2013-2014-2015 

 

The Parliament of the 

Commonwealth of Australia 

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

 

 

 

 

Presented and read a first time 

 

 

 

 

Customs Amendment (Australian 

Trusted Trader Programme) Bill 2015 

 

No.      , 2015 

 

(Immigration and Border Protection) 

 

 

 

A Bill for an Act to amend the Customs Act 1901, 

and for related purposes 

   

   

 

 

No.      , 2015 

Customs Amendment (Australian Trusted Trader Programme) Bill 

2015 

i 

 

Contents 

1 

Short title ........................................................................................... 1

 

2 

Commencement ................................................................................. 1

 

3 

Schedules ........................................................................................... 2

 

Schedule 1--Australian trusted trader programme

 

3

 

Part 1--Main amendments

 

3

 

Customs Act 1901

 

3

 

Part 2--Consequential amendments

 

11

 

Australian Border Force Act 2015

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

No.      , 2015 

Customs Amendment (Australian Trusted Trader Programme) Bill 

2015 

1 

 

A Bill for an Act to amend the Customs Act 1901, 

1 

and for related purposes 

2 

The Parliament of Australia enacts: 

3 

1  Short title 

4 

 

  This Act may be cited as the Customs Amendment (Australian 

5 

Trusted Trader Programme) Act 2015. 

6 

2  Commencement 

7 

 

(1)  Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table 

8 

commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with 

9 

column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect 

10 

according to its terms. 

11 

 

12 

   

   

 

 

2 

Customs Amendment (Australian Trusted Trader Programme) Bill 

2015 

No.      , 2015 

 

Commencement information 

Column 1 

Column 2 

Column 3 

Provisions 

Commencement 

Date/Details 

1.  Sections 1 to 3 

and anything in 

this Act not 

elsewhere covered 

by this table 

The day this Act receives the Royal Assent. 

 

2.  Schedule 1, 

Part 1 

As follows: 

(a) if this Act receives the Royal Assent 

before 1 July 2015--1 July 2015; 

(b) if this Act receives the Royal Assent on 

or after 1 July 2015--the day after this 

Act receives the Royal Assent. 

 

3.  Schedule 1, 

Part 2 

As follows: 

(a) if this Act receives the Royal Assent 

before 1 July 2015--immediately after 

the commencement of section 54 of the 

Australian Border Force Act 2015; 

(b) if this Act receives the Royal Assent on 

or after 1 July 2015--the day after this 

Act receives the Royal Assent. 

 

Note:  

This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally 

1 

enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of 

2 

this Act. 

3 

 

(2)  Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Act. 

4 

Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it 

5 

may be edited, in any published version of this Act. 

6 

3  Schedules 

7 

 

  Legislation that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or 

8 

repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule 

9 

concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect 

10 

according to its terms. 

11 

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Main amendments  Part 1 

 

 

No.      , 2015 

Customs Amendment (Australian Trusted Trader Programme) Bill 

2015 

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Schedule 1

--Australian trusted trader 

1 

programme 

2 

Part 1

--Main amendments 

3 

Customs Act 1901 

4 

1  Subsection 4(1) 

5 

Insert: 

6 

rules, in relation to Part XA, has the meaning given by section 179. 

7 

trusted trader agreement means an agreement entered into under 

8 

section 176A between the Comptroller-General of Customs and an 

9 

entity, and includes such an agreement as varied and in force from 

10 

time to time. 

11 

2  At the end of Division 1A of Part IV 

12 

Add: 

13 

49C  Obligations under this Part may be satisfied in accordance with 

14 

a trusted trader agreement 

15 

 

(1)  An entity is released from an obligation that the entity would 

16 

otherwise be required to satisfy under a provision of this Part 

17 

(other than Division 1) if the obligation: 

18 

 

(a)  is of a kind prescribed by rules for the purposes of Part XA; 

19 

and 

20 

 

(b)  is specified in those rules as an obligation from which an 

21 

entity may be released; and 

22 

 

(c)  is specified in a trusted trader agreement between the 

23 

Comptroller-General of Customs and the entity. 

24 

 

(2)  If: 

25 

 

(a)  an obligation must be satisfied under a provision of this Part 

26 

(other than Division 1); and 

27 

 

(b)  the obligation: 

28 

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Part 1  Main amendments 

 

 

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2015 

No.      , 2015 

 

 

(i)  is of a kind prescribed by rules for the purposes of 

1 

Part XA; and 

2 

 

(ii)  is specified in those rules as an obligation that may be 

3 

satisfied in a way other than required by this Part; and 

4 

 

(iii)  is specified in a trusted trader agreement between the 

5 

Comptroller-General of Customs and an entity; 

6 

then, despite the relevant provision, the entity may satisfy the 

7 

obligation in the way specified in the trusted trader agreement. 

8 

3  Before Division 1 of Part VI 

9 

Insert: 

10 

Division 1AAA--Preliminary 

11 

107  Obligations under this Part may be satisfied in accordance with 

12 

a trusted trader agreement 

13 

 

(1)  An entity is released from an obligation that the entity would 

14 

otherwise be required to satisfy under a provision of this Part 

15 

(other than Division 1) if the obligation: 

16 

 

(a)  is of a kind prescribed by rules for the purposes of Part XA; 

17 

and 

18 

 

(b)  is specified in those rules as an obligation from which an 

19 

entity may be released; and 

20 

 

(c)  is specified in a trusted trader agreement between the 

21 

Comptroller-General of Customs and the entity. 

22 

 

(2)  If: 

23 

 

(a)  an obligation must be satisfied under a provision of this Part 

24 

(other than Division 1); and 

25 

 

(b)  the obligation: 

26 

 

(i)  is of a kind prescribed by rules for the purposes of 

27 

Part XA; and 

28 

 

(ii)  is specified in those rules as an obligation that may be 

29 

satisfied in a way other than required by this Part; and 

30 

 

(iii)  is specified in a trusted trader agreement between the 

31 

Comptroller-General of Customs and an entity; 

32 

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Main amendments  Part 1 

 

 

No.      , 2015 

Customs Amendment (Australian Trusted Trader Programme) Bill 

2015 

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then, despite the relevant provision, the entity may satisfy the 

1 

obligation in the way specified in the trusted trader agreement. 

2 

4  After Part X 

3 

Insert: 

4 

Part XA--Australian Trusted Trader Programme 

5 

Division 1--Preliminary 

6 

176  Establishment of the Australian Trusted Trader Programme 

7 

 

(1)  The Comptroller-General of Customs may, in accordance with this 

8 

Part, establish a programme to provide trade facilitation benefits to 

9 

entities. 

10 

 

(2)  The programme is to be known as the Australian Trusted Trader 

11 

Programme. 

12 

Division 2--Trusted trader agreement 

13 

Subdivision A--Assessment of qualification criteria based on 

14 

documentary evidence 

15 

176A  Trusted trader agreement may be entered into 

16 

 

(1)  The Comptroller-General of Customs may enter into an agreement 

17 

(a trusted trader agreement) with an entity if: 

18 

 

(a)  the entity nominates itself to participate in the Australian 

19 

Trusted Trader Programme; and 

20 

 

(b)  the Comptroller-General of Customs considers that it is 

21 

reasonably likely that the entity will satisfy the qualification 

22 

criteria set out in the rules. 

23 

 

(2)  In deciding whether to enter into a trusted trader agreement, the 

24 

Comptroller-General of Customs must consider: 

25 

 

(a)  any matter set out in the rules; and 

26 

 

(b)  any other matter that he or she considers relevant. 

27 

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(3)  If a trusted trader agreement is entered into with an entity: 

1 

 

(a)  the agreement confers interim trusted trader status on the 

2 

entity; and 

3 

 

(b)  the entity may receive benefits of a kind prescribed by the 

4 

rules and specified in the agreement. 

5 

176B  Nomination process 

6 

 

(1)  A nomination to participate in the Australian Trusted Trader 

7 

Programme may be made by an entity by document or 

8 

electronically. 

9 

 

(2)  A documentary nomination must: 

10 

 

(a)  be communicated to the Comptroller-General of Customs; 

11 

and 

12 

 

(b)  be in an approved form; and 

13 

 

(c)  contain the information required by the approved form; and 

14 

 

(d)  be signed in a manner indicated by the approved form. 

15 

 

(3)  An electronic nomination must communicate such information as 

16 

is set out in an approved statement. 

17 

Subdivision B--Validation of qualification criteria based on 

18 

physical inspection and audit 

19 

177  Variation of a trusted trader agreement 

20 

 

(1)  This section applies if: 

21 

 

(a)  a trusted trader agreement is entered into with an entity; and 

22 

 

(b)  the Comptroller-General of Customs is satisfied that the 

23 

entity satisfies the qualification criteria set out in the rules. 

24 

 

(2)  The Comptroller-General of Customs may vary a trusted trader 

25 

agreement to provide for: 

26 

 

(a)  the entity to be released from an obligation, of a kind 

27 

prescribed by the rules and specified in the agreement, that 

28 

the entity would otherwise be required to satisfy under 

29 

Part IV (other than Division 1) or Part VI (other than 

30 

Division 1); or 

31 

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No.      , 2015 

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2015 

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(b)  the entity to satisfy an obligation, of a kind prescribed by the 

1 

rules and specified in the agreement, that the entity would 

2 

otherwise be required to satisfy under Part IV (other than 

3 

Division 1) or Part VI (other than Division 1) in a way 

4 

specified in the agreement. 

5 

Note: 

Parts IV and VI deal with the importation and the exportation of 

6 

goods, respectively. 

7 

 

(3)  The Comptroller-General of Customs may vary a trusted trader 

8 

agreement to provide for benefits of a kind prescribed by the rules 

9 

and specified in the agreement. 

10 

 

(4)  In deciding whether to vary a trusted trader agreement, the 

11 

Comptroller-General of Customs must consider: 

12 

 

(a)  any matter set out in the rules; and 

13 

 

(b)  any other matter that he or she considers relevant. 

14 

 

(5)  If a trusted trader agreement is varied: 

15 

 

(a)  the agreement confers ongoing trusted trader status on the 

16 

entity; and 

17 

 

(b)  the entity may receive benefits of a kind prescribed by the 

18 

rules and specified in the agreement. 

19 

Subdivision C--General provisions relating to trusted trader 

20 

agreements 

21 

178  Terms and conditions of trusted trader agreements 

22 

 

  A trusted trader agreement may be subject to: 

23 

 

(a)  conditions prescribed by the rules; and 

24 

 

(b)  terms and conditions specified in the agreement. 

25 

178A  Variation, suspension or termination of trusted trader 

26 

agreements 

27 

 

(1)  The Comptroller-General of Customs may vary, suspend or 

28 

terminate a trusted trader agreement if the Comptroller-General of 

29 

Customs reasonably believes that the entity to which the agreement 

30 

relates has not complied, or is not complying, with: 

31 

 

(a)  any condition prescribed by the rules; or 

32 

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No.      , 2015 

 

 

(b)  any term or condition specified in the agreement. 

1 

 

(2)  In deciding whether to vary, suspend or terminate a trusted trader 

2 

agreement, the Comptroller-General of Customs must consider: 

3 

 

(a)  any matter set out in the rules; and 

4 

 

(b)  any other matter that he or she considers relevant. 

5 

 

(3)  If subsection (1) applies, the trusted trader agreement must be 

6 

varied, suspended or terminated in accordance with the procedure 

7 

prescribed by the rules. 

8 

Division 3--Register of Trusted Trader Agreements 

9 

178B  Register of Trusted Trader Agreements 

10 

 

(1)  The Comptroller-General of Customs may maintain a register, to 

11 

be known as the Register of Trusted Trader Agreements, 

12 

containing information of a kind prescribed by the rules in relation 

13 

to each trusted trader agreement entered into under this Part. 

14 

 

(2)  The Register of Trusted Trader Agreements is to be made publicly 

15 

available. 

16 

 

(3)  The Register of Trusted Trader Agreements is not a legislative 

17 

instrument. 

18 

Division 4--Rules 

19 

179  Rules 

20 

 

(1)  The Comptroller-General of Customs may, by legislative 

21 

instrument, prescribe rules for and in relation to the following: 

22 

 

(a)  the qualification criteria in relation to which a trusted trader 

23 

agreement may be: 

24 

 

(i)  entered into under section 176A; or 

25 

 

(ii)  varied under section 177; 

26 

 

(b)  the matters that the Comptroller-General of Customs must 

27 

consider when deciding whether to: 

28 

 

(i)  enter into a trusted trader agreement under 

29 

section 176A; or 

30 

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No.      , 2015 

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2015 

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(ii)  vary the agreement under section 177; 

1 

 

(c)  the conditions on which an entity participates in the 

2 

Australian Trusted Trader Programme; 

3 

 

(d)  the kind of obligation: 

4 

 

(i)  that an entity may be released from under Part IV (other 

5 

than Division 1) or Part VI (other than Division 1); or 

6 

 

(ii)  that an entity may be required to satisfy under Part IV 

7 

(other than Division 1) or Part VI (other than 

8 

Division 1) in a way other than required by the relevant 

9 

Part; 

10 

 

(e)  the kind of benefits that an entity may receive under a trusted 

11 

trader agreement; 

12 

 

(f)  any criteria to be satisfied for an entity to receive benefits of 

13 

a kind mentioned in paragraph (e); 

14 

 

(g)  any other conditions to which a trusted trader agreement may 

15 

be subject; 

16 

 

(h)  the procedures that the Comptroller-General of Customs must 

17 

follow when varying, suspending or terminating a trusted 

18 

trader agreement under section 178A; 

19 

 

(i)  the matters that the Comptroller-General of Customs must 

20 

consider when deciding whether to vary, suspend or 

21 

terminate a trusted trader agreement under section 178A; 

22 

 

(j)  the kinds of information that may be published on the 

23 

Register of Trusted Trader Agreements, including: 

24 

 

(i)  that an entity has entered into a trusted trader 

25 

agreement; and 

26 

 

(ii)  whether the agreement confers interim or ongoing 

27 

trusted trader status on the entity; and 

28 

 

(iii)  the kinds of benefits that the entity is receiving, or will 

29 

receive, under the agreement; and 

30 

 

(iv)  whether the agreement is in force; and 

31 

 

(v)  whether the agreement is or has been suspended; and 

32 

 

(vi)  whether the agreement has been terminated. 

33 

 

(2)  For the purpose of paragraph (1)(d): 

34 

 

(a)  a rule prescribed for the purposes of subparagraph (1)(d)(i) 

35 

must specify that the obligation is one from which an entity 

36 

may be released; and 

37 

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No.      , 2015 

 

 

(b)  a rule prescribed for the purposes of subparagraph (1)(d)(ii) 

1 

must specify that the obligation is one that may be satisfied 

2 

by an entity in a way other than required by Part IV (other 

3 

than Division 1) or Part VI (other than Division 1). 

4 

 

(3)  The Comptroller-General of Customs may, by legislative 

5 

instrument, also make rules prescribing matters: 

6 

 

(a)  required or permitted by this Part to be prescribed by the 

7 

rules; or 

8 

 

(b)  necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or 

9 

giving effect to this Part. 

10 

 

(4)  To avoid doubt, rules made under this section may not do the 

11 

following: 

12 

 

(a)  create an offence or civil penalty; 

13 

 

(b)  provide powers of: 

14 

 

(i)  arrest or detention; or 

15 

 

(ii)  entry, search or seizure; 

16 

 

(c)  impose a tax; 

17 

 

(d)  set an amount to be appropriated from the Consolidated 

18 

Revenue Fund under an appropriation in this Act; 

19 

 

(e)  directly amend the text of this Act. 

20 

5  After paragraph 273GA(1)(jb) 

21 

Insert: 

22 

 

(jc)  a decision of the Comptroller-General of Customs to refuse 

23 

to enter into a trusted trader agreement under 

24 

subsection 176A(1); 

25 

 

(jd)  a decision of the Comptroller-General of Customs to refuse 

26 

to vary a trusted trader agreement under subsection 177(2); 

27 

 

(je)  a decision of the Comptroller-General of Customs to vary, 

28 

suspend or terminate a trusted trader agreement under 

29 

subsection 178A(1); 

30 

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Part 2

--Consequential amendments 

1 

Australian Border Force Act 2015 

2 

6  Subsection 54(1) 

3 

After "law of the Commonwealth", insert "(other than section 179 of 

4 

the Customs Act 1901)". 

5