Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) has received extensive feedback from members in relation to document assessment (three to seven days) and lengthy delays (in many instances, several weeks) in inspection booking responses and next available inspection times by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the department).
As a result, recent feedback indicates that in addition to exorbitant container detention fees being paid to shipping lines for failing to return empty containers to nominated facilities within prescribed timeframes, high storage charges are being applied by terminals and depots until cargo is released by the department.
This outcome is particularly alarming as it has occurred during a period that is typically regarded as 'off peak' in the lead up to the Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) seasonal measures commencing 1 September 2022.
FTA welcomes the introduction of reforms that we have been advocating for such as 14.4 rural tailgates and elimination of some seals intact inspections. Feedback from departmental executives anticipate this will significantly increase available inspection resources.
FTA is also escalating advocacy for the development of a 'dashboard' to provide transparency of departmental service levels.
In the interim, in order to provide some visibility of the problem, FTA has been providing regular member updates, formal submissions (including to the Productivity Commission review of Australia's Maritime Logistics Systems - recommendation 7) and media commentaries in relation to the ongoing challenges being faced by industry when having cargo assessed or inspected by the department.
Recent media includes:
Daily Cargo News - 'A NEED FOR FAST-TRACK REFORMS IN AUSTRALIAN BIOSECURITY'
ABC Country Hour - 'SHIPPING AND BIOSECURITY DELAYS'
MHD Supply Chain News - 'BIOSECURITY THREATS CAUSING INFLATIONARY PRESSURES'
In order to support the FTA / APSA advocacy for further Biosecurity reform, we encourage members to "have your say" by providing a submission to the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee via their Online Portal or via email to rrat.sen@aph.gov.au
by the deadline of 5.30pm AEST Friday 26 August 2022 - further detail including the committee's terms of reference is available HERE.
Sal Milici - Head of Border & Biosecurity, FTA / APSA
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