Gary Humphries (ACT, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Materiel) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on the Customs Amendment (Export Controls and Other Measures) Bill 2011 on behalf of Senator Brandis. The purpose of this bill is to amend the Customs Act 1901 and the Customs Depot Licensing Charges Act 1997 to strengthen the extent of Customs controls over export cargo and ensure consistent depot and warehouse licence conditions. The bill will: (1) allow Customs to give directions relating to goods in the export environment; (2) allow Customs to seek additional information in relation to goods being exported; (3) ensure continued Customs control of goods at a prescribed place for export; (4) ensure depot operators do not breach licence conditions when complying with a direction of the Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure and Transport; (5) allow Customs to impose new conditions on depot and warehouse licences at any time; (6) address breaches of the conditions of a depot or warehouse licence; (7) strengthen the powers of officers to give directions to depot licence holders; (8) allow the chief executive officer of Customs to suspend or cancel depot licences; (9) set out the time frames within which the CEO must decide whether or not to grant a warehouse licence; (10) allow the CEO to vary the place covered by a warehouse licence; (11) refund the warehouse licence fee on cancellation of a warehouse licence; (12) remove references to redundant provisions; and (13) remove the requirement to make a report of cargo. As is fairly obvious, these provisions are technical in nature and therefore have the coalition's support. I commend the bill to the Senate.