26th Nov 2019, 1:52 PM – Senate Customs Amendment (Growing Australian Export Opportunities Across the Asia-Pacific) Bill 2019 and another - in Committee - Australia-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement

The majority voted against an amendment introduced by WA Senator Jordon Steele-John (Greens), which means it failed. The amendment was introduced in order to replace a table item 4 in clause 2 of the Customs Amendment (Growing Australian Export Opportunities Across the Asia-Pacific) Bill 2019.

Senator Steele-John explained that the amendment related to the Australia-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement. It would have delayed the commencement of Schedule 3 until the latest of the following dates:

(a) 20 October 2020;

(b) the day this Act receives the Royal Assent;

(c) the day the Free Trade Agreement between Australia and Hong Kong, China, done at Sydney on 26 March 2019, enters into force for Australia.

However, the provisions do not commence at all if the event mentioned in paragraph (c) does not occur.

The Minister must announce, by notifiable instrument, the day the Agreement enters into force for Australia.

The explanatory memorandum explains that:

Schedule 3 of the Bill amends the Customs Act to provide rules for determining whether goods are Hong Kong originating goods and therefore entitled to be imported into Australia at preferential rates of customs duty. The amendments also enable regulations to prescribe record keeping obligations on exporters and producers of goods exported to Hong Kong, China for which a preferential rate of customs duty is claimed.