Wool Research Act 1957 (Cth)

WOOL RESEARCH.

No. 26 of 1957.

An Act to establish a Wool Research Trust Fund, and for purposes connected therewith.

[Assented to 30th May, 1957.]

BE it enacted by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title.

1.This Act may be cited as the Wool Research Act 1957.

Commencement.

2.This Act shall come into operation on the first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and fifty-seven.

Repeal and saving.

3.—(1.) The Wool Industry Fund Act 1946 is repealed.

(2.) Upon the date of commencement of this Act—

(a)an amount equal to the amount which, immediately before that date, stood to the credit of the Wool Industry Fund established by the Wool Industry Fund Act 1946 shall be credited to the Wool Research Trust Fund established by this Act; and

 

(b)the investments which, immediately before that date, represented any of the moneys standing to the credit of the Wool Industry Fund shall be deemed to represent moneys standing to the credit of the Wool Research Trust Fund.

(3.) Income accrued before the date of commencement of this Act from the investments representing moneys standing to the credit of the Wool Industry Fund established by the Wool Industry Fund Act 1946 but not paid to the credit of that Fund before that date shall be paid to the credit of the Wool Research Trust Fund established by this Act.

(4.) A reference in the Wool Realization (Distribution of Profits) Act 1948–1955 to the Wool Industry Fund established under the Wool Industry Fund Act 1946 shall, after the commencement of this Act, be read as a reference to the Wool Research Trust Fund established by this Act.

(5.) Where, before the date of commencement of this Act, approval was given under section six of the Wool Industry Fund Act 1946 for the application of an amount out of moneys standing to the credit of the Wool Industry Fund established by that Act and the whole of that amount was not, before that date, paid out of that Fund, the like approval shall be deemed to have been given under this Act for the application of an amount equal to the balance of that amount out of moneys standing to the credit of the Wool Research Trust Fund established by this Act.

Definitions.

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

“the Committee” means the Wool Research Committee established in pursuance of section twelve of this Act;

“the Fund” means the Wool Research Trust Fund established by this Act;

“wool” means wool which has been shorn from sheep.

Wool Research Trust Fund.

5.—(1.) A Fund is hereby established to be known as the Wool Research Trust Fund.

(2.) The Fund is a Trust Account for the purposes of section sixty-two a of the Audit Act 1901–1955.

Moneys to be paid into the Fund.

6.—(1.) There shall be paid into the Fund—

(a)amounts equal to twice the amounts of tax received by the Commissioner of Taxation by virtue of paragraph (b) of sub-section (1.) of section six of the Wool Tax Act (No. 1) 1957 and by virtue of paragraph (b) of sub-section (1.) of section six of the Wool Tax Act (No. 2) 1957;

 

(b) in respect of each financial year—

(i) the sum of Two shillings for each bale of wool;

(ii) the sum of One shilling for each fadge or butt of wool; and

(iii) the sum of Fourpence for each bag of wool,

in respect of which tax is paid in that financial year under the Wool Tax Act (No. 1) 1957 or under the Wool Tax Act (No. 2) 1957;

(c) moneys paid by any person to the Commonwealth for the purposes of the Fund; and

(d) interest from the investment of moneys standing to the credit of the Fund.

(2.) For the purposes of paragraph (b)of the last preceding sub-section, payment of tax in respect of any wool under the Wool Tax Act (No. 1) 1952 or under the Wool Tax Act (No. 2) 1952 after the commencement of this Act shall be deemed to be payment of tax in respect of that wool under the Wool Tax Act (No. 1) 1957 or under the Wool Tax Act (No. 2) 1957, as the case may be.

(3.) The Consolidated Revenue Fund is appropriated to the extent necessary for the purposes of paragraphs (a) and (b)of sub-section (1.) of this section.

Investment of moneys standing to the credit of the Fund.

7.—(1.) Moneys standing to the credit of the Fund may be invested by the Treasurer—

(a) in securities of, or guaranteed by, the Commonwealth or a State; or

(b) on deposit in a bank.

(2.) The Committee may make recommendations to the Treasurer with respect to the investment, in accordance with the last preceding sub-section, of moneys standing to the credit of the Fund.

Application of the Fund.

8.—(1.) Subject to the next succeeding sub-section, amounts standing to the credit of the Fund may be paid out of the Fund, with the approval of the Minister—

(a) for a purpose referred to in the next succeeding section;

(b) for the payment of fees and allowances to persons appointed by the Minister under section eleven of this Act; or

(c) for the payment of fees, allowances or expenses payable to a member of the Committee under section fifteen of this Act,

and not otherwise.

 

(2.) The Minister shall not exercise his powers under the last preceding sub-section to approve the payment of moneys from the Fund for a purpose referred to in the next succeeding section unless—

(a) the Committee has recommended the payment; and

(b) he has consulted with the Minister of State administering the Science and Industry Research Act 1949 with respect to the payment.

Purposes for which moneys may be paid from the Fund.

9.The purposes in respect of which expenditure may be approved under the last preceding section are purposes in relation to the following matters:—

(a) scientific or economic research in connexion with the production or use of wool, or of goods made wholly or partly from wool;

(b) the application of the results of research referred to in the last preceding paragraph;

(c) the training of persons in connexion with the wool industry;

(d) the dissemination of information and advice relating to scientific, economic and technical matters in connexion with the wool industry;

(e) the publication of scientific and technical reports, periodicals, books and papers in connexion with any research referred to in paragraph (a) of this section; and

(f) any purpose incidental to a matter referred to in the preceding paragraphs of this section.

Agreements.

10.The Minister, or an officer authorized by the Minister to act under this section, may, on behalf of the Commonwealth, enter into such agreements as he thinks fit for the purposes of, or in connexion with, any research or other matter or thing to be done or performed with moneys provided in whole or in part out of the Fund.

Appointment of advisers.

11.—(1.) The Minister may, upon the recommendation of the Committee, appoint persons to advise the Committee in relation to any purpose in respect of which expenditure may be approved under section eight of this Act.

(2.) A person appointed under the last preceding sub-section shall be paid such fees and allowances as the Minister determines.

Wool Research Committee.

12.—(1.) For the purposes of this Act, there shall be a Wool Research Committee, which shall consist of—

(a) the Chairman of the Australian Wool Bureau established by the Wool Use Promotion Act 1953;

(b) one member to represent the Department of Primary Industry;

 

(c) two members to represent the organization known as the Australian Woolgrowers’ Council;

(d) two members to represent the organization known as the Australian Wool and Meat Producers’ Federation;

(e) one member to represent the organization known as The Associated Woollen and Worsted Textile Manufacturers of Australia;

(f) one member to represent such Universities in Australia as engage in research related to the wool industry; and

(g) one member to represent the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization.

(2.) The members of the Committee specified in paragraphs (b) to (g)(inclusive) of the last preceding sub-section shall be appointed by the Minister and hold office during the pleasure of the Minister.

(3.) A member to represent an organization referred to in paragraph (c), (d), (e) or (g) of sub-section (1.) of this section shall be appointed upon the nomination of that organization.

(4.) A member to represent the Universities referred to in paragraph (f) of sub-section (1.) of this section shall be appointed upon the nomination of those Universities.

(5.) Where an organization, or the Universities, upon the nomination of which a person was appointed to be a member of the Committee requests the Minister to do so, the Minister shall terminate the appointment of that person as such a member.

(6.) The appointment of a member of the Committee is not invalidated and shall not be called in question by reason of a defect or irregularity in connexion with his nomination.

(7.) The exercise of a power or the performance of a function by the Committee is not invalidated by reason only of there being a vacancy in the membership of the Committee.

Chairman of the Committee.

13.—(1.) The member of the Committee who represents the Department of Primary Industry shall be the Chairman of the Committee.

(2.) At a meeting of the Committee at which the Chairman is not present the members present shall elect one of their number to act as chairman at that meeting.

Quorum and voting.

14.At a meeting of the Committee—

(a) six members form a quorum;

(b) the Chairman, or, in his absence, the member elected by the members present to act as chairman, shall preside;

(c) all questions shall be decided by a majority of votes of the members present and voting; and

 

(d)the Chairman, or other member presiding, has a deliberative vote and, in the event of an equality of votes, also has a casting vote.

Fees, allowances and expenses.

15.—(1.) Subject to the next succeeding sub-section, members of the Committee shall be paid, in respect of attendance at meetings of the Committee or while engaged (whether in Australia or overseas), with the approval of the Committee, on business of the Committee such fees and allowances as the Minister determines.

(2.) If a member of the Committee is also a member of the Parliament of the Commonwealth or of a State, he shall not be paid fees and allowances under the last preceding sub-section, but shall be reimbursed such expenses as he reasonably incurs by reason of his attendance at meetings of the Committee or of his engagement (whether in Australia or overseas), with the approval of the Committee, on business of the Committee.

Annual report.

16.The Minister shall, as soon as practicable after each thirtieth day of June, prepare and lay before each House of the Parliament a report on the operation of this Act during the year that ended on that date.

Regulations.

17.