Customs Tariff (Geelong Treaty—Entry into Force) Notice 2026

Overview

The Customs Tariff (Geelong Treaty—Entry into Force) Notice 2026I, enacted by Julian Hill, the Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs, under the Customs Tariff Amendment (Geelong Treaty Implementation) Act 2025, declares that the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Partnership and Collaboration Agreement between Australia and the United Kingdom, signed in Geelong on 26 July 2025, became effective for Australia on 19 December 2025. This notice was issued to formalise the entry into force of the treaty, ensuring that any customs tariff implications arising from the agreement are properly managed and applied in accordance with Australian law. The policy objective behind this notice is to facilitate the smooth implementation of the treaty, thereby strengthening the collaborative relationship between Australia and the United Kingdom in the defence sector.

Scope and Application

The Customs Tariff (Geelong Treaty—Entry into Force) Notice 2026I, issued under the Customs Tariff Amendment (Geelong Treaty Implementation) Act 2025, establishes the effective date for the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Partnership and Collaboration Agreement between Australia and the United Kingdom. This agreement, executed in Geelong on 26 July 2025, came into force for Australia on 19 December 2025, as declared by Julian Hill, Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs. The notice ensures that the terms of the treaty are applied in accordance with Australian customs legislation, thereby facilitating the partnership's operational activities within Australia. The scope of this notice is limited to the customs tariff implications of the treaty and does not extend to other areas of the agreement unless specifically addressed in subordinate instruments or additional legislation.

Key Provisions

The Customs Tariff (Geelong Treaty—Entry into Force) Notice 2026I (section 1) officially announces that the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Partnership and Collaboration Agreement, executed between the Australian and UK governments on 26 July 2025, has entered into force for Australia as of 19 December 2026. This announcement, signed by Julian Hill, the Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs, and Multicultural Affairs, confirms that the agreement, which is intended to facilitate collaboration and partnership in the development and use of nuclear-powered submarines, is now legally binding in Australia. The notice specifies the obligations that will be imposed on the parties involved in the agreement. For Australia and the United Kingdom, this includes a commitment to collaborate on the design, construction, and maintenance of nuclear-powered submarines. The obligations may also encompass the sharing of technology, training, and other resources necessary to achieve the goals outlined in the agreement. Both parties are expected to comply with all provisions of the agreement, which may include the establishment of joint ventures, shared research and development activities, and other collaborative measures. Failure to comply with the terms of the agreement may result in legal consequences. While the notice does not specify the exact nature of these consequences, breaches of international agreements can lead to diplomatic tensions, trade sanctions, or other punitive measures. Additionally, depending on the specific terms of the agreement, there could be civil or criminal penalties applicable to individuals or entities that fail to adhere to the agreed-upon obligations. The exact penalties would likely be detailed in the main body of the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Partnership and Collaboration Agreement, which is not provided in the notice. However, breaches of international treaties can often result in significant fines or imprisonment, depending on the severity of the violation and the jurisdiction in which it occurs.