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Business operations/CBFCA Bussiness Services (2)


Some of the features of CBFCA membership :

Legal Support

The CBFCA has provided an opportunity for business members to receive legal advice by way of access to Hunt & Hunt Lawyers who provide a comprehensive range of services to CBFCA members.

The legal support service of Hunt &Hunt is provided by Mr. Andrew Hudson, Partner, responsible for the Customs, Trade and Transport law practices. The initial contact with Hunt & Hunt, to access the exclusive service for CBFCA business members is through the CBFCA National Office.

A comment provided by Andrew Hudson related to the legal support services.

Business members have been able to benefit from the availability of preliminary legal advice without charge due thanks to the CBFCA's retainer arrangements with Hunt & Hunt. Of recent time, members have been able to secure initial advice on claims for compensation arising out of ICS issues, assistance with strategies to respond to queries arising out of Customs audits, enforcing liens over cargo to recover outstanding charges and managing potential liability under new chain of responsibility legislation. Charges for work beyond the preliminary stage are rendered at a special concessionary rate negotiated by the CBFCA with Hunt & Hunt.

Industrial Relations Support

The CBFCA has provided an opportunity for business members to receive advice by way of access to IR Australia Pty Ltd. With IR Australia the CBFCA is able to assist its business members structuring their operations to minimize and manage their industrial relations and other associated risk.

The service of IR Australia is delivered by Mr. Peter Rochfort, Principal who specialises in industrial relations law. The initial contact for IR Australia, an exclusive service for CBFCA business members is through the CBFCA National Office.

A comment provided by from Sarah McKinnon – Workplace Relations Adviser - IR Australia Pty Ltd related to the industrial relations support services.

IR Australia has had a lot of contact from CBFCA members in recent months inquiring about the federal government's new Work Choices legislation. Some attended our Work Choices seminars in late March / early April to learn about its effect on their business. Many were surprised to learn about some of the changes under the legislation, including new leave entitlements for employees in certain cases, increased sick leave entitlements and a different mechanism for calculating annual leave.

Workplace Agreements are already well underway for some of the larger operators in the industry because of the improved opportunities for flexible working conditions under the legislation. This is something most members should be considering, if they are not already. For those who have never seen a Workplace Agreement, we have developed a template Agreement for industry members which complies with the legislation and can be adapted to individual workplaces. This is available either through the CBFCA or directly through IR Australia.

We have also dealt with numerous Industry Award queries under our retainer with the CBFCA this year, recently in relation to issues such as public holidays over Easter, sick leave and long service leave entitlements and termination of employment. Members who have queries related to the award or its interpretation are welcome to contact us for information at no charge. Fees do apply for services outside the scope of our retainer with the CBFCA.

Professional Development & Training

The CBFCA provides a comprehensive professional development and training program to assist members in meeting their informed compliance obligations with the relevant regulatory bodies in the international trade logistics sector. Training that meet the needs of freight forwarding organisations includes a range of dangerous goods courses that meet the strict accreditation requirements of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and other regulatory bodies including the Department of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS).

The CBFCA is also the provider of industry training for the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) delivering both classroom style accreditation training as well as reaccreditation training via an online format that enables licensed customs brokers to meet their obligations in the Broker Accreditation Scheme (BAS).

The CBFCA delivers the National Customs Brokers Course (NCBC), a world-class course of study using innovative virtual classroom technology that is the prescribed course of study under Part XI of the Customs Act for persons wishing to become licensed as customs brokers. Graduates of the NCBC are also entitled to entry into the post-graduate program through the Centre for Customs and Excise Studies at the University of Canberra.

Student Support

As a new initiative to support and develop the younger people in our industry the CBFCA has provided the opportunity for Students members to attend regional Conventions and Member Forums FREE of charge, which will assist students to develop professionally.