Freight & Trade alliance (FTA) and the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) have provided two detailed submissions to the Simplified Trade System (STS) Taskforce:

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

The Taskforce has announced that the third round of consultation on the STS reforms is now open. Members are encouraged to share views direct with the Taskforce online by 6 May 2024.

Please also email Tom Jensen (Head of International Freight & Logistics - FTA/APSA) at tjensen@FTAlliance.com.au by Friday 26 April 2024 to have your views incorporated into the FTA / APSA submission.

POLICY FAMEWORKS SUBJECT TO REVIEW

The STS Consultation Paper 2024 focuses on these 3 draft frameworks:

NOTE: The Attorney General's Department (AGD) will undertake separate consultation later this year on the Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR).

TRADE IDENTITY POLICY FRAMEWORK

The above papers ask the following fourteen (14) questions:

Question 1 - Please quantify, in time or money, how current identity processes are impacting your business and factors (if any) impacting your adoption of new identity capabilities.
Question 2 - How would the proposed principles for trade identity improve the efficiency or effectiveness of cross-border trade for your business?
Question 3 - How might the proposed principles better address the identity-related issues you may have experienced in conducting cross-border trade?
Question 4 - What factors would your business consider in adopting any new identity capabilities, such as digital identification?
Question 5 - What are your expectations for improvements to the way trade identity information is collected and managed?
Question 6 - What examples of identity-related innovations in other sectors or countries should Australia consider?

FIT & PROPER PERSON ASSESSMENT REFORMS

Question 7 - How would the draft principles for reform to FPP assessments change your process to apply for cross-border trade related licenses and accreditations, including time and money savings?
Question 8 - Are there risks or opportunities that you would see from agencies sharing information to adopt a 'tell us once' approach for FPP assessments?
Question 9 - Could you share any specific issues that you believe are not adequately addressed and how they will impact the overall effectiveness of FPP assessments?
Question 10 - How many FPP assessments do you or individuals in your business need to undergo each year?
Question 11 - How do the frequency and the volume of assessments impact your operations and resources?

BORDER CONTROLS POLICY FRAMEWORK

Question 12 - Please quantify, in time or money, how current border control compliance processes impact your business.
Question 13 - How would implementation of these draft principles affect the effectiveness and efficiency of trade border controls relevant to your business or sector?
Question 14 - Could you share any specific issues that you believe are not adequately addressed by the Framework principles?

Paul Zalai - Director FTA | Secretariat APSA | Director GSF

SIMPLIFIED TRADE SYSTEM - THIRD ROUND OF CONSULTATION