Marine Navigation Levy Regulations (Amendment) 1992 No. 199
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1992 No. 199
Issued by authority of the Minister for Transport and Communications
Marine Navigation Levy Act 1989
Marine Navigation Levy Regulations (Amendment)
Marine Navigation (Regulatory Functions) Levy Act 1991
Marine Navigation (Regulatory Functions) Levy Regulations
Subsection 8(1) of the Marine Navigation Levy Act 1989 (the Levy Act) provides that the Governor -General may make regulations for the purposes of subsection 7(2) of the Levy Act.
The Marine Navigation Levy Collection Act 1989 provides that a levy is payable on the first day of each quarter in respect of a sea-going ship, other than a ship declared by the regulations to be exempt. The rate of the levy is set out in subsection 7(2) of the Levy Act which provides that the rate in relation to a ship is:
(a) 63 cents, or such other amount (if any) as is from time to time prescribed, for each of the first 5,000 tons of the ship's tonnage;
(b) 53 cents, or such other amount (if any) as is from time to time prescribed, for each ton by which the ship's tonnage is more than 5,000 tons but not more than 20,000 tons;
(c) 43 cents, or such other amount (if any) as is from time to time prescribed, for each ton by which the ship's tonnage is more than 20,000 tons but not more than 50,000 tons;
(d) 33 cents, or such other amount (if any) as is from time to time prescribed, for each ton by which the ship's tonnage is more than 50,000 tons.
The above rates of the levy were reduced to 59 cents, 50 cents, 40 cents and 31 cents respectively, with effect from 1 July 1991 by Statutory Rules 1991, No. 153.
The amendments to the Marine Navigation Levy Regulations further reduce the rates of the levy to 54 cents, 43 cents, 30 cents and 19 cents respectively, with effect from 1 July 1992. The reduced rates reflect the reduced costs of providing modern navigational services.
Subsection 8(1) of the Marine Navigation (Regulatory Functions) Levy Act 1991 (the Regulatory Functions Act) provides that the Governor-General may make regulations for the purposes of subsection 7(2) of the Regulatory Functions Act.
The Marine Navigation (Regulatory Functions) Levy Collection Act 1991 provides that a levy is payable on the first day of each quarter in respect of a sea-going ship, other than a ship declared by the regulations to be exempt. The rate of the levy is set out in subsection 7 (2) of the Regulatory Functions Act which provides that the rate in relation to a ship is:
(a) 4 cents, or such other amount (if any) as is from time to time prescribed, for each of the first 5,000 tons of the ship's tonnage;
(b) 3 cents, or such other amount (if any) as is from time to time prescribed, for each ton by which the ship's tonnage is more than 5,000 tons but not more than 20,000 tons;
(c) 3 cents, or such other amount (if any) as is from time to time prescribed, for each ton by which the ship, s tonnage is more than 20,000 tons but not more than 50,000 tons;
(d) 2 cents, or such other amount (if any) as is from time to time prescribed, for each ton by which the ship' s tonnage is more than 50,000 tons.
The Marine Navigation (Regulatory Functions) Levy Regulations increase the rates of the levy to 9 cents, 7 cents, 7 cents and 6 cents respectively, with effect from 1 July 1992. The increases partly implement the second stage of the phasing-in of cost recovery for marine regulatory activities undertaken by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and partly provide additional revenue to fund increased inspections of foreign ships in Australian ports necessitated by the recent spate of shipping losses.
The combined effect of the changes to the 2 levies is:
(a) the first 5,000 tons - no change;
(b) for each ton between 5,000 and 20,000 tons - a decrease of 3 cents;
(c) for each ton between 20,000 and 50,000 tons - a decrease of 6 cents;
(d) for each ton over 50,000 tons - a decrease of 8 cents.