Activities for these marketing authorities are financed by the producers, but some boards enjoy export monopoly powers conferred by the federal or state government. While some of the boards' domestic activities have been deregulated, the export of wheat and rice remains under the exclusive control of commodity boards. The export of barley from certain states likewise remains strictly regulated. Australia's geographic isolation has allowed it to remain relatively free of exotic diseases. Australia imposes extremely stringent animal and plant quarantine restrictions, which at times are not based on sound evidence, or consistent with the risk involved.
Concerns remain with cooked chicken, salmon, pork, grapes, citrus, stone fruit and apples.
Special regulations apply to investments in the banking sector, the media sector, urban real estate and civil aviation. Divestment cannot be forced without due process of law. There is no record of forced divestment outside that stemming from investments or mergers that tend to create market dominance, contravene laws on equity participation, or result from unfulfilled contractual obligations. Under an FTA, a foreign company commits to undertake local industrial development activities worth 15 percent of its projected amount of government sales over a four year period. After a recent review of its purchasing practices, the government announced its commitment to source at least 10 percent of its purchases from Australian small to medium size enterprises.