Stronger Customs border powers proposed
Would give Customs stronger powers and information-sharing abilities to address border and national-security risks.
Customs and Excise (Border Security) Amendment Bill
What's changing
- Customs’ purpose would explicitly include protecting border security and contributing to national security.
- Customs officers would have clearer powers to detect border and national security risks.
- Evidence and intelligence could be generated and shared with domestic agencies for national security work.
- Rules for Customs-controlled areas would move towards targeted, risk-based controls, including security plans and self-audits.
- Powers concerning non-travellers, goods, vehicles, vessels, and mass arrivals would be strengthened.
Who's affected
Customs, people and goods crossing or held at the border, and businesses operating in Customs-controlled areas could be affected.
When
This is a proposal just introduced to Parliament and is not law yet; no start date has been provided.
Background
The Bill says it is intended to help Customs respond more effectively to changing border threats, especially transnational, serious, and organised crime. It says current powers do not clearly let Customs respond to some border and national security risks.