News

Port of Brisbane Looks Towards 2060

Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd (PBPL) has announced a multi-year project to envisage what it could look like in 40 years’ time, to be known as PortBris 2060. The project will be underpinned by ‘futures thinking’ and an extensive research and consultation program. Led by strategy consultants Business Models Inc and supported by a consortium […]

How Panama Problem Can Affect Australia

The Panama Canal Authority is implementing additional vessel reductions in an effort to conserve water as a drought – exacerbated by a severe El Nino weather system – continues to plague water levels in the locks of this key global trade conduit. See our previous article: Disruptions to Panama Canal. This month the ongoing drought […]

Changes to Sport Supplement Imports

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has released Imported Food Notice 16-23, “Notification of changes to the regulation of sports supplements.” It is directed to the attention of importers and their customs brokers of regulatory changes for sports supplements that are in the form of tablets, capsules or pills. The new rules take […]

Was DP Sabotaged by Foreign State Actor?

The identity and motive of the cyber-attackers who hit DP World last week are not yet known, but media reports suggest sabotage by a ‘foreign state actor’ that has the necessary skills and the motive to undermine Australia’s national security or economic interests. The attack, being characterized as a ‘cyber incident’ by victim DP World […]

Trade Talks at IPEF and APEC include Indonesia

This week the Minister for Trade, Don Farrell, has travelled to San Francisco to lead Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial trade talks. At the third in-person IPEF Ministerial Meetings, his aim is to finalise a package of outcomes designed to lift and align trading standards, to build supply chain resilience, […]

Who Was Behind the DP Cyber Attack?

The government says it does not yet know who was behind a cybersecurity incident that has shut down DP World over the weekend. As far as we know, there has been no ransom demand. A key line of inquiry in this ongoing investigation is the ‘nature of data access and data theft.’ DP World Australia says it understands […]

Clarifying Rules for BMSB Treatment

Correspondence has come from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) this week that clarifies certain rules around Stink Bug (BMSB) treatment, including those covering transhipment, underbond movement, heat treatment for wood products, and more changes to the List of Approved Offshore Treatment Providers. More Offshore Treatment Providers suspended. DAFF has issued notice no.238-2023: […]

Burnt Pine Longicorn (BPL) Season 2023-24

Today (07 November 2023) the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has issued Advice Notice 234-2023: ‘Commencement of 2023-24 Burnt Pine Longicorn (BPL) (Arhopalus ferus) flight season.’ From time to time we report on a number of pests that “hitchhike” a ride in shipping containers into Australia, such as Stink Bugs and Khapra Beetles. […]

QLD Premier Leads Trade Mission to China

Queensland’s Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk today leads a 5-day mission to Shanghai and Beijing, together with over 100 delegates from the education, business, agriculture, trade and tourism sectors. A media statement from the Queensland Government says it is largest ever trade missions will next week showcase our state’s exporters to China and the world. As part […]

DP World: Fees Up, Tools Down

DP World Australia has announced its intention to increase landside fees at its Terminals from 01 January 2024, just as the MUA has outlined a further series of work bans and stoppages next week – and, coincidently, a report by the Centre for International Corporate Tax Accountability and Research (Cictar) says that DP has paid […]