Fraser Suites, 10 Adelaide Terrace, Perth, WA

E&OE

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet today, the Noongar people, and pay my respects to their elders past, present and emerging.

I would also like to acknowledge the Aboriginal Elders of other communities who may be here today.

It is my pleasure to be here as we celebrate the ongoing success of the Australian Trusted Trader program; and formally acknowledge the 15 newly accredited Trusted Traders gathered here today. 

Your accreditation brings the number of Western Australian businesses in the Trusted Trader program to 87—the third highest state result.

Being recognised as a Trusted Trader is a mark of excellence in trade compliance and supply chain security.

Under the program, Australian businesses that demonstrate a secure supply chain and trade compliant practices can be accredited as Trusted Traders—and in return traders are rewarded with streamlined trade facilitation and other benefits.

The program has fundamentally changed the way we work with our international trading partners and has resulted in us developing a growing number of Mutual Recognition Arrangements.  

Mutual Recognition promotes end-to-end supply chain security based on program membership. And they help link international industry partnership programs together to collaborate and create a unified and sustainable security position that assists in securing and facilitating global cargo trade.

Trusted Traders currently have access to eight MRAs—streamlining the clearance of goods at the border with Canada, the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Singapore and the newest addition of Japan whose arrangement will be implemented on Wednesday. 

Businesses here today, including Jarvis Estate, AgriFresh, Vesco Foods, Nature’s Creations and Specialty Feeds, will benefit from the faster clearance of their goods in these countries.

Trusted Traders represent the lowest risk entities in trade with research showing a saving on average of 150 inspection hours for accredited businesses.

This will provide our importers here today including Capital Cranes and Hoists, Applied Alloys, KFD Group, Zipform Packaging, Romel, Alcolizer and Pioneer Water Tanks with a competitive advantage.

And in addition, being subjected to an accreditation process and ongoing compliance measures, Trusted Traders represent a national security asset to Australia.

Trusted Trader allows us to preserve Australia’s proud trading legacy, and propels us into a future of new economic opportunities. 

Working in partnership with industry is the cornerstone of the program; and I look forward to our ongoing relationship with our service providers, including Sea Transport Management, Bullocks Freightmaster’s and Skippers Transport to secure supply chains.

At the Trusted Trader Symposium in June we announced a number of new benefits including the Origin Waiver benefit that saves importers from obtaining Certificates of Origin under some of our Free Trade Agreements.

This benefit reduces red tape for Trusted Trader importers and facilitates better access to the benefits of Australia’s Free Trade Agreements—saving them time and money.

I also had the opportunity to speak with many businesses and was pleased to hear the many positive stories on how the APEC Business Travel Card is making international travel easier.

Ladies and gentlemen, Australian Trusted Trader exemplifies what can be achieved when Government partners with industry; and is a demonstration of the mutual benefits we can obtain through these partnerships.

Australian Trusted Trader also aligns with Prime Minister Morrison’s appetite for congestion busting. By minimising red tape, bureaucratic and regulatory bottlenecks ATT ensures that Government services are being delivered seamlessly and efficiently to the Australian community. 

Not only will you reap the benefits that come with being a Trusted Trader—but you are also ensuring that our supply chains are secure—benefitting all Australians.

Once again, I congratulate our newest accredited Trusted Traders.

Thank you.

[ENDS]