Overview

The Primary Industries Research and Development Act 1989, enacted by the Australian Parliament, was introduced to address the need for research and development funding in primary industries. The Act provides a framework for the collection and distribution of funds for research and development activities in various sectors, ensuring that industries receive the necessary support to innovate and improve productivity. This legislation facilitates the Gross Value of Production (GVP) determinations, which are crucial for allocating funds to different industries based on their economic contribution. The policy objective of the Act is to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of primary industries by investing in research and development. The Act empowers the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources to delegate the determination of GVP, as evidenced by the determination for the 2015-16 financial year issued by Fran Freeman, a delegate under the authority of section 143A of the Act. This determination ensures that funds are appropriately distributed across industries such as buffalo, chicken meat, deer, ratite, goat fibre, macropods, honey, grains, rice, cotton, pasture seeds, and ginger, based on their respective economic contributions.

Scope and Application

The Gross Value of Production for the Buffalo, Chicken Meat, Deer, Ratite, Goat Fibre, Macropod, Honey, Grains, Rice, Cotton, Pasture Seeds and Ginger Industries for 2015-16 Act determines the gross value of production for these industries, which is payable for research and development activities. The legislation applies to these specific industries, detailing the gross value of production for each one, as determined by the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources. The geographic reach of this Act is national, as it pertains to various industries within Australia. There are no stated exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds in this particular Act. However, the application of the Act may be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments, which would provide further details on specific aspects of its implementation and enforcement. This Act provides essential data for funding research and development initiatives across the designated agricultural sectors.

Key Provisions

The legislation in question primarily involves the determination of the Gross Value of Production (GVP) for a range of agricultural industries for the financial year 2015-16. Under section 143A of the Primary Industries Research and Development Act 1989, Fran Freeman, as a delegate of the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, has established the GVP figures for these industries (sections 1 and 2). The GVP figures, which are integral to funding research and development activities within these sectors, include specific amounts for industries such as buffalo, chicken meat, deer, ratite, goat fibre, macropods, honey, grains, rice, cotton, pasture seeds, and ginger (section 2). This Act imposes obligations on the respective industries to accurately report their production values, which are then used to determine the funding allocation for research and development activities. The GVP figures serve as the basis for the financial contributions that these industries must make towards the advancement of research and development initiatives. This reporting requirement ensures that the funds are distributed in a manner that reflects the economic significance of each industry, thus supporting the growth and innovation within the primary industries sector (section 3). Failure to comply with the obligations set forth by this Act may lead to various consequences. Although the specific provisions of the Primary Industries Research and Development Act 1989 are not detailed in this excerpt, it can be inferred that breaches of the reporting requirements or non-compliance with the GVP determinations could potentially lead to civil or criminal penalties. The Act likely includes provisions for enforcement actions, which may include fines or other sanctions, to ensure adherence to the legislated requirements (section 4). While the exact penalties are not specified in the text, they would typically be outlined in the broader context of the Primary Industries Research and Development Act 1989. In summary, the legislation establishes the Gross Value of Production figures for various agricultural industries, mandates the reporting of these figures for research and development funding purposes, and implicitly suggests that non-compliance with these provisions may result in civil or criminal penalties as per the overarching Act. The determination of GVP is crucial for the equitable distribution of research and development funds, thereby supporting the sustainability and innovation within these industries.