Fisheries Levy Act 1984

Administered by Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Legislation au C2004A03015 In force Act

Legislation content

Fisheries Levy Act 1984

No. 151, 1984

Compilation No. 7

Compilation date:   5 March 2016

Includes amendments up to: Act No. 126, 2015

Registered:    14 April 2016

 

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Fisheries Levy Act 1984 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 5 March 2016 (the compilation date).

The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.

Uncommenced amendments

The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Legislation Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments

If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.

Editorial changes

For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.

Modifications

If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

Selfrepealing provisions

If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.

 

 

 

Contents

1 Short title

2 Commencement

3 Interpretation

4 Application of Act

5 Imposition of levy

6 Amount of levy

7 Payment of levy

8 Regulations

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

 

An Act to impose a levy with respect to certain fisheries licences and certain units of fishing capacity

1  Short title

  This Act may be cited as the Fisheries Levy Act 1984.

2  Commencement

  This Act shall come into operation on a day to be fixed by Proclamation.

3  Interpretation

 (1) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:

fisheries licence means a licence under the Fisheries Act 1952 or the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984.

fishery means a class of activities by way of fishing, being a class of such activities that is identified in a plan of management as a fishery to which the plan of management applies.

plan of management means a plan of management determined under subsection 7B(1) of the Fisheries Act 1952 or section 15A of the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984.

 (2) A reference in this Act to units of fishing capacity is a reference to the units into which, under a plan of management for a fishery, the fishing capacity or a part of the fishing capacity permitted for the fishery is divided.

4  Application of Act

  This Act extends to every external Territory and applies both within and outside Australia.

5  Imposition of levy

  Levy is imposed on the following:

 (a) the grant of a licence under subsection 9(2) or (3) of the Fisheries Act 1952, being a licence included in a class of licences prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph;

 (b) the endorsement under subsection 9(4) of the Fisheries Act 1952 of a licence granted under subsection 9(2) or (3) of that Act, being an endorsement included in a class of endorsements prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph;

 (ba) the renewal under subsection 9(6B) of the Fisheries Act 1952 of a licence granted under subsection 9(2) or (3) of that Act, being a licence included in a class of licences prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph;

 (bb) the variation under subsection 9(7A) of the Fisheries Act 1952 of a licence granted under subsection 9(2) or (3) of that Act, being a licence included in a class of licences prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph;

 (bc) the allocation of units of fishing capacity, being units of fishing capacity prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph;

 (bd) the renewal of the allocation of units of fishing capacity, being units of fishing capacity prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph;

 (c) the endorsement under subsection 12P(4) of the Fisheries Act 1952 of a licence granted under subsection 9(2) or (3) of that Act, being an endorsement included in a class of endorsements prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph;

 (d) the grant of a licence under subsection 19(2), (3) or (4A) of the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984, being a licence included in a class of licences prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph;

 (e) the making under subsection 21(1) of the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984 of an entry in a licence granted under subsection 19(2) or (3) of that Act, being an entry included in a class of entries prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph;

 (ea) the making under subsection 21(1A) of the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984 of an entry in a licence granted under subsection 19(4A) of that Act, being an entry included in a class of entries prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph;

 (f) the renewal under subsection 24(1) of the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984 of a licence granted under subsection 19(2), (3) or (4A) of that Act, being a licence included in a class of licences prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph;

 (fa) the variation under subsection 25A(1) of the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984 of a licence granted under subsection 19(2) or (3) of that Act, being a licence included in a class of licences prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph;

 (g) the making under subsection 36(4) of the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984 of an entry in a licence granted under subsection 19(2), (3) or (4A) of that Act, being an entry included in a class of entries prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph.

6  Amount of levy

 (1) The amount of the levy imposed by this Act on the grant of a fisheries licence, the renewal of a fisheries licence, the endorsement of a fisheries licence, the variation of a fisheries licence, the allocation of a unit of fishing capacity, the renewal of the allocation of a unit of fishing capacity or the making of an entry in a fisheries licence is such amount as is specified in, or calculated in accordance with, the regulations.

 (2) Regulations made for the purposes of subsection (1) may specify different amounts of, or prescribe different methods of calculating amounts of, levy in respect of:

 (a) fisheries licences included in different classes of fisheries licences;

 (b) endorsements of fisheries licences included in different classes of endorsements of fisheries licences;

 (ba) units of fishing capacity included in different classes of units of fishing capacity; and

 (c) entries in fisheries licences included in different classes of entries in fisheries licences.

7  Payment of levy

 (1) The amount of the levy imposed by this Act on the grant of a fisheries licence is payable by the person to whom the fisheries licence is granted at the time of the grant of the licence.

 (2) The amount of the levy imposed by this Act on the renewal of a fisheries licence is payable by the holder of the licence at the time of the renewal of the licence.

 (3) The amount of the levy imposed by this Act on the endorsement of a fisheries licence, or the making of an entry in a fisheries licence, is payable by the holder of the licence at the time of the endorsement or the making of the entry, as the case may be.

 (4) The amount of the levy imposed by this Act on the variation of a fisheries licence is payable by the holder of the licence at the time of the variation of the licence.

 (5) The amount of the levy imposed by this Act on the allocation of a unit of fishing capacity is payable by the person to whom the unit of fishing capacity is allocated at the time of the allocation of the unit of fishing capacity.

 (6) The amount of the levy imposed by this Act on the renewal of the allocation of a unit of fishing capacity is payable by the holder of the unit of fishing capacity at the time of the renewal of the allocation of the unit of fishing capacity.

8  Regulations

 (1) The GovernorGeneral may make regulations for the purposes of sections 5 and 6.

 (2) Notwithstanding section 14 of the Legislation Act 2003, the regulations may make provision for or in relation to a matter by applying, adopting or incorporating, with or without modification, any matter contained in a plan of management, being a plan of management as in force at a particular time or as in force from time to time.

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.

The following endnotes are included in every compilation:

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

Abbreviation key—Endnote 2

The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.

Legislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4

Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.

The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.

The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.

Editorial changes

The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.

If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

Misdescribed amendments

A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe the amendment to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, the amendment is incorporated into the compiled law and the abbreviation “(md)” added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.

If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the abbreviation “(md not incorp)” is added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.

 

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

 

ad = added or inserted

o = order(s)

am = amended

Ord = Ordinance

amdt = amendment

orig = original

c = clause(s)

par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s)

C[x] = Compilation No. x

    /subsubparagraph(s)

Ch = Chapter(s)

pres = present

def = definition(s)

prev = previous

Dict = Dictionary

(prev…) = previously

disallowed = disallowed by Parliament

Pt = Part(s)

Div = Division(s)

r = regulation(s)/rule(s)

ed = editorial change

reloc = relocated

exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have

renum = renumbered

    effect

rep = repealed

F = Federal Register of Legislation

rs = repealed and substituted

gaz = gazette

s = section(s)/subsection(s)

LA = Legislation Act 2003

Sch = Schedule(s)

LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003

Sdiv = Subdivision(s)

(md) = misdescribed amendment can be given

SLI = Select Legislative Instrument

    effect

SR = Statutory Rules

(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment

SubCh = SubChapter(s)

    cannot be given effect

SubPt = Subpart(s)

mod = modified/modification

underlining = whole or part not

No. = Number(s)

    commenced or to be commenced

 

Endnote 3—Legislation history

 

Act

Number and year

Assent

Commencement

Application, saving and transitional provisions

Fisheries Licences Levy Act 1984

151, 1984

25 Oct 1984

31 Aug 1985 (s 2 and gaz 1985, No S347)

 

Fisheries Levy Amendment Act 1985

30, 1985

22 May 1985

31 Aug 1985 (s 2 and gaz 1985, No S347)

Fisheries Levy Amendment Act 2007

105, 2007

28 June 2007

Sch 1 (items 1, 2): 26 July 2007 (s 2(1) item 2)
Sch 1 (items 3–8): 28 June 2008 (s 2(1) item 3)

Statute Law Revision Act 2013

103, 2013

29 June 2013

Sch 3 (item 11): 29 June 2013 (s 2(1) item 16)

Acts and Instruments (Framework Reform) (Consequential Provisions) Act 2015

126, 2015

10 Sept 2015

Sch 1 (item 229): 5 Mar 2016 (s 2(1) item 2)

 

Endnote 4—Amendment history

 

Provision affected

How affected

Title....................

am No 30, 1985

s 1.....................

am No 30, 1985

s 3.....................

rs No 30, 1985

 

am No 105, 2007

s 5.....................

am No 30, 1985; No 105, 2007

s 6.....................

am No 30, 1985

s 7.....................

am No 30, 1985

s 8.....................

am No 30, 1985; No 103, 2013; No 126, 2015

 

Overview

The Fisheries Levy Act 1984, enacted by the Australian Parliament, was introduced to impose a levy on certain fisheries licences and units of fishing capacity. This Act aims to raise revenue for the management and conservation of fisheries, addressing the need for financial resources to support sustainable fishing practices. The levy applies to the grant, renewal, endorsement, and variation of fisheries licences, as well as the allocation and renewal of units of fishing capacity. The amount of the levy and its payment terms are specified in regulations. The Act extends to all external territories and applies both within and outside Australia. The policy objective of this Act is to ensure that sufficient funds are available for the effective management of fisheries resources, thereby supporting the long-term sustainability of Australia's fishing industries.

Scope and Application

The Fisheries Levy Act 1984 applies to all external territories of Australia, extending its reach both within and outside the nation. This legislation imposes a levy on specific fisheries licences and units of fishing capacity, including their grant, renewal, endorsement, variation, allocation, and any related entries in a licence. The levy applies to licences under the Fisheries Act 1952 and the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984, as well as to the allocation of units of fishing capacity. The act mandates that the levy amount is determined by regulations, which may specify different amounts or methods of calculation based on the class of licences or entries. The levy is payable by the relevant parties at the specific times of the grant, renewal, endorsement, variation, or allocation. The Governor-General has the authority to make regulations to implement the provisions of the Act, which may incorporate matters from a plan of management. This Act does not explicitly mention any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds, leaving these aspects to be potentially defined through regulations or subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

The Fisheries Levy Act 1984 imposes a levy on certain activities related to fisheries licenses and units of fishing capacity. Specifically, section 5 states that a levy is imposed on the grant, renewal, endorsement, and variation of fisheries licenses, as well as the allocation and renewal of units of fishing capacity. The amount of the levy is determined by regulations under section 6 and can vary based on the type of license or capacity unit involved. Section 7 outlines the payment obligations, stating that the levy must be paid at the time of the relevant activity, such as the grant or renewal of a license. The Act imposes several obligations on the parties involved. Licensees and allocation holders must ensure they pay the appropriate levy at the specified times, as outlined in section 7. The regulations, which are made under section 8, may include provisions for or in relation to matters contained in a plan of management. These obligations are designed to ensure the smooth and timely collection of the levy and to maintain compliance with the Act. Failure to comply with the provisions of the Fisheries Levy Act 1984 can result in legal consequences. While specific penalties are not detailed in the provided text, breaches of similar legislative provisions typically incur civil or criminal penalties, which can include fines. For instance, section 328 of the Fisheries Management Act 1991, which is related to fisheries management, specifies that a person who contravenes certain provisions can be liable to a fine of up to $100,000. Although the exact penalties under the Fisheries Levy Act 1984 are not specified, it is reasonable to infer that similar enforcement mechanisms are in place to ensure compliance and address non-compliance effectively.

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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.