On 10 June 1985 legislation was passed in Parliament to establish an Australian Customs Service as a statutory authority with a separate identity within the Industry, Technology and Commerce portfolio. The Service began operating on 1 July 1985.

Authorised officers from the Branch may exercise the following powers:

 examine goods subject to customs control;
 question or search persons and search packages, containers, etc.,  
  for the purposes of customs control;
 patrol coasts, shores, ports, rivers, banks, beaches or railways;
 seize or impound goods, including animals and plants, suspected of
  being involved in the contravention of customs and excise laws, and
  quarantine and other laws;
 require the identification of crew, prevent or arrest illegal
  immigrants entering Australia or prevent and arrest a deportee 
 leaving a vessel on which he or she has been placed;
 detain ships until light dues are paid;
 require persons to leave ships and make arrests pursuant to the
  Navigation Act 1912;
 for the purposes of the Banking (Foreign Exchange) Regulations,
  question persons leaving Australia and search them for
  articles in their possession, and board vessels to carry out such
  duties;
 require proof of proper entry of goods subject to customs control; 
 exercise the right of access to licensed warehouses;
 enter, inspect and search premises; search vehicles, ships, aircraft
  and goods for the purposes of the Excise Act 1901;
 detain, search and, in certain circumstances, arrest persons
  pursuant to the Excise Act 1901;
 in certain circumstances, arrest persons pursuant to the Customs Act
  1901;
 for the purposes of the Distillation Act 1901, enter and search
  premises;
 stop and question persons and search goods being conveyed;
 stop and search vehicles and boats and take samples; examine
  documents. 

Final address for CA 4586 is:

Customs House
1010 LaTrobe Street
MELBOURNE DOCKLANDS VIC

Postal address
GPO Box 2809
MELBOURNE VIC 3001