infrastructure repairs which lies ahead," Watt told ABC radio.

☆ Traveller fined, refused entry to Australia for 'significant' biosecurity breach
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Oct 30 (Reuters) - An international traveller has been fined and refused entry to Australia after trying to bring meat into the country in what the government said on Sunday was a "significant breach" of biosecurity laws to protect Australia from foot and mouth disease. Australia earlier this year stepped up protection against foot and mouth disease at its international airports following an outbreak in Indonesia. "Australian biosecurity officers uncovered the undeclared meat during a baggage inspection at Perth Airport (on) October 18," the ministers said. “This is why legislation is in place to cancel the visa of any traveller who commits a significant biosecurity breach or repeatedly contravenes biosecurity laws,” she said. The government has estimated a large outbreak in Australia could see revenue losses of up to $A51.8 billion ($33.2 billion) over ten years.

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