Overview

The Sugar Research and Development Services Act 2013, enacted by the Australian Parliament, aims to facilitate research and development in the sugar industry. This Act was introduced to address the need for an efficient and transparent method of determining the gross value of production for the sugar industry. In 2019, pursuant to subsection 7(4) of this Act, the Minister for Agriculture, Bridget McKenzie, determined the gross value of production for the sugar industry for the 2018-19 financial year. This determination, amounting to $1,319,742,849 for sugar cane, underscores the policy objective of providing a reliable metric for economic assessments and funding allocations within the industry.

Scope and Application

The Sugar Research and Development Services Act 2013 applies to the sugar industry in Australia, specifically targeting entities involved in the production and research of sugar cane. The Act mandates the determination of the Gross Value of Production (GVP) for the sugar industry annually, as exemplified by the legislative instrument C2019G00606, which sets the GVP for the 2018-19 financial year at $1,319,742,849. This determination is crucial for the allocation of research and development funds within the industry. The Act extends its reach to encompass all sugar cane producers and related entities operating within Australia. The Act's application is comprehensive across all states and territories, thereby ensuring a uniform standard for the entire nation. There are no explicit exclusions or exemptions mentioned in this legislative instrument, which implies that all eligible entities within the sugar industry are subject to its provisions. The Act may also be supplemented or further detailed by subordinate instruments, which could provide additional guidelines or specific criteria for the implementation of its provisions.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the legislation, C2019G00606, determine the Gross Value of Production (GVP) for the sugar industry for the financial year 2018-19. Under subsection 7(4) of the Sugar Research and Development Services Act 2013, the Minister for Agriculture, Bridget McKenzie, has established that the GVP for sugar cane production for that year is $1,319,742,849. This figure is crucial as it forms the basis for various funding and research initiatives within the sugar industry. The determination of this amount is intended to reflect the economic significance of the industry and ensure appropriate allocation of resources for research and development. In accordance with the legislation, the Act imposes certain obligations on the parties it governs. The primary obligation is the accurate determination and reporting of the Gross Value of Production by the Minister for Agriculture. This determination is not merely a financial exercise but a statutory requirement that must be fulfilled by the Minister, based on the provisions set out in the Sugar Research and Development Services Act 2013. The figure is then used as a benchmark for industry funding and support, indicating that the determination process must be precise and based on verifiable data. Breaches of the obligations outlined in the Act may lead to civil or criminal consequences, although the specific provisions for penalties are not detailed in this particular piece of legislation. Generally, under the Sugar Research and Development Services Act 2013, any failure to comply with the statutory requirements for determining and reporting the GVP could result in legal action. This could include fines, sanctions, or other corrective measures. While the exact penalties are not specified in the current text, they are likely to be commensurate with the seriousness of the breach and could be significant, reflecting the importance of accurate financial reporting in the industry.