News

The possibility is now looming that Britons will leave the European Union (EU) on 29 March without a deal to manage the withdrawal, leaving their trading partners around the world in unchartered territory. The Australian government’s Department of Industry, Innovation and Science is closely monitoring the departure of the UK from the EU and implications […]

The Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd (PBPL) and the Queensland Trucking Association (QTA Ltd) recently commenced a twelve-month pilot of the new ‘SmartCap’ technology as part of the two-year Heavy Vehicle Safety Around Ports project. SmartCap is a wearable technology that measures fatigue. Specifically, it is a headband mounted into a cap that measures changes […]

2019 shapes as a potentially volatile year for the $AUD and the domestic and international financial markets, according to financial observers. The growing downside risks in the global economy raise the question of whether the pace of our export growth will be sustained. This week the Bureau of Statistics released the latest figures showing a […]

The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) yesterday issued notice no. IAN 12-2019 – “Reporting Requirements for Goods Treated with Sulfuryl Fluoride Fumigation.” The notice is aimed at: Customs Brokers, importers and biosecurity industry participants operating under the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Class 19.1 Approved Arrangement: Non-commodity for containerised cargo clearance (NCCC) […]

Last week we reported on the action by unions at container terminals in Brisbane against Hutchison Ports. The Protected Industrial Action by the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) is continuing in Sydney and Brisbane ports, in support of a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) negotiation. MUA members are working their shift for 2 hours, then […]

Wharfies will launch industrial action at Hutchison Ports Australia this week, condemning the loss-­making stevedore’s bid to cut their pay and conditions as ‘the most severe attack on waterfront conditions in a generation.’ Hutchison said wharfies at its Port Botany international container terminal in Sydney earned on average $150,000 a year with superannuation and Port […]

Executives in the shipping and logistics industries have highlighted a number of reasons Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming their profession. IMO 2020 is one of the most impactful environmental regulations to hit the industry over the past decade. Global maritime freight transportation revenue is estimated to reach US $205 billion by 2023, up from US […]

The Goods Compliance Update (GCU) is a newsletter issued three times a year by the Australian Border Force (ABF) on the national goods compliance program and the application of trade and customs laws. The GCU for December 2018 has been released and the following is part of a statement issued by Don Smith, Commander ABF […]

A Brisbane company and its director have been fined a total of $120,000 for biosecurity breaches associated with the transport and storage of imported uncooked pig meat. The case was heard at Brisbane District Court last week with the director fined $20,000.00 and placed on a three-year good behaviour bond. The company was also fined […]

Working Tariff and Other Changes Commencing on 1 January 2019 – Reduction of Preferential Customs Duty Rates The next scheduled reduction of preferential customs duty rates will occur on 1 January 2019 for the following agreements: – the Agreement Establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA); – the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific […]