Making trade rules simpler and easier to comply with
Pathway to regulatory reform
Working with partner agencies, the STS Taskforce is developing a future state vision to simplify and better align regulations, making it easier for business to comply and more efficient for government to administer. Simplifying trade regulations lays the foundation for transformative digital and data reforms but it also takes time to do it well. We plan to deliver in an incremental way that deliver benefits in the short, medium and long term.
Increasing digitalisation and data sharing
Cross-border alignment
The STS Taskforce is identifying and prioritising options to align government border programs currently, the Taskforce is working with the ABF, the Department of Home Affairs, DAFF and the ATO to align border programs to remove data and process duplication, reduce compliance costs and improve efficiency for business and government.
Digital
Building on the ICT scoping exercise, the STS Taskforce is co-designing a target state digital architecture that considers how existing whole-of government trade agency capabilities will be used, laying the foundation for modernisation and integration of inflight and legacy systems.
Data
A cross-agency team, led by the STS Taskforce, is developing a data-sharing framework which will set out the principles, processes and governance requirements for a whole-of-government approach to cross-border trade data sharing.
USER INSIGHTS – FUTURE PLANNING
A customs broker in the import supply chain
FROM
Needing to enter information multiple times
We spend a lot of time as brokers going between our clients and government to check information to make sure its accurate, and it matches. There’s a lot that we need to validate against a few different platforms, biosecurity, customs and sometimes other agencies. In some circumstances, information can be plugged in directly from the supplier, however, this is minimal.
TO
Increase efficiency in providing information
Our clients are able to provide information to manage cross-border trade requirements. They do not re-enter data where it is already known. Data from other sources, such as suppliers can be entered directly. This means that we spend less time checking over data, things are automated where possible and we can spend more time on work clients value such as providing advice.

Advice to government
The STS Taskforce continues to provide consolidated advice from a whole-of-government perspective in relation to cross-border trade reform. This broad visibility of the end-to-end environment supports a coordinated and joined-up approach, reducing duplication and maximising efficiency, including identifying re-use opportunities.