What Is a Customs Broker?
In Australia, under the Customs Act 1901, only licensed customs brokers—or the owner of goods—can submit import declarations for goods cleared into home consumption. Most businesses engage brokers to navigate complex regulations, avoid entry errors, and minimise costly delays or penalties.
Licensing & Qualifications All customs brokers in Australia must hold a licence issued by the Department of Home Affairs
Common pathway:
Complete the Diploma of Customs Broking (TLI50822).
Gain supervised workplace experience.
Sit (if required) a national exam.
Participate in mandatory continuing professional development (CPD)—typically 30 points annually
ABF tightened 'fit and proper person' checks as of 5 March 2025, enabling electronic licence applications & broader nominee definitions
Key Roles in the Supply Chain
Customs brokers act as a vital bridge between importers and authorities by:
Classifying good s accurately to calculate duties and taxes.
s accurately to calculate duties and taxes. Completing import documentation, including permits and licences.
including permits and licences. Liaising with customs officials and expediting clearances
and expediting clearances Mitigating compliance risks , such as misclassification or incorrect valuations.
, such as misclassification or incorrect valuations. Guiding tariff opportunities, HS codes, and trade agreements (e.g., India ECTA)
This reduces delays, penalties, and errors that could disrupt the entire supply chain .
Regulatory & Technological Context (2025 Outlook) Customs Amendment Legislation (from 5 March 2025) enhances digital licence administration and tighter security for trusted trade partners.
(from 5 March 2025) enhances digital licence administration and tighter security for trusted trade partners. Illegal Logging Reforms (effective 3 March 2025): brokers must ensure oversight of timber legality, treatment standards, and documentation
(effective 3 March 2025): brokers must ensure oversight of timber legality, treatment standards, and documentation Biosecurity measures continue to tighten, with DAFF requiring certifications, fumigation verification and compliance audits .
with DAFF requiring certifications, fumigation verification and compliance audits . New CPD requirements issued by DAFF must be completed by 17 March 2025
Supply Chain Trends & Impacts on Brokerage
a) Digital Transformation & Data
AI-powered tools, real-time platforms, and e-signatures are becoming core features.
Customs data is now the 'currency' of trade—vital for visibility & resilience
b) Resilience & Sustainability
Increased investment in robust networks and rail infrastructure—Australia's freight is up to three times costlier than elsewhere
Push for traceability (using blockchain, IoT) to comply with ESG and biosecurity laws
c) Geopolitical Change
Agreements like Australia–India ECTA and the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) diversify routes beyond China
d) Freight Costs & Policy
Regulatory pressure on brokers to maintain strict compliance—part of new 'additional licence conditions' since July 2024 .
Why Brokers Matter More Than Ever They help businesses maintain compliance and avoid expensive disruptions.
and avoid expensive disruptions. They enable faster clearance via expert handling of complex regulations.
via expert handling of complex regulations. They optimise tariff management and trade-agreement benefits.
and trade-agreement benefits. They manage emerging risks—illegal logging, biosecurity threats, digital adoption, climate impacts.
Business Recommendations Choose a trusted-operator broker accredited under Australian Trusted Trader (ATT)
broker accredited under Australian Trusted Trader (ATT) Ensure brokers offer digital platform integration and data visibility.
and data visibility. Regularly review CPD credentials , biosecurity practices, and licence compliance.
, biosecurity practices, and licence compliance. Monitor supply chain resilience strategies: rail vs road freight shifts post extreme weather events
Conclusion
In 2025, customs brokerage in Australia has evolved from a transactional service into a critical strategic partner. As digitalisation, regulatory complexity, and global uncertainty rise, brokers play a pivotal role in ensuring seamless, secure, and compliant supply chain operations. By partnering with digitally advanced and accredited brokers, businesses safeguard their goods, reduce costs, and build resilience.
TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Datamaran launches product for ESG risk, compliance management
This story was originally published on ESG Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily ESG Dive newsletter. Datamaran, a corporate risk and governance software platform, launched a 'core product' Wednesday, designed for companies to identify, manage and disclose relevant ESG issues, risks and opportunities, according to a company press release. The product will use artificial intelligence to help companies conduct materiality assessments, support ongoing compliance work and monitor for key regulatory shifts and trends, as well as peer benchmarking, the June 18 release said. Datamaran said its core product will work to support corporate sustainability, legal and risk management teams with insights and help them manage 'regulatory alignment on topics such as climate change, resource use, consumers & end users and business conduct.' The ESG compliance tool comes at a time when federal ESG and climate regulations in the U.S. are facing the chopping block, but both state and international jurisdictions maintain climate-risk disclosure laws that either are or will soon come into effect. Datatmaran said the tools will enhance reporting workflows by using AI to reduce manual effort, and the product supports compliance with multiple disclosure frameworks. Datamaran CEO Marjella Lecourt-Alma said in the release that the new product will give companies 'the insights ready to move from compliance burden to strategic advantage' and 'the capabilities they need to confidently run repeatable, audit-ready assessments while remaining agile in the face of shifting requirements.' The new offering joins Datamaran's suite of products that also includes a tool to conduct double materiality assessments — DMA Evaluate — which was launched in April. This tool, which is included as a part of the core product as well, will allow clients to both assess how climate impacts their business, as well as its business impacts on a broader range of stakeholders, as required by the European Union's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and European Sustainability Reporting Standards. Clients who use the core product will also gain access to Datamaran's ESG experts and member-only events as part of the software company's community for sustainability professionals, Harbor+. The community will also gain access to exclusive research and insights from Datamaran, according to the release. Datamaran is among a growing number of companies using artificial intelligence to aid and augment corporate sustainability reporting capabilities. Reporting remains a popular use case for AI from a climate and ESG standpoint, as companies and CSOs look for the best ways to use AI for sustainability. Recommended Reading How CSOs should use AI for sustainability: KPMG's US ESG lead
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
After raising $38M, African e-commerce startup Sabi lays off 20%, pivots to traceable exports
African B2B e-commerce startup Sabi has laid off around 20% of its workforce (~50 employees) as it pivots from its original retail-focused platform to double down on a growing business in commodity exports. The layoffs, confirmed by the company on Thursday, are part of a broader restructuring aimed at aligning resources with what it describes as rising demand for traceable, ethically sourced commodities, an area it began building out last year under a new vertical called TRACE (Technology Rails for African Commodity Exchange). Launched in Lagos in 2020, Sabi began as a software platform helping informal retailers digitize inventory and sales amid COVID-19 disruptions. It later expanded into a fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) marketplace with embedded finance, scaling across Nigeria and Kenya. By mid-2023, Sabi claimed over 300,000 merchants and $1 billion in annualized GMV. That momentum helped it secure a $38 million Series B round at a $300 million valuation. But like many startups in the B2B e-commerce space in Africa, Sabi faced structural headwinds: thin margins, capital intensity, and tough unit economics. Unlike competitors that burned through capital, Sabi maintained an asset-light model and stayed profitable. Still, the market shift has been clear. What African B2B e-commerce startups can learn from OmniRetail's profitable run In March, the company launched TRACE as a new business line, alongside FMCG. The new vertical targets mineral and agricultural exports such as lithium, cobalt, tin, and cash crops, where global buyers increasingly demand transparency, ESG compliance, and traceability. Sabi says it now exports over 20,000 tons of such commodities monthly to buyers across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. It has also launched operations in the U.S. and made senior hires to support that expansion. 'Sabi is entering its next chapter, with a focused commitment to commodity trade and traceability for global customers,' it said in a statement. 'We're doubling down on the part of our business seeing the most demand, built on the strong foundation we've laid since 2021 by supporting African merchants and their growth. To align with this momentum, we've made the difficult decision to restructure parts of our team.' The transition underscores a broader theme: as informal commerce platforms in Africa search for sustainability, Sabi is showing that evolving into infrastructure plays for global trade is possible. While this strategy offers higher margins and clearer paths to profitability, it can also lead to internal shakeups as Sabi's restructuring shows. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Wolters Kluwer Corporate Performance & ESG honored in 2025 Globee® Awards for Achievement
NEW YORK, June 20, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Wolters Kluwer, a global leader in professional information, software solutions and services, today announced that its Corporate Performance & ESG division has been honored with three Globee® Awards for Achievement. AI-powered CCH® Tagetik Intelligent Platform has been named as the Gold Globee Winner in the Business Performance Management Software category, CCH Tagetik ESG & Sustainability for CSRD is a Gold Globee Winner in the ESG Software category and Enablon ESG Excellence is a Silver Globee Winner in the Software as a Service (SaaS) category. Karen Abramson, CEO of Wolters Kluwer Corporate Performance & ESG, said: "Wolters Kluwer Corporate Performance & ESG is honored to be recognized for three Globee Awards for Achievement. Our solutions enable leadership teams to plan, predict and act to drive growth, streamline reporting and support sustainable and resilient business performance. We are committed to product excellence and innovation, anticipating market trends and delivering solutions that meet the evolving needs of our clients." The award-winning, AI-powered CCH® Tagetik Intelligent Platform digitally transforms the efficiency, accuracy, and strategic ability of the Office of the CFO. It is a unified AI-powered platform for corporate performance management (financial consolidation and close; budgeting, planning, and forecasting; ESG and regulatory reporting; corporate tax). At the heart of its continuous evolution is Ask AI—a super agent that embodies Agentic AI with a Finance Brain™. Our AI-powered platform, with Ask AI, empowers CFOs to unlock insights from their data, enabling faster, more strategic decision-making. CCH Tagetik ESG & Sustainability Performance Management with CSRD-specific capabilities fully supports businesses in navigating this complex new ESG regulation. The solution offers a range of features designed to automate the reporting process and ensure accurate disclosures while equipping C-suite leaders to determine material matters, evaluate their impacts and drive sustainable growth. Enablon ESG Excellence brings clarity to the complexity of ESG by harnessing advanced technologies to support and enable the end-to-end process of ESG reporting. This innovative solution enables leaders to manage risk, drive sustainability and boost productivity across the entire value chain. The Globee® Awards for Achievement recognize individuals, teams, products, and organizations that exemplify excellence and set new standards across diverse areas of business. Categories span innovation, operational excellence, customer success, leadership, technology, social impact, and more - celebrating those who consistently achieve remarkable results and contribute to the advancement of their industries. Wolters Kluwer Corporate Performance & ESG (CP & ESG) division is the world's leading provider of integrated software solutions for EHS, ESG, Corporate Performance Management and Audit and Assurance. Through innovative technology and unique expertise, Wolters Kluwer CP & ESG enables business leaders to make informed, strategic decisions driving transformation, performance and risk management for a sustainable and resilient world. About Wolters Kluwer Wolters Kluwer (EURONEXT: WKL) is a global leader in information, software solutions and services for professionals in healthcare; tax and accounting; financial and corporate compliance; legal and regulatory; corporate performance and ESG. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with technology and services. Wolters Kluwer reported 2024 annual revenues of €5.9 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 21,600 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands. For more information, visit follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. View source version on Contacts Media Contact Sarah WhybrowAssociate Director, External CommunicationsCorporate Performance & ESGWolters KluwerMob: +44 7855 Sign in to access your portfolio
