TALKING POINTS FOR POWERPOINT PRESENTATION
SLIDE 1

This is a short 10 minute presentation provided by the Australian Customs and
Border Protection Service to say a few things to students who might be travelling
overseas for Schoolies celebrations, or who might be heading overseas with some
friends sometime later.

It’s not meant to preach to you – but given some things that have happened in Bali
and other places over the last few years Customs and Border Protection wants to
let you know of some of the things to avoid so that your trip isn’t ruined by coming
to the attention of authorities in Australia and overseas, or worse by committing a
crime at the border.
SLIDE 2

It’s a good idea for all Australians travelling overseas to register with the
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through the Smart Traveller
website. This can be found at the address on the screen right now.

The registration information on the website will help DFAT to find you in an
emergency such as the tsunami (or tidal wave) that hit South-East Asia a number of
years ago.

Or when there was a big earthquake and the Australian Government was trying to
find where all Australians were to make sure they were safe. The website also
provides general travel advice for Australians travelling overseas.

By registering your travel on the Smart Traveller website means the Government
can find you faster in the event a natural disaster occurs. Be smart and register your
travel.

The Outgoing Passenger Card is a legal document and needs to be completed
accurately before you go to the outwards control point. You will be issued with an
Outgoing Passenger Card upon check-in or they are available in the Outwards
Control Point (Passport Control).
SLIDE 3

These are some general tips for keeping safe while travelling overseas. It will go
towards making sure that if worst comes to worst you can all be in touch.
SLIDE 4

The Australian Government controls the import of certain goods into Australia. The
controls are either:
-
an absolute prohibition, which means that you are not allowed to import the goods
in any circumstances; or
-
a restriction where you need to have written permission (via a permit) in order to
import the goods.

Examples of prohibited or restricted goods include weapons and drugs.

The following slides provide some images of these goods.

While travelling, you should be aware that the possession or trafficking of drugs is a
very serious crime and in many countries could attract the death penalty or life in
prison. Many of you would know about the Schapelle Corby case or the Bali 9. Don’t
risk carrying drugs across the international border. It’s illegal and you will get
caught.
SLIDE 5

Customs and Border Protection treats the importation of weapons seriously and
detecting illegal imports is one of their highest priorities.

Importation of a wide range of weapons is limited to importers who obtain written
permission to import such weapons. These include firearms (including BB guns),
daggers, flick knives, crossbows, stun guns and laser pointers.

Weapons that are imported without a permit will be detained and subject to
seizure action. You may be prosecuted (have to go to court) if caught bringing
these into Australia.

By importing illegal weapons without permission (a permit) means you could face
heavy penalties that may include a maximum fine up to $425,000 and/or ten years
in jail.
SLIDE 6

A laser pointer is a device that uses a highly focused beam of light, of any colour
wave length, but commonly red or green.

Laser pointers are popular in a number of countries and any laser pointers with an
emission level of over one milliwatt are restricted in Australia.

A laser pointer with an emission level over one milliwatt may cause damage to the
naked eye or burn the skin if used inappropriately.

Some retailers selling laser pointers advertise them as being under the one
milliwatt threshold - when in fact they are over that limit and are therefore illegal
to import to Australia without a permit.

People who intend to bring laser pointers into Australia from overseas, or purchase
them over the internet, need to be aware that they risk breaking the law.

If you try and import laser pointers without a permit, there’s a high possibility
they’ll be found by Customs and Border Protection, seized, and you will face an a
$340 fine or prosecution.
SLIDE 7

It’s really important to recognise that, even though you think it might be alright to
bring these back with you, if you get caught with any of these it might affect your
ability in the future to:
o
o
o
Work for certain employers and professions
Travel to and work in certain countries (America?)
Access lines of credit including bank loans
SLIDE 8

As you’d probably know it is illegal to carry illicit drugs in and out of Australia.

There are also some restrictions on importing performance and image enhancing
drugs, such as steroids. Basically the advice is to not do it, ever.

A person found to be unlawfully importing or exporting a prohibited substance may
be committing a range of offences and can incur a fine of up to $170,000 and/or
five years imprisonment under the Customs Act 1901.

If importing a border controlled drug or precursor, penalties under the Criminal
Code Act 1995 range up to a fine of $825,000 and/or life imprisonment.
SLIDE 9

“Legal highs” is a term commonly used for substances which are designed to mimic
or produce similar effects to common illicit drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy, but
have a different chemical structure.

By importing “legal highs”, you may be breaking the law, as they often contain
ingredients which are illegal to possess or import into Australia (even though they
may be reported as legal overseas).

Without taking measures to ensure that the website or business supplying ‘Legal
High’ products is legitimate, Australian importers face risks that purchased products
may:
o
o
o
o
be fake (counterfeit)
be too strong or too weak
be past their use-by date
be contaminated or not manufactured to appropriate standards and
include undisclosed, illegal or dangerous ingredients; and
o have very serious side effects

Recent detections of controlled substances include professionally packaged
products labelled as ‘herbal highs’, ‘research chemicals’, ‘smoking blends’, ‘incense
blends’, ‘bath salts’, ‘plant food’ and ‘not for human consumption’.

Remember, its ‘buyer beware’, and as the importer it is your responsibility to know
if the goods you are importing require an import permit or approval.
SLIDE 10

Products marketed as ‘Legal Highs’ often claim to provide a ‘safe’ and ‘legal’
alternative to illegal drugs such as cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine and
ecstasy.

In reality, many of these products contain controlled analogue drugs which are
illegal to import and possess in Australia, and other unlisted ingredients.

If you import a product which is found to contain a controlled substance without an
appropriate licence or permit it will be seized and you may be subject to a
significant fine and/or imprisonment.

A person found to be unlawfully importing or exporting a prohibited substance may
be committing a range of offences, both criminal and civil.

If you are unsure, you should check Australian import requirements before you buy.
For more information visit www.customs.gov.au or phone 1300 363 263.
SLIDE 12

It’s very important to understand that if you’re caught in an overseas country, even
with a small amount of drugs, you can potentially spend years in jail or receive the
death penalty. For example, I am sure most (if not all of you) have heard about
Schapelle Corby or the Bali nine who are currently in jail overseas and have been for
many years. Some facing the death penalty.

It is also important that you never carry a package or parcel into Australia for
someone else, unless you know what it contains. You will be responsible for
anything in your possession.
SLIDE 13

Customs and Border Protection officers play an important role in protecting
Australia’s borders from the entry of illegal and harmful goods and unauthorised
people. It’s what they do 24 hours a day 365 days a year.

In performing this role, one of the tasks they undertake is that they check travel
documents of arriving and departing travellers.

They also:
o question and search arriving travellers and their baggage for prohibited or
restricted goods;
o seize prohibited or restricted goods;
o use detector dogs to search people and baggage for drugs and other
prohibited or restricted goods; and
o collect duty and tax on imported goods.

As a matter of routine, you may encounter any of these interventions on your
return to Australia.

If you want to find additional information on prohibited and restricted imports this
can be found on the Customs and Border Protection website at:
www.customs.gov.au
SLIDE 14

On arrival into Australia you will need to present your passport with a completed
Incoming Passenger Card, which is usually handed to you on board your flight.

You should read every question on the front and back of the Incoming Passenger
Card carefully and complete the questions accurately and truthfully.

When proceeding to the Inwards Control Point (Passport Control), there are
restrictions on the use of electronic devices (phones, cameras, video cameras and
recording devices) when in Customs and Border Protection controlled areas.
Unauthorised use of an electronic device may result in a $340 fine.

Your documents will be returned to you after they have been processed. You may
then collect your luggage from the baggage carousel.

Remember that the Incoming Passenger Card is a legal document, and making false
declarations could attract severe penalties.

If you are unsure whether you should declare items, answer ‘yes’ or ask a Customs
and Border Protection officer for advice.

On the Incoming Passenger Card you will also be asked if you are bringing goods
into Australia with a combined total price of more than AUD$900 or AUD$450 if you
are under 18 years of age.

If you do not declare goods in excess of your duty-free limits, you may be fined.
You may also have to pay duty and/or tax on the goods.
SLIDE 15

Note that if you exceed the duty-free concession limits, you will be charged duty
and tax on all items of that type (including general goods, alcohol or tobacco), not
just the items that exceed the limits. It is therefore advisable that you carry receipts
for purchased goods.

Duty-free concessions do not apply to goods that you have sent by mail.
CONCLUSION

For more information on check out the:
o Customs and Border Protection website www.customs.gov.au,
o Department of Agriculture website www.daff.gov.au
o Smart traveller website www.smarttraveller.gov.au