Overview

The Australian Grape and Wine Authority Act 2013 was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to provide a legislative framework for the governance and regulation of the Australian wine industry, ensuring its sustainability and competitiveness. This Act establishes the Australian Grape and Wine Authority, which is responsible for developing and administering policies that support the industry. The policy objective is to foster the growth and development of the Australian wine industry, thereby contributing to the economic prosperity of the country and enhancing Australia's reputation in the global market. The 2016-17 Gross Value of Production (GVP) determination by Fran Freeman, as a delegate of the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, is an application of the Act to provide a concrete economic valuation of the industry, facilitating better policy-making and investment decisions.

Scope and Application

The Australian Grape and Wine Authority Act 2013, through its subsection 32B(2), empowers the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources to delegate the determination of the Gross Value of Production (GVP) for the wine grapes and wine industry. This particular determination, made by Fran Freeman, a delegate of the Minister, sets the GVP for the 2016-17 financial year, specifying the industry's financial output at $864,708,265 for wine grapes and $1,764,437,369 for wine. The Act applies to entities within the wine industry, including growers and producers of wine grapes and wine, and its jurisdictional reach is primarily within the Commonwealth. The determination does not specify exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds, but the application of the Act can be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments as necessary. This determination is pivotal for economic analysis, policy formulation, and funding allocation within the industry.

Key Provisions

This legislation, C2017G00769 (Gazette), pertains to the Gross Value of Production (GVP) for the wine grapes and wine industry for the 2016-17 financial year. As stated in section 42 of the Australian Grape and Wine Authority Act 2013, the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources has delegated the task of determining the GVP to a delegate, in this case, Fran Freeman. The determination was made under subsection 32B(2) of the Act and was officially gazetted on 21 June 2017. The GVP for wine grapes is specified as $864,708,265, and for wine, it is $1,764,437,369. These figures represent the total economic value of the wine grape and wine production for the year in question. The primary obligation imposed by this legislation is the accurate determination and publication of the Gross Value of Production for the specified industry and period. This requirement ensures that stakeholders have access to reliable data regarding the economic contributions and health of the wine grape and wine sectors. By clearly delineating the GVP for each component of the industry, the legislation supports informed decision-making by government bodies, industry participants, and other relevant entities. The determination by Fran Freeman, as a delegate of the Minister, underscores the importance of official oversight and the transparency of economic data in the agricultural sector. Failure to comply with the provisions of the Australian Grape and Wine Authority Act 2013, including the accurate reporting of the GVP, may result in various consequences. While the specific legislative text provided does not detail the penalties or consequences for non-compliance, it is reasonable to infer that breaches of the Act could lead to civil or criminal penalties, depending on the severity and intent of the breach. Typically, such breaches might result in fines, legal action, or other remedial measures to ensure adherence to the legislative requirements. The exact penalties would be determined by the relevant courts based on the specifics of the case and existing legal frameworks.