ABF to prioritise port speed and security

EFFICIENCY and port security are areas of focus for the Australian Border Force, as the agency committed to a continued partnership with industry.

Deputy Commissioner Jarrod Howard, himself a Hobartian and a public servant with twenty years experience, returned to the Tasmanian capital this week to address the IFCBAA conference.

He acknowledged outgoing chief executive Scott Carson for his "sincere partnership" and practical understanding that had enhanced the ABF's engagement - one built upon mutual trust on a wide range of issues, including national security.

"Australia's border is not simply a line on a map," Dept Commissioner Howard said.

"It is a dynamic, interconnected ecosystem of people, systems, supply chains, vessels, technologies and data.

"Because our border is dynamic, our approach to managing it must continually adapt."

Some direction for due diligence and feedback to better cooperate with Australian Border Force operations was raised by freight forwarders after Dept Commissioner Howard's opening address.

"It's always a balance between national security and prosperity," he said.

"When you get down to the practical level of working together, there's some friction and challenges.

"We are reluctant to be transparent in that we know the more information we give out [the more] it gives organised crime better opportunity to mitigate the controls that we put in place."

He also noted the more cargo was scanned, the longer it was on hold between ports.

Deputy Commissioner Howard also acknowledged lack of a "simple, intelligent ICS" was a concern among freight forwarders and customs brokers.

"ABF is committed to modernising ICS with government and industry," he said.