Powers for Conducting Safeguard Inquiries
Customs Amendment (Safeguard Inquiries) Bill 2026
Senate
House of Representatives
Assent
Topics
economic safeguards import restrictions industry protection international trade trade inquiries
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
Tim Ayres ALP
“I table the explanatory memorandum relating to the bill and move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated into Hansard. Leave granted. The speech read as follows— The Albanese Government supports free and fair trade.”
Leah Blyth LIB
“I rise to speak on the Customs Amendment (Safeguard Inquiries) Bill 2026. The coalition supports this bill. Australian industry has asked for this change, and the case for it is sound.”
Pat Conroy ALP
“I present the explanatory memorandum to this bill and move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Albanese government supports free and fair trade. Since coming to office, we have repaired our trading relationship with China and signed free trade agreements with the European Union, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. We are a trading nation.”
Kevin Hogan NAT
“I rise to speak on the Customs Amendment (Safeguard Inquiries) Bill 2026. The coalition supports this bill. Australian industry has asked for this change, and the case for it is sound. Bringing Australia’s trade remedies together in one specialist agency should make the system easier to use and better able to respond when manufacturers face a surge in imports.”
“I rise today to speak in support of the Customs Amendment (Safeguard Inquiries) 2026. At its heart, this bill is about protecting free and fair trade. It recognises that Australia is a trading nation, supportive of rules based trade and focused on the jobs, growth and opportunity from participating in a free, fair and sustainable international market.”
Matt Burnell ALP
“The Customs Amendment (Safeguard Inquiries) Bill 2026 is about ensuring that Australia has the tools, the expertise and the institutions necessary to protect Australian industry in an increasingly uncertain global trading environment. It reflects a simple principle that should unite every member of this House: when Australian businesses compete, they deserve a fair contest.”
Shayne Neumann ALP
“I’m pleased to speak in support of the Customs Amendment (Safeguard Inquiries) Bill 2026. The Albanese government supports free trade and supports fair trade. Since coming to office, we have repaired our trading relationship with China and signed and/or implemented free trade agreements with the European Union, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.”
Ed Husic ALP
“It is a pleasure to follow the member for Blair on this because I do know what a big deal this is for manufacturing in his electorate, as it is in many electorates. This bit of legislation, for many people who may have accidentally or deliberately tuned into parliament, may seem like an arcane, esoteric bit of work, but it’s actually something that’s been 30 years in the making.”