TRAVEL
This is likely to have a negligible impact on business-as-usual operations, however, will have a significant impact on DAFF representation at conferences and other 'non-essential' travel.
From an FTA perspective, this has turned out to be advantageous.
The fact that the FTA CPD events are held in major capital cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane) means that we will now have executive DAFF representation, who were otherwise unavailable.
REFORM INITIATIVES
It is a significant concern that important reform initiatives such as the Green Lane Program may be suspended.
While acknowledging that such programs create a short-term drain on resources, the end-game would see operational efficiencies delivered to both DAFF and industry by reducing regulatory intervention and costs for highly compliant importers and to enable departmental resources to be redirected to areas of greater risk.
The DAFF executives provided reassurances that where any activity needs to be paused, the department will engage with impacted industry participants. They also stated it is the intention of the department to progress a positive reform agenda at its very earliest opportunity.
COST RECOVERY
FTA spent time this week again reinforcing the message at all levels of government acknowledging a need for appropriate cost recovery measures and the implementation of a Sustainable Biosecurity Funding arrangement.
Importantly, in return, FTA stated an expectation exists for: - transparency in the use of funds,
- a need to incentive compliant behaviour and risk mitigation strategies with differential cost recovery arrangements, and
- a commitment to use funds to provide vastly improved import services and systems' interface functionality.
FTA and DAFF executives will be outlining further detail on the above at upcoming Border Compliance Program events - event programs and early bird registration remain available HERE.
Paul Zalai - Director FTA | Secretariat APSA | Director GSF |