Australian Meat and Live-stock Corporation Amendment Act 1979

Overview

The Australian Meat and Live-stock Corporation Amendment Act 1979 was enacted to make amendments to the Australian Meat and Live-stock Corporation Act 1977. This legislation was introduced by the Commonwealth Parliament, specifically the Queen, the Senate, and the House of Representatives, to refine and expand the scope of the Corporation's activities. The Act aims to address any legislative gaps that may have emerged since the enactment of the original Act, ensuring that the Corporation remains effective in its operations and responsive to industry needs. By modifying specific sections of the Principal Act, the Amendment Act seeks to enhance the Corporation's ability to manage and promote the meat and livestock industry in Australia.

Scope and Application

The Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation Amendment Act 1979 amends the Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation Act 1977, primarily focusing on the payment provisions for the Corporation. This Act applies to the Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation and those entities or persons involved in transactions governed by the provisions of the Principal Act. The amendments extend to any conduct or transactions pertaining to the Corporation's activities within the meat and livestock industries. The geographic and jurisdictional reach of this Act is federal, applying across the Commonwealth of Australia. While the Act itself does not explicitly state any exclusions or exemptions, it is expected that the specific provisions within the Principal Act will delineate those. The scope of the Act can be further extended or restricted through subordinate instruments, which may provide additional guidelines or clarifications to the provisions set forth in the Principal Act. This amendment ensures that the Corporation can continue to operate effectively within the parameters of the meat and livestock industry.

Key Provisions

The Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation Amendment Act 1979 primarily serves to modify certain provisions of the Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation Act 1977, referred to as the Principal Act (Section 1(2)). The Act comes into effect on 1 July 1979 (Section 2). The primary amendment concerns the payments to the Corporation, specifically modifying section 34 of the Principal Act. Under the amendment, the Corporation is now entitled to payments from the Commonwealth, as outlined in sections 6d(1)(a), 6e(1)(a), and 6f(1)(a) of the Principal Act (Section 3). The amendment imposes certain obligations on the Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation. Firstly, it mandates the Corporation to ensure that any payments received from the Commonwealth under the specified sections are accounted for and utilised in accordance with the objectives of the Principal Act. The Corporation is also required to maintain transparent and accurate records of these payments and their usage. These obligations are derived from the existing framework of the Principal Act, which governs the Corporation’s operations and financial dealings. Breaches of the provisions of the Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation Amendment Act 1979 can lead to both civil and criminal consequences. The specific offences, penalties, and consequences are outlined in the Principal Act, which governs the Corporation’s operations. While the Amendment Act itself does not explicitly state the penalties, it is reasonable to infer that non-compliance with the financial obligations and reporting requirements could result in significant fines, legal action, or other penalties as prescribed under the Principal Act. The maximum penalties would depend on the severity of the breach and would be determined according to the relevant provisions of the Principal Act.