The Australian Government urged the opposition Coalition to support legislation implementing the Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement on October 19, 2026, according to SBS. The Coalition’s treasury spokesperson, Tim Wilson, said it would oppose the bill. The two sides concluded the agreement in March after eight years of negotiations, but Australia’s parliament has not yet ratified it. Trade Minister Don Farrell urged the Coalition to reconsider, saying the deal would be worth AU$10 billion from the start and would quickly rise to AU$30 billion.
The government lacks a majority in the Senate, so the outcome depends on the Coalition or the Greens. The Coalition has demanded a renegotiation to give Australian farmers better access to the EU market, and also objects to the environmental and carbon-related provisions in the agreement.