Honey Levy Act (No. 1A) 1965

Overview

The Honey Levy Act (No. 1a) 1965 was enacted to address the issue of updating the Honey Levy Act (No. 1) 1962 in light of Australia's transition to decimal currency. This Act was assented to on 18 December 1965 by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia. The primary objective of this legislation was to amend the existing Honey Levy Act to reflect the new currency system. The Act modifies the rate of the levy on honey by converting the previously specified amounts from shillings and pence to cents, ensuring consistency with the new decimal currency. The changes were made effective from 14 February 1966, providing a clear and updated framework for the collection of honey levies in line with the monetary reform.

Scope and Application

The Honey Levy Act (No. 1a) 1965 amends the Honey Levy Act (No. 1) 1962 to adjust the levy rates in relation to the adoption of decimal currency in Australia. This Act applies to the same persons, entities, and industries as the Principal Act, which pertains to those involved in the production, processing, and sale of honey within Australia. The geographic scope of the Act is national, as it operates throughout the Commonwealth of Australia. It does not explicitly state any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds, meaning that the amended rates likely apply universally to all those subject to the levy. The Act is intended to update the levy rates to align with the decimal currency system implemented in Australia from 14 February 1966, which is the effective date of this legislation. The application and enforcement of the amended rates may be further detailed or extended through subordinate instruments or regulations issued under the authority of the Act.

Key Provisions

The key provisions of the Honey Levy Act (No. 1a) 1965 primarily involve amendments to the Honey Levy Act (No. 1) 1962, as it relates to decimal currency. Section 1 of this Act provides for its citation and the reference to the Principal Act. Specifically, Section 1(2) of this Act refers to the Honey Levy Act (No. 1) 1962 as amended by the Honey Levy Act (No. 1) 1965, which is collectively referred to as the Honey Levy Act (No. 1) 1962-1965. The Act also includes a commencement clause (Section 2), specifying that it shall come into operation on the fourteenth day of February, 1966. The substantive change introduced by this Act is found in Section 3, which amends Section 5 of the Principal Act by adjusting the rate of the levy. The Honey Levy Act (No. 1a) 1965 imposes specific obligations on the parties governed by the Principal Act. These obligations primarily revolve around the revised rate of levy as stipulated in Section 3. The Act mandates that the levy rate previously expressed as one-half penny per pound of honey be adjusted to Five-twelfths of a cent. Similarly, the levy rate previously expressed as one penny per pound of honey must now be adjusted to One cent per pound. This adjustment is intended to align the levy rates with the decimal currency system implemented in Australia. In terms of compliance and enforcement, the Act does not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for non-compliance with its provisions. However, given that the Act amends an existing legislative framework, it can be inferred that non-compliance with the amended levy rates could potentially lead to enforcement actions under the broader regulatory scheme established by the Honey Levy Act (No. 1) 1962. While the Act itself does not specify penalties, the overarching legislation might include provisions for fines or other enforcement measures to ensure adherence to the revised levy rates.