The Customs Amendment (Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation and Other Measures) Bill 2012 and the Customs Tariff Amendment (Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2012 were introduced into the House of Reps on 1 November 2012.
The purpose of the Bills is to amend the Customs Act 1901 (the Customs Act) to introduce new rules of origin for goods that are imported into Australia from Malaysia to give effect to the Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement (the Agreement). The Customs Act amendments will enable goods that satisfy the rules of origin to enter Australia at preferential rates of customs duty.
To give effect to the preferential entry of goods under the Agreement, the amendments contained in the Bills provide rules for determining whether goods are Malaysian originating goods. The amendments to the Customs Tariff Act will provide for the preferential entry of goods that meet those rules. The amendments contained in the Bills will also impose obligations on exporters of Australian goods to Malaysia and for which a preferential rate of duty will be claimed, and on people who produce such goods.
The amendments contained in this Bill will be operative from the later of 1 January 2013 or the day on which the Agreement comes into force for Australia.
[LTN 212, 1/11]
Pass Lower House and move to Senate
The Customs Amendment (Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation and Other Measures) Bill 2012 and the Customs Tariff Amendment (Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2012] passed the House of Reps without amendment, on Tue 27.11.2012, and then moved to the Senate.
[LTN 231, 28/11]
Bill passed all stages and awaits Royal Assent
The Customs Amendment (Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation and Other Measures) Bill 2012 and the Customs Tariff Amendment (Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2012 have now passed all stages without amendment and effectively await Royal Assent after having been passed by the Senate on Thur 29.11.2012.
[LTN 233, 30/11]