CATTLE AND BEEF RESEARCH.
No. 50 of 1961.
An Act to amend the Cattle and Beef Research Acts 1960, and for other purposes.
[Assented to 12th October, 1961.]
BE it enacted by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—
Short title and citation.
1.—(1.) This Act may be cited as the Cattle and Beef Research Act 1961.
(2.) The Cattle and Beef Research Acts 1960, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Cattle and Beef Research Act 1960–1961.
Commencement.
2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
3. Section six of the Cattle and Beef Research Acts 1960 is repealed and the following section inserted in its stead:—
Application of the Research Account.
“6.—(1.) Subject to the next succeeding sub-section, moneys standing to the credit of the Research Account may, with the approval of the Minister, be expended—
(a) for the purposes of encouraging the export from Australia of beef and other products of the slaughter of cattle, and of encouraging the raising of cattle in the Territories of the Commonwealth forming part of the Commonwealth, by means of—
(i) scientific, economic or technical research in connexion with matters related either directly or indirectly to those purposes;
(ii) the training of persons for the purposes of any such research;
(iii) the dissemination of information and advice in connexion with scientific, economic or technical matters related either directly or indirectly to those purposes; and
(iv) the publication of reports, periodicals, books and papers in connexion with scientific, economic or technical matters related either directly or indirectly to those purposes;
(b) in payment of fees and allowances payable to a member of the Committee or the deputy of a member under section fourteen of this Act;
(c) in payment of fees and allowances payable to persons appointed by the Minister under section fifteen of this Act; and
(d) in payment of amounts payable to the Board under section sixteen of this Act.
“(2.) The Minister shall not exercise his power to approve the expenditure of moneys from the Research Account for a purpose referred to in paragraph (a) of the last preceding subsection except in accordance with recommendations of the Committee.”.
Retrospective operation of amendment.
4. The section inserted by the last preceding section shall, for all purposes, be deemed to have had effect, on and from the date of commencement of the Cattle and Beef Research Act 1960, in lieu of section six of that Act.
Overview
The Cattle and Beef Research Act 1961 was enacted to amend the Cattle and Beef Research Acts 1960, addressing the need for improved research and development within the cattle and beef industry. Passed by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, the Act aims to facilitate the export of beef and other cattle products, as well as the raising of cattle within the Commonwealth. Its policy objective is to enhance the industry through scientific, economic, and technical research, training, and the dissemination of information and publications. This Act ensures that funds from the Research Account are used effectively to support these objectives, subject to ministerial approval and recommendations from the relevant committee.
Scope and Application
The Cattle and Beef Research Act 1961 applies to the Commonwealth of Australia and is primarily concerned with the administration and use of funds allocated for research related to the cattle and beef industry. The Act amends the Cattle and Beef Research Acts 1960 and specifies that the Research Account funds can be expended for encouraging the export of beef and other cattle products, promoting cattle raising within Australian territories, and for the purposes of research, training, information dissemination, and publication related to these activities. The Act also covers the payment of fees and allowances to committee members and appointees, as well as payments to the Board. The Act is retrospective, applying from the commencement date of the original 1960 Act, and requires the Minister's approval for expenditure on research purposes in accordance with Committee recommendations.
Key Provisions
The Cattle and Beef Research Act 1961 amends the Cattle and Beef Research Acts 1960 and introduces new provisions for the use of the Research Account. Section 6, as amended, allows the Minister to approve the expenditure of the Research Account for various purposes, including scientific, economic, and technical research related to the export and raising of cattle, training for research purposes, dissemination of information and advice, and publication of related reports and materials (section 6(1)). The Minister may also approve payments for committee members, deputy members, appointed persons, and the Board (section 6(1)(b)-(d)). However, the expenditure for research purposes can only be approved if it aligns with the recommendations of the Committee (section 6(2)).
The Act imposes specific obligations on the Minister and the Committee. The Minister must approve expenditure from the Research Account in line with the recommendations of the Committee for research-related purposes (section 6(2)). The Committee is tasked with making recommendations on how the Research Account should be spent, particularly for research activities (section 6(2)). Furthermore, the Act details the composition and functions of the Committee, including their role in advising on research activities and other related matters (sections 14-15).
Breaches of the Act, particularly non-compliance with the specified expenditure guidelines, could result in legal consequences. While the Act does not explicitly state penalties for breaches, failure to adhere to the Minister’s and Committee’s obligations could potentially lead to legal actions or sanctions. The exact penalties are not specified in the text provided, but it is likely that penalties would be determined in accordance with other relevant legislation or common law principles.