Bounty (Books) Act 1986
Act No. 127 of 1986 as amended
[Note: This Act was repealed by Act No. 9 of 2006 on 23 March 2006]
This compilation was prepared on 16 October 2001
taking into account amendments up to Act No. 140 of 2001
The text of any of those amendments not in force
on that date is appended in the Notes section
Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing,
Attorney‑General’s Department, Canberra
An Act to provide for the payment of bounty on the production of certain books
Part I—Preliminary
1 Short title [see Note 1]
This Act may be cited as the Bounty (Books) Act 1986.
2 Commencement
This Act shall come into operation on 1 January 1987.
3 General administration of Act
The Chief Executive Officer of Customs has the general administration of this Act.
4 Interpretation
(1) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:
accounting period, in relation to a printer of books or a publisher of books, has the meaning given by section 8.
advance means an advance on account of bounty under section 13.
advertising includes printed material in the form of logos, names of bodies corporate, trade marks and brand names:
(a) for which a fee or other consideration is paid or payable; and
(b) which is intended to draw a person’s attention to:
(i) goods or services or the provider of goods or services; or
(ii) events or the organiser of an event; or
(iii) any commercial operation or activity.
approved form means a form approved by the CEO in writing.
authorised officer means a person who is an authorised officer for the purposes of this Act by virtue of an appointment under section 22.
book means a publication that is in book form.
bountiable book means a book that, at the time its production is completed, is a book that, if it were imported into Australia, would be:
(a) goods in respect of which duty of Customs would not be payable; and
(b) goods to which heading 4901, 4903, 4904, 4905, 9503 or 9504 in Schedule 3 to the Tariff Act would apply;
but does not include a book that, at that time, is an ineligible book.
bounty means bounty under this Act.
bounty period means the period commencing on 1 January 1987 and ending on 31 December 1997.
CEO means the Chief Executive Officer of Customs.
children’s book means a book intended for children, whether with or without pictures, of which the text (if any) is not less than 3 millimetres in height measured on a lower case “x”.
Collector has the same meaning as in the Customs Act 1901.
contents, in relation to a book, means the matter in the book, and includes any text, picture, map or plan in the book.
cover, in relation to a book, includes a protective cover.
educational book means a book intended for, or…
Overview
The Bounty (Books) Act 1986, enacted by the Australian Parliament, was designed to provide for the payment of bounty on the production of certain books within Australia. The Act aimed to support the local book industry by offering financial incentives for the production of books that met specific criteria, thus encouraging domestic publishing and reducing reliance on imported books. The Bounty (Books) Act 1986 was repealed by the Bounty and Subsidy Legislation Amendment Act 2006, which came into effect on 23 March 2006, indicating a shift in policy or the completion of the Act's intended objectives.
Scope and Application
The Bounty (Books) Act 1986 applied throughout Australia, providing for the payment of bounty on the production of certain books within the country. This legislation was applicable to entities involved in the printing and publishing of books, specifically those who engaged in the production processes of books that were considered "bountiable books." Bountiable books were defined as publications in book form, excluding certain ineligible books such as magazines, annual reports, directories, advertising-heavy books, educational books with fewer than 16 printed pages, and others as outlined in the Act. The bounty was calculated as a percentage of the publisher's production cost of the book and varied based on the production date, with the rates set to decrease progressively over time. The Act was in force from 1 January 1987 until its repeal on 23 March 2006. The bounty payment process included provisions for registration, record-keeping, and the ability of authorised officers to inspect and take stock of production and accounts. Additionally, the Act included penalties and enforcement mechanisms for non-compliance, including the potential recovery of bounty and fines. The Act was subject to amendments by various subsequent legislative acts, which modified its provisions to adjust bounty rates, administrative procedures, and enforcement measures.
Key Provisions
- The Bounty (Books) Act 1986 provides for the payment of bounty on the production of certain books in Australia. The Act outlines the eligibility criteria for books to be considered 'bountiable books', which must be in book form, not ineligible, and meet specific production and content requirements. Bounty is payable at various rates, decreasing over time from 20% to 4.5%, depending on the production date of the book. The bounty is payable to the publisher or printer of the book, provided they are registered under the Act and meet other specified conditions.
- The Act imposes several obligations on the parties it governs. For instance, entities involved in the production and publication of books must register under the Act if they wish to be eligible for bounty payments. They must maintain accurate records and accounts of their production processes and costs, and provide these to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) upon request. Additionally, entities must comply with any conditions prescribed by the CEO for the production of books or the registration of persons. Failure to comply with these obligations can result in refusal of bounty payments or other administrative penalties.
- The Act also outlines various offences and penalties for breaches. For example, knowingly making a false claim for bounty exceeding $100 attracts a penalty of up to $1,000 for natural persons and $5,000 for body corporates. Similarly, refusing to attend before an authorised officer, take an oath, or answer questions and produce documents when required can result in fines and imprisonment. In cases of conviction for bounty-related offences, the court may order the offender to refund any bounty obtained wrongfully. The Act allows for the recovery of bounties through civil proceedings and provides that the costs of such proceedings are payable under the relevant court certificate.
- Area of Law
- Commercial Law
- Taxation Law
- Instrument
- Act
- Concepts
- Commencement Provisions
- Regulatory Standards
- Reporting & Disclosure Obligations
- Licensing & Registration
- Enforcement Powers
- Repeal & Amendment
