Excise Tariff (No. 3) 1948

Administered by Department of the Treasury

Legislation au C1948A00014 Not in force Act

Legislation content

EXCISE TARIFF (No. 3).

 

No. 14 of 1948.

An Act relating to Duties of Excise.

[Assented to 27th April, 1948.]

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

Short title and citation.

1—(1.) This Act may be cited as the Excise Tariff (No. 3) 1948.

(2.) The Excise Tariff 1921-1939, as amended by the Excise Tariff 1948 and by the Excise Tariff (No. 2) 1948, is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

(3.) Section one of the Excise Tariff (No. 2) 1948 is amended by omitting sub-section (4.).

(4.) The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Excise Tariff 1921-1948.

Amendment of Tariff.

2. The Schedule to the Principal Act is amended as set out in the Schedule to this Act and duties of Excise are hereby imposed in accordance with the first-mentioned Schedule as amended by the last-mentioned Schedule.

Time of imposition of duties of Excise.

3. The time of the imposition of the duties of Excise imposed by this Act is the nineteenth day of February, One thousand nine hundred and forty-eight, at nine oclock in the forenoon, reckoned according to standard time in the Australian Capital Territory, and this Act shall be deemed to have come into operation at that time.


Duties of Excise.

4. The duties of Excise specified in the Schedule to this Act are hereby imposed in accordance with that Schedule, as from the time of the imposition of those duties, and those duties shall be deemed to have been imposed at that time, and shall be charged, collected and paid to the use of the King for the purposes of the Commonwealth, on—

(a) all goods dutiable under the Schedule to this Act and manufactured or produced in Australia after the time when those duties are deemed to have been imposed; and

(b) all goods dutiable under the Schedule to this Act which were manufactured or produced in Australia before the time when those duties are deemed to have been imposed and at that time were subject to the control of the Customs, or to Excise supervision, or were in the stock, custody or possession of, or belonging to, any distiller or manufacturer thereof and on which no duty of Excise had been paid before the time when those duties are deemed to have been imposed.

 

THE SCHEDULE.

——

Section 2. AMENDMENTS OF THE SCHEDULE TO THE PRINCIPAL ACT.

EXCISE DUTIES.

Articles.

Rate of Duty.

1. By omitting the whole item and inserting in its stead the following item:—

 

1. Beer—

 

(a) Ale, porter, and other beer, containing not less than 2 per cent. of proof spirit   per gallon

4s. 7d.

(b) Any other fermented liquors n.e.i. containing not less than 2 per cent. of proof spirit which may by Proclamation be declared dutiable under this item              per gallon

4s. 7d.

For the purposes of this item beer means any fermented liquor brewed from a mash of malted or other grains or extracts from malted or other grains with or without sugars or glucose or both sugars and glucose, hops or other vegetable bitters.

 

2. By omitting the whole of sub-item (a) and inserting in its stead the following sub-item:—

 

(a) Brandy, distilled wholly from wine, the fermented juice of fresh grapes, by a pot-still or similar process at a strength not exceeding 40 per cent. over proof, matured by storage in wood for a period of not less than two years and certified by an officer to be pure brandy              per proof gallon

53s. 6d.

By omitting the whole of sub-item (b) and inserting in its stead the following sub-item:—

 

(b) Blended Brandy, distilled wholly from wine, the fermented juice of fresh grapes, and containing not less than 25 per cent. of pure spirit (which has been separately distilled from wine, the fermented juice of fresh grapes, by a pot-still or similar process at a strength not exceeding 40 per cent. over proof), the whole being matured by storage in wood for a period of not less than two years, and certified by an officer to be brandy so blended and matured              per proof gallon

53s. 6d.


The Schedule—continued.

Excise Duties—continued.

Articles.

Rate of Duty.

2—continued.

 

By omitting the whole of sub-item (c) and inserting in its stead the following sub-item:—

 

(c) Apple Brandy, distilled wholly from apple cider and Brandies distilled from other approved fruit juices by a pot-still or similar process at a strength not exceeding 40 per cent. over proof, matured by storage in wood for a period of not less than two years, and certified by an officer to be pure apple or pure fruit brandy              per proof gallon

53s. 6d.

By omitting the whole of sub-item (d) and inserting in its stead the following sub-item:—

 

(d) Whisky, distilled wholly from barley malt by a pot-still or similar process at a strength not exceeding 45 per cent. over proof, matured by storage in wood for a period of not less than two years, and certified by an officer to be pure malt whisky              per proof gallon

54s. 6d.

By omitting the whole of sub-item (e) and inserting in its stead the following sub-item:—

 

(e) (1) Australian Blended Whisky, distilled partly from barley malt and partly from other grain, containing not less than 25 per cent. of pure barley malt spirit (which has been separately distilled by a pot-still or similar process at a strength not exceeding 45 per cent. over proof), the whole being matured by storage in wood for a period of not less than two years, and certified by an officer to be whisky so blended and matured                per proof gallon

54s. 6d.

(2) Blended Whisky, n.e.i., distilled partly from barley malt and partly from other grain, containing not less than 25 per cent. of pure barley malt spirit (which has been separately distilled by a pot-still or similar process at a strength not exceeding 45 per cent. over proof), provided that the blended whisky contains not less than 15 per cent. of Australian pure barley malt spirit and contains not more than 20 per cent. of spirit upon which import duty has been paid, the whole being matured by storage in wood for a period of not less than two years, and certified by an officer to be whisky so blended and matured                            per proof gallon

54s. 6d.

By omitting the whole of sub-item (f) and inserting in its stead the following sub-item:—

 

(f) Rum, distilled wholly from sugar, sugar syrup, molasses, or the refuse of sugar cane, by a pot-still or similar process at a strength not exceeding 45 per cent. over proof, matured by storage in wood for a period of not less than two years, and certified by an officer to be pure rum                                          per proof gallon

56s. 6d.

By omitting the whole of sub-item (g) and inserting in its stead the following sub-item:—

 

(g) Blended Rum, distilled wholly from sugar, sugar syrup, molasses, or the refuse of sugar cane, containing not less than 25 per cent. of pure spirit (which has been separately distilled from sugar, sugar syrup, molasses, or the refuse of sugar cane, by a pot-still or similar process at a strength not exceeding 45 per cent. over proof), the whole being matured by storage in wood for a period of not less than two years and certified by an officer to be rum so blended and matured              per proof gallon

57s. 6d.

By omitting the whole of sub-item (h) and inserting in its stead the following sub-item:—

 

(h) Gin, distilled from barley malt, grain, grape wine, apples, or other approved fruit and certified by an officer to be pure gin              per proof gallon

56s. 6d.

By omitting the whole of sub-item (i) and inserting in its stead the following sub-item:—

 

(i) Liqueurs, as prescribed by Departmental By-laws------------per proof gallon

55s. 6d.


The Schedulecontinued.

Excise Duties—continued.

Articles.

Rate of Duty.

2—continued.

 

By omitting the whole sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (1) of sub-item (l) and inserting in its stead the following sub-paragraph:—

 

(a) To each liquid gallon of which are added six ounces avoirdupois of citrus essential oil or one-half ounce avoirdupois of approved citrus terpeneless essential oil, produced in Australia from Australian raw materials              per proof gallon

12s.

Provided that, for each additional ounce avoirdupois of such essential oil or for each additional one-twelfth ounce avoirdupois of such approved citrus terpeneless essential oil which is added to each liquid gallon of spirit the rate of duty shall be reduced by sixpence per proof gallon—with a minimum duty of              per proof gallon

10s.

By omitting the whole of sub-item (o) and inserting in its stead the following sub-item:—

 

(o) Spirits, n.e.i.--------------------------------------- per proof gallon

65s. 6d.

By omitting the whole of sub-item (q) and inserting in its stead the following sub-item:—

 

(q) Spirit for use in Public Hospitals, or for use in the manufacture of Medicinal Preparations for use in Public Hospitals. subject to Regulations             

Free

3. By omitting the whole of sub-item (b) and inserting in its stead the following sub-item:—

 

(b) Amylic Alcohol and Fusel Oil, as prescribed by Departmental By-laws-----------

Free

4. By omitting the whole of sub-item (b) and inserting in its stead the following sub-item:—

 

(b) Saccharin for all medicinal purposes, as prescribed by Departmental By-laws

Free

6. By omitting the whole of sub-item (a) and inserting in its stead the following sub-item:—

 

(a) *Tobacco, hand-made strand:—

 

(1) In the manufacture of which all the tobacco leaf used is Australian grown per lb.

10s.

(2) Otherwise-----------------------------------------per lb.

10s. 8d.

* Hand-made Tobacco.—Hand-made Tobacco shall mean tobacco in the manufacture of which all operations are entirely carried on by hand without the aid of machine tools or machinery other than that used in the pressing of the tobacco.

 

By omitting the whole of sub-item (b) and inserting in its stead the following sub-item:—

 

(b) Tobacco, manufactured, n.e.i.:—

 

(1) In the manufacture of which all the tobacco leaf used is Australian grown per lb.

10s. 3d.

(2) Otherwise-----------------------------------------per lb.

10s. 11d.

By omitting the whole of sub-item (c) and inserting in its stead the following sub-item:—

 

(c) Tobacco, fine cut suitable for the manufacture of cigarettes:—

 

(1) In the manufacture of which all the tobacco leaf used is Australian-grown per lb.

20s. 1d.

(2) Otherwise-----------------------------------------per lb.

20s. 9d.

By omitting the whole of sub-item (d) and inserting in its stead the following sub-item:—

 

(d) Tobacco, in the manufacture of which all the tobacco leaf used is Australian-grown, for consumption by Australian aborigines, as prescribed by Departmental By-laws              per lb.

6s. 11d.

By omitting the whole of sub-item (e).

 

7. By omitting the whole item and inserting in its stead the following item:—

 

7. Cigars—

 

(a) *Hand-made---------------------------------------per lb.

11s. 7d.

* Hand-made Cigars.—Hand-made Cigars shall mean cigars in the manufacture of which every operation is performed by hand, provided that moulds may be used.

 

(b) Machine-made ------------------------------------- per lb.

12s. 7d.

8. By omitting the whole item and inserting in its stead the following item:—

 

8. Cigarettes, including the weight of the outer portion of each cigarette:—

 

(a) †Hand-made---------------------------------------per lb.

20s. 6d.

Hand-made Cigarettes.—Hand-made shall mean that the whole of the operations connected with the filling and completion of cigarettes shall be performed exclusively by hand.

 

(b) N.E.I--------------------------------------------per lb.

20s. 9d.


The Schedule—continued.

Excise Duties—continued.

Articles.

Rate of Duty.

10. By omitting the whole of sub-item (b) and inserting in its stead the following sub-item:—

 

(b) Articles which are owned (prior to clearance for home consumption) by, and are for the personal or official use of—

 

(1) the Governor-General or any member of his family-----------------

Free

(2) a member of the staff of the Governor-General, provided that that member is not an Australian citizen             

Free

By omitting the whole of sub-item (c) and inserting in its stead the following sub-item:—

 

(c) Articles which are owned (prior to clearance for home consumption) by, and are for the personal or official use of—

 

(1) a State Governor or any member of his family---------------------

Free

(2) a member of the staff of a State Governor, provided that that member is not an Australian citizen 

Free

By adding a new sub-item (d) as follows:—

 

(d) Articles which are owned (prior to clearance for home consumption) by, and are for the personal or official use of—

 

(1) the diplomatic representative in the Commonwealth of any foreign country--

Free

(2) the High Commissioner in the Commonwealth of any part of the Kings dominions 

Free

(3) the official representative (not being a High Commissioner) in the Commonwealth of a part of the Kings dominions, being a citizen of that part             

Free

(4) a consular representative in the Commonwealth of any foreign country, provided that that consular representative is a citizen of the country he represents and is not otherwise engaged in any business, occupation or profession             

Free

(5) a Trade Commissioner in the Commonwealth of any British or foreign country, provided that that Trade Commissioner is a citizen of the country he represents and is not otherwise engaged in any business, occupation or profession             

Free

(6) a member of the staff of any person mentioned in paragraphs (1) to (5) (both inclusive) of this sub-item, provided that that member is a citizen of the country represented             

Free

(7) a member of the family of any person mentioned in the preceding paragraphs of this sub-item 

Free

The Minister may determine that the application of this sub-item in relation to any country shall be conditional on that country granting freedom from excise duty to the representatives of the Commonwealth holding corresponding positions in that country, to their families, and to members of their staffs (being Australian citizens)

 

By adding a new sub-item (e) as follows:—

 

(e) Articles which are owned (prior to clearance for home consumption) by and are for the official use of the representative in the Commonwealth of a British or foreign country, not being a citizen of the country represented, and declared as being for such official use, subject to the approval of the Minister             

Free

12. By omitting the whole item and inserting in its stead the following item:—

 

12. Playing Cards---------------------------------------per dozen packs

10s.

14. By omitting the whole item (twice occurring) and inserting in its stead the following item:—

 

14. Cigarette tubes, paper and papers—

 

For each 60 cigarette tubes------------------------------------

1¾d.

For each 60 cigarette papers or the equivalent of 60 cigarette papers---------

1¾d.

15. By omitting the whole item and inserting in its stead the following item:—

 

15. Matches------------------------------------------per 8,640 matches

8s.

19. By omitting the whole item and inserting in its stead the following item:—

 

19. Valves for wireless telegraphy and telephony including rectifying valves each

3s. 9d.

 

Overview

The Excise Tariff (No. 3) Act 1948 was enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament to address the need for updated and more comprehensive excise duties on various goods manufactured or produced in Australia. The Act amends the existing Excise Tariff 1921-1939, as previously amended, to reflect changes in the economic environment and to ensure adequate revenue generation for the Commonwealth. It imposes excise duties on a wide range of goods, including beer, spirits, tobacco products, and other consumer items, with specific rates set out in the amended Schedule. The Act also seeks to ensure that certain goods for official use by diplomatic and consular representatives are exempt from excise duties, reflecting international conventions and reciprocal agreements. The primary policy objective of the Act is to adjust the excise duty structure to meet the fiscal requirements of the Commonwealth while maintaining a fair and equitable taxation system.

Scope and Application

The Excise Tariff (No. 3) 1948 applies to goods manufactured or produced in Australia after the duties of excise were imposed, specifically on the 19th of February 1948. This includes a range of goods such as fermented liquors, spirits, tobacco, cigars, cigarettes, and other related items, as detailed in the Act's Schedule. The excise duties outlined in the Act are levied on these goods to be collected for the purposes of the Commonwealth. The Act applies nationally across Australia, as it is a Commonwealth Act. Exemptions and exclusions from excise duties are specifically detailed in the Act, such as for diplomatic and consular representatives, and certain goods for medicinal or official use. The Act also provides for the amendment of duties through subordinate instruments, allowing for further regulation and specification of the duties and their application.

Key Provisions

The Excise Tariff (No. 3) 1948 (section 1) is a piece of legislation that amends the existing Excise Tariff by imposing new duties of Excise on certain goods. The Act amends the Excise Tariff 1921-1939 (referred to as the Principal Act) and introduces new rates and categories of duty for various goods. The amended Excise Tariff is now to be known as the Excise Tariff 1921-1948. The time of imposition of these duties is specified as 9:00 AM on February 19, 1948 (section 3). The new excise duties are detailed in the Schedule to this Act and apply to goods manufactured or produced in Australia after the date of imposition, as well as certain goods produced before the date that were subject to Customs control, Excise supervision, or in the possession of distillers or manufacturers on which no duty had been paid (section 4). The Excise Tariff (No. 3) 1948 imposes specific duties on various goods, including beer, spirits, tobacco products, and others. For example, it imposes a duty of 4s 7d per gallon on ale, porter, and other beer containing not less than 2% of proof spirit (Schedule, item 1(a)), and a duty of 53s 6d per proof gallon on brandy distilled from wine (Schedule, item 2(a)). It also imposes different rates of duty based on whether certain goods, such as tobacco, are manufactured entirely by hand or using machinery (Schedule, item 6). The Schedule contains detailed specifications for each category of goods, including the type of spirit, its method of distillation, and the period of maturation required before it can be sold. Under this Act, manufacturers, producers, and importers of the specified goods are required to pay the specified excise duties on the goods they produce, manufacture, or import. This includes ensuring that the goods meet the criteria set out in the Schedule, such as the strength of the spirit, the method of distillation, and the period of maturation. The duties must be paid to the Commonwealth and are for the use of the King. Failure to pay the required duties may result in legal consequences. The Act does not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or consequences for breaches of the excise duties. However, under general Australian law, failure to pay taxes or duties can result in civil or criminal penalties. Civil penalties may include fines, interest on the unpaid duty, and potential legal action to recover the debt. Criminal penalties may include fines and imprisonment, particularly if the non-payment is deemed to be willful or part of a larger scheme to evade taxes. The specific penalties would depend on the circumstances of the breach and would be determined by a court.

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Definitions & Interpretation
Offence Provisions
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