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Centenary of federation and Customs

As well as the centenary of federation, 2001 marked 100 years since Customs was established as one of the first Commonwealth Government departments.

Initially part of the Department of Trade and Customs, Customs has been linked over the years with portfolios such as trade, excise, business, consumer affairs, science, industry, commerce and justice. Customs was established in its current form in 1985 through the Customs Administration Act 1985.

Many of the powers of Customs are set out in the Customs Act 1901, which came into force on 4 October 1901. Originally 47 pages long, it has grown to over 850 pages with more than 180 amendments made. While the Act itself has grown, it has also been supplemented by over 20 other pieces of legislation.

Some of the significant milestones of Customs during the past 100 years include:

• collecting Commonwealth revenue (see Revenue raising)
• detecting and deterring smuggling (see Border protection)
• enforcing controversial policies such as the ‘white Australia’ policy dictation test and seizing doubtful publications under censorship operations
• extending Customs controls to air freight in 1923
• introducing the world’s first computer system for clearing air and sea cargo in 1972
• establishing the world’s first drug-detector-dog-training program during the late 1970s
• taking on the Coastwatch surveillance role in 1988
• participating with the United Nations initiative in East Timor in 2000.

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