Robert McClelland (Barton, Australian Labor Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

I am pleased to introduce the Customs Legislation Amendment (Name Change) Bill 2009.

On 4 December 2008, the Prime Minister released the government’s National Security Statement, which was read in the House. The statement outlined the government’s national security policy and vision for a reformed national security structure.

In the statement, the Prime Minister announced that the Australian Customs Service is to be renamed the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service to better reflect its new role of being the lead Commonwealth government agency on maritime people-smuggling issues. In conjunction with partner agencies, it will do this by:

• coordination of intelligence collection across government;
• analysis of intelligence gathered on people-smuggling ventures and networks;
• coordination of surveillance and on-water response; and
• engaging internationally with source and transit countries to comprehensively address and deter people smuggling.

This bill will amend the Customs Administration Act 1985 to change the name of the Australian Customs Service to the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service. The bill, in conjunction with those other measures, will make a significant difference to national security and in particular enhance border protection, and it will make consequential amendments to a number of other acts to also reflect the name change as part of the operation of these reforms.

Debate (on motion by Mr Hartsuyker) adjourned.

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