As members will recall, Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) representatives participated in the Biosecurity Imports Levy Industry Workshop in Canberra on 28 November 2018 - summary available HERE
The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources was due to commence drafting of legislation with consultation on the exposure draft to take place in December 2018 and January 2019.
FTA objected to such a timeline until additional consultation is undertaken.
We are pleased to advise that the department has met this request and also provided the following observations following the last workshop:
the need for transparent reporting of the levy revenue raised, including relative to new expenditure for biosecurity measuresthe need for alignment between the levy scope and structure with biosecurity risk, especially in the context of bulk cargo, while achieving an appropriate balance between risk and simplicity to administer and implementthe need for further discussion on the point at which to impose the liability to pay the levythe application of the levy to specific scenarios, including:restows and transhipment, due to their low volume and the practical challenge for reporting, andvessels arriving from offshore facilities, including determining the point at which the levy is triggered
the implications of the proposed expansion of the levy scope to include commercial vessels for different sectors, andthe impact of the levy relative to existing border fees and charges.
FTA will again participate in the next scheduled meetings in Canberra on 8 January 2019 and Sydney on 10 January 2019.
We again urge members to view the department's presentation (available HERE) and provide feedback to pzalai@FTAlliance.com.au by Friday 28 December 2018 for incorporation to the FTA supplementary submission.
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