Jason Clare (Blaxland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Home Affairs ) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

Customs Tariff Proposal (No. 1) 2012

The customs tariff proposal that I have just tabled contains three alterations to the Customs Tariff Act 1995. The first two alterations have previously been given effect through the publication of customs tariff notices in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette during December 2011. Those alterations are now incorporated in this customs tariff proposal.

The first alteration extends the South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement—SPARTECA—textiles, clothing and footwear provisions scheme until 31 December 2014. This scheme provides duty-free entry for certain textiles, clothing and footwear from Pacific Islands Forum countries covered by the South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement. The scheme is administered through item 68 of schedule 4 of the customs tariff. The alteration changes the end date of the item 68 from 31 December 2011 to 31 December 2014.

The second alteration in the proposal reinserts subheading 5308.10.00 application in coir yarn into the customs tariff. This subheading was incorrectly omitted from the customs tariff in the Customs Tariff Amendment 2012 Harmonized System Changes) Act 2011. That act implemented approximately 800 amendments to the customs tariff to incorporate changes that resulted from the fourth review of the Harmonised Commodity Description and Coding System by the World Customs Organisation. The changes took effect on 1 January 2012.

The third alteration lists Serbia as a developing country for the purposes of the Australian system of tariff preferences. This listing will accord Serbia a reduction in customs duty on a defined range of goods imported into Australia. This action is consistent with Australia's approach to other states which were formerly part of Yugoslavia. The alteration will apply to goods imported from Serbia or entered for home consumption on or after 1 March 2012.

Debate adjourned.