Other related matters
5.1
This chapter further examines related matters concerning the current
trade control framework. It first considers current enforcement and border
control measures and details stakeholders' argument that law enforcement
agencies do not prioritise illegal wildlife trafficking, which perpetuates the
view that illegal trade is a high-profits, low-risk activity. The chapter then
looks at screening processes at Australia's border and submitters' concern that
the current process is inadequate.
5.2
Issues related to the CITES permit system and issuance of provenance
documentation are then discussed, followed by improvements made to the system
since Project Aerostar, including the commencement of the Digital Permit Service.
The chapter then examines evidence that identified issues with the Department
of the Environment and Energy's (DoEE) use of a wildlife statutory declaration
form and calls for an expansion in the use of radiocarbon dating to determine
the age of ivory and rhino horn items. The chapter considers compliance and
seizure data, and the sharing of information between the DoEE, Australian
Border Force (ABF) and the public.
5.3
Finally, the chapter concludes with the examination of education
initiatives for consumers, travellers and traders.
Current enforcement and border control measures
5.4
It is an offence under section 303CC and 303CD of the Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) for a person
to export and/or import a CITES specimen, unless the item is accompanied by a ministerial
certificate authorising its export/import, or is deemed a pre-CITES specimen by
the DoEE. The maximum penalty for a wildlife trade offence under the EPBC Act
is ten years imprisonment and/or a $210 000 fine for individuals and $1
050 000 fine for corporations (1000 penalty units).[1]
5.5
The DoEE and ABF are primarily responsible for the enforcement of
EPBC Act. Their roles are detailed below.
Department of the Environment and
Energy—Office of Compliance
5.6
The DoEE has a range of powers under the EPBC Act. Section 303GN of the
EPBC Act makes it an offence for a person to be in possession of illegally
imported CITES species within Australia, and if the DoEE suspects an item has
been illegally imported,[2]
it has the power to seize the specimen (under section 444A). The DoEE informed
the committee that:
If you go to section 445, it refers to the seizure of things
other than specimens—so, if we have reasonable grounds to suspect that this
would contribute evidentiary material in terms of our investigation. Section
413 is when search warrants can be used as well. Sections 417 and 418 outline
our warrant powers. You might be surprised to know also that section 430
includes powers of arrest.[3]
5.7
The Office of Compliance within the DoEE co-ordinates enforcement matters
and investigations. It works co-operatively with other Commonwealth agencies
such as the Australian Federal Police, ABF and the Department of Agriculture
and Water Resources.[4]
It also has an officer embedded in the Border Intelligence Fusion Centre who
has access to ABF intelligence databases and the intelligence community more broadly.[5]
5.8
The committee heard that the DoEE also collaborates with its state and
territory co-regulators. These collaborations include negotiations about
investigations (that is, to determine whether a crime is a state offence or a
Commonwealth offence) or by providing state agencies with authorisations to use
powers under Commonwealth legislation.[6]
5.9
Internationally, the DoEE co-operates with countries like the United
Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and Sweden, and with Interpol.[7]
It is also a member of the Australasian Environmental Law Enforcement and Regulators
Network (AELERT) which comprises working groups of Commonwealth, state,
territory and Pacific nation members. These working groups share operational
experience.[8]
5.10
The Office of Compliance has 54 full-time-equivalent positions, with
teams dedicated to compliance, intelligence, and environmental auditing as well
as 'engagement activities to help improve compliance with environmental laws'.[9]
The DoEE explained the Office of Compliance takes:
...an outcomes based approach to compliance activity, so we use
the whole range of compliance tools available to us to achieve environmental
outcomes. We do that based on intelligence and based on risk. With the small
team that we've got, we focus our activities to where there are higher risks.[10]
Australian Border Force
5.11
ABF is responsible for the enforcement of the wildlife trade requirements
of the EPBC Act at Australia’s border. It implements a 'risk based and
intelligence informed approach' to its inspection and detection processes at
the border.[11]
It examines goods, along with accompanying documentation for 'cargo,
international mail and traveller streams where a risk of non-compliance or
attempted fraud has been identified, through intelligence and targeting
techniques'.[12]
The ABF informed the committee that this intelligence-led approach is how it
operates at the border because of the high volume of individuals and goods that
come through Australia's border.[13]
5.12
ABF officials seize wildlife items suspected of breaching the EPBC Act.
If the ABF suspects an item is illegal ivory or rhino horn, then the ABF will
refer the item to the DoEE for further analysis and investigation into its
composition and origin.[14]
The item then undergoes an initial assessment by the DoEE to 'determine the
likelihood that a contravention has occurred, its seriousness and its probable
consequences'.[15]
The ABF destroys most seized wildlife items.[16]
5.13
Between 2010 and 2016, ABF seized 471 elephant products,[17]
309 of which were suspected ivory items. The majority of seized items were
carvings (258), followed by trunks (49), one jewellery item and one item
labelled piano keys. ABF submitted that the carvings seized may include
elephant ivory and elephant bone items, and a single seizure may have included
multiple items approximately equalling 1400 individual items.[18]
This data is shown in Table 7.
Table 7: Total number of seizures suspected of containing
elephant ivory, 2010–2016:[19]
5.14
The DoEE informed the committee that the majority of the 309 suspected
carved ivory items were typically antiques, trinkets and tourist souvenirs. The
DoEE investigations into these items indicated that many were declared upon
importation into Australia, and non-compliance was inadvertent and
unintentional. In one circumstance, an importer arrived with paperwork from
another country but did not obtain the relevant permits for Australia.[20]
5.15
The DoEE's understanding of the nature of the illegal ivory trade in
Australia was further informed by an intelligence report into the trade. Based
on intelligence and data from between 2012 and 2016, the report concluded that
illicit imports were small 'on an international scale, and largely inadvertent,
with the majority of seized items declared by importers'. Further, the report
found:
Australia is not a significant end destination country for
ivory products. Most seized items were small and trinkets in nature. Our
analysis didn't reveal clear indicators of sophisticated criminal involvement
in the trade of elephant and rhino products in Australia.[21]
5.16
The DoEE clarified that sophisticated organised crime is known to
participate in the illegal wildlife trade in Australia; however, its analysis
did not reveal that to be the case for elephant ivory and rhino horn.[22]
5.17
The largest seizure of elephant ivory detected by Australian authorities
occurred in 2015. This seizure was an air cargo transhipment that arrived at
Perth Airport from Malawi en route to Malaysia. The total weight of the ivory
detected in this shipment was 110 kilograms. The DoEE investigation into that
matter resulted in the arrest of five in East Africa.[23]
5.18
Between 2010 and 2016, there were 26 seizures of suspected rhino horn.
Nineteen were listed as rhino horn, and seven as medicine. Table 8 shows these
seizures by year.
Table 8: Total number of seizures suspected of containing
rhino horn product, 2010–2016:[24]
5.19
Of the rhino items identified and seized, 16 were found to be illegally
imported, and the remaining ten were pre-CITES items or were not found to be
made of rhino.[25]
Screening processes and
prosecutions
5.20
Two concerns expressed to the committee were the inadequate screening of
cargo for ivory and rhino horn products at Australia's border and the low level
of prosecutions made against those who have illegally imported ivory and rhino
horn products. These two issues are considered below.
Screening processes
5.21
Several civil society representatives expressed the view that existing
screening processes at Australia's border, that is, at our airports, seaports
and mail processing facilities were inadequate. For the Love of Wildlife (FLOW)
and Nature Needs More referred to information from people with direct experience
of monitoring cargo through airports and seaports, with one individual advising
them that 'in all likelihood, and optimistically, only four per cent of cargo
is checked', and for this reason the 'true size of this Australian marketplace
is unknown'.[26]
FLOW stated that customs officers discover wildlife items incidentally and that
'[s]ea containers that have multiple consignees almost always have something
illegal in them'.[27]
5.22
The screening process at international mail facilities was specifically
discussed. Through its work, IFAW has observed that ABF officials do not screen
every parcel and this is a problem in the context of a growing online market.
Subsequently, IFAW called for a review of screening processes, including where
they come from, how they are checked and how they are labelled.[28]
5.23
The Jane Goodall Society also highlighted this concern, describing 'the
relative ease Australians acquiring illicit drugs via post using online
direct-to-consumer marketplaces' as an example of the low inspection rate.[29]
Environmental investigator Mr Luke Bond noted screening resources were limited
and primarily focused upon other priority illicit commodities.[30]
5.24
The committee raised these concerns with ABF. Assistant Commissioner
Erin Dale explained that ABF is not able to screen every piece of cargo that
enters Australia, hence ABF applies an intelligence-led, risk-based approach to
all imports.[31]
One of the key components to that approach is how ABF gets intelligence data
(the accuracy of seizure data is considered further at paragraph 5.39).
Assistant Commissioner Dale clarified:
That [intelligence data] can come from previous seizures or
from other counterparts, for example, state, territory and Commonwealth
governments. But also we actually work with international counterparts. For
example, the World Customs Organization did operations on how we actually share
information between law enforcement counterparts. So it comes down to how we
actually build up that intelligence picture, so that all or our cargo goes through
intelligence based risk assessment—so every piece of cargo, every declaration
that we get, actually gets run through that intelligent mechanism. So we can
actually identify and direct our resources to where we actually have suspected
some undue events are happening. So it comes down to how rich our intelligence
picture is and how we can target better to be able to identify those instances.[32]
5.25
Mr John Gibbon from the Department of Home Affairs (Home Affairs)
emphasised the importance of cargo data for supporting ABF's border control
strategies and added:
...we get 100 per cent of the cargo data reported to us in
advance so we do know about things that are coming across the border, and the
intelligence and targeting processes enable us to refine our strategies to
those consignments of highest risk. The other point I would make is that the
Border Intelligence Fusion Centre within Home Affairs actually has an embedded
environment officer to help share information not only with Home Affairs but
with other agencies, including international secondees into that centre. That
will add to the intelligence picture, which helps us to target people, things
and syndicates that are operating within the Australian environment but also
internationally, so that we can assist our partners as well in terms of trying
to keep these risks offshore, where possible.[33]
Training of customs officials
5.26
Another important element to the current control framework is the
training of customs officials to ensure CITES-listed species, including ivory
and rhino horn, are identified through screening processes. Both the DoEE and
ABF advised the committee that customs officers are trained by the DoEE to
detect potential CITES-listed specimens.[34]
ABF re-assured the committee that CITES experts from DoEE train ABF 'officers and
keep them trained and upskilled on a required basis'.[35]
In addition, the ABF College trains customs officials in 'concealment methods,
the application of powers, and what are restricted and prohibited items'.[36]
The training provided by the DoEE includes:
...looking at legislation and the provisions under the
legislation, as well as how to actually question if there is a suspected case
of illegal importation. There are also samples—they actually bring in samples
to identify, to actually see what the genuine articles are. So the training as
part of the Border Force officers' training suite is actually provided.
...
They bring in samples to identify goods of concern and show
how to identify fraudulent material, which includes power point presentations,
and genuine ivory or rhinoceros horns and a whole other lot of other CITES
materials as well. Basically it's a touch-and-feel exercise the ABF officers go
through as part of our training package. Also it's revisited on a regular basis
to make sure they are up to speed with what they're looking at.[37]
5.27
Other stakeholders held the view that the training of customs officials
is lacking. Mr Bond stated that customs officials 'may not be familiar with
concealment methods nor have sufficient awareness and training to recognize the
horn or ivory as a prohibited import'.[38]
This claim was also made by FLOW, which had been advised by ex-customs officers
that:
...only 3½ hours of training is provided to officers to cover
35,000 endangered species, including rhinos and elephants. We consider this
insufficient. Some officers can't distinguish between bone, resin, elephant
ivory or mammoth ivory, and there is inadequate support to assist with this.[39]
5.28
The Born Free Foundation, which also submitted that training of frontline
officers was lacking, called for 'scaled-up training of customs officers for
improved detection at borders',[40]
whilst the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) considered it beneficial
that:
...the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, which
is now Home Affairs, [update] their guidance to their staff to ensure that
they're aware of all their obligations under the act.[41]
5.29
Along with being updated more regularly, the ANAO thought training could
be conducted more regularly.[42]
5.30
The importance of adequate training of customs officers and screening
processes was raised by the CITES Standing Committee in November 2017. The 69th
meeting of the CITES Standing Committee stated for:
...all countries along the trade chain, awareness concerning
commercial-scale movements of worked ivory needs to improve. In particular,
strategies for targeting worked ivory illegally moved by air as check-in or
carry-on baggage, or by couriers need to be improved.[43]
Prosecutions
5.31
The low level of prosecutions for wildlife trafficking was discussed at
length with the DoEE. The DoEE, as stated in paragraph 5.14, argued that the
majority of items illegally brought to Australia were declared upon arrival,
and non-compliance with CITES was unintentional. The DoEE re-assured the committee
that '[i]f suspicions are raised about [a] person, they will be investigated by
our office of compliance or by Border Force'.[44]
5.32
Despite the DoEE's assurances, the committee heard concerns that a
contributing factor to the low level of prosecutions is due to law enforcement
agencies not viewing the illegal wildlife trade as a priority. Whilst acknowledging
that there are a number of reasons for the lack of prosecutions, the Centre for
Environmental Law highlighted:
...the fact that this issue hasn't been taken as a priority
until now when you're doing an actual inquiry. So, to date, there hasn't been a
lot of attention to actually drive that. Without investigations, again, you
don't have anything driving a result that's going to lead to prosecutions. [45]
5.33
Concerning the large shipment of ivory detected in 2015, the DoEE
advised that prosecutions were not made in Australia because:
That seizure was a transhipment—it wasn't intended to come
into Australia; it was en route to Malaysia—and it was 110 kilograms of ivory.
Our investigations with the Australian Museum resulted in the arrest of people
in East Africa.[46]
5.34
The Centre for Environmental Law noted that ABF's emphasis is on illegal
drugs, and although law enforcement agencies have powers in relation to
wildlife trafficking under the EPBC Act, without implementation and enforcement
it becomes a 'paper tiger'.[47]
5.35
The ANAO informed the committee that it too had noticed a difference in
the level of priority given to the management of compliance with wildlife trade
provisions. It found that:
There was also the difference in priority, perhaps, between
the two departments, so a higher priority perhaps for the Department of the
Environment, but for the implementing department, which was Customs at the
time, it was not as high a priority for them, given the other requirements they
are required to carry out at the border.[48]
5.36
The lack of prosecutions for this crime type was highlighted by Project
Aerostar. Despite that investigation revealing illegal conduct, Mr Bond
reported he was not aware of prosecutions made as a result of Project
Aerostar's investigation.[49]
Mr Bond also gave an example of an individual investigated by Victoria Police,
found in possession of wildlife products (including ivory and rhino horn
items), but was not 'prosecuted for those because he was in possession of them
and we couldn't prove their provenance'.[50]
Mr Bond argued a challenge for investigators is:
The case for prosecution rests with the prosecution. We
needed to be able to prove whether or not they were actually unlawfully
imported into the country—but how else do you get tigers, ivory and bear into
Australia? 'Beyond reasonable doubt' is a high standard.[51]
5.37
Stakeholders commented that a consequence of the lack of prosecutions is
perpetuation of the image that illegal wildlife trafficking is 'a low-risk,
high-reward industry',[52]
and a prevailing narrative that the profits gained through this trade outweigh
the associated risks.[53]
5.38
The UNODC reinforced this point. It explained that 'the most serious
forms of wildlife trafficking generally meet the definition of organised crime'
and it is, therefore 'important that domestic legislation not only criminalises
wildlife crime, but that proportionate and dissuasive sanctions...are applied
to convict persons in appropriate cases'. For this reason, the 'issuance of low
penalties is a key weakness that contributes to the high-profit, low risk
perception of wildlife crime' and 'the deterrence factor for criminal offences
is significantly lessened if courts cannot or do not impose realistic forms of
punishment'.[54]
Compliance, seizure and trade data
5.39
In 2015–16, the ANAO released an audit report on the Department of
Environment and the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP)/Australian
Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) management of compliance with the
wildlife trade provisions of the EPBC Act (ANAO audit report).
5.40
The ANAO audit report found the regulation of Part 13A of the EPBC Act
had been 'undermined by the absence of appropriate and tailored policy and
procedural guidance, functional IT support systems and a risk-based approach to
monitoring compliance'.[55]
A component of this issue was:
...the quality of wildlife seizure data in both systems was
generally poor, with no automated exchange of data between the two entities,
which limited the ability to use that data for intelligence analysis and risk
assessment.[56]
5.41
One of the primary factors that contributed to issues with the
management of the compliance framework was IT systems that lacked the
capability to use data as a means to forecast and collect intelligence to identify
areas of non-compliance. The IT systems lacked sufficient data 'to inform a
risk based approach to how they went about dedicating the resources that they
did have to follow up on in instances of noncompliance'.[57]
5.42
The committee queried the ANAO about its findings, and whether the ANAO
thought data should be made publicly available to improve the integrity of
wildlife trade data. In response, the ANAO explained that it had found, with
regard to data:
...the fact that instances that were reported were only
recorded when it was something that needed to be investigated— suspect
instances, for example, that were later dismissed perhaps weren't then recorded
in the system, so they weren't able to track whether perhaps that same person
had suspected instances at numerous times and therefore that might be something
they might want to monitor more closely. They were only reporting actual
investigations that were then undertaken or then decided not to be undertaken.
We thought there was a more comprehensive data set that they could have pulled
together to better inform their intelligence activities.[58]
5.43
The committee asked the ANAO whether it would be correct to surmise,
based on the issues found in its audit, that it would be difficult for the DoEE
to conclude that the illegal trade in ivory and rhino horn was not an issue.[59]
In response, the ANAO said 'I think we have stated in the report that it limits
their ability to provide assurance that all of the regulations are being
complied with, yes'.[60]
Further, the ANAO stated that it would be difficult for the DoEE to use
historic data because of missing and inaccurate data, and subsequently it
'would be a matter of starting from a point and looking forward and then
creating a historical data set from a point in time'.[61]
5.44
The ANAO discussed the inadequacy of seizure data reported in the
system. Regarding the absence of specific details of each seizure, the ANAO
advised the committee that:
Different officers were filling in different types of
information when they made a seizure, and often the reason for releasing that
seizure wasn't recorded, or the volume...wasn't recorded, or sometimes exactly
what the material was wasn't recorded. There were inconsistencies in the
comprehensiveness of the data that was recorded.[62]
5.45
To address this issue, the ANAO recommended that the Department of
Environment and the DIBP 'agree on minimum data standards for seizures that
incorporate standardised quantify recording and develop strategies for
enforcing those data standards'.[63]
5.46
The ANAO audit report made concluding remarks about the reporting on the
extent of the illegal trade. It wrote that the Department of Environment
provided:
...limited external reporting on the extent of illegal wildlife
trade to and from Australia. As the lead regulator, and the only Commonwealth
entity with access to both wildlife trade permit and seizure data, the
department is well positioned to make such reporting available to the public.
In contrast, some international organisations provide significantly more data
on wildlife trade. The United Kingdom Border Force, for example, publishes a
quarterly ‘transparency report’ that detail the types of species seized, the category
of item, and the quantity (in the form of both number of seizures, and volumes)
of items involved. In the absence of such information, there is limited
awareness in the community of the magnitude of the illicit wildlife trade and a
paucity of information on which to base decisions relating to the resources and
supporting infrastructures required to address future challenges in this area.[64]
5.47
The ANAO acknowledged the complexities and challenges of making 'an
accurate assessment of the extent of the illegal wildlife trade within
Australia' and that isolated cases of wildlife trafficking did not 'provide
evidence of an extensive illegal wildlife trade issue', but noted that recent
examples 'suggest a degree of international coordination'.[65]
5.48
The ANAO concluded that:
These seizures reiterate the importance of producing reliable
and accessible data on the extent of the illegal trade in wildlife. The last
publicly available data on Australian seizures was published in 2008, which was
based on ACBPS seizure and prosecutions data from 1994 to 2007.91 The ACBPS
last conducted detailed intelligence analysis on wildlife trade in 2009, but
the results were not made publicly available.[66]
5.49
Another concern about the CITES permit system and discrepancies between
international trade data was discussed during the course of the inquiry. This
data is available on the CITES Trade Database, which holds over 13 million
records of CITES-listed species traded around the world. All 178 CITES Parties
are required to provide CITES trade data by 31 October of each year, which is
annually uploaded into the trade database.[67]
5.50
The Born Free Foundation referred to CITES trade data between 2006 and
2016. In this dataset, Australia declared that there had been 12 ivory carvings
imported into Australia and 16 tusks, 757 carvings and 57 pieces exported from
Australia. However, trade data from 'other countries reported exporting over
177 ivory tusks, over 3286 ivory carvings and over 1118 ivory pieces'.[68]
5.51
FLOW and Nature Needs More shared a similar concern about the CITES Trade
Database. These organisations investigated trade data from the UK to Australia
for ivory items between 2010 and 2016. According to FLOW, there were 2953
elephant specimens exported from the UK to Australia, whereas Australian import
data only revealed three quantities[69]
imported (a discrepancy of 2950 items or units).[70]
FLOW was also concerned with the CITES Trade Database which references 'importer
recorded quantity or exporter recorded quantity' but it is unclear whether the
records are 'about the number of permits issued or the actual quantity that was
imported or exported'.[71]
5.52
Nature Needs More recognised that businesses may be abiding by the CITES
permit system and trade rules; however, argued that this system is undermined
without comprehensive monitoring of the movement of animal parts. Subsequently,
Nature Needs More opined that the 'CITES trade database and permit system is
not fit for purpose', and highlighted by the discrepancies between import and
export data between countries.[72]
5.53
FLOW's founder, Ms Donalea Patman argued that the recording of CITES
trade data is 'considered a joke by conservation groups and even by the
environment department'.[73]
When FLOW approached the DoEE with its concern that 'the data is incomplete and
insignificant', the DoEE response was: 'It's the best we've got. We know it's
bad, but this is it'.[74]
The Born Free Foundation concluded that the inconsistency between trade data:
...suggests that any record keeping system currently in place
is fundamentally flawed. The lack of accurate and consistent records of trade
transactions in such a high profile product reflects a particularly poor level
of oversight, and undermines confidence in the government agencies tasked with
regulating trade in protected species.[75]
5.54
The Born Free Foundation submitted that according to the CITES website,
the last time Australia provided trade data on transactions of CITES-listed
species was in 2014. The Born Free Foundation added that other countries were
overdue with reporting their trade data, which makes direct comparisons between
jurisdiction very problematic,[76]
and 'means that a more complete dataset may become available for analysis in
future, and that actual trade figures may be significantly higher'.[77]
Mr Gabriel Fava explained:
...CITES parties have until October of the following year to
submit the data for the previous year. So, for the data for 2018, the deadline
for that to be submitted will be October 2019. That's quite a significant
delay, and that's one of the issues which I believe need to be tackled within
CITES, because it is an ongoing issue. If it's supposed to be a reactive
framework based on decisions that we can only make from data, that's obviously
a bit of a delay. I think that a lot of parties perhaps may not be submitting
data on time because they have to sometimes compile data from different jurisdictions,
different internal jurisdictions and different states, and there may be some
difficulties there.[78]
5.55
The committee raised this issue of trade data with the British High
Commissioner Menna Rawlings. In response, Her Excellency highlighted the
complexities of obtaining accurate data and discrepancies between UK and
Australian data:
...some of the challenge is the sort of variable nature of the
datasets that we're looking at. In previous questions we've talked about export
figures and import figures. We've also talked about trade within our own
countries. We're talking about everything from big auction houses to small
market stalls. So I imagine that getting a comprehensive cut of the data
through all those different issues is a real challenge. As I mentioned earlier,
the huge discrepancy—just looking at the CITES database—between what we've got
coming out of the UK and coming into Australia was, I thought, really stark and
quite striking. There are also a lot of personal goods in this as
well—household items that are probably not declared anywhere, unless they exit
the household and come onto the trading system as new items. So I can
understand why Australia might be also struggling with the data around this. I
think that isn't an excuse, I suppose, for inaction; it makes it incumbent on
all of us to work even harder to try and get a fix on what is going on within
our own jurisdictions.[79]
5.56
The committee discussed concerns about the CITES Trade Database with the
DoEE. It explained that Australia only records import data when the DoEE has issued
an import permit, and:
If you're in another country and you receive a pre-convention
certificate from that country then the item is allowed to come into Australia
without further paperwork, because it's a vintage item. That country will
report to the CITES database that they've issued the pre-convention
certificate. We won't have any reporting to us that that item has come in.[80]
5.57
If an item arrives in Australia accompanied by a pre-CITES certificate, Australian
officials are not required to make a record of that import.[81]
The DoEE does, however, maintain a record of CITES permits it has issued, and
permits traders have used. Once the DoEE provides a permit, the permit holder
must acquit their permit with the DoEE to verify that the trade occurred. The
DoEE then shares this data with the CITES Secretariat, and:
Data submitted by other Parties includes trade they undertook
with Australia. Data submitted by Australia to the CITES trade database is
based, as far as possible, on acquitted data that reflects the actual number of
imports/exports that took place in a given year. Due to Australia’s stricter
measures, some trades authorised by exporting countries can be inconsistent
with Australian requirements.[82]
5.58
The DoEE also informed the committee that it, together with Home Affairs,
had mostly finished implementing the recommendations made by the ANAO; however,
it was still working:
...on improvements to our data and the way we share data. We've
done a lot of work there. Our department has a new database for seizures in
place, and we're also in the middle of developing a new database for the
issuing of permits. The Department of Immigration and Border Protection led a
DTO project—a data transformation office project—that's enabled the electronic
transfer of all our permit data. So every time we issue a permit, it
electronically goes across to the department. But we're trying to pursue more
work on our data standards and the potential to share our seizures data in real
time, if you like, which we don't yet have.[83]
5.59
Concerning public access to trade data, the DoEE added that it reports:
...on wildlife trade through our department's annual report, and
we significantly enhanced it last year to provide more detail on our regulation
of wildlife trade in the department's annual report.[84]
CITES permit system and provenance documentation
5.60
In light of issues identified by both Project Aerostar and the ANAO's
audit report, the DoEE in partnership with the Department of Home Affairs has
made improvements to the CITES permit system and requirements for proving the
provenance of an item. One of these improvements has been the creation of a
Digital Permit Service.
5.61
The Digital Permit Service was implemented in 2017 and tracks permits
and exemptions for the import and export of CITES-listed species. It
auto-verifies permits, rather than manually inspecting each permit, and
according to Home Affairs 'significantly reduces the likelihood of fraudulent
documents being used to illegally import or export ivory and rhinoceros horn'.[85]
Further, permit data is transferred electronically and ensures ABF has access
to accurate information at Australia's border.[86]
Along with the permit system, Home Affairs submitted that there was ongoing
work to 'improve real time intelligence and information sharing' between ABF
and DoEE, especially for the trade in CITES-listed species.[87]
5.62
The committee questioned the DoEE about instances of fake permits and
provenance documentation. In response, the DoEE advised that since issues were
identified some years ago, the DoEE has strengthened its documentation by
issuing unique identifiers and maker's marks, and attached images to the
certificates for ivory and rhino horn'.[88]
In addition, if a fake document is discovered by a CITES member, then a
notification is sent around the world alerting all 183 CITES members of its
existence and to be on the lookout for similar documents.[89]
5.63
On notice, the ABF informed the committee that it had 'not encountered
any cases of fraudulent documents for the import or export of CITES listed
species through' its electronic permit system.[90]
5.64
Although the DoEE and ABF reassured the committee that fraudulent
documentation is not a significant issue in Australia, especially since the use
of the electronic permit system, Leonard Joel reported that there was a general
disregard for issuance of documentation proving an item's provenance. This
disregard, according to Leonard Joel, is driven by the perception that ensuring
a product is pre-CITES before its sale hinders the prospect of its sale.
Overall, Leonard Joel called for a collective effort to ensure provenance
documentation is legal, and shared between regulators, industry and citizens.
However, Leonard Joel reminded that committee that:
My concern is that it's not just fraudulent documentation.
I'll speak from the experience of Leonard Joel before they became committed to
this issue. There was a complete lack of documentation. The reality is that
most ivory is being traded in this country with zero documentation, unless the
piece is identified as one that might attract public interest or might be of
interest internationally, so there's a commercial benefit in getting a CITES
certification for that piece. Leonard Joel is one of those auction houses. I
wouldn't say it was a deliberate avoidance of the CITES regulations that are
supposed to be implemented here, but it was just a complete disregard for them.
My position is that most auction houses and antique dealers, whether wilfully
or not, disregard the documentary requirements.[91]
Statutory declaration
5.65
The committee heard one measure intended to ensure the legality of an
item is the use of the DoEE's wildlife statutory declaration. This statutory
declaration, which is not publicly available on the DoEE website, was developed
by the DoEE 'to assist auction houses to work with vendors' and is provided
'directly to auction houses'.[92]
The wildlife statutory declaration specifies that to:
...enable relevant information to be provided to the [DoEE] (if
requested), this declaration should be fully completed and provided to the
Auction House together with any other supporting documentation prior to the
sale of any CITES listed specimens.
5.66
The wildlife statutory declaration also identifies other evidence to
support an item's provenance, including:
-
invoices and receipts of purchase (including internet sale
description);
-
previous CITES permits and importation documentation;
-
a signed antique appraisal, or valuation that confirms the age of
a specimen;
-
travel documents, immigration records, military service records,
old photographs; and
-
other relevant information regarding the age and origin of the
specimen.[93]
5.67
However, evidence to this inquiry revealed a lack of knowledge that a
statutory declaration exists. For example, IFAW's investigation into the
antique sector revealed that not a single antique dealer referred to the DoEE's
statutory declaration.[94]
Meanwhile, the Australian Valuers and Auctioneers Association (AVAA) submitted
that it was only made aware of the statutory declaration during an auction
industry roundtable with IFAW on 22 March 2017. In its roundtable report, the
AVAA noted a discussion that the DoEE statutory declaration placed a 'legal
obligation on the auction and antiques industry to ensure that this document is
completed for every single item covered by CITES prior to consignment/sale'.[95]
However, the report concluded that there was a 'lack of industry awareness
requiring obligatory completion of the DEE’s (sic) Wildlife Statutory
Declaration for all CITES controlled items being traded domestically.[96]
5.68
Subsequently, the roundtable resolved that the AVAA would 'promote this
legal obligation to its members'.[97]
IFAW submitted that it was surprised to discover that only one of the auction
houses present at the roundtable knew of the statutory declaration. It
consequently contacted the DoEE with a list of 50 auction houses for the
department to contact about the statutory declaration.[98]
IFAW added that its ongoing work with:
...auction houses and antiques stores has demonstrated that the
majority of traders in ivory and rhinoceros horn, or wildlife items generally,
are unaware of the Department’s Wildlife Statutory Declaration form.[99]
5.69
The committee asked the DoEE why its wildlife statutory declaration form
was not available on its website. In response, the DoEE advised that:
The declaration form was not developed for general use by the
public. The Department developed the seller’s declaration form to assist
auction houses to work with vendors. The Department provides the form directly
to auction houses.[100]
5.70
Some submitters and witnesses queried how the wildlife statutory
declaration fits within the current trade control framework. IFAW reported
that:
Ongoing discussions with the Department has failed to provide
clarity as to the use of this Declaration. IFAW has been informed that even if
a CITES listed specimen such as an ivory piece or rhinoceros horn only had the
Wildlife Statutory Declaration to prove its provenance, this would not be
sufficient for the Australian CITES Management Authority to grant a CITES
export permit.[101]
5.71
IFAW sought clarification from the DoEE regarding the use of wildlife statutory
declarations. In response, the DoEE declared:
We continue to work with auction houses, antique dealers and
the like regarding requirements for trade in CITES listed specimens. Together,
with the auction house industry, we have developed a document that assists in
establishing the lawful provenance of specimens being consigned for sale. This
document contains a series of questions regarding the origins and how the
specimen came into Australia. Also included in the document is a statutory
declaration, to attest the information provided by the vendor. While there is
no direct requirement to complete this document, auction houses will often
utilise the document in satisfying themselves of the lawful provenance prior to
agreeing to consign a specimen for sale and submit the document to the
Department of their own accord. The completed documentation assists the
Department in working with the auction house if we receive allegations
regarding the provenance of specimens they have consigned for sale. In our
experience, the auction house industry have embraced this document and find it
extremely useful in deciding whether to consign specimens for sale. I have
attached this document for your information.[102]
5.72
Jane Raffan from the AVAA commented that the wildlife statutory
declaration does not fit within the current framework, and recommended that, as
an interim measure prior to the implementation of a domestic trade ban, there
should be an 'enforceable and mandatory [statutory declaration process] for
every item that currently fits within the legal framework of CITES'.[103]
5.73
Barsby Auctions advised that it requires every seller to sign this
statutory declaration; however, both Leanard Joel[104]
and Barsby Auctions suspect very few people do this. Barsby Auctions has been
audited by the Department of Environment in the past and for this reason is
very consciousness of the legality of items sold at its auction house.[105]
Radiocarbon dating
5.74
Another potential improvement to the current CITES control framework is
mandatory radiocarbon dating for all ivory and rhino horn items. Currently,
radiocarbon dating is only required for rhino horn items when applying for a
pre-CITES permit through the DoEE.[106]
For this to occur, the exporter must have a horn tested by an authorised
laboratory, and the 'date must conclusively demonstrate that the horn was
obtained from an animal that died before 1975' (that is, a radiocarbon date of
pre-1957).[107]
5.75
The DoEE explained that radiocarbon dating for rhino horn:
...was brought in because of the specific risk of laundering
rhino horn. The relative value of rhino horn is of orders of magnitude greater
than ivory, and it was a very targeted regulation for that purpose.[108]
5.76
Whilst acknowledging that the test could be applied to ivory, the DoEE highlighted
the cost to conduct the test (over $600) 'compared to the value of the items
that are likely to be traded'.[109]
5.77
The committee heard from the Australian National University (ANU) Radiocarbon
Dating Laboratory. The Laboratory explained the complexities of radiocarbon
dating, and the limitations of this testing; mainly, that each ivory tusk or
rhino horn item has different levels of carbon 14. For example, the oldest part
of a tusk—the tip—will have a higher carbon 14 reading than the base of a tusk.
In order to determine an accurate determination of an items age, a sample is taken
at both ends of a tusk or horn, which is then measured against a bomb curve[110]
to determine its date parameters.[111]
For this reason:
If we have an entire tusk, or horn, we can do multiple
measurements. Because elephants live for decades and we know the end of the
horn is the oldest part and the inside is the youngest part, we know which
direction time should go. If we do multiple measurements, we can tell whether
the sample is before 1950 or where it is on the bomb curve.[112]
5.78
The radiocarbon test is more difficult when only a fragment of an
elephant tusk or rhino horn item is provided. Despite this difficulty, the ANU
Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory recommended that the radiocarbon date requirement
is made compulsory for ivory and rhino horn, rather than just rhino horn.[113]
5.79
The long-term effectiveness of radiocarbon dating is being diminished by
the depletion of carbon 14 in the atmosphere, due to the burning of fossil
fuels. By approximately 2025, the depleted carbon 14 in the atmosphere will
make it particularly difficult to date fragments of ivory and rhino horn; dating
of entire horns/tusks will remain possible.[114]
The ANU Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory is considering other testing techniques for
use in the future.[115]
5.80
The ANU Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory advised that since 2012 it had
conducted 15 tests on ivory samples and two rhino horn samples for the DoEE. A
further nine rhino horn samples have been tested for individuals seeking a
pre-CITES permit.[116]
Education initiatives
5.81
An essential component of the current trade control framework and any
future framework is ensuring adequate education is provided to stakeholders,
such as consumers, travellers and traders, as well as ensuring appropriate training
of customs officials. The committee sought information from both the DoEE and
the Home Affairs/ABF about education initiatives, as well as the ANAO, which
had identified shortcoming with the educational processes both agencies had in
place. The committee also heard from the New South Wales and Victorian consumer
affairs agencies about their role in consumer and trader education.
Consumer, traveller and trader
education
Online information
5.82
The ANAO audit report identified issues with the availability of online
information for travellers and traders. It called for the Department of
Environment and the then Australian Customs and Border Protection Service
(ACBPS) to develop a communication plan and to evaluate their collaboration.[117]
5.83
The ANAO reported that although both the Department of Environment and
the ACBPS' compliance and enforcement policies incorporated education as a key
strategy to encourage compliant behaviour, neither agency had established a
communication strategy or plan to guide these activities. Further, neither
agency sufficiently used intelligence data to inform better-targeted education
strategies.[118]
5.84
The ANAO recognised that both agencies provide educational information
on their website, through targeted education activities and capacity building
initiatives in the region; however:
...neither Environment nor the ACBPS has evaluated the usefulness,
benefit, or the most effective placement of education material (either on
Environment’s website, the ACBPS’, or both) on wildlife regulation. Undertaking
a joint evaluation would better inform the development, updating and placement
of online information.[119]
5.85
Under questioning about its audit report, the ANAO acknowledged that
information is available on both departments' websites; however, the ANAO did
not find evidence that either department:
...had analysed its compliance or intelligence data holdings to
see how those education materials were addressing the issues identified we
suggested that there would be benefit in them going back and doing a bit of a
review of what they have and how appropriate those materials are.[120]
5.86
While critical of the effective use of educational information and that
this information had not been updated in a number of years, the ANAO reported
that it did not find any issues with specific information on the websites.[121]
5.87
The ANAO subsequently recommended that:
To improve voluntary compliance with wildlife trade
regulation, the ANAO recommends that the Department of the Environment:
- update its website information for travellers and
traders;
- develop a communications plan, taking into account the
results of intelligence analysis and risk identification; and
- evaluate, in collaboration with the Department of
Immigration and Border Protection, publicly available information with a view
to maximising its effect on traveller and trader behaviour.[122]
5.88
The Department of Environment agreed to this recommendation;[123]
the DIBP responded that it would co-operate with 'the evaluation of publically
available information to educate traders and travellers'.[124]
The DoEE told the committee that it was yet to implement this recommendation,
and that it had:
...undertaken an extensive update of its website information
on wildlife trade regulation for travellers and traders. The final stage of the
website update is expected to be completed in September 2018. It is likely to
be presented to the audit committee for closure in December 2018.[125]
5.89
The committee asked the DoEE about the resources allocated to the
education of the public and traders about exporting ivory and rhino horn items.
In response, the DoEE pointed out that information is available on its website about
the rules for both individuals and traders planning to take a wildlife specimen
into or out of Australia.[126]
Further:
We have contact numbers and email addresses so people can
contact a staff member and discuss their situation and establish whether or not
what they're proposing to do with the wildlife trade would be legal, what sort
of paperwork that would need to authorise that and whether there's evidence
they need to produce. They can submit an application online. We have a permit
section which looks after our client base and helps facilitate trade where it's
legal.[127]
5.90
The DoEE also advised the committee that it informs the ABF and the
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources about content for their websites
and ensures all information is linked and current.[128]
However, despite the DoEE's assurances, the committee was advised by the
Australian Antique & Art Dealers Association (AAADA) that a customs fact
sheet available on the Home Affairs website was not up-to-date, even though the
AAADA contacted Home Affairs requesting that it be updated. Specifically, the AAADA
requested that the list of qualified experts to identify objects that comply
with CITES be updated, along with the list of recognised art dealers qualified
to verify antiques.[129]
The AAADA also recommended the document include reference to trade controls for
ivory and rhino horn products.[130]
5.91
The committee identified this out-of-date public document on the Home
Affairs website. Dated June 2012, it provides advice about importing antiques.
It is branded as an official ACBPS document that also refers to the then
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. The document itself makes no
reference to CITES, and the link provided to access information about
prohibited and restricted goods directs the user to the Home Affairs homepage.
The contact information on the fact sheet is also out of date.[131]
Traveller education
5.92
The committee asked the DoEE what information is made available to
tourists about what is illegal and legal to import into and export out of
Australia, as far as wildlife products and other products are concerned. In
response, the DoEE stated that a communication strategy has been in development
since the ANAO's audit report. This strategy is about 'improving the knowledge
for travellers', which includes 'boosting' the DoEE's website through Google
searches.[132]
5.93
In relation to information available to travellers at Australia's
airports and seaports, the DoEE confirmed that it had developed a display that
was used on cruise liners in the Pacific, and some time ago displays at
airports.[133]
When asked whether the DoEE targets communication at tourists or traders
entering Australia with ivory and rhino horn, the DoEE responded that it had
not.[134]
However, the committee heard that the DoEE was:
...looking at ways to better educate people coming into and
going out of the country. Our first efforts were actually on the internet side
and looking at the websites for us and for Home Affairs, and also with the
department of agriculture. There has been a lot of enhancement work done on
that. We've also had some discussions with the area in the department of
foreign affairs that deals with the issue of passports to see if there's an
opportunity there to give Australians information, should they wish to travel,
when they go and get their passports—that sort of thing.[135]
5.94
Home Affairs added that arrangements exist with airport owners to
display information, if required, but would need to be negotiated. Further:
There has also been work done in airports, and you'll know
from transiting airports many times there's signs and things everywhere. So
we've really got to road-test what goes into there, because a lot of people are
just so blinded by so much information that it's not effective. What we were
trying to do with Environment and others around traveller information is use
the internet, use social media, use the TV program on borders to get the
message out about what you can and can't take out of the country or bring back
into the country and those sorts of things. We've also got information that
people are required to declare on the incoming passenger card.[136]
5.95
Home Affairs and the ABF both confirmed that video educational material
from agriculture had been used;[137]
however, the use of this material varies between the 54 airlines operating in
Australia.[138]
ABF added that it makes:
...sure that passengers actually understand their requirements
when they're coming in and out. But we work with the department of environment
to make sure that we've got the right information.[139]
5.96
ABF achieves this through the Home Affairs website:
...which gives travellers some hints and more details as to
what they can bring back. That's in addition to incoming passenger cards where
there is a question dedicated to that as well.[140]
5.97
This information, however, does not include signage on walls at airports
because according to Home Affairs, it is no longer effective.[141]
However, on notice, the ABF clarified that ABF has two cabinets located in the
international arrival section of Brisbane and Adelaide airports displaying
ivory and/or rhino horn products, and confirmed there is no specific signage in
Australia's airports relating to the import or export of ivory and rhino horn
products.[142]
Consumer and trader education
5.98
Consumer education is another important aspect of reducing demand for
wildlife products. Barsby Auctions spoke of the impact education has had on the
trade in rhino horns. It explained that through consumer education, the market
for rhino horn has dropped out, and has consequently impacted on rhino horn prices.[143]
Mr David Barsby reported that 10 years ago large rhino horns were selling
for $120 000 apiece, five years later that type of item had reduced to
$40 000 apiece.[144]
5.99
Ms Collette Dinnigan argued that current educational initiatives are lacking
in part because '77 per cent of the Australian population already think the
trade of ivory and horn is illegal in Australia'.[145]
Ms Dinnigan added that along with education, peer pressure plays an important
part in changing consumer and trader activity, and added:
It's like the fur trade here. People aren't putting furs into
their wardrobes and keeping them and wearing them in secret. People are
actually getting rid of their furs, because it's just too much. With what we
know now and, as I said before, education and common knowledge, no-one wants to
wear a fur because of peer pressure and what the community says and what we all
know about it, with big houses in Europe banning the use of fur...If we ban
ivory, peer pressure will not say, 'Let's buy some more ivory and put it in in
secret and look at it in our homes.' It won't be acceptable to have it. I think
that comes through education and with legislation changing and law enforcement
and having a strong voice; the community will very quickly adopt the attitude
that it's not cool to have ivory, because it kills an animal.[146]
5.100
Professor Grant Pink also highlighted the importance of education,
especially in the absence of a law enforcement presence. He explained that without:
...a law enforcement presence, you require more on education,
outreach and partners to actually extend that enforcement network, not in a
responsive perspective but an educative, preventive perspective.[147]
5.101
Education initiatives for traders were also discussed. The committee
raised a concern that the DoEE's engagement with traders was very reactive,
rather than proactive. In response, the DoEE explained that it does:
...have regular communications with the big auction houses
about their items and, as a result of that, we developed a form, which was
mentioned by [IFAW] before, that helps them work out the provenance of the
item. So it's a form of statutory declaration which guides them to the type of
evidence that they might need to establish. Invariably, we also find it happens
the other way: a member of the public or an NGO might contact an auction house,
and that's enough for them to ring us. So we've done a lot of work over the
last few years, which is why we have a good relationship with these auction houses.[148]
5.102
However, whilst the DoEE argued that it engages with traders, evidence
suggests otherwise. As already demonstrated, IFAW's investigation into the
antiques industry highlighted a significant number of traders lacked any
knowledge of CITES, and if they did, they provided incorrect information to
purchasers. Evidence from IFAW and AVAA revealed that all but one AVAA member
was unaware of the DoEE's wildlife statutory declaration.
5.103
The committee also received evidence from the New South Wales Fair Trading
(NSW Fair Trading) and Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) regarding their educational
and regulatory roles (including consumer protection).
5.104
NSW Fair Trading outlined its responsibilities, which include the
'regulation and protection' of consumers and businesses in NSW through
mediation of consumer complaints and 'enforce compliance through licensing,
inspection, investigations, prosecutions and other enforcement actions'.[149]
Further, NSW Fair Trading explained that whilst it is 'happy to assist in any
cooperative efforts with the Commonwealth agencies responsible for the
enforcement of elephant ivory and rhino horn importation bans', presently there
'are no proscriptive provisions specially addressing the regulation' of these
items.[150]
5.105
Specific NSW legislation does not apply to auctioneers that sell
'personal goods and chattels, such as items containing ivory or horn'; however,
auctioneers and retailers of ivory and rhino horn are required to comply with
Australian Consumer Law (administered by the Australian Competition and
Consumer Commission). In Victoria, second-hand dealers and antique dealers are
covered by the Pawnbrokers and Second-hand Dealers Act 1996 (PSHD Act)
but that Act only applies if a good is 'proscribed under the associated
regulations, and the proscribed goods do not include elephant ivory and rhino
horn. Accordingly, dealers do not require a second-hand dealer's licence to
trade in those goods' in Victoria.[151]
NSW Fair Trading clarified that although jewellery is a proscribed item under
the PSHD Act, only applies to gemstones and precious metals.[152]
5.106
With regard to NSW Fair Trading educational and enforcement duties, Mr Peter
Dunphy stated that:
We're always happy to provide information and make sure that
traders are aware of their obligations, regardless of what those are. So we do
certainly promote providing traders with the broadest amount of information
they need to know to perform their duties and to ensure that they're aware of
other obligations under other legislation. In terms of the enforcement of that,
our role is around consumer safety and consumer protection, so our role would
really be in relation to protecting consumers and ensuring that they're safe.
Any ban on that would be really more an environmental ban in terms of environmental
protection, and we'd see that as being outside the scope of our involvement.[153]
5.107
In Victoria, the CAV outlined its regulatory and educational role, which
includes ensuring Victorian businesses comply with consumer laws and consumer
protection. CAV, along with Victoria Police, have oversight of Victoria's Second-Hand
Dealers and Pawnbrokers Act 1998 (SHDP Act).[154]
CAV's educational role includes:
...consumer awareness educational material and information
updates through its Information Services Division. Educational material for
consumers is distributed through CAV's website, and CAV conducts occasional
targeted campaigns through its stakeholders or mainstream media, for examp1e,
when new laws are made which affect consumers, or a current issue affecting
consumers is brought to CAV's attention. CAV also provides educational material
and updates to industry stakeholders and (Business Licensing Authority)-licensed
industry members when legal changes or other changed circumstances may affect
those industries.[155]
5.108
However, the CAV clarified that it 'would not normally educate consumers
or industry groups to raise their awareness of criminal activity' including the
'illegal importation of rhino horn and elephant ivory, unless there was a
demonstrated consumer or fair trading detriment arising from such activity'.[156]
Further, these issues are not typically 'brought to CAV's attention via
industry or consumer groups, unless there are related consumer protection or
fair trading issues'.[157]
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