Julian Hill (Bruce, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

():  I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

The Customs Tariff Amendment (Geelong Treaty Implementation) Bill 2025will amend the Customs Tariff Act 1995 to implement a waiver on customs duties for goods imported under the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Partnership and Collaboration Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The agreement—which is known as the Geelong treaty—was signed in Geelong by the Deputy Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Defence of the United Kingdom in July this year.

The Geelong treaty is a historic agreement, a commitment to the next 50 years of United Kingdom and Australian bilateral defence cooperation under AUKUS Pillar I with respect to delivering Australia's SSN-AUKUS submarines.

This bill enables Australia to comply with its obligations under the Geelong treaty. Under the Geelong treaty, Australia and the United Kingdom will not impose value added taxes, excise and customs duties and other similar charges on imports and exports of goods in connection with the Geelong treaty.

If those charges are levied, the Geelong treaty provides that the levying party will be liable for payment of the charges.

The bill implements Australia's obligations under the Geelong treaty with respect to customs duties. This bill amends schedule 4 to the Customs Tariff Act to insert a new table item, item 58A, which will prescribe a free rate of duty for goods that are for use under the Geelong treaty.

I commend this bill to the chamber.

Debate adjourned.

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