SENATE COMMITTEE ACCEPTS FTA / APSA SUBMISSION ADDRESSING THE BIOSECURITY PROTECTION LEVY & TERMINAL ACCESS CHARGES

Further to our member notice on 11 April 2024, Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) are delighted to advise that our joint submission on the Agriculture (Biosecurity Protection) Levies Bill 2024 [Provisions] and related bills has been considered and accepted for publication by the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee. In preparation for the Public Hearing on 23 April 2024, the committee will make reference to submissions as listed HERE Of significant note, several of the producer groups (including the National Farmers' Federation and NSW Farmers) have referenced in their submissions the FTA / APSA "Three-point plan" that focusses on a revised model for the controversial Biosecurity Protection Levy and the need for a mandatory code to control the rate of increase of stevedore-imposed Terminal Access Charges.

RECOMMENDATIONS FTA and APSA have engaged with members and key industry stakeholders in developing the following 3-point plan, recommending the federal government: does not proceed with the complex proposed levy against producers ($47.5m being 6% of the budgeted Biosecurity Protection Levy); increase the Full Import Declarations (FID) cost recovery to recoup the above $47.5m shortfall, and additional funds to address interim remedial action to support import processing until additional permanent resources and benefits of modernised systems are realised; and offset the increased FID cost recovery impost on importers, by regulating against the current incontestable Terminal Access Charge (TAC) regime, currently costing importers and exporters more than $500m per annum. FTA / APSA SUBMISSION AVAILABLE HERE Paul Zalai - Director FTA | Secretariat APSA | Director GSF