Question Time AU

Bill Debate · Second Reading

Customs Tariff Amendment (Incorporation of Proposals) Bill (No. 1) 2026; Second Reading

House of Representatives · Wednesday 27 May 2026

Official Hansard for this day (APH) · Read this debate on OpenAustralia

At a glance

The debate concerned the incorporation of previous customs tariff proposals into the Customs Tariff Act 1995. The bill aimed to reduce duty rates for numerous goods to free, extend sanctions on Russian and Belarusian goods, and maintain duty-free access for Ukrainian products. Julian Hill moved the second reading, outlining the economic benefits for businesses and the security rationale for the sanctions. No other members spoke, and the debate was adjourned without a recorded vote in the transcript.

Outcome

Debate adjourned.

Summary in reported speech - not a transcript. AI-generated, so check the official record before quoting.

How the debate unfolded

Opened the debate

Julian Hill (Bruce) (Australian Labor Party) ALP

Hill argued that the bill would reduce compliance costs for Australian businesses by setting duty rates to free for nearly 500 tariff classifications. Hill stated that these changes, combined with previous measures, would streamline trade worth approximately $23 billion and save businesses $157 million annually. Hill also supported extending the 35 per cent additional duty on goods from Russia and Belarus for 24 months to uphold international security interests. Furthermore, he advocated for extending duty-free treatment for Ukrainian goods to support their participation in international trade.