Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) received the below advice late this afternoon, 16 December 2016 – needless to say, we will again participate in the January 2017 workshop and as required, will be making further formal submissions based on member feedback.
 
Have a great week-end !
 
Paul Zalai - FTA

Licensing Review

Thank you for your submission and your engagement with the Review of Customs Licensing Regimes (the Licensing Review).
 
I would like to advise you of the release of the Licensing Review's Issues Paper. The Issues Paper can be found on the departmental website at http://www.border.gov.au/licensing-review. The Issues Paper seeks to capture the collective position of stakeholders on a wide range of issues against the Terms of Reference of the Licensing Review. It draws on the 37 submissions received from stakeholders and the material presented on the Government-Industry Workshop on Integrity held on 25 November 2016.
 
I welcome feedback on the content of the Issues Paper by COB 11 January 2017. This will allow the team undertaking the Licensing Review to proceed with certainty to address key issues in the Final Report, which is expected to be with the Comptroller-General by 31 March 2017.
 
I note that overall, there was a degree of convergence on many of the issues identified by stakeholders. However, a wide range of views were expressed on three issues:
1.the role of the National Customs Brokers Licensing Advisory Committee;
2.whether one license should cover multiple establishments; and
3.whether to introduce classes of licenses for Customs Brokers.
 
I suggest that a second workshop be held on either 19 or 20 January 2017. This Workshop would seek to develop a combined view on these three issues.
 
Please direct your feedback on the Issues Paper, interest in attending the workshop and any enquires regarding the review to licensingreview@border.gov.au
 
I look forward to your continuing engagement with the Licensing Review.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
John Gibbon
Assistant Secretary
Traveller Branch