EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1985 No.171
Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Primary Industry
LIVE-STOCK SLAUGHTER LEVY REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT)
The Live-stock Slaughter Levy Act 1964 imposes a levy on the slaughter of cattle, calves, bobby calves, buffaloes, sheep, lambs and goats. The levy consists of three components, which respectively raise funds for the following purposes:
(a) Financing of the Australian Meat and Live-stock Corporation
(b) Financing of the Australian Meat and Live-stock Research and Development Corporation (AMLRDC)
(c) Bovine disease eradication (only cattle, calves, bobby calves and buffaloes are levied for this purpose).
The Government has decided to accept an Australian Meat and Live-stock Corporation recommendation that the sheep and lamb levy component that raises funds to finance Australian Meat and Live-stock Corporation activities be increased. The recommendation was endorsed at the annual general meeting of the industry on 10 May 1985. The new rates will come into effect on 1 September 1985. The present and proposed operative rates and the ceiling rates currently applicable to the AMLC lamb and sheep operative rates are as follows:
| Present Rates | Proposed Rates | Ceiling Rates |
| | (cents per head) | |
| | | |
Sheep | 18.2 | 18.8 | 54.6 |
Lambs | 24.6 | 28.8 | 61.6 |
The proposed lamb and sheep slaughter levy increases have been determined with a view to achieving two objectives: the proposed lamb and sheep rate increases of 0.6 cents per head are necessary to finance national computer aided livestock marketing systems; the proposed additional increase of the lamb slaughter levy of 3.6 cents per head has been necessary to bring the level of lamb slaughter levy collected to fund the AMLC’s general promotion activities into line with the sheep slaughter levy which was increased with effect from 1 April 1985.
Overview
The Live-stock Slaughter Levy Regulations (Amendment) Statutory Rules 1985 No.171, issued under the authority of the Minister for Primary Industry, amends the Live-stock Slaughter Levy Regulations of 1964. This legislative amendment was enacted to address the need for increased funding to support the Australian Meat and Live-stock Corporation (AMLC) and the Australian Meat and Live-stock Research and Development Corporation (AMLRDC), particularly concerning national computer-aided livestock marketing systems. The policy objective behind this amendment is to adjust the levy rates on sheep and lambs to better align with the funding requirements of the AMLC, ensuring that the organisation can effectively carry out its promotional activities and research initiatives. The changes were recommended by the Australian Meat and Live-stock Corporation and endorsed at the industry’s annual general meeting held on 10 May 1985, with the new rates set to take effect from 1 September 1985.
Scope and Application
The Live-stock Slaughter Levy Regulations (Amendment) pertain to the Live-stock Slaughter Levy Act 1964, which imposes a levy on the slaughter of various livestock including cattle, calves, bobby calves, buffaloes, sheep, lambs, and goats. This levy is structured into three components, each designated to finance the Australian Meat and Live-stock Corporation, the Australian Meat and Live-stock Research and Development Corporation, and bovine disease eradication (applicable only to cattle, calves, bobby calves, and buffaloes). The amendment specifically addresses the increase of the sheep and lamb levy component intended to finance activities of the Australian Meat and Live-stock Corporation. These new rates, effective from 1 September 1985, were recommended by the Australian Meat and Live-stock Corporation and endorsed at an industry meeting held on 10 May 1985. The adjustment aims to align the revenue raised with the financial needs of national computer-aided livestock marketing systems and the Australian Meat and Live-stock Corporation's general promotion activities.
Key Provisions
The key operative sections of the Live-stock Slaughter Levy Regulations (Amendment) Statutory Rules 1985 No. 171 (the "Regulations") concern the amendment of the rates for the levy imposed on the slaughter of livestock. Specifically, Section 3 of the Regulations increases the levy rates for sheep and lambs. The levy for sheep is increased from 18.2 cents to 18.8 cents per head, while the levy for lambs is increased from 24.6 cents to 28.8 cents per head. These amendments reflect the decision to endorse a recommendation from the Australian Meat and Live-stock Corporation (AMLC) at the annual general meeting of the industry on 10 May 1985. The new rates will take effect from 1 September 1985.
The Regulations impose obligations on those involved in the slaughter of livestock, requiring them to pay the amended levies as specified. This includes all persons who slaughter cattle, calves, bobby calves, buffaloes, sheep, lambs, and goats. The levy is intended to raise funds for three specific purposes: financing the AMLC, financing the Australian Meat and Live-stock Research and Development Corporation (AMLRDC), and bovine disease eradication for cattle, calves, bobby calves, and buffaloes. These levies are to be collected by authorised persons and remitted to the appropriate authorities in accordance with the Live-stock Slaughter Levy Act 1964.
Breaches of the obligations outlined in the Regulations can lead to various consequences, depending on the nature and severity of the breach. Offences under the Act may result in penalties, and the specific penalties are determined by the Act itself. The maximum penalties are set out in the Act and could include fines or other civil or criminal sanctions for non-compliance or fraudulent activities related to the payment of the levy. The exact penalties would depend on the specific circumstances of the breach and any applicable laws or regulations in force at the time of the breach.