The 2018 - 19 Federal Budget announced the introduction of a new levy on all containerised and non-containerised sea cargo.
FTA argued against the introduction of the levy as a tax to general revenue, preferring that any increase in fees be used to manage biosecurity risk with an appropriate level of transparency in departmental administration. As outlined in the advocacy for reform for Approved Arrangement cost recovery, FTA also argued that an increase in fees be administered on a per entry basis to ensure that importers pay at a net rate.
The following is an extract of a response has been received from the assistant Secretary, Biosecurity Policy and Response:
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your participation in the consultation, your constructive feedback on the Levy design and the valuable insights into your operations. All the feedback received is being taken into account in progressing recommendations to government to inform the final Levy design and associated legislative drafting.
We will continue to engage with you to ensure parties are ready for commencement of the Levy on 1 July 2019. This includes consulting on an exposure draft of the Bill, ahead of its introduction in Parliament this year. You will receive an email notification of the timing and process for providing feedback on the exposure draft closer to the date. The department will also be hosting a meeting in Canberra, once the exposure draft has been released, to provide and outline of the draft legislation, which will give interested parties an additional opportunity to discuss, and provide feedback on the Bill and Levy design.
Once the Bill is introduced in Parliament, the department will work closely with affected industry parties to support the development of the necessary systems and processes required to implement the Levy upon its commencement on 1 July 2019."
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