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CONTENTS
Live-stock (Exporters) Export Charge Bill
1997
Date Introduced: 1 October 1997
House: House of Representatives
Portfolio: Primary Industries and Energy
Commencement: On the same day as Part 3 of the
proposed Australian Meat and Live- stock Industry Act
1997, that is, on Proclamation or nine months and one day
after Royal Assent, whichever is first.
To impose a charge, payable by exporters, on the lambs, sheep
and goats exported from Australia.
Under existing law a charge is imposed by the Live-stock
Export Charge Act 1977 on lambs, sheep, goats and buffalo
exported from Australia. The charge is payable by the exporter.
The Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Act
1991 provides for the collection of the charge.
Proceeds raised by the charge are apportioned between the Meat
Industry Council (MIC), Australian Meat and Live-stock Corporation
(AMLC), Meat Research Corporation (MRC) and the Australian Animal
Health Council Limited (AAHC).
The Live-stock Export Charge Act 1997 is being repealed
by item 1 of Schedule 4 of the Australian Meat and
Live-stock Industry (Repeals and Consequential Provisions) Bill
1997.
This Bill forms part of a package of 17 Bills restructuring the
regulatory framework of the Australian meat and live-stock
industry. Under existing levy and charge arrangements, funds raised
primarily go towards funding the MIC, AMLC and MRC. Under the
proposed arrangements the government intends that industry
contributions will be sourced on a statutory and non-statutory
basis. The collection of statutory levies is intended to be based
on the current system but with changes providing for a transaction
levy on sheep, lambs and goats, replacing the current livestock
slaughter levy, and a separate transaction levy on grain fed
cattle.
The rationale given by the Minister in the Second Reading Speech
to the Australian Meat and Live-stock Industry Bill 1997 for the
transaction levy approach is:
The transaction levy approach for sheep, lambs and goats was
adopted at the request of a clear majority of industry whose
submission met all of the requirements of the government's levy
principles. A similar request was also submitted by the grain fed
cattle industry sector for a separate cattle transaction levy.
Again this submission met each of the Government's levy
principles.
The existing levy and charge imposition Acts have been modified
to provide for clear sectoral ownership.(1)
In relation to non-statutory contributions, the government is
setting the processor and exporter levies at zero. It should be
noted that the Minister in the Second Reading Speech to the Bill
issues a warning in respect of such contributions, that is:
Should the non-statutory contributions by processors and
livestock exporters fail to meet agreed funding levels for joint
industry functions, and as specifically agreed by these two
sectors, the Government has their prior agreement to maintain
levies at a required level to ensure there is adequate
funding.(2)
Under the proposed arrangements, the Government intends that
decisions on levels of levies and charges be the responsibility of
the peak industry councils.
In respect to this Bill, the Minister in the Second Reading
Speech to the Australian Meat and Live-stock Industry Bill 1997
states:
The Live-stock Export Charge Act 1977 will be
replaced by two new live-stock export charges Acts which deal
separately with producers and exporters. This will also allow for
subsequent reduction of the export sector components to
zero.(3)
Clause 4 imposes a charge on the export of live-stock (ie.
sheep, lambs and goats) from Australia. However, the charge will
not be payable in respect of live-stock declared by the Minister to
be exempt from the charge (clause 5). The
regulations may provide that no amount of charge is payable by
exporters of live-stock (clause 6).
Clauses 7-9 provides that the rate of charge on
the export of each head of sheep, lambs and goats will be:
- a prescribed amount up to 55 cents for sheep and goats and 50
cents for lambs, for payment to the marketing body (see
clauses 60-66 of the Australian Meat and
Live-stock Industry Bill 1997);
- a prescribed amount up to 25 cents for sheep, lambs and goats,
for payment to the research body (see clauses
60-66 of the Australian Meat and Live-stock Industry Bill
1997).
The charge will be payable by the exporter (clause
10).
- Second Reading Speech, Australian Meat and Live-stock Industry
Bill 1997:10
- Ibid: 11
- Ibid: 15
Ian Ireland
4 November 1997
Bills Digest Service
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ISSN 1328-8091
© Commonwealth of Australia 1997
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1997.
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Last updated: 12 November 1997
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