Dairy Produce Export Control (Fees and Expenses) Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1932, No. 82, enacted regulations under the Dairy Produce Export Control Act 1924, which was introduced to manage and regulate the export of dairy products from Australia. The 1924 Act was established to address the need for control over the export of dairy products, ensuring that Australian dairy products met certain standards and that exports were managed efficiently. This legislative instrument, made by the Governor-General in Council on 13 August 1932, aimed to amend the existing fees and expenses regulations for the Board, as outlined in Statutory Rules 1925, No. 166. The regulations provided for the payment of reasonable travelling expenses and a per diem fee for Board members or their deputies when engaged in Board business outside Australia, subject to ministerial approval. The objective of these amendments was to ensure the effective administration of the Act by appropriately compensating Board members for their official duties.

Scope and Application

The Dairy Produce Export Control (Fees and Expenses) Regulations, as amended by these statutory rules, apply to the Chairman and members or deputies of a member of the Board, specifically in the context of their engagement in business activities outside of Australia. The regulations outline provisions for the payment of reasonable travelling expenses incurred by these officials, subject to ministerial approval, as well as a per diem fee of Five pounds for each day spent on official business abroad. This regulation extends to any business undertaken by the specified Board members outside of Australia, thereby ensuring that the Board can effectively manage its operations and responsibilities on an international scale. Notably, these provisions are designed to support the administrative and operational activities of the Board in the context of the broader regulatory framework established under the Dairy Produce Export Control Act 1924.

Key Provisions

The key operative sections of these Regulations concern the payment of fees and expenses to members of the Board for their duties outside Australia. Regulation 4 states that the Chairman or any member or deputy of a member of the Board, when engaged on official business outside Australia, shall be entitled to reimbursement of reasonable travel expenses and a fee of Five Pounds per diem for each day they are engaged in such business. This reimbursement is subject to the approval of the Minister. These Regulations impose specific obligations on the Board members who undertake official duties outside Australia. They must ensure that their travel expenses are documented and reasonable, to be eligible for reimbursement. Additionally, they must keep track of the number of days they are engaged in official business to claim the daily fee correctly. The Minister's approval is necessary for any reimbursement claims, ensuring that the expenses are justified and within the bounds set by the Regulations. Breaching these provisions could lead to various consequences. If a Board member claims expenses that are not reasonable or misreports the number of days engaged in official business, they may face penalties. The exact nature of these penalties is not specified in the Regulations, but they could include financial penalties or other disciplinary actions as deemed appropriate by the Minister. Additionally, any fraudulent claims could potentially lead to criminal charges, depending on the severity of the breach and the intent behind it.