What this does: This order reduces or eliminates the import tax (customs duty) on a specific type of industrial equipment. It makes polypropylene packings for cooling towers cheaper to import into Australia.
Who it affects: Businesses that import cooling tower components—particularly plastic filling material used in industrial cooling systems (like those in power plants, large air-conditioning systems, and factories).
Why it matters: Without this order, these specific polypropylene (plastic) packings would be taxed at standard rates when entering Australia. This order applies Item 50 of Schedule 4 to the Customs Tariff Act 1995, which typically allows these goods to enter duty-free or at a significantly reduced rate, cutting costs for industries that rely on cooling towers.
Key details:
- Goods covered: Packings made of polypropylene specifically designed for cooling towers (tariff classification 3926.90.90)
- Effective from: 28 March 2007
- Authority: Made under section 269P of the Customs Act 1901