EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1984 No. 424
Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Primary Industry
AUSTRALIAN MEAT AND LIVE-STOCK CORPORATION (ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE INDUSTRY) REGULATIONS
When the Australian Meat and Live-stock Corporation Act 1977 was amended in June 1984, new provisions were inserted as Part IIIA of the Act, requiring the Australian Meat and Live-stock Corporation (AMLC) to convene an Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the meat and livestock industry within 3 months after the tabling of each AMLC annual report in the House of Representatives (unless the Minister approves an extension of that period).
The purpose of the AGM will be to give industry participants an opportunity to consider AMLC’s annual report, hear the Chairman’s address on the performance and plans of the AMLC, question AMLC members about that body’s activities, and vote on motions concerning matters connected with AMLC operations and their financing (e.g. rate of levies). Such motions could include a motion of no confidence in AMLC’s Chairman or board that may lead to removal of the person/s concerned, but special safeguards apply to ensure that motions of this kind are not passed lightly.
Eligible livestock producers, meat processors and exporters of meat and livestock will be entitled to participate at AGMs in person or by proxy.
Participation will be voluntary and open to persons who meet prescribed eligibility requirements and have been enrolled on one of the 2 registers to be established by the AMLC, viz -
(i) register of livestock producers
(ii) register of meat processors and exporters of meat or livestock.
The 2 registers will form 2 separate voting blocs at AGMs, each using a different voting system. While persons on the processor/exporter register will each cast one vote only, those on the livestock producer register will use a multiple voting system under which each voter will cast such a number of votes as is calculated, by a prescribed method, according to the voter’s livestock ownership. However, both registers will have equal voting power, and passage of motions will require majority support by voters from each bloc.
Matters to be prescribed
The proposed regulations will prescribe the following matters:
(a) Method of calculating the number of votes which a livestock producer will be entitled to cast at AGMs. Under this method, which has been agreed on with producer organisations, there will be a number of categories of herd/flock size, each entitling a producer to a specified number of votes. A special formula will apply to owners of very large herds/flocks.
(b) Manner of maintaining registers.
(c) The classes of persons who will be eligible to be enrolled on the two registers.
The classes specified comprise persons whose operations generate the levy funds which finance AMLC activities, as well as persons whose export activities are regulated by AMLC. These persons comprise mainly livestock producers, slaughtering establishments and exporters of meat and livestock. Producers with insignificant livestock ownership (i.e. those owning less than 10 cattle/buffaloes or 100 sheep/goats) are not eligible.
(d) Application forms for entry on registers.
(e) Documentation to accompany applications.
(f) Particulars to be entered on registers.
(g) Returns to be furnished annually by persons admitted to registers.
The purpose of these returns is to verify continuing eligibility and, in the case of livestock producers, to enable changes in stock ownership to be reflected in the number of votes the producers are entitled to cast.
S.R. No. 395/84