Overview

The Live-stock Slaughter Levy Amendment Act 1982 was enacted to address amendments to the rates of levies on the slaughter of various types of livestock, as originally established under the Live-stock Slaughter Levy Act 1964. The Act was passed by the Parliament of Australia and received Royal Assent on 24 September 1982. The principal objective of this legislation was to adjust the financial contributions required from the livestock slaughter industry to better reflect the costs associated with the administration and oversight of livestock slaughter processes. The Act amended specific levy rates for cattle, sheep, lambs, buffaloes, goats, calves, and bobby calves, updating them to more accurately cover the costs involved in their respective slaughter and processing.

Scope and Application

The Live-stock Slaughter Levy Amendment Act 1982 amends the Live-stock Slaughter Levy Act 1964, primarily to adjust the rates of levies on the slaughter of various types of livestock. This Act applies to all persons and entities involved in the slaughter of cattle, sheep, lambs, buffaloes, goats, calves, and bobby calves within the Commonwealth of Australia. The amended rates are specified for each type of livestock, reflecting changes in economic conditions or policy decisions. The Act does not explicitly outline exclusions or exemptions but implies that any exclusions or exemptions would need to be addressed in subordinate instruments or other legislation. The scope of the Act extends to the entire Commonwealth, ensuring uniform application across all states and territories, and it supplements the Principal Act by adjusting the levy rates and incorporating references to the Meat Exporter and Abattoir Consultative Group.

Key Provisions

The Live-stock Slaughter Levy Amendment Act 1982 (Act) amends the Live-stock Slaughter Levy Act 1964 (Principal Act) to revise the rates of levy for the slaughter of various types of livestock. Specifically, the Act increases the levy rates for cattle (Section 4), sheep (Section 5), lambs (Section 6), buffaloes (Section 7), goats (Section 8), calves (Section 9), and bobby calves (Section 10). The new rates are as follows: $5.00 for cattle and buffaloes, $3.00 for calves, $1.67 for bobby calves, and a rate of 30 cents per head for sheep, lambs, goats, and calves. Section 11 of the Act further amends the Principal Act by incorporating the term "Meat" in relevant subsections, thereby emphasising the connection between the livestock slaughter levy and the meat industry. The Act imposes obligations on parties involved in the livestock slaughter industry to comply with the new levy rates set out in the amended Principal Act. This includes abattoirs, meat exporters, and other relevant entities that must pay the specified levies for each animal slaughtered. By amending the Principal Act, the new rates must be adhered to in all transactions involving the slaughter of the specified livestock. The Meat Exporter and Abattoir Consultative Group, as defined in Section 3 of the Act, is also affected as they are now responsible for the new levy structures and must ensure that all stakeholders are aware of and comply with the updated rates. Breaches of the amended Principal Act may result in civil or criminal consequences. Although the Act does not specify the penalties for non-compliance, under the Principal Act, penalties for non-payment or underpayment of the levy can include fines and potential legal action. The exact penalties would be determined by the relevant authorities enforcing the Principal Act, and could vary based on the severity and frequency of the breaches. It is important for entities involved in the livestock slaughter industry to ensure strict compliance with the new rates to avoid any legal repercussions.