Travellers should be prepared for lengthy queues on arrival in all major Australian airports when the government introduces cuts to the Duty Free tobacco allowance, according to the Australian Airports Association (AAA).
 

Passengers are expected to queue longer through the primary and secondary lines for bag search checks on tobacco or as those in the line are forced to surrender their cigarettes or pay duty on tobacco products.
 

AAA Chief Executive Officer Ms Caroline Wilkie said most passengers will be completely unaware of the changes until they reach the primary line.
 

"We know there will be no advertising of the change in China until November - two months after the restriction starts ‐ and China is one of the highest tobacco user countries in the world.
 

"We know the education campaign will not begin overseas until 1 September and will not involve radio, television or newspapers. Consequently people will arrive from other countries with no knowledge of this new restriction.
 

"We know Customs do not have enough staff to manage the increased workload.
 

"We know passengers will spend less time in duty free stores on arrival and instead proceed straight to the primary line, creating longer queues.
 

"We have been advised overseas based duty free retailers will not advise those travelling to Australia of the changes to allowances, as they will lose sales.
 

"We know the new restrictions will mean Australia doesn't comply with known international duty free standards and conventions, causing added confusion.
 

"This is the perfect storm waiting to happen and in the long term it is Australia's tourism industry that will face the damage," Ms Wilkie said.
 

"Airports are concerned that implementing this new restriction tomorrow will cause significant pressure on airport infrastructure and create major delays at the primary line because Customs have not been given enough time or money to deliver an education campaign and operational plan for a smooth implementation process.

We have asked the Government to defer the implementation date until 1 March 2013, but our requests have been ignored."
 

"Travellers are already experiencing delays being processed as they enter Australia at a number of our international airports due to last year's cuts to Customs staff. This ill‐ considered implementation date for the duty free tobacco cuts is going to make an already dire situation disastrous."
 

Last year's Federal budget included cuts of $34 million over four years from the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, resulting in a reduction of 70 Customs staff across Australia's eight capital city airports.
 

The regulated passenger processing target was also adjusted, which saw an additional 24 minutes added to the acceptable queuing time for Customs processing at Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth airports during peak periods.
 

Ms Wilkie said the cuts to the duty free tobacco allowance and the September implementation date come at a time of vulnerability for Australian tourism.
 

"Australian airports invest billions of dollars to improve the passenger experience. This initiative from the Government will have serious consequences for our nation's reputation with travellers and a direct impact on repeat visitation of international tourists.

"The timing of these new restrictions is even more unfortunate considering the hard work currently underway to encourage people from Asia to come to Australia despite the mess that will be waiting for them on arrival."
 

The Federal Government has proposed that as of 1 September 2012, visitors entering Australia will no longer be able to bring a carton of cigarettes into Australia duty free. Instead, the amount of duty free tobacco allowed inbound by an adult over 18 will be reduced to 50 cigarettes or 50 mg of tobacco.

Media Enquires:
Rebecca Masci
Public Affairs Manager
AAA
Mobile: 0434 160 238
rmasci@airports.asn.au