{"id":"C1933A00029","name":"Customs Tariff (Exchange Adjustment) Act 1933","slug":"customs-tariff-exchange-adjustment-act-1933","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"repealed","isInForce":false,"actNumber":"29 of 1933","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":19767,"registerId":"commonwealth-C1933A00029-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"Repealed","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Customs Tariff (Exchange Adjustment) Act 1933","content":"CUSTOMS TARIFF (EXCHANGE ADJUSTMENT).\n\nNo. 29 of 1933.\n\nAn Act to provide for Adjustments in Duties of Customs consequent upon depreciation in the value of Australian currency in relation to the currencies of countries to goods of which the British Preferential Tariff applies.\n\n\\[Assented to 4th December, 1933.\\]\n\nBE it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—\n\nShort title.\n\n1. This Act may be cited as the Customs Tariff (Exchange Adjustment) Act 1933.\n\n \n\nIncorporation.\n\n2. The Customs Act 1901-1930 shall be incorporated and read as one with this Act.\n\nDefinition.\n\n3. In this Act, except where otherwise clearly intended—\n\n“Customs Tariff proposals” means Customs Tariff proposals (not being proposals relating to primage duty) introduced into the House of Representatives on or after the thirteenth day of October, One thousand nine hundred and thirty-two, and includes any amendment of such proposals;\n\n“goods to which protective duties apply” shall be deemed to be the goods specified in the Schedule to this Act or covered by the Customs Tariff Items so specified;\n\n“the British Preferential Tariff” means the Tariff from time to time in force applying to goods the produce or manufacture of the United Kingdom.\n\nTime of variation of duties.\n\n4. The time of the variation of Duties of Customs effected in accordance with this Act is the fifth day of October, One thousand nine hundred and thirty-three at nine o’clock in the forenoon, reckoned according to standard time in the Territory for the Seat of Government, and this Act shall be deemed to have come into operation at that time.\n\nAdjustment in duties of Customs.\n\n5. The duties of Customs (other than primage duty and duty imposed by the Customs Tariff (Industries Preservation) Act 1921-1922 or any Act amending or in substitution for that Act) which would, but for the provisions of this Act, be payable on goods to which protective duties apply and which are admissible under the British Preferential Tariff and which are entered for home consumption on or after the fifth day of October, One thousand nine hundred and thirty-three, shall be varied in accordance with the following provisions:—\n\n(a) Whenever at the date of exportation of any such goods Australian currency is depreciated to the extent of not less than sixteen and two-thirds per centum in relation to the currency of the British country from which those goods are imported, a deduction from the amount of duty payable on those goods in accordance with any law of the Commonwealth for the time being in force imposing Duties of Customs (other than primage duty and duty imposed by the Customs Tariff (Industries Preservation) Act 1921-1922 or any Act amending or in substitution for that Act) or in accordance with Customs Tariff proposals shall be made of—\n\n(i) one-fourth of that amount of duty; or\n\n(ii) twelve and one-half per centum of the value for duty,\n\nwhichever is the less; and\n\n \n\n(b) Whenever at the date of exportation of any such goods Australian currency is depreciated to the extent of not less than eleven and one-ninth per centum and less than sixteen and two-thirds per centum in relation to the currency of the British country from which those goods are imported, a deduction from the amount of duty payable on those goods in accordance with any law of the Commonwealth for the time being in force imposing Duties of Customs (other than primage duty and duty imposed by the Customs Tariff (Industries Preservation) Act 1921-1922 or any Act amending or in substitution for that Act) or in accordance with Customs Tariff proposals shall be made of—\n\n(i) one-eighth of that amount of duty; or\n\n(ii) six and one-quarter per centum of the value for duty,\n\nwhichever is the less.\n\nVariations prior to the dates of Assent to this Act.\n\n6. In respect of duty paid, prior to the date upon which this Act receives the Royal Assent, on goods to which protective duties apply, the variation made in that duty by way of exchange adjustment as provided in this Act shall not be such as to reduce the duty below that payable under the Customs Tariff 1921-1930.\n\nTHE SCHEDULE.\n\n——\n\nCustoms Tariff Item—\n\n```html\n

2,

44 (e),

62,

4,

44 (f),

63 (a),

5,

46,

64 (a),

6 (b) (as to deferred duty),

47,

65,

49,

67,

7,

50,

68,

8,

51 (c) (2),

69 (c),

9,

51 (e),

70,

10,

52,

71,

11,

53 (a),

72,

16,

53 (c),

74,

17,

53 (d),

75,

27,

54 (a) (1),

76,

28,

54 (a) (2),

78 (d),

29,

54 (a) (3),

78 (e),

30,

54 (a) (4),

78 (f),

31,

54 (a) (5),

78 (g),

33,

54 (b),

78 (h) (1),

36,

56 (b),

78 (h) (3),

37,

56 (c),

79,

38,

57 (b),

80,

39,

57 (c),

81,

40,

57 (d),

82 (a),

41,

58 (a),

82 (b),

42,

58 (c),

82 (c),

44 (b) (2),

58 (d),

82 (d),

44 (c) (2),

59,

82 (e),

44 (c) (3),

60,

82 (f),

44 (d),

61,

82 (g),

\n```\n\n \n\nThe Schedule—continued.\n\nCustoms Tariff Item—\n\n```html\n

82 (h),

130 (a),

172 (b),

83,

131,

173 (a),

84,

133,

176 (c),

85,

136 (a),

176 (d),

87 (a),

136 (b),

176 (e),

88,

136 (c),

176 (f),

89 (b),

136 (d),

176 (h),

91 (b),

136 (e),

176 (i),

93,

136 (f) (1),

177 (a),

94,

136 (f) (2) (as to deferred duty),

177 (b) (3),

96 (b),

178 (b),

97,

136 (g),

178 (c),

98,

137 (a) (2),

178 (d) (1),

99,

137 (b),

178 (e),

101,

138,

179 (a),

102,

139,

179 (b) (6) only as to those goods the rate of duty on which, for the purposes of the Customs Tariff proposals or of any law passed to give effect to those proposals, is determined by an item specified in this Schedule,

103 (a),

140,

104,

141,

105 (a) (1) (b),

143,

105 (aa) (2),

144 (a),

105 (f) (1),

144 (b),

105 (f) (2),

146,

105 (f) (4),

147 (as to deferred duty),

105 (f) (5),

148 (a),

105 (g),

152 (a) (2),

105 (h) (1),

152 (a) (3),

105 (h) (2) (a),

152 (b),

179 (b) (7),

105 (j) (1),

152 (c),

179 (c),

105 (j) (2) (b),

153,

179 (d) (1) (a) (1) (a),

106 (d) (2),

154,

179 (d) (1) (a) (1) (b) (when not exceeding 175 horse-power),

106 (e) (2),

155,

106 (e) (3),

156 (b),

106 (f) (2),

157,

179 (d) (1) (a) (3) (a),

106 (f) (3),

159 (b),

179 (d) (1) (b) (1),

107,

161 (a),

179 (d) (1) (c) (1),

108 (b),

161 (b) (1),

179 (d) (1) (c) (2),

109,

161 (b) (2),

179 (d) (1) (c) (3) (a),

110,

161 (c),

179 (d) (1) (d),

111,

162,

179 (d) (2) (a) (1),

112 (a),

163 (a),

179 (d) (2) (a) (2) (when not exceeding 12,750 k.v.a.),

112 (b) (2),

164,

113 (a),

165,

114 (b),

166,

179 (d) (2) (b) (1),

114 (c),

167,

179 (d) (2) (b) (2) (when not exceeding 1,275 k.v.a.),

114 (d),

168 (b) (1) only as to those goods the rate of duty on which, for the purposes of the Customs Tariff proposals or of any law passed to give effect to those proposals, is determined by an item specified in this Schedule,

114 (e),

114 (f),

179 (d) (2) (c) (1),

114 (g),

179 (d) (2) (d),

114 (h),

179 (d) (3) (a),

115,

179 (d) (3) (c) (as to deferred duty),

116,

117,

179 (d) (4),

118 (b),

179 (d) (5),

118 (c),

179 (e) only as to those goods the rate of duty on which, for the purposes of the Customs Tariff proposals or of any law passed to give effect to those proposals, is determined by an item specified in this Schedule,

119,

120 (a).

170 (a) (1),

120 (aa),

170 (a) (2) (a),

120 (b),

170 (a) (2) (b),

120 (c) (1) (b),

170 (b),

120 (e),

170 (c),

121 (a),

170 (d),

122,

171 (a),

123,

171 (b),

124,

171 (c),

126 (b),

171 (d),

179 (F),

\n```\n\n \n\nThe Schedule—continued.\n\nCustoms Tariff Item—\n\n```html\n

180 (a) (2),

231 (b) (2),

277,

180 (b) (1),

231 (c),

278 (a) (1),

180 (b) (2) (b),

231 (d),

278 (b),

180 (c),

231 (e),

278 (c).

180 (d),

231 (f),

279 (a) (as to deferred duty),

180 (e),

231 (g),

180 (f),

231 (h),

279 (b),

180 (g),

232 (a),

280 (b),

180 (h),

232 (b),

280 (d) (1),

180 (i),

232 (c),

281 (a),

180 (j),

233,

281 (b),

180 (k),

234,

281 (c),

180 (l),

235,

281 (d),

180 (m),

237 (c),

281 (e),

180 (n),

239,

281 (f),

181 (aa),

240,

281 (g),

181 (b),

241 (b),

281 (h),

181 (c),

241 (c),

281 (l) (2),

182,

242 (b) (as to deferred duty),

281 (m),

184,

281 (n),

185,

242 (c),

281 (o),

186 (as to deferred duty).

242 (f),

283,

187 (b),

242 (g),

284 (b),

187 (c),

244 (b),

285 (a) (as to ad valorem rates only),

187 (d),

244 (c),

188,

249 (b),

286 (b),

190,

250 (b),

286 (c),

191,

250 (c),

289 (a),

192,

250 (e),

289 (b),

194 (b) (2),

250 (f),

290 (c) (1),

194 (c),

251 (a),

290 (c) (2) (as to ad valorem rates only),

197 (a),

251 (c),

199,

252,

290 (e),

200,

254 (b),

291 (c) (2),

201,

255,

291 (d),

203,

256,

291 (f) (2),

204 (b),

257,

291 (f) (3),

206,

258,

291 (h),

208 (a),

259,

291 (i) (2),

208 (c),

262 (b) (2),

291 (j),

208 (d),

262 (c),

291 (k),

208 (e),

262 (d),

291 (l),

209,

262 (e,)

291 (m),

210 (a),

262 (f),

291 (n),

211,

264 (a),

292,

213,

264 (b),

293 (b)

215,

264 (c),

293 (c),

216 (b),

264 (d) (1),

294 (a),

219 (a),

265,

294 (b),

219 (b),

266 (a),

295,

220 (b),

266 (b),

296,

222,

266 (c),

297,

225,

267 (a),

298 (b),

226,

268,

299,

227 (a) (as to tallow only),

269 (a),

300 (a),

269 (b),

300 (b),

227 (b),

269 (c),

300 (c),

228 (d),

270,

300 (d),

229 (f) (2),

271,

300 (e),

229 (h)(1),

272,

300 (g),

229 (h) (2),

273,

300 (h),

230,

275 (b),

300 (i),

231 (b) (1),

276,

300 (j),

\n```\n\n \n\nThe Schedule—continued.\n\nCustoms Tariff Item—\n\n```html\n

301 (d),.

334 (s),

376 (e) only as to those goods the rate of duty on which, for the purposes of the Customs Tariff proposals or of any law passed to give effect to those proposals, is determined by an item specified in this Schedule,

302,

334 (t).

303,

334 (u),

304,

336 (b),

305,

337 (b),

306,

338 (a),

318 (a) (1),

340,

318 (a) (2),

341,

318 (a) (4) (a),

342,

319 (a) (1),

343,

319 (a) (2),

344 (a),

319 (a) (3),

344 (c),

376 (f),

319 (a) (5),

346 (d),

376 (g),

319 (a) (6),

346 (e),

380 (a) (1),

319 (b) (1),

346 (f),

381 (b),

320 (b),

352 (a) (1),

381 (c),

322,

352 (a) (4),

381 (e),

323 (b),

352 (b),

384 (a).

324 (a).

353,

385,

324 (c),

354 (a),

386,

324 (d),

355,

388 (b),

325,

356,

390 (a),

326,

357,

391,

328,

359 (b),

392 (a) (4),

329,

359 (c),

392 (c),

330,

359 (d) (1),

392 (d),

331 (b) (2) (a),

359 (d) (2),

392 (e),

331 (c),

359 (d) (3),

392 (f) (1),

332 (a),

359 (e),

393 (a),

332 (b),

359 (f) (1),

393 (d),

332 (c),

359 (f) (2),

394 (b),

332 (d) only as to those goods the rate of duty on which, for the purposes of the Customs Tariff proposals or of any law passed to give effect to those proposals, is determined by an item specified in this Schedule,

359 (f) (3),

394 (c),

359 (f) (5),

394 (d),

359 (f) (7),

397 (a),

359 (f) (8),

397 (b),

359 (f) (9),

397 (c),

359 (g) (1),

397 (f),

359 (g) (2),

398,

359 (g) (3),

402,

359 (g) (4),

403 (b),

359 (g) (5),

410 (b) (3),

359 (g) (6) (a),

410 (d).

332 (e),

359 (g) (7),

411,

332 (f),

359 (g) (8),

419 (b),

332 (g),

360,

419 (d),

333,

363,

420,

334 (f) (1) (as to deferred duty),

364,

422 (a),

365 (a),

424 (a),

334 (f) (2),

365 (b),

424 (b) (1),

334 (g) (1) (a),

365 (c),

424 (d),

334 (g) (3),

365 (d),

425,

334 (i),

374 (b).

426 (b),

334 (j) (as to blotting paper only),

374 (c),

427 (c),

374 (d) (1),

428,

334 (l) (2),

374 (d) (3),

429,

334 (l) (3),

375 (b),

430,

334 (m) (l),

376 (c)

431,

334 (n),

376 (a),

432 (a),

334 (o) (1),

376 (b),

432 (b),

334 (o) (4),

376 (c).

433.

334 (q),

376 (d),

\n```","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"_metrics":{"model":"kimi-k2.5","source":"moonshot-realtime","completionTokens":2287},"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its stated purpose of adjusting customs duties in response to currency depreciation. While the Schedule covers a wide range of goods (hundreds of tariff items), this breadth is necessary to implement the exchange adjustment policy across all protective duties, and does not represent mission creep beyond the original intent described in the long title."},"complexity_factors":["Mathematical calculations requiring precise percentage thresholds (11.11% and 16.67% depreciation triggers)","Dual calculation methods for each tier (percentage of duty vs percentage of value for duty, with 'whichever is the less' comparison)","Extensive Schedule listing approximately 400+ specific Customs Tariff items with sub-items and conditions (e.g., 'as to deferred duty', 'as to tallow only')","Multiple defined terms requiring cross-reference to Customs Tariff 1921-1930 and 'Customs Tariff proposals'","Retrospective operation with specific timing provisions (9:00 AM on 5 October 1933)","Exclusions for primage duty and Customs Tariff (Industries Preservation) Act duties","Conditional application based on 'date of exportation' and 'entered for home consumption'"],"plain_english_summary":"This law automatically reduces import duties on many British and British-colony goods when the Australian pound falls against their currencies, easing the price shock from currency depreciation during the Great Depression. Cuts trigger at specific depreciation bands and are capped as percentages of duty or value.\n\nIt affects importers of scheduled protective goods (textiles, machinery, manufactured items), excludes anti‑dumping and primage duties, took effect 5 Oct 1933, and protects earlier tariff rates paid before the Act."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The Act does not expand or narrow which goods are subject to customs protections; it changes only the effective duty rates for the listed protective goods when specified currency depreciation thresholds are met. Scope remains limited to items in the Schedule and to imports admissible under the British Preferential Tariff, with stated exclusions (primage and Industries Preservation duties) and a retrospective operative date."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple numeric thresholds expressed as fractions (16 2/3% and 11 1/9%) requiring precise currency comparison at date of exportation","Two alternative deduction methods (fraction of the duty or fixed percentage of value for duty) with a 'whichever is the less' cap","Large Schedule cross-referencing many Customs Tariff items and sub-items, creating detailed scope mapping","Retroactive operative date (5 Oct 1933 9am) creating administrative and record‑keeping burdens","Exclusions for primage duty and duties under the Industries Preservation Act add carve-outs to apply in practice","Interaction with the Customs Act 1901–1930 and with 'Customs Tariff proposals' (including proposed laws) increases legal interdependence","Section 6 rule limiting reductions for duties already paid (not to go below earlier tariff), requiring comparison against historical tariff levels","Determination of origin (British country) and admissibility under British Preferential Tariff adds evidentiary and certification requirements"],"plain_english_summary":"Mechanically, this Act reduces customs duties on a long list of tariff items (those listed in the Schedule) for goods admissible under the British Preferential Tariff when Australian currency has fallen by set thresholds against the exporting British country’s currency. It prescribes two depreciation bands with fixed reductions (a fraction of the duty or an ad valorem cap, whichever is less), excludes certain duties, and operates from a specified retrospective date. The change matters to importers, domestic producers covered by protective duties, and customs revenue because it alters effective tax rates and compliance calculations."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/customs-tariff-exchange-adjustment-act-1933","history":"/api/acts/customs-tariff-exchange-adjustment-act-1933/history","analysis":"/api/acts/customs-tariff-exchange-adjustment-act-1933/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/customs-tariff-exchange-adjustment-act-1933/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/customs-tariff-exchange-adjustment-act-1933/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/customs-tariff-exchange-adjustment-act-1933/documents"}}