Australian Wool Research and Promotion Organisation Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Australian Wool Research and Promotion Organisation Regulations (Amendment) 1996 No. 217 were enacted to modify the existing Australian Wool Research and Promotion Organisation Regulations under the Australian Wool Research and Promotion Organisation Act 1993. The primary objective of this amendment is to ensure the appropriate funding allocation for wool promotion and research and development activities by the Australian Wool Research and Promotion Organisation (AWRAP) on behalf of the wool industry. This Act aims to enhance the performance of the Australian wool industry through improved application of funds. Issued by the authority of the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy, these regulations provide for an amendment to the existing AWRAP regulations and set the contribution amounts for the 1995-96 and 1996-97 financial years. The regulations also remove the outdated reference to the Exotic Animal Disease Preparedness Consultative Council (EXANDIS) and replace it with a new regulation for contributions to the Australian Animal Health Council (AAHC) for the specified financial years. The regulations will take effect upon their publication in the Commonwealth Gazette.

Scope and Application

The Australian Wool Research and Promotion Organisation Regulations (Amendment) 1996 No. 217 applies to the Australian Wool Research and Promotion Organisation (AWRAP) and the wool industry it represents, including entities involved in the promotion and research and development of wool. The regulations are an amendment to the existing Australian Wool Research and Promotion Organisation Regulations and adjust the financial contributions required for the 1995-96 and 1996-97 financial years. This amendment is necessary to align with the replacement of the Exotic Animal Disease Preparedness Consultative Council (EXANDIS) by the Australian Animal Health Council (AAHC). The Act extends across the Commonwealth of Australia, as it is a federal statute, and applies to all entities involved in the wool industry within its jurisdiction. The regulations specifically exclude the provisions related to the EXANDIS program, replacing them with new regulations that address the contributions to the AAHC. The amendment also removes outdated references to ensure that the regulations remain current and relevant to the wool industry's needs. The regulations are effective from the date of their gazettal, ensuring immediate application to the wool industry.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Australian Wool Research and Promotion Organisation Regulations (Amendment) 1996 No. 217 (the Regulations) are Regulation 1 and Regulation 2. Regulation 1 (s 1) makes an amendment to the existing Australian Wool Research and Promotion Organisation Regulations, while Regulation 2 (s 2) removes the previous regulation that referred to the predecessor program of the Australian Animal Health Council (AAHC), known as the Exotic Animal Disease Preparedness Consultative Council (EXANDIS). It then introduces a new Regulation 5 that sets out the contributions to the costs of the AAHC for the financial years 1995-96 and 1996-97. The Act and the Regulations impose specific obligations and requirements on the Australian Wool Research and Promotion Organisation (AWRAP). According to the Regulations, AWRAP is required to fund the industry's share of certain activities carried out by the AAHC for Australia's livestock industries. This includes making contributions to the costs of the AAHC for the specified financial years. These obligations are designed to ensure that the wool industry effectively supports the promotion and research and development activities overseen by the AAHC, thereby contributing to the overall performance of the Australian wool industry. Under the Regulations, any failure to comply with the specified contributions could lead to various consequences. While the Act itself does not detail specific offences or penalties, the failure to adhere to the funding requirements set out in the Regulations could be viewed as a breach of the Act. In such cases, the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy may take action against AWRAP for non-compliance. The exact nature of the penalties or consequences for non-compliance is not explicitly stated in the Regulations but could include administrative actions, financial penalties, or other measures to ensure compliance with the Act. The Regulations come into effect immediately upon gazettal, as stated in the explanatory statement. This means that the amendments to the Australian Wool Research and Promotion Organisation Regulations and the new contributions specified for the 1995-96 and 1996-97 financial years become enforceable from the moment they are published in the Commonwealth Gazette. The prompt commencement of these Regulations ensures that AWRAP and the wool industry can adjust their financial planning and budgeting in accordance with the new requirements without delay.