Output 1 - Facilitation of the legitimate movement of goods across the border, while intercepting prohibited and restricted imports and exports
Facilitating the movement of legitimate goods across the border and ensuring compliance
Cargo reporting
Customs approach to facilitating the movement of legitimate cargo relies on the ability to assess and identify suspect shipments quickly so as to minimise the impact on bona fide consignments. The accuracy of reported cargo by importers and exporters is critical to Customs risk assessment processes.
A compliance improvement strategy for cargo reporting was implemented in the first half of 2003 after Customs identified a need for improved timeliness of reporting, especially for sea cargo. This strategy has since been extended to air cargo.
Key elements of the strategy include provision of regular feedback to cargo reporters on levels of compliance and general education of industry. Customs conducted over 500 educational visits nationally. Continuous monitoring of the environment has improved the overall timeliness of sea cargo reporting.
Nationally, on-time import sea cargo reporting has improved by seven per cent from the time the strategy was implemented to December 2004.
New legislation was introduced in January 2005 to provide Customs with information about cargo before its arrival in Australia and to allow Customs more time to risk assess cargo. The legislation requires all cargo intended to be landed at any port or airport in Australia to be reported prior to its arrival at its first Australian port or airport. In some cases change in business practices has been necessary. Customs continues to assist industry to meet new reporting requirements.
Customs teams – making trading data talk all languages
Standardised Data Set Project team, back left to right: Julie Wright, Julie Olarenshaw, Lindy Leavold, Manda Tomicic, George Szuty. Middle: Peter King, Malcolm Galer, Jeff McKee. Front: Neil Hogan, Gareth Lewis, Paul McLellan.
Customs is leading an ambitious whole-of-government project that aims to simplify data requirements for trade into and out of Australia. Rather than requiring different data for a range of government agencies, the project aims to develop a common data set that can be read easily by all parties involved in trade.
The Standardised Data Set involves input of more than 80 Federal and State agencies and industry body stakeholders. The project commenced in November 2004 and is required to present two deliverables by the end of October 2005. They are:
- a standardised data set for the submission of import, export and transit data relating to cargo, crew and conveyance (ships and aircraft) details
- a business case exploring options for a trade ‘single window’ facility to enable industry to submit the data required by Government agencies as part of the international trade process only once and have that data used many times.
The project lays the foundation for harmonisation of import, export and transit processes. Anticipated outcomes are a more coordinated risk assessment approach, enhanced supply chain security and cost savings for both industry and government.
The completed data set will be mapped against a widely endorsed international benchmark to facilitate the opportunity for international data exchange as part of trade transactions. The Standardised Data Set project team received a high level of support and cooperation from government and industry stakeholders.
Counter terrorism
Proliferation Security Initiative
The Proliferation Security Initiative is of vital importance to most countries to prevent terrorist threats. Customs participated in a variety of conferences and international exercises including Operational Experts Meetings, to share information and plan future exercises. Customs participated in Samurai 04, a maritime exercise, hosted by Japan. Customs provided a team leader/observer and a four-man boarding and search team. Samurai 04 enabled countries to work together to improve procedures and readiness in the prevention of the spread of weapons of mass destruction and missile-related trade. The exercise was valuable for Customs, providing a rare opportunity to work with international agencies as part of a joint training exercise.
Australia is hosting an air/ground interception exercise in April 2006 called Pacific Protector 06. Initial planning for the scenario has commenced.
Australia Group
To mark the 20th anniversary of the Australia Group, the annual forum for the prevention of the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons was held in Sydney. Customs produced a table-top discussion exercise attended by many of the conference delegates. The table top exercise focused on an international investigation dealing with attempts to obtain dual use chemicals for transhipment to a third country for proliferation purposes. The cross section of Customs areas and various government agencies involved in the exercise demonstrated the:
- complex nature of border security
- need for countries to form close partnerships between their domestic agencies and internationally.
Interagency cooperation
Customs continued to provide counter terrorism awareness and response training to all staff. A two day advanced counter terrorism awareness course was also developed for operational staff. To facilitate interagency cooperation in the counter terrorism environment, the course includes participants from agencies such as the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, the Australian Federal Police and State and Territory police.
International Maritime Organization
Customs was part of the Australian delegation at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Legal Committee in April 2005 to discuss strengthening the international response to maritime terrorism. Amendments to the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation Convention and the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf 1988 were discussed.
The IMO legal committee proposed the introduction of criminal offences to prohibit the transport of terrorists, as well as prohibited weapons including chemical, biological and other weapons of mass-destruction. Provisions that will allow the boarding of vessels suspected of committing these offences will be finalised in October 2005.
Outer Edge 05
In April 2005, Customs participated in a counter terrorism investigation and consequence management exercise coordinated by the Protective Security Coordination Centre of the Attorney General’s Department. The exercise involved a deployment phase, a number of discussion exercises and training activities, focused on a simulated terrorist attack in Darwin. The exercise tested Customs ability to coordinate, communicate and work effectively with other Federal and State agencies.
Maritime security
Customs continues to work closely with the Department of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS) in applying the Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003, which came in to effect on 1 July 2004. Customs has a liaison officer working closely with the Office of Transport Security, which oversees and coordinates maritime security compliance.
Customs has special powers under the Act as law enforcement officers at ports. These include stopping and searching people, vehicles and vessels, or removing them from a security zone. These powers supplement the extensive powers Customs has in the maritime environment for the movements of vessels, crew and cargo.
INTERCEPT
Customs upgraded its INTERCEPT information computer system, which records details of all vessel and crew movements including recording of ship security information as required by DOTARS. Online access to INTERCEPT has been arranged for a number of external agencies involved in the processing of sea crew.
Increased compliance through first port boarding
In the 2004–05 Budget, the Government provided half-year funding of $2.8m for Customs to employ an additional 19 Customs officers in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland.
In 2004, as part of a Government initiative to increase maritime security, Customs received an additional $9.3m over three years to maintain the rate of boarding ships at the first port of arrival in Australia. The target is 75–80 per cent. As at 30 June 2005, Customs achieved 76 per cent first port boarding, an increase from the 2003–04 figure of 70 per cent. Five hundred and thirty-nine more vessels were boarded this financial year compared with last year. The number of first port arrival vessels also increased by 170.
Customs is developing nationally consistent guidelines for boarding of ships at their first port of arrival. The guidelines will be finalised early in 2005–06.
Customs teams – helicopter flights speed up first port boarding procedures
Mackay officers Catherine Harpley (left) and Jay Costello get ready to board their helicopter flight.
Staff at Customs district offices undertake checking and clearing of international vessels and crew at a ship’s first port of entry into Australia. The logistics of this key part of border security are not always easy.
Not all ships can tie up at a wharf immediately when they arrive. An example is at Mackay, Queensland, where massive bulk ore ships may be required to anchor 12km off the coast before they come into port. Boarding at Mackay is also complicated by tidal movements and wharf infrastructure design that hampers use of gangways.
Customs staff at Mackay use ready-response vessels, but the logistics and officer safety issues involved in boarding ships off the coastline and in variable conditions are challenging. The Mackay District Office began a trial using helicopters to reach these ships quickly. The helicopter speeds up the process of clearing crews and vessels, and allows Customs to increase the number of first port boardings it undertakes.The helicopter lands on the ship and departs leaving the officers aboard to complete their clearance procedures. On completion of their procedures, the officers summon the helicopter back to pick them up and transport them to the next ship waiting at anchorage. Transfer between ships only takes one or two minutes.
The trial was completed in 2004–05, judged a success and has become an important part of Mackay’s first port boarding processes.
The first port boarding workload at Mackay is significant. In 2004–05, it was Australia’s fourth busiest port for first port arrivals with 953 ships, behind Dampier, Brisbane and Newcastle and ahead of Fremantle, Port Hedland and Sydney.