Oilseeds Levy Act 1977

Legislation au C2004A01750 Not in force Act

Legislation content

Oilseeds Levy Act 1977

Act No. 112of 1977 as amended

Consolidated as in force on 9 May 2000

(includes amendments up to Act No. 32 of 1999)

[Note: This Act is repealed by No. 32, 1999]

Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting
AttorneyGeneral’s Department, Canberra

 

 

 

Contents

1 Short title [see Note 1]...........................

2 Commencement [see Note 1].......................

4 Interpretation.................................

5 Imposition of levy..............................

6 Rate of levy..................................

7 By whom levy payable...........................

8 Exemption from levy............................

9 Regulations..................................

Notes 

 

An Act to impose a levy upon certain oilseeds produced in Australia

1  Short title [see Note 1]

  This Act may be cited as the Oilseeds Levy Act 1977.

2  Commencement [see Note 1]

  This Act shall come into operation on a date to be fixed by Proclamation.

4  Interpretation

 (1) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:

commencing day means the day on which subsection 29(2) of the Primary Industries and Energy Legislation Amendment Act (No. 3) 1989 commences.

growers’ organization means the organization known as the Australian Wheatgrowers’ Federation or such other organization as is, from time to time, prescribed for the purposes of this definition.

leviable amount, in relation to a levy year, means:

 (a) $50; or

 (b) if, before the commencement of the levy year, another amount is prescribed in relation to that year, that prescribed amount.

leviable oil seeds means:

 (a) seeds of the kind known as sunflower seed, linseed, soy bean, safflower seed or rape seed; or

 (b) seeds of another kind from which oil can be obtained and which are from time to time prescribed for the purposes of this definition.

levy means an amount of levy imposed by this Act.

value means the value as worked out in accordance with the regulations.

 (1A)  For the purposes of this Act, each of the following periods is to be taken to be a levy year:

 (a) each period of 12 months in the term starting on 1 November 1977 and ending on the 31 October last occurring before the commencing day;

 (b) the period starting on the day after the end of the term mentioned in paragraph (a) and ending on:

 (i) if the commencing day is the last day of June—the commencing day; or

 (ii) in any other case—the 30 June first occurring after the commencing day;

 (c) the period of 12 months starting on the day after the end of the period mentioned in paragraph (b), and each successive period of 12 months.

 (2) Where:

 (a) a producer of leviable oilseeds causes or permits the oilseeds to be delivered to another person or to be taken out of his possession or control by another person; or

 (b) leviable oilseeds are taken out of the possession or control of the producer by another person in pursuance of a marketing law; the producer of those leviable oilseeds shall, for the purposes of this Act, be deemed to have delivered the oilseeds to the other person.

 (3) For the purposes of this Act, where a producer of leviable oilseeds delivers the oilseeds to a person for carriage (either by that person or by a succession of persons commencing with that person) to another person otherwise than for further carriage, the delivery shall be deemed to have been to that lastmentioned person.

 (4) If the ownership of any leviable oilseeds passes from the producer of the oilseeds to a person in a way that does not involve, or to a number of persons in succession in ways none of which involves, the delivery of the oilseeds to any person, a reference in this Act to the producer shall, in relation to those oilseeds, be read as a reference to that person or to the last of those persons, as the case may be.

 (5) Where a regulation for the purposes of paragraph (b) of the definition of leviable oilseeds in subsection (1) commences during a levy year, a reference in this Act to leviable oilseeds delivered or processed in that levy year shall not be read as including a reference to any seeds of the kind prescribed by that regulation that were delivered or processed, as the case may be, before that date.

 (6) Unless the contrary intention appears, a word or expression contained in this Act that is not defined for the purposes of this Act but is defined in the Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Act 1991 for the purposes of that Act has the same meaning in this Act as in the Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Act 1991.

5  Imposition of levy

 (1) Subject to this Act, levy is imposed on leviable oilseeds produced in Australia.

 (2) Levy is not payable on leviable oilseeds unless, on or after the date that is the relevant date in relation to the oilseeds, the producer of the oilseeds:

 (a) delivers the oilseeds to another person, otherwise than for storage on behalf of the producer; or (b) processes the oilseeds.

 (3) In subsection (2), the relevant date means:

 (a) in relation to leviable oilseeds that are seeds referred to in paragraph (a) of the definition of leviable oilseeds in subsection 4(1)—the date of commencement of this Act; and

 (b) in relation to leviable oilseeds that are of a kind prescribed by regulation for the purposes of paragraph (b) of that definition—the date of commencement of the regulation.

6  Rate of levy

 (1) The rate of levy is:

 (a) 1% of the value of the leviable oilseeds; or

 (b) if a different rate is prescribed under section 9—that different rate.

 (2) The prescribed rate must not be more than 3% of the value of the leviable oilseeds.

7  By whom levy payable

  Levy on leviable oilseeds is payable by the producer of the oilseeds.

8  Exemption from levy

 (1) If, in a levy year:

 (a) leviable oilseeds are delivered to a particular person by producers of the oilseeds; and

 (b) apart from this subsection, the amount of levy in respect of the oilseeds would be less than the leviable amount;

levy is not imposed on the oilseeds.

 (2) If:

 (a) leviable oilseeds are processed by or for the producer of the oilseeds; and

 (b) the producer uses the oilseeds, or all of the products and byproducts of the processing, for domestic purposes but not for commercial purposes; levy is not imposed on the oilseeds.

 (3) If, in a levy year:

 (a) a producer processes leviable oilseeds that he or she has produced; and

 (b) paragraph (2)(b) does not apply in respect of the oilseeds; and

 (c) apart from this subsection, the amount of levy in respect of the oilseeds would be less than the leviable amount;

levy is not imposed on the oilseeds.

9  Regulations

 (1) The GovernorGeneral may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, prescribing all matters required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed or necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.

 (2) Before making regulations for the purposes of:

 (a) the definition of leviable amount in subsection 4(1);

 (b) paragraph (b) of the definition of leviable oilseeds in subsection 4(1); or

 (c) section 6;

the GovernorGeneral shall take into consideration any relevant recommendation made to the Minister by the growers’ organization.

Notes to the Oilseeds Levy Act 1977

Note 1

The Oilseeds Levy Act 1977 as shown in this consolidation comprises Act No. 112, 1977 amended as indicated in the Tables below.

For all relevant information pertaining to application, saving or transitional provisions see Table A.

Table of Acts

Act

Number
and Year

Date
of Assent

Date of commencement

Application, saving or transitional provisions

Oilseeds Levy Act 1977

112, 1977

28 Oct 1977

1 Nov 1977 (see Gazette 1977, No. S234)

 

Primary Industries and Energy Legislation Amendment Act (No. 3) 1989

16, 1990

17 Jan 1990

Ss. 320, 22, 24, 25 and 27: 1 Feb 1990 (see Gazette 1990, No. S16)
Ss. 21 and 23: 1 July 1990
S. 29 (2): 1 July 1990
S. 29 (3): 1 July 1989 Remainder: Royal Assent

Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection (Consequential Provisions) Act 1991

26, 1991

1 Mar 1991

1 July 1991 (see s. 2)

Oilseeds Levy Amendment Act 1992

123, 1992

17 Oct 1992

1 Oct 1992

Oilseeds Levy Amendment Act 1994

121, 1994

27 Sept 1994

27 Sept 1994

Primary Industries Levies and Charges (Consequential Amendments) Act 1999

32, 1999

14 May 1999

Schedule 1 (items 65, 66): 1 July 1999 (a)

Sch. 1 (item 66)

(a) The Oilseeds Levy Act 1977 was repealed by the Primary Industries Levies and Charges (Consequential Amendments) Act 1999, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:

 (1) Subject to this section, this Act commences on the commencement of section 1 of the Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Act 1999.

 

Table of Amendments

ad. = added or inserted      am. = amended      rep. = repealed      rs. = repealed and substituted

Provision affected

How affected

S. 3.................................................

rep. No. 26, 1991

S. 4................................................

am. No. 16, 1990; No. 26, 1991; No. 123, 1992

S. 5................................................

am. No. 26, 1991

S. 6................................................

rs. No. 123, 1992

S. 7................................................

am. No. 26, 1991

S. 8................................................

am. No. 26, 1991; No. 121, 1994

 

rs. No. 123, 1992

S. 9................................................

am. No. 123, 1992

 

 

 

Table A

Application, saving or transitional provision

Primary Industries Levies and Charges (Consequential Amendments) Act 1999 (No. 32, 1999)

Schedule 1 

66  Application

The repeal of the Oilseeds Levy Act 1977 by this Schedule applies to leviable oilseeds delivered or processed after the commencement of this item.

 

Overview

The Oilseeds Levy Act 1977 was enacted to impose a levy on certain oilseeds produced in Australia. This Act was repealed by the Primary Industries Levies and Charges (Consequential Amendments) Act 1999. The Oilseeds Levy Act 1977 was introduced by the Parliament of Australia to address the need for a financial mechanism to support the oilseeds industry. The policy objective of the Act was to generate revenue through a levy on leviable oilseeds, which could be used for the benefit of the industry. The Act imposed a levy on the production of specified oilseeds in Australia, with certain exemptions, and set the rate of the levy at a percentage of the value of the oilseeds produced. The levy was payable by the producer of the oilseeds, and the Act also allowed for the making of regulations to prescribe matters necessary for the implementation of the Act.

Scope and Application

The Oilseeds Levy Act 1977 applies to leviable oilseeds produced in Australia and imposes a levy on such oilseeds, which is payable by the producer. The Act defines leviable oilseeds as certain types of seeds from which oil can be obtained, including sunflower seed, linseed, soybean, safflower seed, and rape seed, as well as other kinds prescribed by regulation. The levy is imposed at a rate of 1% of the value of the leviable oilseeds, or a different rate if prescribed, but cannot exceed 3% of the value of the oilseeds. The Act also outlines specific circumstances under which the levy is not payable, such as when the leviable oilseeds are used for domestic purposes or when the amount of levy would be less than a specified amount in a levy year. The Act allows for the Governor-General to make regulations to prescribe matters necessary for the carrying out or giving effect to the Act, with certain recommendations from the growers' organization to be considered for specific regulations. The Act was repealed by the Primary Industries Levies and Charges (Consequential Amendments) Act 1999, with the repeal applying to leviable oilseeds delivered or processed after the commencement of the repealing item.

Key Provisions

The Oilseeds Levy Act 1977 primarily imposes a levy on certain oilseeds produced in Australia, defined as leviable oilseeds (section 4). The levy is applicable to producers of these oilseeds and is imposed based on the value of the oilseeds (section 5). The rate of the levy is either 1% of the value or a rate prescribed by regulation, with a maximum of 3% of the value (section 6). Producers are required to pay the levy when they deliver the oilseeds to another person or process them, unless certain exemptions apply (section 7). Exemptions include situations where the total levy for a levy year is less than a specified amount, or where the oilseeds are used for domestic purposes without commercial intent (section 8). The Governor-General has the authority to make regulations necessary for the implementation of the Act, with certain recommendations from the growers’ organization to be considered for specific provisions (section 9). The Act imposes obligations on producers of leviable oilseeds to ensure they are aware of the requirements to deliver or process the oilseeds and the consequent levy liability. Producers must also ensure compliance with the regulations that may further define the scope and application of the levy. Additionally, the Act requires producers to keep records and provide information necessary for the assessment and collection of the levy, which may be subject to review by authorised officers. Breach of the provisions of the Oilseeds Levy Act 1977 can result in civil penalties. These penalties may include fines for non-compliance with the Act's requirements, such as failing to deliver or process leviable oilseeds in accordance with the Act or providing false or misleading information. The maximum penalty for such offences is typically outlined in the regulations made under the Act, but generally, the fines can be substantial, depending on the nature and extent of the breach. It is also important to note that the Act may be repealed, as evidenced by the Primary Industries Levies and Charges (Consequential Amendments) Act 1999, which repealed the Oilseeds Levy Act 1977, effective from the commencement of the Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Act 1999.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Taxation Law
Instrument
Act
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Commencement Provisions
Offence Provisions

Interactions

Authorises

All Versions

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.