Live-stock Slaughter (Export Inspection Charge) Act 1979 (Cth)

Live-stock Slaughter (Export

Inspection Charge) Act 1979

No. 45 of 1979

An Act to impose a charge on the slaughter of live-stock at premises registered as export establishments under the Exports (Meat) Regulations.

BE IT ENACTED by the Queen, and the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:

Short title

1. This Act may be cited as the Live-stock Slaughter (Export Inspection Charge) Act 1979.

Commencement

2. This Act shall come into operation on 1 July 1979.

Collection Act

3. This Act shall be incorporated and read as one with the Livestock Slaughter (Export Inspection Charge) Collection Act 1979.

Interpretation

4. In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears—

“abattoir” means premises that are registered under the Exports (Meat) Regulations as an export establishment for the carrying on of operations in connection with the slaughtering and dressing of animals from which meat intended for export is obtained;

“cattle” means bovine animals (including buffaloes);

“charge” means charge imposed by this Act;

“live-stock” means cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, horses, donkeys, mules and such other animals as are prescribed.

Imposition of charge

5. (1) Subject to this section, a charge is imposed on the slaughter of live-stock at an abattoir.

(2) Sub-section (1) does not apply to the slaughter of live-stock the carcases of which are, in pursuance of a law of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory, condemned or rejected by an inspector as being unfit for human consumption.

(3) Sub-section (1) does not apply to live-stock, or live-stock included in a class of live-stock, that is exempt from the charge under the regulations.

Rates of charge

6. (1) Subject to this section, the rate of charge on the slaughter of live-stock is such rate as is applicable under the regulations to the class of live-stock in which that live-stock is included.

(2) For the purposes of sub-section (1), different rates of charge may be prescribed in respect of different classes of live-stock.

(3) The rate of charge on the slaughter of live-stock shall not exceed—

(a) in the case of cattle—

(i) where the dressed weight of each carcase exceeds 90 kilograms—$2.40 per head;

(ii) where the dressed weight of each carcase exceeds 40 kilograms but does not exceed 90 kilograms—80 cents per head; and

(iii) where the dressed weight of each carcase does not exceed 40 kilograms—24 cents per head;

(b) in the case of sheep or goats—24 cents per head;

(c) in the case of pigs—80 cents per head; and

(d) in the case of live-stock not falling within paragraph (a), (b) or (c)–$2.40 per head.

 

(4) For the purposes of this section—

(a) a reference to dressed weight, in relation to a carcase, shall be read as a reference to the weight of the carcase immediately after it has been dressed; and

(b) in ascertaining the weight of a carcase immediately after it has been dressed, no adjustment of that weight shall be made on account of shrinkage.

By whom charge payable

7. Charge on the slaughter of any live-stock is payable by the person (including a State or an authority of a State) who owns the live-stock at the time when the slaughter takes place.

Regulations

8. (1) The Governor-General may make regulations for the purposes of sections 4, 5 and 6.

(2) For the purposes of section 5 or 6, a class of livestock may be prescribed by reference to a kind of livestock referred to in the definition of “livestock” in section 4 or in any other manner.