18 February 2015 The Hon Peter Dutton MP Minister for Immigration and Border Protection PO Box 6022 Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Dear Minister, I am writing to you out of a sense of frustration and as a last resort in relation to the Joint Review of Border Fees, Charges and Taxes (the Review) which was notified to industry on 7 September 2014. In relation to the Review, the Customs Brokers and Forwarders Council of Australia Inc. (CBFCA) represents its members who in the first instance, are the entities responsible for the payment of any costs, charges and/or taxes levied by the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBP) in its cost recovery arrangements or by the Department of Agriculture in fee for service delivery. The CBFCA provided a commentary to the Review which is led by the ACBP and has, on a variety of occasions, communicated to the ACBP on issues referenced in discussion papers and industry forums. Correspondence and e-mails to the project lead on particular aspects and concerns as to the Review have failed to elicit any return communication. Not only does this wall of silence not give effect to any appropriate consultation, it fails the key test in stakeholder engagement. There are significant impacts, not only on service providers to international trade logistics and supply chain management, but also to importers of record, and eventually the impact on end consumers as to these charges. Some of the key determinations in the Review also relate to the current public debate on the low value imports driven out of online international sales via e-commerce transactions. Your intervention on this issue would be appreciated in not only ensuring appropriate consultation but also noting the impact on small business as to these costs recovery arrangements and the aspect of regulatory red tape in this process. The CBFCA looks forward to your intervention. Yours faithfully Stephen J Morris Executive Director CC: Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann Minister for Finance PO Box 6100 Senate Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 The Hon Barnaby Joyce MP Minister for Agriculture PO Box 6022 House of Representatives Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 The Hon Bruce Billson MP Minister for Small Business PO Box 6022 House of Representatives Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 .