 The organisation assumed the role of coordinating all civil maritime surveillance on behalf of the Australian government.In October 1998, the Australian Customs Service was transferred to the portfolio of the Attorney-General's Department.That same month, machinery of government changes removed the administration of excise duties from Customs and transferred them to the Australian Taxation Office, with 248 staff transferred by July 1999 and the end of a 98 year history of collecting excise duties on manufactured alcohol, tobacco and petroleum products.