INSIGHT: PC finds costs of collecting nuisance tariffs exceed revenue collected
ON FRIDAY, 5 August 2022, the Productivity Commission released its results of two major studies which assessed the level of government assistance to trade and industry for...
INSIGHT: A mixed week for news on Free Trade Agreements in the northern hemisphere
AS READERS would be aware, both Australia and New Zealand have been pressing forward to complete Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) in the northern hemisphere, including FTAs with the...
OPINION: The new framework of the federal government operating at the border
BEFORE our recent federal election, I penned an article for the June print edition of the Daily Cargo News focusing on what I considered were priority issues for the government in...
INSIGHT: Australian sanctions and controls against Russia escalate and evolve
I HAVE previously written regarding fundamental changes to Australia’s sanctions regime, from implementing UN sanctions, through to the adoption of our own Autonomous Sanctions...
OPINION: Australia takes steps to free trade agreement with India
AFTER a long series of false starts, Australia and India have finally completed the first stage of a two-stage process that will result in a full Australia-India Comprehensive...
INSIGHT: Sanctions here, there and everywhere
THE RUSSIAN military invasion of Ukraine has met almost universal opposition and condemnation from around the world through commentary, protest and by way of the imposition of...
INSIGHT: Australia-UK FTA and what it means for you
BACK in June 2021, I provided an update to readers regarding the release of the “agreement in principle” between Australia and the UK as to the proposed content of the...
OPINION: 1 January 2022 – a new year is not fun for everyone!
MANY people look forward to a new year as a time for celebration. However, for importers and exporters and their service providers, including licensed customs brokers and freight...
OPINION: Legislation proposed for the construction of the ABF’s “regulatory sandbox”
MANY of you would be aware that one of my professional dreams is for the Customs Act 1901 to be replaced with a new version written to modern regulatory standards. Those affected...
INSIGHT: GST on low-value imports held to account
MANY of those in industry will remember the controversy that was associated with the introduction of GST on “low value import transactions” (LVT) on consignments three years ago....
INSIGHT: Don’t worry – Olympic medals aren’t subject to import duty
ONLY a trade lawyer nerd who also happens to be a sports tragic would start to think about whether customs duty or GST are payable on Olympic medals when brought back into...
INSIGHT: Senate to look at forced labour-produced imports
CONCERNS for human rights have manifested themselves in many ways over the course of many years and led to a range of responses over that time, whether by unilateral national...
BUDGET: What’s in it for industry
THE COVID-19 pandemic has created many unusual outcomes. One of those was the delay of the May 2020 Australian Federal Budget until October 2020 which included a series of...
LETTER TO THE DCN: New biosecurity penalties bill could increase risk to importers
THE INTRODUCTION into Parliament of the Biosecurity Amendment (Strengthening Penalties) Bill on 18 February 2021 has the potential to significantly increase the risk profile for...
ANALYSIS: Upgraded trade deal with Pacific Islands
THE RELATIONSHIP between Australia and some of our Pacific Island neighbours has become controversial in recent time, largely focussed on differing views on Australia’s climate...
