So we are now into the year 2018 and we all hope it will be a year of great success for everyone! Hopefully the Christmas break was wonderful and you found some time to relax and recharge the batteries for what promises to be a great year ahead.

Thank you again for your support of Tomax Logistics in 2017, we love you for it. We've been working over recent times to put together our list of goals for the Tomax Group in 2018. High on the list is an improvement in our customer service levels, and the amount of contact we have with you. We aim to be in touch a lot more this year, to keep you informed, to listen to you, to help you analyse your supply chain operations, and grow your business. Best of luck for the new year, we will be in touch soon!

**!! HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM EVERYONE AT TOMAX !!**

Over recent years the Australian Customs Service has been rebranded to the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, then to the Australian Border Force (ABF). The ABF have now been reshuffled to fall within the newly created Home Affairs Portfolio. What was www.customs.gov.au, then www.border.gov.au, will soon become www.abf.gov.au, but for the meantime is actually www.homeaffairs.gov.au. Having trouble keeping up? So are we. What do all these changes cost? Is this where all the increases in Customs Electronic Entry fees (Import Processing Charges) actually go - into covering the cost of so many rebrands, re-developments, and new stationery?

The last few months have seen a great many problems with the Customs system called the ICS (Interactive Cargo System). The system crashed on several occasions and at other times message processing delays exceeded 4-5 hours. These delays can have a serious impact on the clearance and release of cargo consignments, and have often resulted in storage costs and frustration. Given the extremely high cost of developing the ICS, as well as the exepensive ongoing maintenance, all paid by us as taxpayers and importers, we should expect and demand better service than this from Customs. Perhaps instead of spending so much money on multiple rebrands and department shuffles, the funds could be better allocated to an improvement in services and systems.

The MUA (Maritime Union of Australia) will hold their annual Picnic Day next Tuesday 9th January. As a result, the terminals will be closed from late Monday night until late Tuesday night and no containers will be able to be collected that day. This may result in some backlogs on deliveries and delays for cargo. If you have any queries or concerns please contact our transport team via email to transport@tomax.com.au.

Some One-Liners for the New Year

Just heard that in 2018 there will be a new device that can turn thoughts into speech. I have had that for years, it's called alcohol.

I love when they drop the ball in Times Square. It's a nice reminder of what I did all year.

My brother's New Year's resolution is to move out of my parent's house. You'd think after 49 years he'd try another one.

My new year’s resolution is to get better at pretending to know the words to Auld Lang Syne.

My wife still hasn't told me what my New Year's resolutions are.

On New Year's Eve, Daniel was in no shape to drive, so he sensibly left his van in the car park and walked home. As he was wobbling along, he was stopped by a policeman. 'What are you doing out here at four o'clock in the morning?', asked the police officer. 'I'm on my way to a lecture', answered Daniel. 'And who on earth, in their right mind, is going to give a lecture at this time on New Year's Eve?', enquired the constable sarcastically. 'My wife', slurred Daniel grimly.