Cattle (Producers) Export Charges Act 1997

Legislation au C2004A05301 Not in force Act

Legislation content

 

 

 

 

Cattle (Producers) Export Charges Act 1997

 

No. 212, 1997

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cattle (Producers) Export Charges Act 1997

 

No. 212, 1997

 

 

 

 

An Act to impose charges, payable by producers, on the export of cattle, and for purposes dealing with the imposition of the charges

 

 

 

Contents

1 Short title..................................1

2 Commencement..............................2

3 Definitions.................................2

4 Imposition of charges...........................3

5 Rate of charges imposed by section 4 on export of cattle.......4

6 Charge payable by producer.......................5

7 Regulations.................................5

 

Cattle (Producers) Export Charges Act 1997

No. 212, 1997

 

 

 

An Act to impose charges, payable by producers, on the export of cattle, and for purposes dealing with the imposition of the charges

[Assented to 17 December 1997]

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

1  Short title

  This Act may be cited as the Cattle (Producers) Export Charges Act 1997.

2  Commencement

  This Act commences at the commencement of Part 3 of the Australian Meat and Livestock Industry Act 1997.

3  Definitions

 (1) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:

AAHC means the Australian Animal Health Council Limited, A.C.N. 071-890-956.

bobby calf means a bovine animal (other than a buffalo):

 (a) which, at the time when it is exported, had or has a liveweight that did not or does not exceed 80kg; or

 (b) which has not had its liveweight determined at the time when it is exported but which, in the opinion of the person responsible, in accordance with subsection (3), for sending the charge, would, if slaughtered at that time, have constituted or constitute a carcase whose dressed weight would not have exceeded or would not exceed 40kg.

cattle means bovine animals other than buffalo.

charge means a charge imposed by this Act.

chargeable bobby calf means a bobby calf to which subsection 5(3) does not apply.

dairy cattle means bovine animals that are, or, if they were not exported from Australia, would be likely to be, held on licensed dairy premises for a purpose related to commercial milk production, including but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, bulls, calves and replacement heifers.

licensed dairy premises means premises that, under the law of the State or Territory in which the premises are situated, are authorised for use as a dairy farm.

marketing body has the same meaning as in Part 3 of the Australian Meat and Livestock Industry Act 1997.

National Cattle Disease Eradication Account means:

 (a) the trust account called the National Cattle Disease Eradication Trust Account continued in existence by section 4 of the National Cattle Disease Eradication Trust Account Act 1991; or

 (b) the reserve called the National Cattle Disease Eradication Reserve established by section 4 of the National Cattle Disease Eradication Reserve Act 1991.

research body has the same meaning as in Part 3 of the Australian Meat and Livestock Industry Act 1997.

 (2) Unless the contrary intention appears, a word or expression has the same meaning in this Act as it has in the Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Act 1991.

 (3) For the purposes of the definition of bobby calf in subsection (1), if an amount equal to the amount of charge is required to be paid to the Commonwealth by a person (the relevant person) other than the person primarily liable for the payment of charge, the person responsible for sending the charge is taken to be the relevant person.

4  Imposition of charges

 (1) A charge is imposed on the export from Australia after the commencement of this Act of cattle (other than dairy cattle) if levy under the Cattle Transactions Levy Act 1997 has not been paid, and is not payable, in respect of an act or transaction relating to the cattle.

 (2) A charge is imposed on the export from Australia after the commencement of this Act of cattle (other than dairy cattle) if:

 (a) the cattle were purchased by the exporter, whether before or after the commencement of this Act; and

 (b) the period starting on the date of the purchase and ending on the date of the export is longer than the longest of the following periods:

 (i) 60 days;

 (ii) the period for which the cattle are required under the Quarantine Act 1908 to be held in quarantine before being exported;

 (iii) the period for which the cattle are required under the law of the country to which they are being exported to be held in quarantine before being exported.

5  Rate of charges imposed by section 4 on export of cattle

 (1) The rate of each of the charges imposed by section 4 on the export of each head of cattle (other than a chargeable bobby calf) is the sum of the following amounts:

 (a) $2.16 or, if another amount (not exceeding $6.50) is prescribed by the regulations, the other amount, for the purpose of payment to the marketing body;

 (b) 72 cents or, if another amount (not exceeding $2.00) is prescribed by the regulations, the other amount, for the purpose of payment to the research body;

 (c) 17 cents or, if another amount (not exceeding $4.00) is prescribed by the regulations, the other amount, for the purpose of payment to the National Cattle Disease Eradication Account;

 (d) 13 cents or, if another amount (not exceeding 50 cents) is prescribed by the regulations, the other amount, for the purpose of payment to the AAHC.

 (2) The rate of each of the charges imposed by section 4 on the export of each head of cattle that is a chargeable bobby calf is the sum of the following amounts:

 (a) 48 cents or, if another amount (not exceeding $1.90) is prescribed by the regulations, the other amount, for the purpose of payment to the marketing body;

 (b) 16 cents or, if another amount (not exceeding 40 cents) is prescribed by the regulations, the other amount, for the purpose of payment to the research body;

 (c) the prescribed amount (not exceeding 20 cents), if any, for the purpose of payment to the National Cattle Disease Eradication Account;

 (d) the prescribed amount (not exceeding 50 cents), if any, for the purpose of payment to the AAHC.

 (3) For the purposes of subsection (1), a cow with a calf at foot are together taken to constitute a single head of cattle.

6  Charge payable by producer

  A charge payable on the export of cattle from Australia is payable by the producer of the cattle.

7  Regulations

 (1) The Governor-General may make regulations prescribing matters:

 (a) required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed; or

 (b) necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.

 (2) The Minister may, by notice published in the Gazette, declare that the body specified in the declaration is the body whose recommendations about the amount to be prescribed for the purposes of paragraph 5(1)(a), 5(1)(b), 5(1)(d), 5(2)(a), 5(2)(b) or 5(2)(d) are to be taken into consideration under subsection (3).

 (3) If a declaration is in force under subsection (2), the GovernorGeneral’s power to make regulations prescribing an amount for the purposes of the paragraph to which the declaration relates is exercisable only on the advice of the Executive Council given after the Council has taken into consideration any recommendations about the amount made to the Minister by the body specified in the declaration in relation to that paragraph.

[Minister's second reading speech made in the

House of Representatives on 1 October 1997

Senate on 29 October 1997]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(151/97)

Overview

The Cattle (Producers) Export Charges Act 1997 was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to address the need for imposing charges on cattle producers for the export of cattle, particularly those not subject to the cattle transactions levy. The Act was designed to ensure that cattle producers contribute towards specific funds and bodies involved in marketing, research, and disease eradication within the Australian meat and livestock industry. This legislative framework ensures that the export of cattle supports the broader objectives of the industry, such as maintaining animal health standards and supporting research initiatives. The policy objective is to facilitate the export of cattle while ensuring that the necessary funds are allocated to bodies that play a crucial role in the industry's sustainability and development. The Act imposes charges on the export of cattle from Australia, excluding dairy cattle, and ensures these charges are paid by the producers. The charges are levied to support various entities, including marketing bodies, research bodies, the National Cattle Disease Eradication Account, and the Australian Animal Health Council. The imposition of these charges is intended to contribute to the industry's overall health and efficiency, ensuring that the export of cattle benefits from the necessary support structures.

Scope and Application

The Cattle (Producers) Export Charges Act 1997 imposes charges on the export of cattle from Australia, specifically targeting producers of bovine animals other than buffalo. This Act applies to cattle exports that occur after its commencement, which is aligned with the commencement of Part 3 of the Australian Meat and Live‑stock Industry Act 1997. The Act excludes dairy cattle from its purview. The charges are levied on the producer of the cattle, and the Act allows for the imposition of charges if the cattle have not been subject to a levy under the Cattle Transactions Levy Act 1997 or if the cattle were purchased by the exporter and held for more than the longest of either 60 days, the quarantine period stipulated under the Quarantine Act 1908, or the quarantine period required by the destination country. The rates of the charges are specified in the Act, with potential adjustments through regulations, and these charges are directed towards various entities including marketing bodies, research bodies, the National Cattle Disease Eradication Account, and the Australian Animal Health Council. The Act grants the Governor-General the authority to make regulations necessary for its implementation, with specific provisions allowing the Minister to declare a body whose recommendations regarding charge amounts must be considered by the Executive Council before any regulations are made.

Key Provisions

The Cattle (Producers) Export Charges Act 1997 (section 4) imposes a charge on the export of cattle from Australia, specifically excluding dairy cattle, when certain conditions are met. Firstly, a charge is imposed if a levy under the Cattle Transactions Levy Act 1997 has not been paid and is not payable in respect of an act or transaction relating to the cattle (section 4(1)). Secondly, a charge is imposed if the cattle were purchased by the exporter and the period from purchase to export exceeds the longest of three specified periods: 60 days, the period required under the Quarantine Act 1908, or the period required by the country to which the cattle are being exported (section 4(2)). The rates of these charges vary based on the type of cattle being exported, with different rates specified for bobby calves and other cattle (section 5). The charge is payable by the producer of the cattle (section 6). The Act imposes several obligations on the parties it governs. Producers are required to ensure that the appropriate charges are paid on the export of cattle, as per the conditions outlined in section 4. The Minister has the authority to make regulations necessary for the implementation of the Act, including setting the rates of charges (section 7(1)). Furthermore, the Minister can designate a specific body to provide recommendations on the amount to be prescribed for certain charges, which the Governor-General must consider when making regulations (section 7(2)-(3)). Breaches of this Act may result in civil or criminal consequences. While the specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the provided extract, it is common for such breaches to be subject to fines or other penalties as stipulated in related legislation or regulations. Producers who fail to pay the imposed charges could potentially face legal action, and the severity of the penalties would depend on the specific circumstances and any relevant regulations or court decisions.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Environmental Law
Commercial Law
Instrument
Act
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Commencement Provisions
Imposition of charges
Charge payable by producer

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.