EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1988 No. 235
Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy
GRAIN LEGUMES LEVY ACT 1985
GRAIN LEGUMES LEVY REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT)
The Grain Legumes Levy Act 1985 (the Act) provides for the imposition of a levy on leviable grain legumes. The amount raised by the levy, along with matching Commonwealth funds, is used to finance a program of grain legumes research. The establishment of the research scheme and associated administrative arrangements are authorised by the Rural Industries Research Act 1985.
At present, leviable grain legumes include only lupins, field peas and Vicia faba (faba beans). Proposals to include additional grain legumes in the scheme are considered by the Minister on the basis of recommendations by the growers’ organisation, prescribed by regulation as the Grains Council of Australia.
The Grains Council of Australia has requested that chick peas (Cicer arietinum), mung beans (Vigna radiata), pigeon peas (Cajanus cajan) and peanuts be added to the scheme. Production of these crops in Australia has now reached levels where it is appropriate and practical that they be included under the grain legumes research scheme.
The proposed amendment to regulations provides for the inclusion of Cicer arietinum, Vigna radiata, Cajanus cajan and peanuts as leviable grain legumes from 1 October 1988. The broadening of the levy base would permit an expanded grain legume research program.