EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1984 NO. 219
AMENDMENTS OF THE EXCISE REGULATIONS
Issued by Authority of the Minister of State for Industry and Commerce
The purpose of the regulations is to provide a mechanism for refunding all excise duty paid under item 2(J) of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 on spirit for fortifying Australian wine or for fortifying Australian grape must between the period 23 August 1983 to 22 June 1984.
In the context of the 1983 Budget an Excise duty of $1.56 per litre of alcohol was imposed on this spirit. The Treasurer announced the removal of the duty on 22 June 1984.
The Government’s decision to refund the excise duty paid on this spirit was announced by the Treasurer in the Budget Speech on 21 August 1984.
The refund of all excise duty paid on the spirit between 23 August 1984 and 22 June 1984 is associated with the imposition of the sales tax on imported and locally produced wine.
Retention of the excise duty on the spirit could have the effect of sales tax attaching to wine containing spirit on which excise duty had already been paid.
The regulations:
a) amend regulation 50 of the Excise Regulations by inserting a new paragraph (1)(0) which prescribes the circumstance under which a refund of excise duty may be allowed on the spirit; and
b) amend regulation 53 of the Excise Regulations by adding a new sub-regulation (3) to extend the time for lodgement of refund applications in respect of the new circumstance detailed in paragraph 50(1)(0). The extension is in effect until 30 June 1985.