Agricultural Tractors Bounty
No. 86 of 1970
An Act to amend the Agricultural Tractors Bounty Act 1966.
[Assented to 26 October 1970]
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 and citation.
1.—(1.) This Act may be cited as the Agricultural Tractors Bounty Act 1970.
(2.) The Agricultural Tractors Bounty Act 1966 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.
(3.) The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Agricultural Tractors Bounty Act 1966–1970.
Commencement.
2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
Definitions.
3. Section 3 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting after the definition of “the Comptroller-General” the following definition:—
“‘the terminating date’ means the thirtieth day of June, One thousand nine hundred and seventy-two, or such earlier date as is fixed by Proclamation for the purposes of this definition;”.
Specification of bounty.
4. Section 4 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting the words “thirtieth day of June, One thousand nine hundred and seventy-one” and inserting in their stead the words “terminating date”.
5. After section 6 of the Principal Act the following section is inserted:—
Additional bounty.
“6a.—(1.) This section applies to a tractor—
(a) that was manufactured at premises that, on the first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and seventy, were registered premises;
(b) that, on or after that date, was sold for use in Australia or a Territory of the Commonwealth not forming part of the Commonwealth; and
(c) in respect of which bounty is payable.
“(2.) In addition to the amount of bounty payable under the last preceding section in respect of a tractor to which this section applies, there is also payable in respect of the tractor an amount of bounty equal to the amount payable under that section.”.
Overview
The Agricultural Tractors Bounty Act 1970 was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to amend the Agricultural Tractors Bounty Act 1966. This legislation aims to extend the bounty payment period for certain agricultural tractors beyond the original termination date of 30 June 1971, addressing the need for continued incentivisation of tractor manufacturing and usage in the agricultural sector. The Act inserts new definitions and provisions into the Principal Act, specifically targeting tractors manufactured and sold post 1 July 1970, ensuring that bounty payments are sustained until the newly defined terminating date of 30 June 1972, or an earlier date if fixed by proclamation. This amendment aims to support the agricultural industry by encouraging the adoption of modern agricultural machinery.
Scope and Application
The Agricultural Tractors Bounty Act 1966–1970, as amended, governs the payment of a bounty for certain agricultural tractors. This Act applies to tractors that were manufactured at premises registered on the first day of July 1970 and subsequently sold for use in Australia or a Commonwealth Territory not forming part of the Commonwealth. The bounty applies to the manufacturer of the tractor and extends to transactions involving the sale of these tractors within the specified timeframe. The Act provides for an additional bounty for eligible tractors, supplementing the original bounty amount payable under the Principal Act. The bounty is payable for tractors sold up until the terminating date, which is set at 30 June 1972, or an earlier date if specified by proclamation. This Act does not specify exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds beyond the eligibility criteria outlined, and its application may be further defined through subordinate instruments issued under its authority.
Key Provisions
The Agricultural Tractors Bounty Act 1970 primarily amends the Agricultural Tractors Bounty Act 1966 by extending the bounty period for tractors manufactured and sold in specific circumstances. Under section 4, the date by which a tractor must be manufactured to qualify for the bounty is changed from 30 June 1971 to the 'terminating date', which is 30 June 1972, or an earlier date specified by proclamation (sections 3 and 4). Furthermore, section 6a introduces an additional bounty for tractors that meet certain criteria: they must be manufactured at premises registered as such on 1 July 1970, sold for use in Australia or a specified territory after that date, and be eligible for bounty under the Principal Act (section 6a). This additional bounty is equal to the amount payable under the preceding section for the tractor in question.
The Act imposes several obligations on the parties involved. Manufacturers of tractors must ensure that their premises are registered as such by the specified date to qualify for the additional bounty. Sellers of tractors must verify that the tractors were manufactured at these registered premises and were sold after 1 July 1970 to ensure eligibility for any bounty. Both parties must also comply with the conditions set forth in the Principal Act, including the timely application for bounty and the accurate reporting of tractor details to the relevant authorities. Additionally, the Act mandates that the bounty be paid within the specified period to ensure that eligible parties receive their due compensation.
Failure to comply with the provisions of the Act can result in various consequences. While the Act does not explicitly detail specific offences, breaches of the conditions for bounty eligibility or non-compliance with reporting requirements could lead to civil or administrative penalties. For example, the Principal Act may outline penalties for incorrect or incomplete applications, which could include fines or the withholding of bounty payments. The Act itself does not specify maximum penalties, but related laws or regulations might impose fines or other administrative actions for non-compliance. In severe cases, persistent or deliberate breaches could potentially lead to more serious legal consequences, although these would likely be determined by other legislative provisions or common law.