Luxton JoCUSTOMS AND EXCISE (ARRIVAL INFORMATION) AMENDMENT BILLThird ReadingHon JO LUXTON (Minister of Customs): I present a legislative statement on the Customs and Excise (Arrival Information) Amendment Bill.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean): That legislative statement is published under the authority of the House and can be found on the Parliament website.Hon JO LUXTON: I move That the Customs and Excise (Arrival Information) Amendment Bill be now read a third time. This bill amends the Customs and Excise Act 2018 to provide for clearer arrival information obligations to help with Customs-related border management matters. This includes things such as collection of revenue and detection of restricted or prohibited goods. This bill also aims to improve the collection of arrival information by introducing new offences to enforce the system. This bill will support the digitising of the paper passenger arrival card. The New Zealand traveller declaration is part of work towards a safer and smarter border using technology.We already have a smart and safe border by international comparisons but it's important that we continually work to improve this. Moving to a digital system for collection of arrival information has a number of benefits such as improving risk assessment at the border. It will allow quicker assessment of information against risk factors. It will also help cut down unnecessary referrals to border officers. When the digital arrival card is in place only some people will be referred to a Customs officer if their digital arrival card identifies a potential risk or issue. This frees up the Customs officer to concentrate on those where a potential risk is identified and to look out for persons who might display suspicious behaviour. Those travellers who voluntarily complete their New Zealand traveller declaration prior to arrival will be able to experience a more streamlined process on arrival in Aotearoa. This bill does not include specific stand-alone provisions relating to the sharing and protection of this information. This is because the bill links to the existing robust information-sharing framework and protections in the Customs and Excise Act. Also the Privacy Act will apply on the arrival information requirement provisions in the bill. The bill also introduces two new offences to encourage compliance by travellers. Most travellers provide arrival information. I expect these offences will only apply to a small group who do not provide their information or do not provide it in the way or timing required or provide false information. The two offences are: failing to provide the required information and providing information that is erroneous in a material particular. That second offence is not meant to capture minor accidental errors that have no harmful consequences.Other changes include regulation-making powers to set the timing for when arrival information can be required and to exempt categories of travellers from providing arrival information. It also provides for Customs to verify information on behalf of other agencies which is set out in other statutes. This bill does not add new requirements to provide arrival information. Travellers to Aotearoa are already required to complete an arrival card which includes personal details and questions. Section 56 of the Customs and Excise Act sets out the broad purposes for which Customs can collect arrival information such as border security. Customs needs information from a range of sources to undertake its role. The information provided through the digital arrival card is provided from the individual. The traveller states if they are carrying anything that needs to be declared and they provide information that is not provided to airlines such as whether they are carrying any prohibited items in their baggage. The arrival information questions particularly those on concessions and prohibited goods provides an individual the opportunity to do the right thing and declare if they are carrying something prohibited or if a person has quantities over the duty free limit such as tobacco or alcohol. The bill was referred to the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee which considered several public submissions on the bill. I would like to once again thank the committee for its valuable consideration of the bill in particular the scrutiny of collection of personal information and information sharing. The Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee recommended some amendments to the bill unanimously which were incorporated into the bill following second reading. These changes allowed for the phased implementation of the arrival card obligations in the maritime space and made some minor enhancements to improve it.To summarise: this bill clarifies arrival information requirements improves the functionality of the system by providing for regulation making to set when arrival information is required and who is exempt from arrival information. The bill also improves the enforcement of those requirements. The amendments will ensure Customs can fulfil its important border management role and support the shift to digital collection of arrival information through the New Zealand traveller declaration. I commend this bill to the House.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean): The question is that the motion be agreed to.