Honey Industry Act 1973

Overview

The Honey Industry Act 1973 was enacted to amend the Honey Industry Act 1962–1972 in relation to the moneys payable to the Australian Honey Board. This Act was introduced to ensure that the financial obligations of the Board are met from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, reflecting changes in the legislative framework for collecting honey levies and export charges. The Act was assented to on 14 December 1973 by the Queen, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of Australia. The primary objective of this legislation is to update the financial provisions concerning the payments made to the Australian Honey Board, aligning them with the new collection methods established by the Honey Export Charge Collection Act 1973.

Scope and Application

The Honey Industry Act 1973 applies to the administration and regulation of the honey industry in Australia, focusing on the collection and allocation of funds to the Australian Honey Board. This Act pertains to entities and persons involved in the honey industry, including honey producers, exporters, and other stakeholders. It is a Commonwealth Act, thereby extending its application across Australia. The primary purpose of the Act is to ensure that the Australian Honey Board receives the appropriate funds collected through levies and charges on honey production and export activities. These funds are derived from the Honey Levy Collection Act 1962 and the Honey Export Charge Collection Act 1973. Notably, the Act explicitly states that the moneys payable to the Board are to be sourced from the Consolidated Revenue Fund. Any exclusions, exemptions, or specific thresholds are detailed in the subordinate legislation under the Honey Levy Collection Act 1962 and the Honey Export Charge Collection Act 1973, which may be amended or expanded through further instruments.

Key Provisions

The Honey Industry Act 1973 primarily serves to amend the Honey Industry Act 1962–1972 by modifying the provisions regarding the moneys payable to the Australian Honey Board. Section 3 of the Act repeals the existing Section 23 of the Honey Industry Act 1962–1972 and substitutes it with a new section. This new section, 23, dictates that there shall be paid to the Board out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which is appropriated accordingly, amounts equal to the levies received by Australia under the Honey Levy Collection Act 1962, or under that Act as amended and in force from time to time, including penalty amounts under section 8 of that Act, and the charges received by Australia under the Honey Export Charge Collection Act 1973, including penalty amounts under section 6 of that Act. The obligations imposed by the Honey Industry Act 1973 on the parties involved primarily revolve around the financial responsibilities of the Australian Honey Board. Specifically, the Board is entitled to receive payments from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which are to be equal to the specified levies and charges, including any penalties under the Honey Levy Collection Act 1962 and the Honey Export Charge Collection Act 1973. These payments are to be made in accordance with the appropriations set out in the Act. The Act does not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breaches within its provisions. However, the penalties under the Honey Levy Collection Act 1962 (section 8) and the Honey Export Charge Collection Act 1973 (section 6) would still apply in cases of non-compliance with those Acts. These penalties could include fines or other sanctions as prescribed by the respective Acts, but the exact maximum penalties would need to be referred to in the Honey Levy Collection Act 1962 and the Honey Export Charge Collection Act 1973.