EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1983 No. 324
Issued by the Authority of the Minister of State for Primary Industry
APPLE AND PEAR STABILIZATION ACT 1971
APPLE AND PEAR STABILIZATION REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT)
A Stabilization Scheme for export apples and pears is provided for under the Apple and Pear Stabilization Act 1971 (the Act). The Scheme originally operated from 1971 until 1980 when it was extended for a further four seasons up until the end of the 1984 season. The Scheme as it applied to pears was terminated at the end of the 1980 season.
Under the Scheme average export returns for the various varieties of apples are compared each season with established seasonal support prices for those varieties. The relationship between the average export return and the support price for a particular variety determines whether a stabilization payment is to be made on that variety.
Sub-section 7(2) of the Act provides that support prices for a season, after the first season 1971, are to be prescribed by Regulation under the Act.
The support prices are calculated each season by the Bureau of Agricultural Economics, in consultation with the Australian Apple and Pear Corporation, to reflect movements in industry cash costs of production over the preceding season. With respect to the 1983 season the movement in cash costs over the 1982 season has been assessed at an average increase of 82 cents per box.
The new Regulation prescribes support prices for the 1983 season, commencing on 1 October 1982, in accordance with the assessed increase in cash costs.