EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1984 No. 270
Issued by the authority of the Minister for Primary Industry
FISH (EXPORT INSPECTION CHARGE) ACT 1981
FISH (EXPORT INSPECTION CHARGE) REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT)
The Fish (Export Inspection Charge) Act 1981 provides for the Governor-General to make regulations for the purpose of imposing a charge on fish exported. The Act provides that regulations may prescribe different rates of charge for different classes of fish provided they do not exceed maximum rates of charge set in the Act. Currently, the maximum charges allowable are 15 cents per dozen for oysters in the shell or half shell and 30 cents per kilogram for fish other than oysters in the shell or half shell.
The Fish (Export Inspection Charge) Regulations prescribe the operative rates of charge applicable to 6 classes of fish in respect of which a prescribed export permit is issued. These charges were introduced on 1 July 1981 at rates designed to recover half the costs of fish inspection at that time.
The revised charges have been determined with a view to maintaining 50% recovery of costs incurred during the remainder of 1984-85 in line with Government policy. The charges are based on expected exports and inspection costs for the 1984-85 financial year.
The former and present charges are as follows:
Class of fish | Former charge (¢) | Present charge (¢) |
Fish other than shellfish | 1.0/kg | 1.2/kg |
Shellfish other than oysters, rock lobster, squid, cuttlefish and octopus | 3.6/kg | 5.1/kg |
Oysters in the shell or half shell | 10. 3/doz | 13.0/doz |
Oysters not in the shell or half shell | 3.5/kg | 4.4/kg |
Rock lobster | 5.1/kg | 4.7/kg |
Squid, cuttlefish and octopus | 1.9/kg | 3.6/kg |
The proposed Regulations repealed and replaced the Schedule to the Fish (Export Inspection Charge) Regulations to impose revised export inspection charges. The increases came into effect on 1 October 1984.