EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1990 NO. 329
Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy
BARLEY RESEARCH LEVY ACT 1980
BARLEY RESEARCH LEVY REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT)
Section 5 of the Barley Research Levy Act 1980 (the Act) imposes a levy on barley delivered by the grower to another person other than for storage on behalf of the grower.
Section 6 of the Act provides that the rate of levy shall not exceed 75 cents per tonne.
Subsection 9(1) of the Act provides that the Governor-General may make regulations for the purposes of the Act.
Subsection 9(3) of the Act provides that before making regulations for the purposes of section 6 the Governor-General
shall take into consideration any relevant recommendation made to the Minister by the growers’ organization, the Grains Council of Australia (GCA).
The currently prescribed rate of levy operative since 1 October 1989 is 52 cents per tonne.
The GCA has presented a submission to the Minister requesting that the rate of levy be increased by 23 cents to 75 cents per tonne commencing from the start of the 1990-91 season.
The industry’s request to increase the levy accords with the Government’s objective of encouraging rural industries to increase their contribution for research to 0.5% of the industry’s gross value of production (GVP). The proposed rate of levy represents 0.36% of the industry’s estimated GVP for 1990-91.
Section 30 of the Primary Industries and Energy Research and Development Act 1989 provides for research levy money to be paid to R&D Corporations. The barley research levy has been attached to the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) with effect from 1 October 1990.
The Commonwealth Government will contribute matching amounts to cover research expenditure recommended by the GRDC and approved by the Minister.
In any one financial year the Commonwealth contribution is limited to 0.5% of the GVP. Estimated Commonwealth expenditure for 1990-91 is $2.26 million. Increased funding to meet estimated Commonwealth matching obligations in 1990-91 resulting from the proposed increased levy is provided for in the 1990-91 Budget and the 1991/92 forward estimates.
It is proposed that the Barley Research Levy Regulations (Amendment) which increases the rate of levy to 75 cents per tonne apply from 1 November 1990.
Details of the proposed Regulations are:
Regulation 1 provides that the Regulations shall commence on 1 November 1990.
Regulation 2 is a formal provision.
Regulation 3 will increase the rate of levy applicable to leviable barley to 75 cents per tonne.