Royal Commission on Customs and Excise Tariffs
Tariff Commission · Royal Commission on the Commonwealth Tariff
12 December 1904 – 9 August 1907
The “Tariff Commission”: a commission of members of Parliament that took evidence, industry by industry, on the operation of the 1902 customs and excise tariff and on claims for higher protection.
How it came into existence
Appointed by the Reid–McLean government by Letters Patent dated 12 December 1904, as a compromise on the tariff between free traders and protectionists. John Quick MHR was its chairman from 1905 to 1907; its members included J. M. Fowler and W. G. Higgs.
Changes during its life
- August 1906Progress reports on agricultural machinery and stripper harvesters recommended higher duties, conditional on fair wages and reasonable prices.
How it ended
It worked through a long series of progress reports, often split between protectionist and free-trade members, and its final report was presented on 9 August 1907, ending the commission. Its findings fed into the Deakin government’s “New Protection” policy and the higher duties of the Customs Tariff 1908 (the Lyne tariff).
Main functions
- Effect of the tariff on Australian industries, industry by industry
- Claims for increased protection
- Wages and prices in protected industries
Where it sits
Last in the portfolio of Department of Trade and Customs.
Lineage
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