Dairying Research Regulations

Overview

The Dairying Research Act 1972 was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to address the need for coordinated research and development in the dairying industry. This legislation established a framework for funding and overseeing research initiatives aimed at improving the efficiency and productivity of the dairying sector. The Act also sought to ensure that the research efforts were aligned with the broader economic and social objectives of the nation. The policy objective of the Act was to foster innovation and technological advancement in dairying through targeted research and development activities, thereby enhancing the competitiveness and sustainability of the industry. Under this Act, the Dairying Research Regulations 1972 were subsequently made to provide further detail on the administration and operation of the research initiatives, including the remuneration and allowances for members, deputies, and advisers involved in the research activities.

Scope and Application

The Dairying Research Regulations, established under the Dairying Research Act 1972, pertain to the remuneration and allowances for individuals involved in the administration of dairy research within Australia. These regulations apply to members, deputies of members, and advisers of the Committee, provided they are not members of Parliament, officers of the Commonwealth Public Service, or officers of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. The application of these regulations is national, covering the entire Commonwealth of Australia and its territories. The regulations detail the fees for attendance at Committee meetings and for engagement on Committee business, as well as allowances for travel and other expenses incurred by these individuals while performing their duties. Notably, these provisions extend to situations where Committee members or advisers travel outside Australia and its territories, aligning their allowances with those of Commonwealth Public Service officers in the Second Division. The regulations do not specify exclusions or thresholds but rather provide a structured framework for the financial compensation of those contributing to dairy research governance.

Key Provisions

The Dairying Research Regulations, made under the authority of the Dairying Research Act 1972, establish the framework for the operation of the Committee and the remuneration and allowances for its members, deputies, and advisers. The Regulations cover the payment of fees for attendance at Committee meetings and for other business (Regulation 3), as well as allowances for travel and other expenses (Regulation 4). Specifically, members, deputies, and advisers are entitled to a fee of twenty dollars for each day they attend a meeting of the Committee if the meeting lasts less than three hours, or thirty-five dollars if the meeting lasts longer (Regulation 3(1)). If they are engaged in other business of the Committee, they are entitled to a fee of twenty dollars for each day if the engagement lasts less than three hours, or thirty-five dollars if it lasts longer (Regulation 3(2)). If a person both attends a meeting and is engaged in other business on the same day, they are only paid the fee for the day as if they had attended an additional meeting (Regulation 3(3)). The Regulations also provide for the payment of allowances for travel and other expenses. Members, deputies, and advisers are entitled to a travelling allowance of twenty-five dollars per day if they are necessarily absent overnight from their place of residence in order to attend a meeting of the Committee or to perform any business of the Committee (Regulation 4(1)). If they perform any business of the Committee outside Australia and the Territories of the Commonwealth, they are entitled to allowances as if they were an officer of the Public Service of the Commonwealth and were included in the Second Division (Regulation 4(2)). Importantly, if a person is entitled to be paid a travelling allowance under Regulation 4(2), they are not entitled to be paid a travelling allowance under Regulation 4(1) for the same period (Regulation 4(3)). The travelling allowance is in addition to, and does not include, the cost of conveyance (Regulation 4(4)). Under the Dairying Research Regulations, any breach of the provisions regarding the payment of fees and allowances may have legal consequences. Although the specific offences, penalties, or consequences for non-compliance are not detailed within the Regulations, it is reasonable to infer that failure to adhere to the prescribed payments could be considered a breach of the Act, potentially leading to civil or administrative penalties. The Act itself might provide for sanctions or legal actions against individuals or entities that fail to comply with the financial obligations set out in the Regulations. The maximum penalties, if applicable, would likely be determined by the specific provisions of the Dairying Research Act 1972 or other relevant legislation governing administrative compliance and enforcement.