Copper Bounty Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Copper Bounty Regulations 1960, made under the Copper Bounty Act 1958-1960, were enacted to provide specific regulations regarding the approval of small producers of refined copper and the conditions under which their approval could be cancelled. The Copper Bounty Act 1958-1960 itself was introduced to provide financial assistance to producers of refined copper in Australia. These Regulations were made by the Governor-General in Council, as authorised by the Act, to further define the operational aspects of the bounty scheme. The policy objective of these regulations is to ensure that the bounty is appropriately allocated to genuinely small producers while also maintaining a mechanism to revoke approval if production levels exceed the threshold defined for small producers.

Scope and Application

The Copper Bounty Regulations, established under the Copper Bounty Act 1958-1960, apply to entities engaged in the production of refined copper within Australia, specifically targeting small producers of this mineral. These regulations govern the approval process for producers who wish to be recognised as small producers, allowing them to benefit from certain incentives or bounties provided by the Act. The Comptroller-General of Customs is vested with the authority to approve or disapprove applications for small producer status based on the quantity of refined copper produced or anticipated to be produced within specified periods. The regulations also empower the Comptroller-General to revoke the status of a small producer if certain production thresholds are met or exceeded. These rules are applicable on a national level across Australia and are enforced through the Commonwealth of Australia. The stated exclusions or exemptions within these regulations pertain to the production quantities that define eligibility for small producer status, with clear thresholds set at less than twenty-five tons for the period from July 1 to December 31, 1960, and not less than fifty tons for the year commencing July 1, 1959.

Key Provisions

The Copper Bounty Regulations, as amended, include significant changes to the approval process for small producers of refined copper. Regulation 3(4) now allows the Comptroller-General to approve an applicant as a small producer if the quantity of refined copper likely to be obtained from ore produced in Australia in a specified period is less than twenty-five tons. Regulation 3A, newly inserted after Regulation 3, empowers the Comptroller-General to cancel the approval of a small producer if certain conditions are met, such as obtaining at least fifty tons of refined copper in the previous year or at least twenty-five tons in the current period. These provisions aim to manage the allocation of copper bounty more effectively by ensuring that only those who meet the specified production thresholds receive the benefits. The obligations under these regulations require small producers to apply for approval by submitting an application form to the Comptroller-General. The form, detailed in the Schedule, must include the applicant's full name, address, a declaration about the expected refined copper production, and signatures from both the applicant and a witness. Additionally, existing small producers must continue to meet the approval criteria as outlined in the amended regulations to maintain their status. Breach of these regulations may lead to the cancellation of a small producer's approval, as outlined in Regulation 3A. The Comptroller-General has the authority to serve a written notice to the producer, upon which the producer ceases to be a small producer for the purposes of these regulations. While the specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the provided text, the consequences could include the loss of eligibility for the copper bounty and potential reputational harm within the industry.