Norfolk as a Customs loophole!

What did Mr Howard say in camera to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence? Evidence heard in camera is the property of the committee and may never be divulged.

But, if the main proposals of the Nimmo Report are adopted by the Commonwealth Government, Norfolk Island could offer a loophole through Australian Customs.

At present, inward Customs’ inspection of baggage or ocean freight arriving at Norfolk is cursory. In fact, inspection of shipping manifests is deemed sufficient and the actual cargo is not inspected. It would be possible to ship jewellery, precious stones, currency, perhaps drugs into the island without risk of detection.

The day the Nimmo recommendations become law, if they do, every thing on Norfolk at that moment would suddenly be inside Australia, and inside Commonwealth Customs without having been inspected.

Any shipment from Norfolk to the mainland after that time would be the legal equivalent of inter-State movement of goods.