Received

Details: Written by Grant Broadcasters; Category: Received; Published: 13 July 2023; Hits: 70

Australia's agriculture ministers have failed to agree on funding for a program to combat invasive fire ants despite identifying the "very real threat".

The venomous ant has been on the march in recent months with authorities concerned the super pest will break containment lines and spread from southeast Queensland to NSW.

But while ministers agreed "serious action" was needed, they were unable to put a dollar figure on their commitment.

"We do need to go through budget processes before we can walk out into a press conference and promise money," federal minister Murray Watt told reporters in Perth on Thursday.

Senator Watt said he expected up to $60 million more would be spent up to June 2024 fighting fire ants.

A recent Biosecurity Queensland report found an extra $593 million was needed for the national eradication plan.

A separate review of the eradication strategy found at least $3 billion would be needed over the next five years.

"We've essentially agreed to the plan going forward, but most of the jurisdictions have yet to go through their budget process to secure the funding," Senator Watt said.

"I couldn't really put a dollar figure on how much we'll spend over the next few years."

More than $140 million was set aside in June by the NSW and Queensland governments.

Fire ants are considered one of the world's most invasive species.

The stinging, swarming pest is native to South America and poses a serious risk to agriculture, public health and native environments.

They've been in Australia since 2001 when they were found in Brisbane.

Some $411 million was set aside under a 10-year plan approved by all Australian governments in 2017.

The Invasive Species Council, which has campaigned for the ant's eradication, said the lack of clarity over funding undermined efforts.

"The lack of funding comes despite fire ant eradication being a key agenda item at the meeting," council spokesperson Reece Pianta said.

The meeting also discussed strategies on tracing produce and the agriculture sector's role in tackling climate change, with ministers agreeing to strategies on both.

"We know that consumers in international markets want to know more than ever before about where their food is coming from," Senator Watt said.

Details: Written by Grant Broadcasters; Category: Received; Published: 13 July 2023; Hits: 80

Battery hen eggs will be banned under a national agreement by the country's agriculture ministers but states can decide when they bring it in.

Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said some jurisdictions would move away from battery cages faster than others but all were working towards a deadline of 2036.

"Some states will be able to do it more quickly than others and if some states are struggling that is something we can discuss," Senator Watt said.

The national standards, which includes the phase out of battery cages, was agreed to at a meeting in Perth on Thursday.

NSW would not commit to the timeline.

"We will work to our own timeline to make sure that we're working with industry in NSW to get the best outcome," Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty told AAP.

"We're going to work with industry so that we're not impacting supply and we're not worried about cost of living issues."

Senator Watt said 2036 was a reasonable timeline that gave the industry plenty of time to adjust.

An independent review of animal welfare standards recommended an end to the use of battery hens by 2036, but industry advocates wanted the deadline pushed back by a decade.

Egg Farmers of Australia warned the target would lead to higher egg prices and compensation claims from producers.

Federal Nationals leader David Littleproud added to calls for an extension.

"Our egg farmers deserve support, not surprises, from state governments," he said.

"Farmers have made investment decisions worth millions of dollars, predicated on the current guidelines, believing they had until 2046."

Senator Watt rejected suggestions a cage ban would trigger price rises.

Caged hens make up half of the nation's total egg production.

Supermarket giants Woolworths and Coles have agreed to phase out caged eggs from all the brands they sell by 2025.

Coles-branded eggs have been cage-free since 2013 and Woolworths since 2015.

Jed Goodfellow from Australian Alliance for Animals said it was disappointing a national timeline hadn't been agreed.

"It doesn't provide the level of certainty that the Australian community and indeed the industry wants to see," Dr Goodfellow said.

"What's the point of endorsing a national standard that includes a very definitive time frame, if it's going to be left to each individual state to determine their own?

"With the supermarket commitments to phase out the use of caged eggs in their own supply chains by 2025, it's very likely that the industry is going to be free of the battery cage system well before the 2036 timeline."

Melinda Hashimoto from Egg Farmers of Australia said producers would also be disappointed.

"It really does leave farmers in limbo, it wasn't the surety that we were hoping to get," she said.

"Farming organisations now have the role to work with their state agricultural minister around the timing."

Details: Written by Grant Broadcasters; Category: Received; Published: 13 July 2023; Hits: 88

They are tough, agile and saving lives.

Australia's decision to provide a further 30 Bushmaster vehicles has been welcomed by Ukraine's ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has returned to Australia from the NATO summit in Lithuania, where he told Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskiy about the decision to provide the vehicles.

Mr Myroshnychenko said the vehicles were the "heroes of the war", adding he hoped to bring a veteran to Australia to share stories of how they were making a difference.

"They are tough, versatile, agile and they are saving lives," he told Seven News.

Despite no decision being made at the summit to allow Ukraine to join NATO, Mr Myroshnychenko said closer ties were being formed with like-minded nations.

"Ukraine got much closer to NATO after the summit," he said.

"It's very important NATO is supporting us in this war against Russia."

Mr Albanese said he wasn't going to criticise the Ukrainians for asking for more military support.

"They would always like more, they're in a war for their survival as a sovereign state," he told 6PR radio on Thursday.

"We are providing support that we think is appropriate and that is needed."

The package builds on Australia's previous commitment of 90 Bushmasters, taking the total number to 120.

Australia has provided more than $710 million in military aid, with overall support reaching $890 million.

"We are proud to provide additional Bushmaster vehicles to assist the brave men and women fighting for their home and their nation's sovereignty," Mr Albanese said.

"Russia unilaterally launched this illegal and immoral invasion and should withdraw its troops and end the conflict immediately."

Mr Zelenskiy expressed his gratitude after meeting with Mr Albanese.

"Thank you! A powerful new defence package, including 30 Bushmasters," he wrote on the Telegram app.

Senior Ukrainian MP Kira Rudik told Nine News it was a "huge deal".

"The Bushmasters we received previously were used by our forces to liberate Kherson and our eastern territories," she said.

"From what I have spoken with our military commanders, they were absolutely thrilled that we will receive more of those, and they have proven to be incredibly effective."

Opposition defence spokesman Andrew Hastie said it was disappointing the prime minister waited for a photo opportunity to announce the decision, which should have been made months ago.

"While this decision has bipartisan support, once again Labor has been slow to act," he said.

"These vehicles must be sent to Ukraine as quickly as possible."

Australia this week announced a further step in its support for Ukraine - the deployment of an RAAF E-7A Wedgetail aircraft to protect the flow of assistance.

NATO members invited Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea to provide insight into broader security challenges, such as China's military expansion.

Mr Albanese also held separate talks with US President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday.

Details: Written by Grant Broadcasters; Category: Received; Published: 13 July 2023; Hits: 71

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has placed Asian nations at the forefront of security in the Indo-Pacific, as NATO considers expanding its presence in the region.

The military alliance proposed opening a liaison office in Japan's capital Tokyo, in a bid to deepen cooperation with partners in the region.

But the proposal was strongly opposed by China.

Senator Wong is in Jakarta for the ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting.

Asked if Australia backed NATO's expansion, Senator Wong said the government maintained "ASEAN as the centre of the region".

"ASEAN centrality within the Indo-Pacific is so critical to peace and prosperity and stability," she told the ABC's 7.30 on Thursday.