Simplified Trade System projects

Question

Senator Canavan: Okay. I've got some questions about the Simplified Trade System Unit. There's a taskforce and now there's a STS unit; is that correct? Dr Grimes: That's correct; there's a STS unit. That was funded for a time-limited period. Funding for that unit, and indeed the unit itself, will be wound up in a few weeks time when we reach 30 June. Senator Canavan: Why is that happening? It's done its work, has it? Dr Grimes: It's essentially completed its segment of work. The next stage on simplified trade is to have a focus on initiatives that will be progressed by the responsible agencies, in particular Border Force and DAFF as the principal agencies-but a number of other agencies are involved as well. Senator Canavan: What has it delivered? What has its benefits been? Dr Grimes: Its purpose has been fundamentally around coordinating work to date. It's had a work program of initiatives that's been progressing. Those initiatives are nowhere near the end of the simplified trade system set of reforms; it's the beginning. It will be winding up its work on 30 June, and any of the initiatives that are ongoing will be progressed by the responsible departments. Senator Canavan: What actually happened? Were forms cut back or things digitised? Dr Grimes: There were a number of initiatives across a range of portfolios. In our own bailiwick we had responsibility for the Go Global Toolkit, which Mr Meek was just referring to, in providing much better electronic information, via the web, to exporters on a broad basis. There's been a range of other initiatives progressed by DAFF, Border Force and other relevant departments. Senator Canavan: On notice, could you outline exactly what's been done there. It sounds like a good idea, but if you could just outline exactly what it was about, basically-reducing red tape or transaction costs? Dr Grimes: Reducing the cost of doing business and simplifying the arrangements involving international trade. Ms Bunting will be able to talk in greater detail about specific initiatives-otherwise, we can take it on notice as well. Senator Canavan: Would you like to add something? Ms Bunting: Just that the role of the STS unit was in coordinating the portfolio of projects. As the CEO stated, that included projects delivered by agencies other than Austrade, as well as the Go Global Toolkit that was delivered by Austrade. A lot of those projects are moving to sustainment or near completion, and we're very happy to provide the full list on notice.

Answer

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Documents

• Question with answer (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
• BE26-03.pdf (opens in a new tab)