“Holds” placed on import shipments to Australia by Australian Border Force (ABF) and staffing at the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) are leading to reports of prolonged delays.
The Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) reported increased delays caused by ABF Border Holds, particularly in Sydney, preventing containers from being collected, unpacked, and returned for extended periods. FTA members have highlighted that terminal storage charges are being applied even where containers are held solely due to holds and detention charges are continuing to accrue.
IAM Core Members Management Board regional representative, Michael Dunstan, confirmed that the issue is impacting the household goods sector. Dunstan believes that a lack of proactive communication during periods of reduced staffing and the limited number of available inspectors is creating a critical bottleneck for household goods consignments that require clearance before delivery. “The combined effect is significant delays in clearance and delivery, increased storage and detention charges for customers, and a demonstrable knock-on effect for forward planning and service quality,” he said.