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Australian Report On Progress Towards the Paperless Trading GoalsIn APECˇ¦s Blueprint for Action on Electronic Commerce
forms suited to Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs).
Port Authority Web Forms Project
This project involves a Bureau Service to be managed by each port and coordinated by the Electronic Commerce Working Group of the Association of Australian Port and Marine Authorities (AAPMA) (website available in two months). It will be used for the transfer of electronic messages (some of which may not be in EDI form) covering cargo manifests and dangerous goods declarations to participating Port Authorities in EDIFACT form. This facility is currently being tested by Gladstone, Brisbane, Hobart and Fremantle. There is a push by all ports to be able to use the system. The AAPMA Electronic Commerce Working Group is currently working towards the implementation of e-forms for cargo manifests and dangerous goods declarations via the World Wide Web.
Paperless Truck Processing
One of Australiaˇ¦s major container terminal operators, Patrick, is currently implementing a paperless truck processing system . Under this system truck operators and Patrick will conduct business electronically thus eliminating the need for the truck operator and the container terminal operator to exchange shipping paperwork for truck movements in and out of the container yard.
Initiatives focused on facilitating intra-company transfer of goods by multinational companies
Australian Customs, through its e-commerce gateway will be able to receive Internet communications and thus facilitate intra-company transfer of goods and promote development of paperless trading. Work underway with New Zealand Customs, through the Trans-Tasman Cargo Management project, to establish a one stop Customs process for accredited exporters could act as a model for other economies.
Trans-Tasman Cargo Management
Australian and New Zealand Customs agencies aim to improve facilitation of trans-Tasman trade by:
• streamlining Customs regulatory procedures - Creating a single set of common Customs data for Australia and New Zealand.
• reducing Customs compliance costs for Trans-Tasman business - Through re-engineering business systems the amount of information required for export/import transactions will be reduced and use of the Internet will facilitate industry reporting to Customs on a Trans-Tasman basis.
The end goal is a `one-stop shop' Customs process for Trans-Tasman exporters. Possibilities for establishing partnerships with strategic industry partners and agreeing "cross recognition" for each other's audit and compliance regimes are being evaluated.
Initiatives aimed at the SME sector.
Business Entry Point
The Australian Government recognises that business, particularly small business, cannot afford the time or expense of dealing with multiple regulatory authorities in different levels of government. In July 1998, the Australian Government launched the Business Entry Point (BEP) as part of its commitment to reducing red tape for this vital sector of the business community.
The BEP initiative is intended to address the needs of businesses in Australia for a simpler, less costly compliance environment and for improved interactions with agencies at Commonwealth, State, Territory and Local Government levels.
It is delivered through a website (www.business.gov.au ) and phone hotline service. The website can be accessed through public libraries, business enterprise centres, shopfronts and telecentres that provide the community with Internet access.
The BEP website currently provides access [next page]