Comptroller General of Customs v Zappia

Customs and excise – Customs control – Dutiable goods – Possession, custody or control of dutiable goods – Where company held warehouse licence under Customs Act 1901 (Cth) – Where dutiable goods stolen from company's warehouse before goods entered for home consumption – Where respondent employed by company as general manager and warehouse manager – Where s 35A(1) of Customs Act relevantly provided that a person who "has, or has been entrusted with, the possession, custody or control" of dutiable goods subject to customs control and who fails to keep goods safely shall, on demand by Collector, pay amount equal to customs duty which would have been payable if goods had been entered for home consumption on day of demand – Where respondent served with demand by Collector under s 35A(1) – Where respondent applied to Administrative Appeals Tribunal for review of Collector's demand – Where Tribunal found respondent directed what was to happen to goods on day-to-day basis – Whether respondent was person who "has, or has been entrusted with, the possession, custody or control" of dutiable goods subject to customs control.

Words and phrases – "authority to deal with", "Collector", "customs control", "dutiable goods", "employee", "fails to keep the goods safely", "has, or has been entrusted with", "home consumption", "management or control", "operational control", "owner", "possession, custody or control", "power or authority", "warehouse licence".

Customs Act 1901 (Cth) – ss 30, 35A, 36, 37, Pt V.