This bill became law on Jun 28th, 2023.
Budget, tax & economy
Australia added a temporary 35% extra import dutyA tax charged on imported goods. This bill changed when some goods were charged extra duty, reduced duty or no duty. on most goods from Russia or Belarus that arrived between 25 April 2022 and 24 October 2023, unless a listed tariff concessionA rule that lowers or removes customs duty for specified goods, even where the ordinary tariff rate would otherwise apply. still applied.
Several tariffThe law that sets the duty rates applied to goods imported into Australia. changes needed to start quickly and could not wait for a standard amendment bill, including temporary duties on Russian and Belarusian goods, relief for Ukrainian goods, and updated concessions and classifications. This bill writes those earlier tariffThe law that sets the duty rates applied to goods imported into Australia. proposals into law so the higher, lower or duty-freeA customs duty rate of zero. In this bill it applied to categories including many Ukrainian goods and some low-emissions vehicles. rates and technical fixes continue to apply properly.
Australia’s customs tariffThe law that sets the duty rates applied to goods imported into Australia. law already set duty rates, but in 2022 the government used tariffThe law that sets the duty rates applied to goods imported into Australia. proposals to move faster, adding a temporary 35 per cent surcharge on most Russian and Belarusian goods, giving Ukrainian goods temporary duty relief, extending duty-freeA customs duty rate of zero. In this bill it applied to categories including many Ukrainian goods and some low-emissions vehicles. treatment for key medical and hygiene products, helping some low-emissions vehicles qualify for free rates, and fixing tariffThe law that sets the duty rates applied to goods imported into Australia. classifications. The 2023 bill was introduced to write those earlier measures and technical corrections into the Customs TariffThe law that sets the duty rates applied to goods imported into Australia. Act so they would keep operating properly, and it became law after Parliament passed it in June 2023.
The main criticism was that the low-emissions vehicle tariff concessionA rule that lowers or removes customs duty for specified goods, even where the ordinary tariff rate would otherwise apply. could add to inflation and impose an unnecessary budget cost, even though the rest of the bill was widely accepted. That concern was raised by Coalition speakers Karen Andrews and, more mildly, Keith Wolahan, but no party represented in the debate opposed the bill overall.
Clare O'Neil MP introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 28 June 2023
Final passage
Passed without a counted vote
Members called out ‘aye’ or ‘no’ — no individual votes were recorded.
Passage speed
98 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
Australia added a temporary 35% extra import dutyA tax charged on imported goods. This bill changed when some goods were charged extra duty, reduced duty or no duty. on most goods from Russia or Belarus that arrived between 25 April 2022 and 24 October 2023, unless a listed tariff concessionA rule that lowers or removes customs duty for specified goods, even where the ordinary tariff rate would otherwise apply. still applied.
Goods made in Ukraine got duty-freeA customs duty rate of zero. In this bill it applied to categories including many Ukrainian goods and some low-emissions vehicles. entry into Australia for 12 months from 4 July 2022, except some alcohol, tobacco, fuel and similar products that instead got a reduced rate.
Imported medical and hygiene products can keep entering duty-freeA customs duty rate of zero. In this bill it applied to categories including many Ukrainian goods and some low-emissions vehicles. permanently, and from 1 July 2022 the concession also covers some ingredients and containers used to make medicines and other Chapter 30 health goods.
From 1 July 2022, some electric, hydrogen and plug-in hybrid passenger vehicles imported below the fuel-efficient car limit can be classified so they get a free customs dutyA tax charged on imported goods. This bill changed when some goods were charged extra duty, reduced duty or no duty. rate.
The Act also fixes tariffThe law that sets the duty rates applied to goods imported into Australia. references so blood-grouping reagents and some herbicides and plant-growth products are classified under the correct headings, including for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership tariffThe law that sets the duty rates applied to goods imported into Australia. rates.
insert new section 18A to provide for a temporary increase in customs duties for goods that are the produce or manufacture of Russia or Belarus and that are imported into Australia between 25 April 2022 and 24 October 2023. A temporary duty of 35 per cent will apply to these goods in addition to the general rate of customs duty that would ordinarily apply, except where these goods are eligible for certain tariff concessions or left for direct shipment to Australia before 25 April 2022. This measure incorporates Customs Tariff Proposal (No. 3) 2022 and Customs Tariff Proposal (No. 6) 2022, which were tabled in Parliament on 2 August 2022 and 9 November 2022, respectively. The amendments are contained in Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Bill;Customs Tariff Amendment (Incorporation of Proposals) explanatory memorandum
insert new section 18B to provide a ‘Free’ rate of customs duty for goods that are the produce or manufacture of Ukraine, and a reduced rate for goods classified under a tariff classification in Chapter 22, 24, 27, 29, 34 or 38 of Schedule 3 for which a ‘DC’ tariff rate is listed, and where the goods are imported into Australia during the period of 12 months beginning on 4 July 2022. This measure incorporates Customs Tariff Proposal (No. 4) 2022, which was tabled in Parliament on 2 August 2022. The amendments are contained in Part 2 of Schedule 1 to the Bill;Customs Tariff Amendment (Incorporation of Proposals) explanatory memorandum
amend item 57 of Schedule 4 to permanently extend the ‘Free’ rate of customs duty for prescribed medical products and hygiene products capable of use in combatting COVID-19, and to expand the application of that concession starting on 1 July 2022 to such products used in other contexts unrelated to COVID-19, as well as to ingredients and containers for certain medicaments and other goods of Chapter 30 of Schedule 3. This measure incorporates Customs Tariff Proposal (No. 2) 2022, which was tabled in Parliament on 2 August 2022. The amendments are contained in Part 3 of Schedule 1 to the Bill;Customs Tariff Amendment (Incorporation of Proposals) explanatory memorandum
The effect of the amendment, with the amendments in items 13 to 16, is to direct some goods previously classified to tariff subheadings 8703.60.19, 8703.70.19, 8703.80.19 and 8703.90.19 to new tariff subheadings 8703.60.12, 8703.70.12, 8703.80.12 and 8703.90.12, respectively. Goods directed to these new tariff subheadings will be eligible for a ‘Free’ rate of customs duty.Customs Tariff Amendment (Incorporation of Proposals) explanatory memorandum
The bill will also amend a reference to the tariff heading for blood-grouping reagents in a note to chapter 13 of schedule 3 of the Customs Tariff Act and insert the correct tariff subheading for certain goods that are herbicides, antisprouting products and plant-growth regulators to ensure that these goods are subject to the correct preferential rate of customs duty as agreed under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.Second reading speech
Context
Australia’s customs tariffThe law that sets the duty rates applied to goods imported into Australia. law already set duty rates, but in 2022 the government used tariffThe law that sets the duty rates applied to goods imported into Australia. proposals to move faster, adding a temporary 35 per cent surcharge on most Russian and Belarusian goods, giving Ukrainian goods temporary duty relief, extending duty-freeA customs duty rate of zero. In this bill it applied to categories including many Ukrainian goods and some low-emissions vehicles. treatment for key medical and hygiene products, helping some low-emissions vehicles qualify for free rates, and fixing tariffThe law that sets the duty rates applied to goods imported into Australia. classifications. The 2023 bill was introduced to write those earlier measures and technical corrections into the Customs TariffThe law that sets the duty rates applied to goods imported into Australia. Act so they would keep operating properly, and it became law after Parliament passed it in June 2023.
Extra duty starts on most Russian and Belarusian goods
A temporary additional 35 per cent customs dutyA tax charged on imported goods. This bill changed when some goods were charged extra duty, reduced duty or no duty. began applying to most goods from Russia or Belarus imported between 25 April 2022 and 24 October 2023 unless a listed concession still applied.
Australian Parliament House ↗Medical goods and some low-emissions vehicles gain duty relief
From 1 July 2022, imported medical and hygiene products kept duty-freeA customs duty rate of zero. In this bill it applied to categories including many Ukrainian goods and some low-emissions vehicles. entry, some medicine inputs and containers were added, and some electric, hydrogen and plug-in hybrid passenger vehicles could be classified for a free customs dutyA tax charged on imported goods. This bill changed when some goods were charged extra duty, reduced duty or no duty. rate.
Australian Parliament House ↗Ukrainian goods receive temporary duty-freeA customs duty rate of zero. In this bill it applied to categories including many Ukrainian goods and some low-emissions vehicles. entry
Goods made in Ukraine became duty free for 12 months from 4 July 2022, apart from some excluded products such as alcohol, tobacco and fuel that instead received a reduced rate.
Australian Parliament House ↗Tariff proposals are tabled to put the changes into effect quickly
The government tabled five customs tariffThe law that sets the duty rates applied to goods imported into Australia. proposals in Parliament so the rate changes and classification fixes could start before a standard amendment bill was passed.
Hansard ↗Bill introduced to incorporate the tariffThe law that sets the duty rates applied to goods imported into Australia. proposals into law
The government introduced the bill to fold the five earlier tariffThe law that sets the duty rates applied to goods imported into Australia. proposals and technical tariffThe law that sets the duty rates applied to goods imported into Australia.-heading corrections into the Customs TariffThe law that sets the duty rates applied to goods imported into Australia. Act 1995.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Parliament passes the bill
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing its parliamentary passage and preserving the already operating tariffThe law that sets the duty rates applied to goods imported into Australia. changes in statute.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Royal Assent makes the tariffThe law that sets the duty rates applied to goods imported into Australia. changes law
Royal Assent turned the bill into an Act, locking in the incorporated tariffThe law that sets the duty rates applied to goods imported into Australia. measures and technical corrections under the Customs TariffThe law that sets the duty rates applied to goods imported into Australia. Act 1995.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Legislative route
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Second reading debate
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Reported from Federation Chamber
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
The Governor-General gave Royal Assent, turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
The main criticism was that the low-emissions vehicle tariff concessionA rule that lowers or removes customs duty for specified goods, even where the ordinary tariff rate would otherwise apply. could add to inflation and impose an unnecessary budget cost, even though the rest of the bill was widely accepted. That concern was raised by Coalition speakers Karen Andrews and, more mildly, Keith Wolahan, but no party represented in the debate opposed the bill overall.
Criticism was narrow and focused on the EV tariffThe law that sets the duty rates applied to goods imported into Australia. measure, not the bill’s Russia, Ukraine or medical goods measures.
EV tariff break seen as costly and inflationary
The clearest objection was to the customs dutyA tax charged on imported goods. This bill changed when some goods were charged extra duty, reduced duty or no duty. concession for some low-emissions vehicles, which Coalition speakers argued would be too expensive and could worsen inflation rather than deliver a justified tariffThe law that sets the duty rates applied to goods imported into Australia. change.
Further sources
Votes
The bill passed both chambers on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage.
House agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Senate agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
O'Neil supports the bill and says it brings tariffThe law that sets the duty rates applied to goods imported into Australia. law up to date while locking in measures that help access to hygiene and medical goods, back Ukraine, and encourage cleaner vehicles.
Read in Hansard ↗Andrews says the coalition will support the bill because its first three tariffThe law that sets the duty rates applied to goods imported into Australia. measures are important and in the national interest, but she rejects the low-emissions vehicle concession as inflationary and too expensive.
Read in Hansard ↗Chisholm supports the bill, saying it updates customs tariffs to back essential hygiene and medical goods, greener technology, and measures responding to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Read in Hansard ↗Coker supports the bill because it retrospectively confirms tariffThe law that sets the duty rates applied to goods imported into Australia. changes that back Ukraine, protect health supplies, and cut duties on cleaner vehicles.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
3 speakers · 4 contributions · 3 support
“The measures in the Bill support improved access to essential hygiene and medical-related goods, greener technology, and respond to the illegal invasion of Ukraine and follow from Australia's international obligations.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“It is for these reasons I rise to support the Customs Tariff Amendment (Incorporation of Proposals) Bill 2023 to retrospectively validate five tariff measures, including: raising the duty on goods from Russia and Belarus; a reduction in tariffs for goods from Ukraine; a reduction in tariffs for prescribed medicine and hygiene products, to be used in the treatment and prevention of COVID-19; a reduction in tariffs to electric hydrogen and plug-in hybrid vehicles; and minor amendments to correct tariff references. These measures show our commitment to being a government that listens, that acts and that upholds international obligations to our friends abroad.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Clare O'Neil, including an amendment-moving contribution. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Moved amendment
O'Neil supports the bill and says it brings tariffThe law that sets the duty rates applied to goods imported into Australia. law up to date while locking in measures that help access to hygiene and medical goods, back Ukraine, and encourage cleaner vehicles. She presents it as a practical set of customs changes that align Australia with its international obligations.
“The measures in the bill support improved access to essential hygiene and medical-related goods, greener technology, and respond to the illegal invasion of Ukraine and follow from Australia's international obligations.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Second reading speech
O'Neil supports the bill and says it gives Parliament a united way to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine. She says the measures are important because they back Ukraine, protect Australia's security interests, and support medical supplies and low-emissions transport.
“A lot of the public debate and discussion about what goes on in our parliament is focused on the conflict and the areas of disagreement. There are many of those, and they are legitimately fought out in our parliament using words, not weapons, and every Australian should be proud of that fact. But I want to draw the House's attention to the fact that a bill like this—which, fundamentally, is about Australia expressing its view in the strongest terms possible of the brutal, evil, illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine by Russia—is supported by all sides of the chamber. What has happened in Ukraine demonstrates an approach to the global world order that Australia wants no part in. I'm proud of our country's unified efforts to make sure that we use every tool at our disposal to make our position abundantly clear: that the invasion should never have happened and that every effort must made to ensure that we bring peace to Ukraine and that Ukraine's borders are properly restored. It's really important that our parliament stands strong and in agreement on this. I note that we've got a real unanimity of view in Australia that is not reflected across all countries in the world, so I'm very proud of what we're doing in this bill and proud of the view of the parliament on this. Again I would like to thank all speakers who participated in this debate.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
2 speakers · 2 support
“The first three parts of schedule 1 achieve that objective. The fourth part does the opposite. It is inflationary and it is ridiculously expensive as a tool for emissions reduction. The coalition will support the bill on the basis of the significance and importance of the first three measures in schedule 1.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The Customs Tariff Amendment (Incorporation of Proposals) Bill 2023 has the coalition's support, but that doesn't mean that we don't have concerns about particular aspects of it. I'd like to talk about those particular parts of the bill, but it will nonetheless go through with coalition support.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Referred to Federation Chamber
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
House · Reported from Federation Chamber
Reported from Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Senate · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Senate · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Parliament · Finally passed both Houses
Passed both houses
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Assent · Assent
Assent
The Governor-General gave Royal Assent, turning the bill into an Act.
