Dairying Industry Act 1970

Legislation au C1970A00047 Not in force Act

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Dairying Industry

No. 47 of 1970

An Act to amend the Dairying Industry Act 1962–1967.

[Assented to 24 June 1970]

BE it enacted by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Part I.—Preliminary.

Short title and citation.

1.—(1.) This Act may be cited as the Dairying Industry Act 1970.

(2.) The Dairying Industry Act 1962–1967 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

(3.) The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Dairying Industry Act 1962–1970.

Commencement.

2.—(1.) Part I. and section 16 of this Act shall come into operation on the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.

(2.) Section 15 of this Act shall come into operation on the first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and seventy.


(3.) Parts II., III., IV. and V. of this Act shall come into operation on such dates as are respectively fixed by Proclamation.

Parts.

3. This Act is divided into Parts, as follows:—

Part I.—Preliminary (Sections 1–3).

Part II.—General Amendments of the Principal Act (Sections 4–7).

Part III.—Amendment of the Principal Act in connexion with Bounty in respect of Butter (Sections 8–9).

Part IV.—Amendment of the Principal Act in connexion with Bounty in respect of Cheese (Sections 10–11).

Part V.—Consequential Amendments of the Principal Act (Sections 12–14).

Part VI.—Additional Amendments of the Principal Act (Sections 15–16).

Part II.—General Amendments of the Principal Act.

Interpretation.

4. In this Part, a reference to the Principal Act shall be read as a reference to the Principal Act as amended by Part VI. of this Act.

Definitions.

5. Section 4 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting after the definition of factory the following definitions:—

levy’ means an amount of the levy;

provisional levy means an amount of the provisional levy imposed by the Levy Act;

the Company means the company registered under the law of the State of New South Wales under the name of Commonwealth Dairy Produce Equalisation Committee Limited ;

the Council means the Australian Dairy Industry Council;

the levy means the levy imposed by the Levy Act;

the Levy Act means the Dairying Industry Levy Act 1970;.

To whom bounty payable.

6. Section 7 of the Principal Act is amended by adding at the end thereof the following sub-section:—

“ (4.) The last two preceding sub-sections do not apply in relation to bounty in respect of butter or cheese on which the levy has been imposed.

7. After section 7 of the Principal Act the following sections are inserted:—

Payment of bounty to the Company for distribution.

7a.—(1.) The Minister may, on behalf of the Commonwealth, enter into an arrangement with the Company to perform the function of making payments of bounty on behalf of the Commonwealth.

(2.) Without prejudice to the generality of the last preceding subsection, an arrangement under that sub-section may provide for—

(a) the keeping by the Company of accounts and records in relation to bounty received and distributed by the Company;


(b) the inspection and audit of the accounts and records referred to in the last preceding paragraph; and

(c) the furnishing by the Company to the Minister of information with respect to bounty distributed by the Company.

“(3.) Bounty to which an arrangement under this section relates may be paid to the Company for distribution in accordance with the arrangement.

“(4.) The Audit Act 1901–1969 does not apply in relation to amounts of bounty in the hands of the Company.

(5.) Money paid to the Company under this section shall, until it is distributed in accordance with the arrangement under which it is paid, be deemed to be money held in trust for the Commonwealth.

Withholding of bounty.

7b. Where provisional levy or levy in respect of butter or cheese that has been due and payable by a person for a period of more than three months has not been paid, the Minister, on the recommendation of the Council, may, by instrument in writing, direct that any bounty with respect to the butter or the cheese, as the case may be, that is payable to the person shall be withheld until the provisional levy or levy, as the case may be, so due and payable has been paid.

Part III.—Amendment of the Principal Act in connexion with Bounty in respect of Butter.

Interpretation.

8. In this Part, a reference to the Principal Act shall be read as a reference to the Principal Act as amended by Part VI. of this Act and, if Parts II. and IV. of this Act come into operation before this Part, as amended by those Parts.

Definitions.

9. Section 4 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting the definition of butter factory.

Part IV.—Amendment of the Principal Act in connexion with Bounty in respect of Cheese.

Interpretation.

10. In this Part, a reference to the Principal Act shall be read as a reference to the Principal Act as amended by Part VI. of this Act and, if Parts II. and III. of this Act come into operation before this Part, as amended by those Parts.

Definitions.

11. Section 4 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting the definition of cheese factory .

Part V.—Consequential Amendments of the Principal Act.

Interpretation.

12. In this Part, a reference to the Principal Act shall be read as a reference to the Principal Act as amended by Part VI. and by Parts II. to IV. (inclusive) of this Act.


Definitions.

13. Section 4 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting the definition of equalization body”.

To whom bounty payable.

14. Section 7 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting sub-sections (2.), (3.) and (4.).

Part VI.—Additional Amendments of the Principal Act.

15. Section 6 of the Principal Act is repealed and the following section inserted in its stead:—

Rates of bounty.

6.—(1.) Where the Parliament has, in respect of the year commencing on the first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and seventy, or of any subsequent year, appropriated a single amount for the purpose of the payment of both of the bounties referred to in sub-section (1.) of the last preceding section, the rate of each of those bounties in respect of any butter or cheese produced during that year shall be ascertained in accordance with the formula , where—

a is a number equal to the number of pounds of butter fat in the milk or cream used in the production of the butter or cheese;

b is the amount so appropriated by the Parliament; and

c is a number equal to the number of pounds of butter fat in the milk or cream used in the production of the total quantity of butter and cheese produced at butter and cheese factories in that year.

(2.) Where the Parliament has, in respect of the year commencing on the first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and seventy, or of any subsequent year, appropriated an amount for the sole purpose of the payment of a bounty referred to in paragraph (a) of sub-section (1.) of the last preceding section, the rate of the bounty in respect of any butter produced during that year shall be ascertained in accordance with the

formula , where—

a is a number equal to the number of pounds of butter fat in the milk or cream used in the production of the butter;

b is the amount so appropriated by the Parliament; and

c is a number equal to the number of pounds of butter fat in the milk or cream used in the production of the total quantity of butter produced at butter factories in that year.

(3.) Where the Parliament has, in respect of the year commencing on the first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and seventy, or of any subsequent year, appropriated an amount for the sole purpose of the payment of a bounty referred to in paragraph (b) of sub-section (1.) of


the last preceding section, the rate of the bounty in respect of any cheese produced during that year shall be ascertained in accordance with the

formula , where—

a is a number equal to the number of pounds of butter fat in the milk used in the production of the cheese;

b is the amount so appropriated by the Parliament; and

c is a number equal to the number of pounds of butter fat used in the production of the total quantity of cheese produced at cheese factories in that year.

(4.) The Minister shall, from time to time during the year commencing on the first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and seventy, and during each subsequent year, determine interim rates of bounty in respect of butter and cheese produced during the year concerned having regard to—

(a) the amount or amounts that the Minister considers is likely to be available for distribution as bounty in that year or, after the Parliament has, in respect of that year, appropriated an amount or amounts for the purpose of the payment of bounty, the amount or amounts so appropriated; and

(b) estimates made by him from time to time, after consultation with the Council, of the quantity of butter and cheese that will be produced during that year at factories,

and amounts on account of bounty in respect of butter or cheese may be paid at the appropriate interim rate so determined.

(5.) Where the amount, or the sum of the amounts, paid to a person in accordance with the last preceding sub-section on account of bounty in respect of any butter or cheese exceeds the amount of the bounty that becomes payable to that person in respect of that butter or cheese, the amount of the excess is repayable to the Commonwealth on demand in writing by or on behalf of the Minister and, if not paid within three months after the demand, is recoverable in a court of competent jurisdiction as a debt due to the Commonwealth..

Inspection of books and accounts.

16. Section 9 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting paragraph (a) of sub-section (1.) and inserting in its stead the following paragraph:—

(a) enter any factory in which is produced butter or cheese in respect of which bounty is, or may be, payable or any premises in which are kept books or accounts relating to the production of any such butter or cheese; and.

Overview

The Dairying Industry Act 1970, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, was introduced to amend the Dairying Industry Act 1962–1967. This legislation aimed to address the need for updates and refinements in the regulation of the dairying industry, particularly in the context of bounties and levies associated with butter and cheese production. The Act modifies various aspects of the Principal Act, including definitions, payment mechanisms, and the method of determining bounty rates. One of the key changes involves the establishment of an arrangement between the Minister and the Commonwealth Dairy Produce Equalisation Committee Limited for the distribution of bounty payments, along with provisions for withholding bounty in cases where levies are overdue. Additionally, the Act revises the formulae for calculating bounty rates based on the quantities of butter and cheese produced and the amounts appropriated by Parliament. The policy objective of this Act is to ensure a more efficient and accurate distribution of bounties while maintaining compliance and oversight within the dairying industry.

Scope and Application

The Dairying Industry Act 1970 is a Commonwealth Act that amends the Dairying Industry Act 1962–1967 to introduce new provisions and amendments related to the dairy industry, particularly focusing on the bounty paid to producers of butter and cheese. This Act applies to entities involved in the production and distribution of dairy products, including dairy farmers, processors, and relevant industry bodies such as the Commonwealth Dairy Produce Equalisation Committee Limited and the Australian Dairy Industry Council. The Act's geographic reach is national, as it pertains to the dairy industry across Australia. The Act does not explicitly state exclusions or exemptions but does provide for the withholding of bounty where levies are not paid. The application of the Act can be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments, such as regulations or orders made under the authority of the Act, which may specify further details on the implementation and enforcement of its provisions.

Key Provisions

The Dairying Industry Act 1970 amends the Dairying Industry Act 1962–1967 and introduces several key provisions. Section 1 of the Act sets out the citation of the Act and references the Principal Act, which now, as amended by this Act, is referred to as the Dairying Industry Act 1962–1970. The Act outlines different commencement dates for various parts, with specific sections coming into effect on the day of Royal Assent, July 1, 1970, and other sections to be fixed by Proclamation. The Act imposes several obligations on the parties it governs. For instance, under section 7a, the Minister may enter into an arrangement with the Commonwealth Dairy Produce Equalisation Committee Limited to manage the distribution of bounty payments on behalf of the Commonwealth. This arrangement can include provisions for maintaining records, allowing inspections and audits, and requiring the Committee to provide information to the Minister regarding the distribution of bounty. Furthermore, section 7b allows the Minister, on the recommendation of the Australian Dairy Industry Council, to withhold any bounty payable to a person if the provisional levy or levy for butter or cheese has not been paid for more than three months. The Act also includes provisions for the calculation of bounty rates. Section 6 outlines the formulas for determining the rates of bounty for butter and cheese, taking into account the amount appropriated by Parliament and the quantity of butter fat used in production. Additionally, the Minister is tasked with determining interim rates of bounty based on available funds and production estimates. Failure to comply with the Act’s provisions can lead to civil consequences. For example, if the amount paid on account of bounty exceeds the actual bounty payable, the excess amount must be repaid to the Commonwealth. If not repaid within three months of a written demand, it becomes recoverable as a debt in a court of competent jurisdiction. These provisions ensure that bounty payments are managed accurately and any overpayments are rectified to maintain the integrity of the bounty system.

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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.