Cattle and Beef Research Act 1964

Overview

The Cattle and Beef Research Act 1964 was enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament to amend the Cattle and Beef Research Act 1960-1961. The 1964 Act addresses the need to modernise the regulatory framework for cattle and beef research by updating the administrative structures and financial provisions to align with the new Meat Industry Act 1964. This legislative amendment ensures that the Australian Meat Board, established under the Meat Industry Act 1964, takes over the responsibilities previously assigned to the Board under the Principal Act. The policy objective of this Act is to ensure that sufficient funds are directed towards beef research by adjusting the sources of funding to reflect the new levy collection mechanisms introduced by the Livestock Slaughter Levy Collection Act 1964. The Act also aims to streamline administrative processes by aligning them with the updated Meat Industry Act 1964.

Scope and Application

The Cattle and Beef Research Act 1964 amends the Cattle and Beef Research Act 1960–1961 to incorporate changes to the legislative framework governing beef research funding in Australia. This Act applies to the Australian Meat Board, which is now continued in existence by the Meat Industry Act 1964, and pertains specifically to the administration and allocation of funds for cattle and beef research. The funds are derived from the livestock slaughter levy, which is collected under the Livestock Slaughter Levy Collection Act 1964. The Act mandates that a portion of the levy collected from cattle slaughter be directed into the Cattle and Beef Research Trust Account. The Australian Cattle and Beef Research Committee is tasked with making recommendations to the Board concerning the rates of levy prescribed under the Livestock Slaughter Levy Act 1964. The Act extends its application to the Commonwealth level, influencing the administrative and clerical assistance provided under the Meat Industry Act 1964, and it also mandates the preparation of an annual report, although specific details on this report are omitted in the current Act.

Key Provisions

The Cattle and Beef Research Act 1964 (Act) introduces amendments to the Cattle and Beef Research Act 1960–1961 (Principal Act), primarily focusing on updating the legislative framework to reflect changes in related Acts such as the Meat Industry Act 1964 and the Live-stock Slaughter Levy Collection Act 1964. Section 1 of the Act provides that it may be cited as the Cattle and Beef Research Act 1964 and refers to the Principal Act as amended by this Act as the Cattle and Beef Research Act 1960–1964. Section 2 specifies that the Act comes into operation on the date fixed by Proclamation under section two of the Meat Industry Act 1964. The Act amends the definition of "the Board" in section 3 of the Principal Act to mean the Australian Meat Board continued in existence by the Meat Industry Act 1964. Section 4 of the Act amends section 5 of the Principal Act by altering the portion of levy amounts received by the Commonwealth under the Live-stock Slaughter Levy Collection Act 1964 to be paid into the Research Account. Specifically, sub-section (1)(a) is amended to include amounts referable to the slaughter of cattle, and sub-section (5) clarifies that "cattle" has the same meaning as in the Live-stock Slaughter Levy Act 1964. Section 5 further amends section 8 of the Principal Act by updating the responsibilities of the Australian Cattle and Beef Research Committee, now requiring it to make recommendations to the Board regarding the rate of levy to be prescribed under the Live-stock Slaughter Levy Act 1964. The Act imposes certain obligations on parties governed by it, such as the requirement for the Australian Cattle and Beef Research Committee to make specific recommendations to the Board and for levy amounts to be paid into the Research Account. Section 6 of the Act modifies section 16 of the Principal Act by updating the reference to section thirty-three of the Meat Industry Act 1964, instead of section nineteen a of the Meat Export Control Act 1935–1955, concerning administrative and clerical assistance. Section 7 amends section 17 of the Principal Act by omitting sub-section (2), which likely pertained to specific reporting requirements now deemed unnecessary or redundant. In terms of consequences for non-compliance, the Act does not explicitly detail specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breach. However, non-compliance with the legislative requirements to pay levy amounts into the Research Account and the Board’s failure to consider the Committee’s recommendations could lead to administrative actions or oversight by relevant authorities. The penalties for such breaches would typically be aligned with the broader legislative frameworks governing meat industry levies and research funding in Australia.