Nola Marino (Forrest, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

The Customs Amendment (Strengthening Border Controls) Bill 2008 proposes to amend the Customs Act 1901 and the Customs Legislation Amendment and Repeal (International Trade Modernisation) Act 2001 to allow a person to surrender certain prohibited imports that have not been concealed; allow for the granting of post-importation permissions for certain prohibited imports; allow infringement notices to be served for certain offences, including importing certain prohibited goods and border security related offences; and enable Customs officers boarding a ship or aircraft to conduct personal searches for, and take possession of, weapons or evidence of specified offences. The amendments in this bill were initially included in the Customs Legislation Amendment (Augmenting Offshore Powers and Other Measures) Bill 2006 and the Customs Legislation Amendment (Modernising Import Controls and Other Measures) Bill 2006 that lapsed when the parliament was prorogued. This legislation is seen as non-controversial in that it reflects legislation that the coalition introduced when in government. There has been some redrafting of the bill but the effect is the same as the measures that were previously sought.

See this speech in context