freight trade alliance · • regulations also introduced that will facilitate refunds for duty...

Australian Border Force

Freight Trade AllianceBorder & Biosecurity Compliance Program

Martin DAVIES

ABF Superintendent Aviation Goods SEQ

2 May 2019


• Overview of Australian Border Force

• Role of QLD Regional Commander

• Compliance Activities

• Tobacco Reform

• Working with Industry

• Borderwatch

• Australian Trusted Trader (ATT) Program

2

Presentation Outline


• We are Australia's frontline border law enforcementagency and Customs Service.

• We are an operationally independent body within theHome Affairs portfolio.

• Our mission is to protect Australia’s Border andenable legitimate travel and trade.

3

The ABF – Who we are

Australian Border Force 4

The ABF – Footprint

Cairns

Townsville

Bowen

Bundaberg

Thursday Island

Gladstone

BrisbaneGold Coast

Weipa

Coffs Harbour

NewcastleSydney

ACT (HQ) Wollongong

Eden

Richmond

Geelong / MelbournePortland

AdelaideEyre Peninsula

Yorke PeninsulaAlbany

Broome

Bunbury

Fremantle / Perth

Carnarvon

Dampier

Esperance

Geraldton

Port Hedland

DarwinGove

Burnie

Hobart

Launceston

Norfolk Island

Lord Howe

Island

Mackay


The ABF – Structure

Deputy Commissioner

Support

Commissioner

Deputy Commissioner

Operations

Assistant

Commissioner

Port Operations

Command

Regional Commander QLD

Assistant

Commissioner

Border Patrol &

Coordination

Command

Assistant

Commissioner

Enforcement

Command

Assistant

Commissioner

Detention &

Offshore

Operations

Command


• Operational Command

• Representative

• Role Model

6

Regional Commander QLD

Role


• Engagement

• Risk Assessment

• Inspection

• Assurance

• Post-Detection

7

Compliance Activities


• Recent ABF Compliance Operations

investigation of Sydney based fabrication

business regarding importation of Chinese

aluminium products through Thailand;

• Investigation uncovered three false &

misleading statements, including a false

declaration regarding origin of goods to avoid

Duty payment (namely Countervailing, Dumping

& Customs) as well as undervaluing the goods;

• Sydney based fabrication business ordered to

pay more than $67,000 in penalties and

recovered Duty / GST.

8

Compliance ActivitiesRecent Investigation


• Supply Chain Integrity

- Behavioural Integrity

- Safekeeping of cargo

• Economic Harm

- Revenue evasion

- Non-compliance with trade rules

• Regulated & Restricted Goods

- Protecting the Australian community from risk

9

Compliance Priorities


Three broad areas of focus, including:

• Regulated Goods

• ABF Processes

• Statistics

10

What’s coming up in the next Goods Compliance Publication


• Illicit tobacco funds organised criminal activity, threatens the economy and damages public health.

• From 1 July 2019, tobacco can no longer be stored in bonded warehouses.

• All duty must be paid at time of importation.

• Transitional arrangements in place to support importers

• Regulations also introduced that will facilitate refunds for duty free stores, provedores and catering bonds.

11

Tobacco Reform What is changing?


• From 1 July 2019, tobacco will be classified as a Prohibited Import.

• Will be against the law to import tobacco products without a permit.

– Cigars and smokeless tobacco are exempt, as will tobacco imported by travellers under existing duty free limits.

• Importers must apply to Home Affairs for a permit. Process will have minimal impact on operators and will not attract a fee.

• Permits will have conditions that must be adhered to. Key conditions will include:

– no post import permits;

– no tobacco through international mail;

– tobacco must comply with domestic legislative requirements.

• Permits will be multi-use and will be valid for a specified period of time.

12

Tobacco ReformTobacco as a Prohibited Import


• Home Affairs and ABF will be

communicating regularly with

industry on the changes.

– Guidance materials will be

distributed to industry;

– IT changes will be

communicated to brokers

and other ICS users.

• New ABF tobacco website –

one stop shop for information

on importing tobacco into

Australia

– www.abf.gov.au/tobacco13

Tobacco ReformPreparing for the changes

http://www.abf.gov.au/tobacco


Working with Industry

• National Trade Advice Centre

• Tariff Concession Administration

• Advance Rulings

• Licencing

• Industry Forums


Working with Industry


Australian Trusted Trader

• Program Overview

• Eligibility

• Benefits

• How to apply


ATT Program Overview• Authorised Economic Operator

program (AEO) aligned with WCO:

global mark of trust

• Voluntary program open to eligible

Australian businesses

• Free to join, with no ongoing

associated costs

• A partnership with industry to secure

effective and efficient supply chains


• Australian Businesses who are:

- Importers

- Exporters

- Licenced customs brokers

- Freight forwarders

- Ports

• Requirements

- Have a registered ABN

- Two years of trading history

- Financially solvent

- Able to demonstrate a secure supply chain

and compliance practices18

ATT Eligibility


Benefits available to Trusted TradersReceive a lighter touch at the border

• Priority Processing

• Including in export markets through MRA

Demonstrate a competitive advantage

• use of the ATT logo

• listing on the Public Register

Access streamlined processes

• Streamlined access to APEC Business Travel Card

• Skip the waiting period to become a Sponsor for the Temporary Skills Shortage Visa

Be at the forefront of Australia’s trade modernisation agenda

• ‘Seat at the table’

• Symposium and Industry Advisory Group invitations

• Account Manager

• pilot invitations

Save money and time

• Origin Advanced Ruling (ChAFTA)

• Duty Deferral

• Consolidated Cargo Clearance


Signed MRAs

2016

New Zealand

2017

Republic of Korea

Hong Kong

Canada

People’s Republic of China

2018

Singapore


How to apply

For more information visit:

www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trustedtrader

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 1300 319 024

http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trustedtrader

mailto:[email protected]


• The ABF is committed to working with industry

• We encourage and promote self-regulation

• If in doubt on any ABF matter, please ask us

• Tell the ABF about anything you feel just isn’t quite

right

22

Key Messages


Thank you

Web

www.homeaffairs.gov.au

www.abf.gov.au

Border Watch

Phone: 1800 009 623

freight trade alliance · • regulations also introduced that will facilitate refunds for duty...

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