Australian Border Force

Freight Trade AllianceBorder & Biosecurity Compliance Program

Martin DAVIES

ABF Superintendent Aviation Goods SEQ

2 May 2019

Australian Border Force

• 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

Australian Border Force

• 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

Australian Border Force 5

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

Australian Border Force

• Operational Command

• Representative

• Role Model

6

Regional Commander QLD

Role

Australian Border Force

• Engagement

• Risk Assessment

• Inspection

• Assurance

• Post-Detection

7

Compliance Activities

Australian Border Force

• 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.

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Compliance ActivitiesRecent Investigation

Australian Border Force

• 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

Australian Border Force

Three broad areas of focus, including:

• Regulated Goods

• ABF Processes

• Statistics

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What’s coming up in the next Goods Compliance Publication

Australian Border Force

• 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.

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Tobacco Reform What is changing?

Australian Border Force

• 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.

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Tobacco ReformTobacco as a Prohibited Import

Australian Border Force

• 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

Australian Border Force 14

Working with Industry

• National Trade Advice Centre

• Tariff Concession Administration

• Advance Rulings

• Licencing

• Industry Forums

Australian Border Force 15

Working with Industry

Australian Border Force 16

Australian Trusted Trader

• Program Overview

• Eligibility

• Benefits

• How to apply

Australian Border Force 17

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 Border Force

• 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

Australian Border Force 19

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

Australian Border Force 20

Signed MRAs

2016

New Zealand

2017

Republic of Korea

Hong Kong

Canada

People’s Republic of China

2018

Singapore

Australian Border Force 21

How to apply

For more information visit:

www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trustedtrader

Email: trustedtrader@abf.gov.au

Phone: 1300 319 024

Australian Border Force

• 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

Australian Border Force 23

Thank you

Web

www.homeaffairs.gov.au

www.abf.gov.au

Border Watch

Phone: 1800 009 623