EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1982 No. 161
Issued by the Authority of the Minister of State for Home Affairs and Environment for and on behalf of the Minister of State for Primary Industry.
LIVE-STOCK SLAUGHTER LEVY REGULATIONS
(AMENDMENT)
These regulations are designed to amend the existing regulations under the Live-stock Slaughter Levy Act 1964 so as to increase the amounts levied per head of livestock.
The Live-stock Slaughter Levy Act imposes a levy on the slaughter of cattle, calves, bobby calves, buffaloes, sheep, lambs and goats. The levy consists of 4 components, which respectively raise funds for the following purposes:
(a) financing of the Australian Meat and Live-stock Corporation (AMLC)
(b) General meat research
(c) Meat processing research
(d) Bovine disease eradication (only cattle, calves, bobby calves and buffaloes are levied for this purpose).
The Act specifies the maximum amounts per head which may be levied under the various components in respect of each category of livestock. The operative amounts are prescribed by regulation and section 8 of the Act empowers the Governor-General to do this.
Section 8 also requires that before making such regulations, the Governor-General shall take into consideration any recommendations made to the Minister for Primary Industry by the AMLC. The AMLC is in turn required to consult the industry Consultative Groups established under its enabling Act and, in the case of research components, also the Australian Meat Research Committee.
The AMLC has recommended to the Minister for Primary Industry that those components of the levy which raise funds for the AMLC and for both general meat research and meat processing research be increased with effect from 1 July 1982. The proposed increases are:
(a) in the case of the AMLC component - 5.866%
(b) in the case of the general meat research component 40% (for adult cattle and buffaloes only; other categories to remain unchanged)
(c) in the case of the meat processing research component - 50%.
The increases are required in order to maintain the present level of AMLC and research activities. The need for greater increases in the research components is due to the fact that the present rates have remained unaltered for more than 10 years, during which time there was a substantial rise in costs.
Before the AMLC made its recommendations to the Minister, it duly consulted all of the industry Consultative Groups. These Groups are:
(1) the Live-stock Producers Consultative Group;
(2) the Meat Exporters and Abattoir Operators Consultative Group; and
(3) the Live-stock Exporters Consultative Group.
Overview
The Live-stock Slaughter Levy Regulations (Amendment) Statutory Rules 1982 were enacted to address the need for increased funding for the Australian Meat and Live-stock Corporation (AMLC) and related research activities within the meat industry. The regulations were issued under the authority of the Minister of State for Home Affairs and Environment on behalf of the Minister of State for Primary Industry. They aim to amend the existing regulations under the Live-stock Slaughter Levy Act 1964 by increasing the levies on the slaughter of various livestock categories. This amendment responds to recommendations made by the AMLC, which consulted with industry consultative groups to determine the necessary increases in funding to maintain current levels of AMLC activities and research, which had remained unchanged for over a decade amidst rising costs.
Scope and Application
The Live-stock Slaughter Levy Regulations (Amendment) 1982, issued under the authority of the Minister of State for Home Affairs and Environment on behalf of the Minister of State for Primary Industry, aim to revise the existing regulations established under the Live-stock Slaughter Levy Act 1964. This amendment specifically increases the amounts levied per head of livestock. The Act imposes a levy on the slaughter of cattle, calves, bobby calves, buffaloes, sheep, lambs, and goats. The levy is divided into four components: one for financing the Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation (AMLC), one for general meat research, one for meat processing research, and another for bovine disease eradication, the latter applying only to cattle, calves, bobby calves, and buffaloes. The Act mandates the Governor-General to set the operative amounts for these levies by regulation, with a requirement to consider recommendations from the AMLC, which must consult with industry Consultative Groups and, for research components, the Australian Meat Research Committee. The AMLC has recommended increases to the Minister for Primary Industry to sustain current levels of AMLC and research activities, with the proposed increases being 5.866% for the AMLC component, 40% for the general meat research component (for adult cattle and buffaloes only), and 50% for the meat processing research component, effective from 1 July 1982.
Key Provisions
The primary sections of the Live-stock Slaughter Levy Regulations (Amendment) concern the adjustment of levy amounts for various categories of livestock, including cattle, calves, bobby calves, buffaloes, sheep, lambs, and goats. These amendments, as stated in section 8 of the Live-stock Slaughter Levy Act 1964, empower the Governor-General to increase the levy amounts. This amendment was made to ensure the continued funding of the Australian Meat and Live-stock Corporation (AMLC), general meat research, meat processing research, and bovine disease eradication, which are the four components of the levy. The AMLC component, which funds the AMLC activities, is proposed to increase by 5.866%, while the general meat research component is proposed to increase by 40% for adult cattle and buffaloes, with no changes for other categories. The meat processing research component is set to increase by 50%.
The obligations and requirements imposed by these regulations are primarily on the AMLC, the industry Consultative Groups, and the livestock producers and processors. The AMLC must consult with the industry Consultative Groups, which include the Live-stock Producers Consultative Group, the Meat Exporters and Abattoir Operators Consultative Group, and the Live-stock Exporters Consultative Group, before making recommendations to the Minister for Primary Industry. The industry Consultative Groups must provide input and feedback on the proposed levy increases, ensuring that their interests and concerns are considered in the decision-making process. Livestock producers and processors must comply with the new levy amounts when they slaughter their livestock.
Failure to comply with the amended regulations may result in civil or criminal consequences. The specific offences and penalties are not detailed in the explanatory statement, but under the Live-stock Slaughter Levy Act, penalties for non-compliance may include fines or other civil penalties as determined by the relevant authorities. In cases of wilful or negligent non-compliance, criminal charges may be pursued, leading to potential imprisonment or additional fines, depending on the severity of the breach and the discretion of the court.