Live-stock Export Charge Amendment Act 1979

Overview

The Live-stock Export Charge Amendment Act 1979 was enacted to amend the Live-stock Export Charge Act 1977, which is its principal Act. This amendment was passed by the Queen, in conjunction with the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia. The Act addresses the need to update the rates of charges on the export of cattle and buffaloes, which were previously set at $1.00 and are now being increased to $3.00 each, as specified in the amending sections. The policy objective is to ensure that the charges levied on livestock exports are reflective of contemporary economic conditions and appropriately fund the associated regulatory activities. The Act was designed to come into effect on 1 July 1979, ensuring that the amendments to the charge rates would be implemented in a timely manner to reflect the updated economic landscape. This legislative change was made to align the fees with the current economic environment, thereby maintaining the financial sustainability of the regulatory framework governing livestock exports.

Scope and Application

The Live-stock Export Charge Amendment Act 1979 applies to the export of cattle and buffaloes, amending the existing Live-stock Export Charge Act 1977. The Act specifically modifies the rate of charge applicable to the export of these livestock species, thereby impacting those entities and persons involved in the live-stock export industry who are responsible for facilitating such transactions. The legislative change is set within the Commonwealth jurisdiction, affecting all exports conducted under the purview of Australian federal law. The Act does not explicitly state any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds; however, its amendments are clearly targeted at the specified charge rates, without broadening or restricting its application beyond these parameters. The Act’s provisions may be further extended or specified through subordinate instruments, which could provide additional clarity or operational details concerning the implementation of the amended charges.

Key Provisions

The Live-stock Export Charge Amendment Act 1979 (C2004A02085) amends the Live-stock Export Charge Act 1977 (referred to as the Principal Act) by increasing the charge on the export of cattle and buffaloes. Section 3 of the Act amends Section 7 of the Principal Act, changing the charge from $1.00 to $3.00 for the export of cattle. Similarly, Section 4 of the Act amends Section 10 of the Principal Act, changing the charge from $1.00 to $3.00 for the export of buffaloes. Under this Act, the entities or parties responsible for the export of cattle and buffaloes must comply with the amended charge rates. This means that any exporter of cattle or buffaloes must now pay $3.00 per head for the export charge, as opposed to the previous rate of $1.00. This amendment is intended to reflect changes in the economic conditions or the operational costs associated with live-stock exports. Failure to comply with the amended charge rates may result in legal consequences. Although the specific offences, penalties, or consequences are not detailed within the provided sections of the Act, under Australian law, non-compliance with legislative requirements can generally lead to civil or criminal penalties. The exact nature of these penalties would depend on the specific breaches and could include fines, legal action, or other sanctions as prescribed by relevant laws and regulations. The maximum penalties are not specified in the provided text but would typically be outlined in the relevant sections of the Principal Act or other associated legislation.