Meat Research Corporation Regulations

Overview

The Meat Research Corporation Regulations 1991 were enacted to provide for the implementation of the Meat Research Corporation Act 1985, specifically addressing the determination of the gross value of production of the meat and livestock industry for a financial year. This regulation was issued under the authority of the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy. The primary policy objective of these regulations was to standardise the method by which the Minister determines the gross value of production, ensuring it aligns with other primary industry research and development bodies. The regulations were established to maintain consistency and fairness in the allocation of Commonwealth matching payments to the Meat Research Corporation, thus facilitating the effective distribution of funds for research and development activities within the meat and livestock industry.

Scope and Application

The Meat Research Corporation Regulations 1991 apply to the Meat Research Corporation, an entity established under the Meat Research Corporation Act 1985, and pertain to the determination of the gross value of production of the meat and livestock industry for financial years. This Act applies to the Commonwealth of Australia and governs the process by which the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy determines the gross value of production, which in turn affects the Commonwealth's matching payments to the Corporation for research and development activities. These payments are capped at 0.5% of the gross value of production for a financial year, as stipulated in the Act. The regulations extend the application of the Act by specifying the method for calculating the gross value, which is based on an average over three financial years, using data from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics. The regulations also detail how the value of livestock production is derived for the purpose of these calculations.

Key Provisions

The Meat Research Corporation Regulations 1991 establish the framework for the Minister to determine the gross value of production of the meat and livestock industry for a financial year, as required by section 51 of the Meat Research Corporation Act 1985 (the Act). According to the regulations, the Minister's determination is to be based on an average over three financial years: the specific year in question, the preceding financial year, and the year before that. This average is calculated using data from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics, either as an estimate if final figures are not yet available, or as the final published figures. Regulation 3 specifically details the methodology for this calculation, ensuring consistency and accuracy in the determination process. The obligations imposed by the Meat Research Corporation Regulations 1991 primarily rest on the Minister, who is tasked with determining the gross value of livestock production for the meat and livestock industry. This involves accurately calculating the average value over three financial years using data from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics. The Minister must ensure that the values of specified commodities produced by the meat and livestock industry are correctly summed to arrive at the gross value of livestock production. This determination is critical as it directly influences the amount of Commonwealth matching payments to the Meat Research Corporation, which cannot exceed 0.5% of the determined gross value of production for the financial year. Breaches of the Meat Research Corporation Regulations 1991, such as incorrect or negligent determinations by the Minister, could lead to significant financial and administrative consequences. Although the explanatory statement does not explicitly outline specific offences or penalties, any miscalculations or misapplications of the regulations could result in discrepancies in funding allocations to the Meat Research Corporation. This could potentially lead to legal challenges or administrative reviews to correct any errors, as the funding is directly tied to the accuracy of the gross value of production determined by the Minister. Ensuring compliance with these regulations is therefore crucial for maintaining the integrity of the funding process for the Meat Research Corporation's research and development activities.