EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1983 NO. 272
AMENDMENT OF THE CUSTOMS (PROHIBITED EXPORTS) REGULATIONS
Issued by the Authority of the Minister of State for Industry and Commerce
Regulation 13A of the Customs (Prohibited Exports) Regulations prohibits the exportation from Australia of the goods specified in the Twelfth Schedule to the Regulations unless the consent in writing of the Minister for Home Affairs and Environment to the exportation of the goods is first obtained.
The purpose of the Regulations is to amend regulation 13A and to remake Schedule 12 to the Regulations to introduce controls over the exportation from Australia of:
(i) decorations, medals and insignia, including any related documents, presented to Australians for gallantry, achievement or other distinguished service;
(ii) records compiled by members of the armed forces of Australia in connection with the performance of their duties as coast watchers; and
(iii) flags used by the armed forces of Australia at Gallipoli, in 1915.
The introduction of the export controls stems from a request by the Minister for Home Affairs and Environment that urgent steps be taken to prevent the loss to Australia of certain articles of national historical significance. The circumstances are that a number of decorations, documents and a flag are to be offered by public auction in Sydney on 16 November 1983 and there is a likelihood of those articles being acquired by persons interested to remove them from Australia.
The Regulations are framed in a manner which will enable the control to be applied in respect of other articles similar to those referred to above and which are considered to be of national historical significance to Australia.