Let’s turn back time, Albo

The concluded EU-Australia Free Trade Agreement(March 2026) includes legally binding commitments to implement the Paris Agreementon climate change. This makes climate obligations, along with labor rights, enforceable through the trade deal's dispute settlement mechanism, representing a significant integration of environmental policy into trade law…

 

●      "Essential Elements" Status: The Agreement treats compliance with the Paris Agreement similarly to human rights obligations, incorporating them as "essential elements" of the deal.

●      Green Trade Incentives: The pact immediately eliminates tariffs on environmental goods such as solar components...

Further to that Mr Bowen, it’s also confirmed on the European Commission’s own website:

●      "Boosting more sustainable trade through strong, enforceable provisions on Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD), including commitments to the Paris Climate Agreement, core labour standards, gender equality and environment."

The trade deal was also strongly criticized by several key agricultural leaders. Google’s AI again:

Agricultural leaders in Australia have strongly criticised the newly announced free trade agreement (FTA) between Australia and the European Union (EU), signed in March 2026, labelling it a "subpar" and "appalling" deal that fails to deliver meaningful market access for local producers.

Following eight years of negotiations, peak industry bodies have argued that the deal severely disadvantages Australian red meat, sugar, and dairy farmers, with some leaders suggesting they would have been better off without it.

Key Reasons for Agricultural criticism:

●      Subpar Access for Red Meat: Beef and lamb producers slammed the agreement for failing to meet industry demands, with access quotas falling nearly 40 per cent short of what was requested. Cattle Australia chair Garry Edwards labelled the agreed export volumes "pathetic," arguing that they "barely restore" what existed before 2019.

●      "One-Way" Trade Deal: The National Farmers' Federation (NFF) expressed concern that the deal offers little for Australian exports while opening the domestic market to heavily subsidised European meat, cheese, and dairy products.

●      Failed Sugar Access: The sugar industry described the outcome as a "complete failure," with access gains failing to match what competitors like Brazil secured in their EU deals.

●      Geographical Indications Restrictions: Dairy producers are frustrated by having to phase out the use of common product names like Feta, Romano, and Gruyere, while losing protection against imported European products.

Given all the above, I was amazed to have Question Time playing on the TV while I went about other tasks when  all this was brewing, and totally expected the Opposition would try to haul Albo and Bowen over the coals for their duplicity. But no, apart from Labor MPs’ Dorothy Dixers and the customary back-patting, all I heard over several days from the Conservatives were repetitive questions about how many servos had run out of fuel and how many fuel ships were on their way here.

Apologies if I dozed off from the monotony and missed anything, but I think it was more a case of “look the other way or we’ll be reminded of signing us up to the Paris Accord back in 2016 under Malcolm Turnbull…”

And that’s true, the old Miserable Ghost himself at the helm. He also had the brainwave of committing us to the infamous Snowy 2 project using power to pump water uphill to generate less power when it runs back downhill. That has ballooned from an initial estimate of $2 billion to a current estimate of $12 billion, with some experts predicting it could be as high as $20 billion if it ever gets completed!

Good one Malcolm. No wonder your constant criticism of the party that turfed you from office but still accepts you as a member, doesn't hold much water these days.

After all this, my mind has taken another trip back to a tune that I doubt is on DJ Albo’s dodgy playlist but which the Opposition could learn from  - Bob Hudson’s  1970’s  hit, The Newcastle Song  and its chorus "Don't you ever let a chance go by, Oh Lord, Don’t you ever let a chance go by…