predecessor.  This should be welcome news to many retailers, Queensland University of Technology’s Professor Gary Mortimer told Inside Retail, which have been pushing further into sustainable practices for years.  “Many of Australia’s largest retailers have already put in place comprehensive plans to reduce energy consumption, food waste and single-use plastics,” Mortimer said.  “The Greens have increased their footprint across Australia, particularly in Queensland, so one would expect to see a stronger position from the incoming government on environmental and sustainability matters.” According to Mortimer, recent research by the Australian Retailers’ Association found that plastic reduction and plastic recycling are the most important factors customers consider when choosing who to shop with – areas which Australia’s supermarket chains and brands are already taking action on.  Swinburne University’s Dr Jason Pallant said the retail industry’s focus on sustainability put it on the front foot with the new Government’s agenda, and that the election result highlights the public push toward environmental issues. “These trends were already emerging, but could now be backed by increased focus at a federal Government level,” Pallant told Inside Retail.  “Every retailer should be thinking about their own sustainability initiatives in a genuine way, whether that be through sustainable and ethical sourcing, or greater involvement in circular economy initiatives.” Heaps Normal CEO Andy Miller, who is leading a coalition of businesses in getting climate policy back on the agenda of politicians in Australia, said the election result provided an “incredible opportunity” to establish a new normal.  “This is what consumers care about and increasingly what they expect from retailers, too,” Miller told Inside Retail.  “A new government and a strong moderate cross bench give us fresh hope that Australia can become a global leader in taking on the challenge of climate change, that we might at last step up to the plate and embrace the huge opportunity at our feet to be a leader in the transition to a low emissions future.” Farmers want action Things aren’t too different at the other end of the supply chain, according to Farmers for Climate Action chief executive Fiona Davis. Many once-comfortable regional seats saw constituents support candidates that back climate action, driven by years of climate-induced disasters hurting farmers’ crop yield. “Farmers are on the front lines of climate change, facing more severe and frequent drought, heatwaves, fires, and floods,” Davis told Inside Retail.  “Extreme weather is making farming harder and more uncertain [and] affects the food supply chain at every stage. Our Fork in the Road report [found] that empty supermarket shelves, that once were rare, will become a more common experience for Australians as the impacts of climate change worsen.” Davis said Farmers for Climate Action is looking forward to working with the Albanese Government to push strong climate policy, and drive emissions reductions over the course of the next decade. “We need deep emissions reductions to protect Australian farmers, and our food supply chains, from extreme weather events… to ensure we are able to continue to produce food for Australia and the world,” Davis said.  “Australian voters have sent a message, and we hope all politicians listen.” China “cautiously optimistic” One of the major issues the export of Australian goods has suffered in the last few years is a declining international relationship with China, one of our biggest trade partners.  However, China’s president Xi Jingping has said he is “cautiously optimistic” that relations will improve, according to The Australian.  Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that, in the short term, Australia’s relationship with China will remain difficult. “[Our relationship with China] has not changed. It is China that has changed, not Australia, and Australia should always stand up for our values and we will in a government that I lead,” Albanese said, according to The Guardian. “That having been said, [we will not] attempt to play politics with national security issues.”