Customs IT creates Xmas pressure
Friday, December 2, 2005

The Australian Customs IT fiasco was still causing severe pressure on logistics companies, according to Bluefreight director Richard Dexter.

He said the $250 million new Customs computer system meant that processing imports for customs clearance took four hours when under the previous legacy systems it took 10 minutes.

"Customers understand the delays but don't like it.

"Major retailers are angry because containers are in storage and the goods are not on their shelves. The retailers are squeezing our industry and also the government."

With Customs admitting design flaws which have caused the delays at sea and air ports, the government could no longer claim that the industry concerns were a 'media beat up'.

It appears now that the backlog caused by the introduction of the new system in October could take to January or Februaryu to clear.

Bluefreight, a member of Aeroceanetwork the non-exclusive network of professional logistics and international freight forwarders, had to hire moree staff and work longer hours to cope with the Customs IT problems.

He said some customs agents asnd freight forwarders were struggling financially due to the Customs IT problems.

"We are so far behind the 8 ball here.

"And reverting to manual systems to help clear the backlog was a backward step."

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