Tag Archives: oceania

Prime Minister “very positive” on ending trade disputes with China

Anthony Albanese has said he is "very positive" of ending long-standing trade tariffs on Australian produce with China.

Albanese met China's Premier Li Qiang as part of the first visit to the nation by an Australian prime minister in seven years, with the trade war firmly on the agenda.

However, he gave little away ahead of his upcoming meeting with President Xi in Beijing.

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks from China.

"The views that he put forward in his speech today are consistent with the views that he put to me, where we spoke about the importance of the relationship, and the importance of China getting access to our wines," he said.

In August, China agreed to remove its highly restrictive tariffs on the importation of Australian barley in a major boost to the relationship between the two nations.

Australia had pursued legal action over the tariffs through the World Trade Organisation (WTO) but suspended that in April of this year in an agreement that saw China review the restrictions.

However, a similar dispute is still running between the two countries in regard to Australian wine.

"Our wine's pretty good product. Our barely is the best in the world. It will be feeding into Chinese beer production," Albanese said.

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Minister for Trade, Tourism, and Investment Don Farrell.

Don Farrell, Australia's Trade Minister, who is on the trip, said a resumption of the trade in seafood and red meat could be expected soon.

"I raised those issues directly with my counterpart last night," he said.

"I expect that as part of the stabilisation process that's going on with with China, and as part of this our ambition to remove all of the impediments, I would expect that in a very short space of time."

Giant Panda

On a lighter note the prime minister addressed reports Australia's only two giant pandas, which are currently on lease to Adelaide Zoo could return to China.

"It is it is obviously a positive thing, that they have been able to be there in Adelaide but my understanding is that pandas do get homesick," he said.

"My understanding is that discussions between Adelaide Zoo and their Chinese counterparts are ongoing.

"But on behalf of Australia's kids and families, I would like to see pandas maintain a presence in Australia."

The prime minister will travel to Beijing later today.

'Tragic end': Pilot dead, man rushed to hospital after gyrocopter crash

A man has died and another man has been airlifted to hospital with serious injuries after a light aircraft crash in Victoria's Goulburn Valley.

A gyrocopter carrying two men crashed onto a private property on Snipey Road in Goulburn Weir, about 146km north of Melbourne, at about 7.15am, according to police.

"The gyrocopter has come down in a field by itself, " Acting Inspector Darron Huffer told media.

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He said the crash was "a tragic end" to a leisurely activity.

The pilot, who is yet to be formally identified, died at the scene.

The passenger is a man in his 70s, who was taken to The Royal Melbourne Hospital in a stable condition, according to Ambulance Victoria.

SES and CFA crews also rushed to the scene.

A gyrocopter is similar to a helicopter in appearance, but its rotor is turned by relative airflow instead of a motor.

"It's a small open-cockpit style gyrocopter," Acting Insp Huffer said.

Police will prepare a report for the coroner, with the incident to then be referred to the Australian Sport Rotorcraft Association.

The exact cause of the crash is yet to be determined.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV, dashcam footage or any other information that could assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.