TRADE facilitation remains “a key priority” for the Australian Border Force, regional commander for Victoria and Tasmania Craig Palmer says.
Speaking at the Border and Biosecurity Compliance Program in Melbourne, Commander Palmer said the establishment of the Home Affairs portfolio was one of the most significant reforms in national domestic security for 40 years, albeit it had come with some confusion.
“The underlying message today is… that trade facilitation remains a key priority for the Australian Border Force and the Home Affairs Portfolio,” Commander Palmer said.
“[Home Affairs] is and will continue to be Australia’s customs service.”
Commander Palmer talked of “maintaining the integrity of our borders, facilitating the legitimate movement of people and goods and responding to incidents of non-compliance”.
“That important body of work will almost certainly continue, in fact I would like to think that you will see more and more use of the term ‘customs’ as we continue to evolve as an agency so that we do have areas of responsibility and remove some of the ambiguity around our role,” he said.
The Border and Biosecurity Compliance Program was organised by the Freight and Trade Alliance and held at Hyatt Place, Essendon Fields.
