Customs Legislation Amendment (False Trade Marks Infringement Notices) Bill 2026; Third Reading

Summary

Australia's border agency (the Australian Border Force) will gain a faster way to punish people who try to import counterfeit goods — fake versions of products with registered trade marks. Instead of always taking legal action through court, customs officers can now issue on-the-spot infringement notices (similar to fines) to importers caught with counterfeit items, making enforcement quicker and easier. The change amends the Commerce (Trade Descriptions) Act 1905 and the Customs Regulation 2015 to create a new strict liability offence for importing fake branded goods and allow the border force to issue these notices as an alternative to prosecution. This matters because it gives Australia's customs authorities a practical tool to crack down on counterfeiting without court delays, protecting legitimate businesses and consumers from fake products entering the market.

What happens at this stage

The final vote in this chamber on the bill as a whole, after all amendments have been considered. If it passes, the bill moves to the other chamber to go through the same process. If both chambers have already agreed to identical text, the bill proceeds directly to Royal Assent.

Next: The other chamber, which runs the same process from First Reading, or Royal Assent if both chambers have already agreed