In December 2008 then Prime MinisterKevin Rudd announced that the Australian Government would be augmenting, re-tasking and renaming the Australian Customs Service to create the new Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.[6] Royal assent was given to the changes on 22 May 2009 and the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service was established.[4]
Role and functions
The role of the Australian Customs Service was to prevent the illegal movement of people and harmful goods across Australia's border, and to apply trade measures and collect border-related duties and taxes.[7]
Between 1 January 2006 and 22 May 2009, the Chief Executive Officer of the agency was Michael Carmody. Lionel Woodward was Chief Executive Officer between 1994 and 2005.[8] Frank Kelly was Comptroller-General of Customs (and head of the agency) between 1988 and 1994.[9] Prior to Kelly, Tom Hayes headed the agency from its establishment to 1988.[10]