Dairy Produce Export Charge Regulations

Overview

The Dairy Produce Export Charges Regulations, made under the Dairy Produce Export Charges Act 1924-1937, were enacted in 1937 to address the need for revised rates on export charges for dairy products. This legislative instrument was introduced following a recommendation from the Australian Dairy Produce Board, which reported to the Minister that the existing rates of charges imposed on dairy produce exports should be reduced. The policy objective was to establish a more competitive and sustainable export environment for Australian dairy products by lowering the financial burden on exporters. The regulations were made by the Governor-General, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, and subsequently notified in the Commonwealth Gazette in December 1937.

Scope and Application

The Dairy Produce Export Charges Regulations establish the lower rates of charges that are to be imposed on the export of dairy products from the Commonwealth of Australia. These regulations apply to entities and individuals exporting dairy produce, including butter and cheese, and are enforced within the states of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania. The regulations provide specific rates for the charges to be levied on the exported dairy produce, with one-sixteenth of a penny per pound for butter and one-thirty-second of a penny per pound for cheese. The funds collected under these regulations are to be paid to designated officers in each of the aforementioned states. This legislative instrument extends the provisions of the Dairy Produce Export Charges Act 1924-1937 by detailing the specific rates and the collection points for the export charges, thereby ensuring a structured and uniform approach to the collection process across the states involved.

Key Provisions

The Dairy Produce Export Charges Regulations (C1937L00117) set out specific provisions under the Dairy Produce Export Charges Act 1924-1937. Section 1 allows these Regulations to be cited as the Dairy Produce Export Charges Regulations. The Regulations repeal all previous regulations concerning dairy produce export charges that were established under the Dairy Produce Export Charges Act 1924-1937 and amended by subsequent Statutory Rules. Section 3 specifies the rates of charge for exported dairy produce, stipulating that the charge for butter is one-sixteenth of a penny per pound, and for cheese, it is one-thirty-second of a penny per pound. The obligations imposed by these Regulations on the parties and entities involved are primarily concerned with the payment of the specified charges on exported dairy produce. Under section 4, any moneys payable under the Act must be paid to designated officers in each state. These officers are responsible for collecting the export charges from exporters of dairy products. The designated officers include the Collector of Public Moneys for New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland, and the Collector of Customs for South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania. The Regulations also outline the consequences for non-compliance. While the document does not explicitly state specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breach, it can be inferred that failure to pay the prescribed charges or non-compliance with the payment procedures could lead to legal repercussions. Given the context of the Act and Regulations, breaches might result in financial penalties or legal action against the defaulting exporters. However, the exact nature of these consequences would typically be detailed in the primary Act or further legislative instruments, not within these Regulations themselves.