This bill became law on Sep 5th, 2024.
Immigration, border & security
Once commenced, new customs depot licences that start on 1 July now cost $4,000 by default, and regulations can raise that amount to as much as $6,000.
Deficiencies in how customs depot renewal fees were calculated left the charging rules inconsistent across licence types. This bill fixes the fee formula and aligns depot licenceA permission needed to run a depot where goods under customs control are stored or handled. charges and payment rules with the broader customs licensing regime.
Australia’s customs licensing system already covered depots, warehouses and customs brokers. A review conducted in 2015 produced a final report submitted on 31 March 2017, and the government later said depot renewal fee calculations were still inconsistent with other licence types. As part of its Simplified Trade SystemThe government reform program this bill sits under, aimed at making cross-border trade rules simpler and more modern. agenda, the government introduced this bill in June 2024 to align depot charges and payment rules with the broader licensing framework. Parliament passed it in August before Royal AssentThe final step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. on 5 September 2024, with commencement still dependent on Proclamation or fallback.
No significant public case against this bill is recorded so far, with the main plausible concern being that higher depot licenceA permission needed to run a depot where goods under customs control are stored or handled. charges could modestly increase costs for some operators. In the parliamentary debate provided, no party represented in the debate opposed the bill and no substantial public reservations were set out beyond that limited implementation risk.
Clare O'Neil MP introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 05 Sept 2024
Final passage
Passed without a counted vote
Members called out ‘aye’ or ‘no’ — no individual votes were recorded.
Passage speed
71 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
Once commenced, new customs depot licences that start on 1 July now cost $4,000 by default, and regulations can raise that amount to as much as $6,000.
Once commenced, new customs depot licences that start partway through a financial year will use a pro-rataA way of charging only for the part of the year a new depot licence actually covers. formula instead of charging the full annual amount straight away.
Once commenced, renewing a customs depot licenceA permission needed to run a depot where goods under customs control are stored or handled. will usually cost $4,000, and regulations can set a higher renewal charge up to $6,000.
Once commenced, small customs depots that were licensed for the full previous year and handled fewer than 300 transactions can renew at a lower $1,500 rate, with regulations able to lift that to $2,250.
The new charging rules will apply to depot licences granted or renewed from the start date, including renewals for depots that were licensed before the change began.
(a) for the grant of a depot licence that comes into force on a 1 July—$4,000, or, if another amount not exceeding $6,000 is prescribed, that other amount; orCustoms Licensing Charges Amendment Act 2024 final Act text
(b) for the grant of a depot licence that comes into force on a day in a financial year other than 1 July—the amount worked out using the formula:Customs Licensing Charges Amendment Act 2024 final Act text
(2) Subject to subsection (3), the amount of depot licence charge payable in respect of the renewal of a depot licence is $4,000, or, if another amount not exceeding $6,000 is prescribed, that other amount.Customs Licensing Charges Amendment Act 2024 final Act text
the amount of depot licence charge payable in respect of the renewal of the depot licence is $1,500, or, if another amount not exceeding $2,250 is prescribed, that other amount.Customs Licensing Charges Amendment Act 2024 final Act text
(b) the renewal of a depot licence on or after the day on which this item commences, whether the depot licence was granted before, on or after that day.Customs Licensing Charges Amendment Act 2024 final Act text
Context
Australia’s customs licensing system already covered depots, warehouses and customs brokers. A review conducted in 2015 produced a final report submitted on 31 March 2017, and the government later said depot renewal fee calculations were still inconsistent with other licence types. As part of its Simplified Trade SystemThe government reform program this bill sits under, aimed at making cross-border trade rules simpler and more modern. agenda, the government introduced this bill in June 2024 to align depot charges and payment rules with the broader licensing framework. Parliament passed it in August before Royal AssentThe final step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. on 5 September 2024, with commencement still dependent on Proclamation or fallback.
Customs licensing review final report submitted
A review conducted in 2015 produced a final report submitted on 31 March 2017, which later informed the customs licensing reform package.
Customs Licensing Charges Amendment explanatory memorandum ↗Government introduces depot charging changes under the Simplified Trade SystemThe government reform program this bill sits under, aimed at making cross-border trade rules simpler and more modern. agenda
The bill was introduced to modernise depot licenceA permission needed to run a depot where goods under customs control are stored or handled. charge calculations and align them with warehouse licenceAnother customs licence type used as the benchmark for aligning depot charge rules more closely across the system. charging as part of broader trade-system reforms.
Hansard ↗Parliament passes the bill
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, clearing the way for the new depot charging rules to become law.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Royal AssentThe final step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. given, commencement still to follow
Royal AssentThe final step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. turned the bill into an Act, but the charging changes commence by Proclamation or fallback rather than automatically taking effect on 5 September 2024.
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.
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
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 AssentThe final step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament., turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
No significant public case against this bill is recorded so far, with the main plausible concern being that higher depot licenceA permission needed to run a depot where goods under customs control are stored or handled. charges could modestly increase costs for some operators. In the parliamentary debate provided, no party represented in the debate opposed the bill and no substantial public reservations were set out beyond that limited implementation risk.
No significant public case against the bill is recorded so far.
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 will modernise and streamline depot licenceA permission needed to run a depot where goods under customs control are stored or handled. charges so the customs licensing system is fairer and easier to comply with.
Read in Hansard ↗Dan Tehan says the coalition will support the bill because it reduces red tape, modernises customs licensing and strengthens integrity controls in the trade system.
Read in Hansard ↗Chisholm supports the bill because it modernises and streamlines depot licenceA permission needed to run a depot where goods under customs control are stored or handled. charges, aligns them with warehouse charges, and closes a loophole that could leave some licence holders financially advantaged.
Read in Hansard ↗Thistlethwaite supports the bill, saying it is a sensible but overdue reform that will modernise customs licensing, reduce business costs and regulatory burden, and strengthen border integrity.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
3 speakers · 3 support
“The Customs Licensing Charges Amendment Bill 2024 will modernise, streamline and strengthen the calculation of depot licence charges in support of the Customs Amendment (Strengthening and Modernising Licensing and Other Measures) Bill 2024.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The bills represent sensible and overdue steps to modernise Australia's customs processes. They come about as a result of the review of customs licensing regimes that was undertaken many years ago. That review reported on 31 March 2017, so it's taken some time to get this reform to the parliament, and they are long overdue. Many of these reforms will save Australian businesses time and money and will reduce the regulatory burden associated with certain customs processes.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Together with the Customs Amendment (Strengthening and Modernising Licensing and Other Measures) Bill, this bill will modernise and strengthen the customs licensing regime, and has been consulted on widely with industry.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
1 speaker · 1 support
“As I've said previously, the coalition is happy to support this legislation. It builds on important work that we did in government, and my hope is that, especially when it comes to the simplified trade system, that very important and hard microeconomic reform work will be continued by the government.”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 · 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 AssentThe final step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament., turning the bill into an Act.
