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Sustainability

In recognition of increased government focus on sustainability, this report provides additional information on the environmental, social and economic impact of its activities. Customs has chosen indicators from the Global Reporting Initiative that are relevant to Customs and for which data is available. In the year ahead, Customs will seek to improve its focus on sustainability to better reflect the social, economic and environmental impact of our activities.

This section incorporates mandatory reporting requirements under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and voluntary reporting on social justice and equity.

Customs has always endeavoured to meet principles of ecologically sustainable development and social justice and equity in policy development and operational activity. Risk management is applied at planning and project levels and includes assessment of environmental, geographic, social, commercial and trading relationships that may impact on corporate performance. Established reporting and review processes ensure that the risks are assessed regularly, and that systems and processes support continuous improvement.

Customs Corporate Plan commits the organisation to being responsive and accountable to Parliament, community and industry. This year, Customs Corporate Priorities include a focus on protecting Australia’s health and safety by working cooperatively with partner agencies involved in issues associated with:

• immigration
• quarantine
• fisheries
• police
• aviation
• industry
• foreign affairs and trade
• revenue collection
• health
• the environment.

These priorities also include international capacity building initiatives that support Australia’s interests, and the need to contribute to national and international efforts to achieve secure trade.

Environmental impact

Customs Environmental Policy Statement commits to continuously improving environmental performance in its activities. Customs monitors activities, including the management of energy, water and waste products, the vehicle fleet and purchasing.

Customs Environmental Management System provides a framework for considering and minimising environmental impacts in the workplace.

Customs reduced energy consumption in its offices by almost three per cent in 2002–03 to 2003–045. Electricity and gas consumption for services common to all tenants in office buildings such as air conditioning, lifts, security lights, lobby lights and domestic hot water were also reduced (See indicator EN3).

Direct energy use in non-office locations increased by 36 per cent. This reflects the establishment of additional Container Examination Facilities in the year, with significant increases in the volume of containers scanned.

Between 1997–98 to 2003–045, Customs reduced its energy usage in office accommodation by 16 per cent.

Posters and cards are displayed to remind staff of the importance of recycling, energy efficiency, computer monitor switch off programs, and reduced paper use in the office.

Other initiatives are:

• recycled paper is used for most purposes in Central Office
• used fluorescent tubes, used printer and photocopier cartridges are collected for recycling
• providing bins for the recycling of paper, glass, cans and plastic
• negotiation or variation of service contracts.

Initiatives to decrease water consumption or increase water reuse include:

• effective maintenance including changing washers
• installing water efficient showerheads and chilled water dispensers during refurbishments
• water efficient window washing using buckets in place of high pressure water
• education – reminding staff and visitors to be careful with water usage.

Customs did not conduct any energy audits in the past year but continued to implement cost effective energy audit recommendations from the previous year.

Customs worked cooperatively with other agencies to protect the Australian environment. Some activities and achievements this year include:

• detection of 51 live tropical fish concealed on an incoming female airline passenger. These fish could have posed a potentially serious quarantine, environmental and health risk
• charges laid over an alleged attempt to smuggle 24 turtles and a shingleback lizard out of Australia in the post. Customs, Australia Post and Conservation and Land Management (Western Australia) worked together to halt the export of the turtles, which are protected fauna
• detection of four live turtles (suspected North American Loggerhead Musk turtles) concealed in an arriving passenger’s baggage. These turtles could have carried diseases that, if introduced to Australia, could have serious environmental consequences. The turtles were handed over to Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service
• detection of 26 live spiders in an international mail parcel
• patrols in Australia’s territorial waters surrounding Heard and McDonald Islands to prevent illegal fishing in this sensitive environment
• National Marine Unit vessels provided marine transport to Conservation and Land Management (Western Australia) officers, researchers and volunteers to:
  • – Montebello Islands for monitoring of a rat eradication program to help prevent re-infestation and confirm absence of possible remnant rodents

Kimberley Islands to conduct a census of breeding, shelter use and population of red-tail tropical birds; examine the effects of the 2004 tsunami on intertidal coral communities; and examine turtle nesting activity and collect DNA samples

Bernier and Dorre Island Nature Reserves to study and DNA test populations of the Boodie (Bettongia Lesueur), which is one of the most endangered Australian mammal species.

• National Marine Unit provided transport to Department of Environment and Heritage researchers and volunteers to Ashmore Islands Nature Reserve to monitor seabird and shorebird populations, research ginger ants and assess their impact on bird and turtle populations and to monitor terrestrial plant species
• participation in Operation Clearwater aimed at detecting and deterring foreign fishing vessels in the Gulf of Carpentaria and in the waters to the north of Arnhem Land. During the operation, 29 illegal fishing boats and 258 crew were apprehended. Officers seized 12 927kg of fish products including Reef Fish and Red Fish and 295kg of shark fin (see Operation Clearwater).

In February 2005, approximately 300 to 400 litres of diesel fuel was accidentally discharged into the harbour at Thursday Island while refuelling a National Marine Unit vessel. The incident was reported to State and Federal authorities, and investigations are continuing. Measures have been implemented to prevent a repeat of the incident.

Customs work in assisting environmental protection in previous years resulted in the following successful prosecution this year:

• Coastwatch and the National Marine Unit worked with State and Federal agencies in gathering evidence for prosecution of a case related to the discharge of 9300 litres of oil mixture in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park by a cargo ship. The ship owner was fined $180 000 and had already paid $34 277 in clean up costs. The fine was the largest imposed on a company under the Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983.

5 2004–05 figures were not available at the time of publication

Social impact

Customs meets a range of Commonwealth requirements led by APS Values and the APS Code of Conduct to ensure its actions are lawful and meet community expectations.

Customs, with 63 other Commonwealth agencies, was assessed in 2004 as meeting the performance indicators for implementation of the Charter of Public Service in a Culturally Diverse Society. Customs is committed to the principles of social justice and equity and endeavours to ensure that information and services are available to people from a range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds. In the past year Customs:

• delivered cross-cultural awareness training to enforcement staff as required and provided access to cross-cultural training for all staff through an online learning package
• provided clients from non-English speaking backgrounds with access to interpreter services through staff or the Translating and Interpreting Service
• produced selected publications in different languages and in various formats
• maintained a register of staff with language skills and utilised these in communications with clients as required
• ensured that arrested persons were provided with the caution in a language or form understood by them.

Customs promotes equity and diversity in the workforce through the Workplace Diversity Policy and APS Values and Code of Conduct. Examples of workplace diversity initiatives in the past year include:

• an entry-level recruitment program specifically for people in the Torres Strait to join the National Marine Unit for 12 months as sea-going crew. Trainees attend courses to obtain qualifications and a fellow crewmember acts as a mentor and adviser
• recruitment of cadets under the National Indigenous Cadetship Program, a joint exercise between the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and participating agencies, including Customs. Successful applicants are sponsored while they study at university and undertake work placements during holiday periods.

Customs complies with the Commonwealth Disability Strategy to ensure that services, information and policies are accessible by, and do not discriminate against, people with a disability (see Appendix E).

Customs is committed to providing a safe and healthy work place for the welfare of staff, contractors, clients and visitors through implementation of an occupational health and safety management system (see Appendix A).

Customs carried out a significant role in community protection through its responsibility in deterring and detecting unlawful movement of goods and people across the Australian border. Prohibited and restricted goods can cause environmental, social or economic harm. These include:

• illicit drugs
• objectionable material
• wildlife
• cultural and heritage items
• hazardous waste
• chemicals
• Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme medicines
• un-manufactured tobacco
• intellectual property
• weapons and unsafe products.

Customs continues to support Government priorities relating to counter-terrorism, security arrangements and protecting our borders. Customs developed a business continuity policy to plan for critical business functions to be open for business during or after an incident, even if at a reduced level of service, until normal operations can resume.

Customs participated in research, reporting and projects in relation to criminal activity, including illicit drug markets and their dynamics, in collaboration with research bodies and law enforcement agencies.

Where requested, Customs undertakes search and rescue operations.  Rescues carried out this financial year included:

• nine search and rescue operations in the Torres Straight successfully returning vessels and people to land. Customs utilises Ready Response Vessels based on Thursday Island and four outer islands (Darnley, Saibai, Mabuiag and Coconut) and relies on Torres Strait Customs officers’ local knowledge to safely attend to vessels in distress and provide the necessary assistance to bring them to safe haven
• five Indonesian fishers found stranded and dehydrated on Ashmore Islands in November 2004. The fishers had been separated from their vessel and washed ashore. They  were given medical attention and fresh supplies of food and water before being returned to their vessel
• a Portuguese sailor who became critically ill on board a fishing ship in the Southern Ocean in December 2004. The Customs and Fisheries patrol vessel Oceanic Viking was diverted from its patrol to respond to the medical emergency. The sailor was taken to Fremantle where his condition was stabilised prior to his return home
• a maxi yacht which had been disabled in strong winds and was dragging its anchor towards rocks on the western side of Dent Island in Queensland. A Customs vessel towed the yacht with its 14 passengers and three crew, to a safe anchorage in the lee of Hamilton Island.

Customs worked with Australian government agencies to undertake capacity building activities in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. These activities aim to improve the ability of Australia’s nearest neighbours to effectively manage their borders and reform and modernise Customs.

Economic impact

Customs undertakes a variety of activities on behalf of government that contribute to the economic performance of Australia. These include:

• revenue collection through the administration of duty, indirect taxes and other border-related revenue 
• revenue protection through compliance activity, which prevents illegal products from entering the market
• protection of Australia’s offshore oil and gas facilities
• anti-dumping and countervailing administration which supports the Government’s objective of creating competitive Australian industries and strong sustainable economic growth. It provides, where appropriate, Australian manufacturers and producers with a remedy against injurious dumping by overseas industries, or injurious subsidisation by foreign governments, of goods exported to Australia
• administration of the Tariff Concession System which:
  • – assists Australian industry to become more internationally competitive
  • – encourages investment in efficient and sustainable industries
  • – reduces costs to the general community through the removal of import duties where there is no local manufacturer of substitutable goods
• contribution to Australia's trade facilitation agenda through participation in free trade agreement and World Trade Organization negotiations, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation work program and bilateral customs cooperation initiatives. These efforts result in reduced transaction costs for goods flowing between Australia and its trading partners
• contribution by Customs overseas posts to the development of trade by working with other customs administrations and organisations to establish and implement measures to support border management and trade facilitation
• contribution to international supply chain security initiatives.

Global Reporting Initiative environmental indicators

The Global Reporting Initiative has more than 100 optional performance indicators for sustainability. Customs has chosen to report against 24 which are relevant and for which data is available. Those not reported against are listed at the end of this section.

EM1: Environmental Management System (EMS) Conformance

Customs conforms with its Environmental Management Policy by:

recycling toner cartridges and light tubes

using recycling bins for paper, aluminium and plastic

educating staff through signs in toilets, kitchens and at photocopiers to reinforce environmental friendly practices

adding clauses to cleaning and recycling contracts to require recycling

using recycled paper throughout Central Office. Customs is now trialling higher percentage recycled content paper.

 

EM2: Environmental performance improvement process

Customs measures performance against energy targets and energy audit requirements as required by the government.

The CEO committed Customs to both the Greenhouse Challenge and the Environmental Management Policy.

 

EM3: Integration of environment with other business management systems

Customs incorporates environmental factors into its highest-level planning documents, the Corporate Priorities and Corporate Strategic Risk Profile. These documents are integral in the planning and performance framework, and form the basis of planning at all other levels.

Building specifications and leases integrate some environmental aspects. Customs is requesting five per cent new green (renewable) energy in all new major contracts where the head lease is held by Customs. Life cycle costing is incorporated into procurement processes.

 

EM5: Environmental liabilities

Customs identified sites that have asbestos and other hazardous material. Occupational health and safety guidelines are in place for hazardous substances and managing the identified risks.

 

EN3: Direct energy use (tenant light and power)
	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05^
Office – Tenant Light and Power
Electricity (kWh)	10 304 748	10 020 562	..
Total GJ	37 097	36 074	..
Occupancy (People)	3164	2948	..
Area (m2)	78 534	76 801	..
MJ/Occupancy (People)/annum	11 725	12 237	..
MJ/Area (m2)/annum	472	470	..
m2/person	24.82	26.05	..
Office – Central Services
Electricity (kWh)	1 856 427	1 849 212	..
Natural Gas (MJ)	9 138 475	8 886 073	..
Total GJ	15 822	15 543	..
Area (m2)	20 009	22 117	..
MJ/Area (m2)/annum	791	703	..
Other Buildings*			..
Electricity (kWh)	3 995 800	5 429 769	..
Total GJ	14 385	19 547	..
Area (m2)	66 797	81 198	..
MJ/Area (m2)/annum	215	241	..

* This increase is due to the Customs Container Examination Facilities in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Fremantle becoming fully operational.

^ Figures were not available at the time of publication.

EN3: Direct energy use (transport)*
	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05^
Passenger Vehicles
LPG (L)	2256	838	..
Automotive Diesel (L)	37 135	35 607	..
Petrol (L)	612 233	595 335	..
Total GJ	22 430	21 756	..
Distance Travelled (km)	6 217 853	5 547 908	..
MJ/Distance Travelled (km)/annum	3.61	3.92	..
Other Transport
Automotive Diesel (L)	2 795 958	3 660 243	..
Total GJ	107 924	141 285	..
Entity Totals
Total GJ	197 657	234 206	..

*These figures cover leased vehicles only. Owned vehicles, vessels and leased aircraft are not included.

^Figures were not available at the time of publication.

EN8: Greenhouse gas emissions
	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05^
Office – Tenant Light And Power
CO2 /person/annum (tonnes)	4.70	4.90	..
CO2 /m2/annum (tonnes)	0.19	0.18	..
Total CO2 /annum (tonnes)	14	14 469.70	..
Office – Central Services
CO2 /person/annum (tonnes)	880.05	0.91	..
CO2 /m2/annum (tonnes)	0.85	0.12	..
Total CO2/annum (tonnes)	0.13	2670.26	..
Other Buildings
CO2 /m2/annum (tonnes)	0.08	0.09	..
Total CO2 /annum (tonnes)	5769.93	7840.58	..
Passenger Vehicles*
Total CO2 /annum (tonnes)—LPG	3.60	1.47	..
Total CO2 /annum (tonnes)—Diesel	112.09	107.48	..
Total CO2 /annum (tonnes)—Petrol	1700.17	1653.27	..

*These figures cover leased vehicles only. Owned vehicles, vessels and leased aircraft are not included.

^Figures were not available at the time of publication.

EN17: Initiatives to use renewable energy sources and increase energy efficiency

renewable energy sourced within electricity contracts

replace/modify lighting arrangements/fittings

introduction of flat screens will save a third of the current monitor energy costs

introduction of multi-function devices that combine printer, photocopier and facsimile functions into one unit resulting in energy savings.

Global Reporting Initiative social indicators

HR12: Description of policies, guidelines and procedures to address the needs of indigenous people. This includes indigenous people in the workforce and communities where the organisation operates or intends to operate

Customs works in partnership with the Australian Public Service Commission and several other Federal agencies to pilot the Indigenous Entry Level Recruitment Initiative. This initiative seeks to increase the number of indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islanders in the Commonwealth public sector.

Customs participates in the National Indigenous Cadetship Project. The National Indigenous Cadetship Project is aimed at improving the professional employment prospects of Australian indigenous and Torres Strait Island peoples.

Customs participates in a whole-of-government Indigenous Graduate Recruitment strategy aiming to recruit indigenous graduates for the 2006 Customs Graduate Trainee program.

 

LA1: Breakdown of workforce, where possible, by region/country, status (employee/non employee), employment type (full time/part time), and by employment contract (indefinite or permanent/fixed term or temporary). Also identify workforce retained in conjunction with other employees (temporary agency workers or workers in co-employment relationships) segmented by region/country
	ACT#	NSW	VIC	QLD	SA	WA	TAS	NT	Total
Full-Time
Ongoing employee	1 025	1 138	760	630	153	434	31	109	4 280
Non-ongoing	102	8	4	8	-	2	-	-	124
Full-time total	1 127	1 146	764	638	153	436	31	109	4 404
Part-Time
Ongoing employee	43	233	153	106	26	58	1	5	625
Non-ongoing	12	6	-	3	-	2	-	-	23
Part Time total	55	239	153	109	26	60	1	5	648
Casual
Non-ongoing	1	1	-	-	-	-	1	-	3
Total	1 183	1 386	917	747	179	496	33	114	5 055
Males	750	832	564	446	97	304	20	57	3 070
Females	433	554	353	301	82	192	13	57	1 985
Total	1 183	1 386	917	747	179	496	33	114	5 055

*  Includes staff employed under the Public Service Act 1999, staff on leave, higher duties and staff on loan from other agencies. Figures do not include contractors. Numbers are headcount and reflect actual occupancy (derived from Customs Human Resource Information Systems). Financial statements report on staff numbers by full-time equivalent (FTE).

# ACT figures include National Marine Unit.

LA2: Employment net creation and average turnover

In 2004–05 Customs staff turnover rate was 6.62 per cent.6 The total number of people recruited from external sources into Customs for 2004–05 was 636.

6 Only ongoing staff are included in the separation rate.

LA4: Policy and procedures involving information, consultation and negotiation with employees over changes in the reporting organisation’s operations (eg restructuring)

Customs employee participation strategy meets the Government’s objective for employers to more directly engage their employees on matters affecting the relationship between employees and employers. Customs has established a Staff Council comprising of management, staff and union representatives. Staff Council considers and discusses longer-term strategic directions and emerging issues impacting or potentially impacting Customs employees.

 

LA6: Description of formal joint health and safety committees comprising management and worker representatives and proportion of workforce covered by any such committees

Customs Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Policy outlines the formal workplace arrangements to promote effective communication and consultation on OH&S matters. An OH&S Agreement is in place with the key union covering Customs staff on formal consultation arrangements. Customs OH&S Committees provide a forum for consultation and communication for all staff. The National OH&S Committee oversees the effectiveness of the national policy framework while regional OH&S committees ensure Customs OH&S management systems are working effectively in each region. Designated work groups promote consultation on OH&S issues. Health and safety representatives are elected in each designated work group to represent the health and safety interests of all employees within the designated work group.

 

LA7: Standard injury, lost day and absentee rates and the number of work related fatalities (including contracted workers)
OH&S Performance Indicators*
Performance measure	2002–03*	2003–04*	2004–05*
Accepted compensation incident claims	243	215	173
Claims per 100 Staff (headcount)	4.83	4.47	3.42
Accepted compensation incident claims with time off work	134	115	98
Accepted compensation incident claims resulting in 5 or more days incapacity	71	55	64
Claims of 5 or 5 or more days incapacity per 100 Staff (headcount)	1.41	1.14	1.27
Quality of Return to Work Outcomes	87%	91%	88%
Annual absenteeism**	..	..	12.17%

* as at 31 July of that year

** Annual absenteeism rates are calculated at the end of the March quarter

LA10: Description of equal opportunity policies or programs, as well as monitoring systems to ensure compliance

The Customs Workplace Diversity Policy defines workplace diversity within the Customs and Australian Public Service context. It outlines Customs legislative obligations in relation to workplace diversity and supports adherence to these obligations. It promotes workplace diversity and guiding principles, defines workplace diversity roles and responsibilities for all employees. The policy is embedded into national business plans.

The Workplace Harassment Policy includes information on formal and informal approaches to resolving cases of harassment and reinforces the role of the APS Values and Code of Conduct. It clarifies roles and responsibilities for staff.

This year’s focus has been on promoting awareness of these policies through the delivery of training and induction and supporting this with promotional and support materials and activities. Online training modules covering APS Values and APS Code of Conduct, workplace diversity, and cross-cultural awareness are developed and implemented. Customs workplace harassment reporting process is developed, providing a safe and confidential means of reporting harassment.

 

LA11: Composition of senior management and corporate governance bodies, including male/female ratio and other indicators of diversity as culturally appropriate
	Female		Born Overseas*		Indigenous
	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
Senior Executive Service	15	40.5	5	13.5	-	-

*  Number of staff born outside Australia

LA12: Employee benefits beyond those legally mandated

Customs is committed to providing a range of flexible work practices to assist employees to balance personal responsibilities and lifestyle preferences with organisational requirements. Benefits that could apply depending on individuals’ employment conditions include: Flexible working hours including flextime; part time work; shiftwork; rostered days off; employee funded extra leave; maternity leave; supporting partner leave for new parents; event leave (including special leave, bereavement leave and leave without pay); personal/carer’s leave; adoption leave; external development; study leave; job sharing; compassionate transfers; access to an employee assistance program; access to family rooms and gymnasiums; domestic care support scheme; and home based work.

 

LA16: Description of programs to support the continued employability of employees and to manage career endings

The Customs Framework for Learning and Development 2005-2007 integrates a range of current learning and development policies and programs to provide staff with opportunities to develop, from their entry into Customs and throughout their career.

The most significant aspect of the Framework for Learning within Customs is the Customs Development Program. The Customs Development Program identifies the core skills required of all staff and specialist skills that vary depending on assignment. The Program enables staff and supervisors to satisfy individual as well as organisational needs. Various development options are available, including formal modules through tertiary institutions. Staff who attain the required number of competencies are eligible to receive a nationally recognised qualification. This assists in entry to other tertiary courses.

Customs has a well-established approach to workforce planning, succession management and career reassignment. In 2005, a succession management and career reassignment policy and toolkit was developed to improve these processes within Customs.

 

SO1: Description of policies to manage impacts on communities in areas affected by activities, as well as description of procedures/programs to address this issue, including monitoring systems and results of monitoring.  Include explanation of procedures for identifying and engaging in dialogue with community stakeholders

Customs Regulatory Philosophy ensures that Customs intervention activity is targeted and that impact on legitimate traders or travellers is minimised. Customs fosters an environment of co-operation with clients to achieve client compliance with the laws and regulations administered by Customs.

The Customs National Consultative Committee (CNCC) is a national forum for communicating policies, practices and procedures relevant to the trading community. The CNCC works in partnership with the trading community to resolve perceived difficulties and is the major forum for regular consultation on a wide range of matters.

Customs Complaints and Compliments Management System provides clients with an opportunity to provide feedback on any aspect of their dealings with us. Feedback is used in assessing ways that the service can be improved.

Frontline is a cooperative program between Customs and industry groups involved in international trade and transport. Frontline members draw on their commercial expertise to identify suspicious behaviour and assist Customs.

The Customs Hotline is a community participation program that draws on the knowledge and expertise of people living and travelling throughout Australia to report potential or actual illegal activities.

Customs increased use of technology minimises the intrusive nature of inspection and expedites the process where intervention is necessary. For example, x-ray of cargo and baggage can, at times, eliminate the need for physical examination.

In February 2004, Defence Minister Senator Hill and Justice and Customs Minister Senator Ellison signed Indigenous Land Use Agreements with the people of Dauan and Badu Islands in the Torres Strait to install High Frequency Surface Wave Radar facilities. Local communities were provided employment opportunities during preparation of the site and construction and there will be ongoing employment during the trial for residents undertaking the role of caretakers.

 Global Reporting Initiative economic indicators

EC3: Cost of all goods, materials, and services purchased

$537.345m* (this includes resources received free of charge $145.832m)

* these figures relate to operating expenditure only and exclude any capital acquisitions

EC5: Total payroll and benefits (including wages, pension, other benefits, and redundancy payments) broken down by country or region for 2004–05 ($m)
New South Wales	92.129
Victoria	57.607
Queensland	49.882
Western Australia	33.238
South Australia	10.288
Tasmania	1.918
Northern Territory	7.716
Corporate, including the Australian Capital Territory	102.756
Total	355.534m

 

PA11: Describe procurement policy of the public agency as relates to sustainable development

Customs complies with relevant government policy contributing to sustainable development. These policies include environmental policies as outlined in the Department of Finance and Administration, Financial Management Guidance No. 10 Guidance on Complying with Legislation and Government Policy in Procurement—January 2005. Customs complies with these policies through including model environmental clauses in request for tender documentation and considering (and possibly excluding) tender responses that identify non-compliance with government policies.

 

PA12: Describe economic, environmental, and social criteria that apply to expenditures and financial commitments

Customs applies economic, environmental and social criteria in its procurement operations that are outlined in the Department of Finance and Administration, Financial Management Guidance No.10 Guidance on Complying with Legislation and Government Policy in Procurement—

January 2005. Customs complies with these policies through evaluation criteria in procurement documents that consider economic, environmental and social criteria such as occupational health and safety, whole-of-life costing and ozone-polluting substances.

Purchasing requirements consider a wide range of policies that meet government requirements for effective purchasing. Examples include:

APS Values, Ethics and Standards of Conduct, Chief Executive Instructions, Occupational Health and Safety Policy, Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act.

 

PA14: Percentage of the total value of goods purchased that were registered with voluntary environmental or social labels and/or certification programs, broken down by type

Customs requests tenderers to provide details of any certifications they might have as part of the tender process. A quality accreditation may provide tenderers with higher tender scores.

Customs does not report against the following global reporting initiative indicators either because data is not available, or the indicator is not relevant to the sustainable performance of Customs:

Environmental

EM4, EN1, EN2, EN4, EN5, EN6, EN7, EN9, EN10, EN11, EN12, EN13, EN14, EN15, EN16, EN18, EN19, EN20, EN21, EN22, EN23, EN24, EN25, EN26, EN27, EN28, EN29, EN30, EN31, EN32, EN33, EN34, EN35

Social

HR1, HR2, HR3, HR4, HR5, HR6, HR7, HR8, HR9, HR10, HR11, HR13, HR14, LA3, LA5, LA8, LA9, LA13, LA14, LA15, LA17, PR1, PR2, PR3, PR4, PR5, PR6, PR7, PR8, PR9, PR10, PR11, SO2, SO3, SO4, SO5, SO6, SO7

Economic

EC1, EC2, EC4, EC6, EC7, EC8, EC9, EC10, EC11, EC12, EC13, PA8, PA9, PA10, PA13

 

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