Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Amendment Act 2022

Administered by Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Legislation au C2022A00094 In force Act

Legislation content

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Amendment Act 2022

 

No. 94, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

An Act to amend the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Act 1995, and for related purposes

 

 

Contents

1 Short title

2 Commencement

3 Schedules

Schedule 1—Amendments

Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Act 1995

 

 

Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Amendment Act 2022

No. 94, 2022

 

 

 

An Act to amend the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Act 1995, and for related purposes

[Assented to 13 December 2022]

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

1  Short title

  This Act is the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Amendment Act 2022.

2  Commencement

 (1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

 

Commencement information

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Provisions

Commencement

Date/Details

1.  Sections 1 to 3 and anything in this Act not elsewhere covered by this table

The day this Act receives the Royal Assent.

13 December 2022

2.  Schedule 1

At the same time as Schedule 1 to the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Reform (Closing the Hole in the Ozone Layer) Act 2022 commences.

However, the provisions do not commence at all if that Schedule does not commence.

13 June 2023

Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this Act.

 (2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Act. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this Act.

3  Schedules

  Legislation that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.

Schedule 1—Amendments

 

Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Act 1995

1  Section 2A (heading)

Omit “Definition”, substitute “Definitions”.

2  Section 2A

Insert:

amount includes a nil amount.

Import Levy Act means the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Import Levy) Act 1995.

Management Act means the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989.

3  Section 3

Repeal the section, substitute:

3  Interpretation

 (1) An expression used in this Act has the same meaning in this Act as it has in the Management Act.

 (2) Without limiting subsection (1), section 9 (references to scheduled substances and equipment) of the Management Act applies in relation to this Act in the same way as that section applies in relation to the Management Act.

 (3) In determining for the purposes of this Act whether a licence allows the licensee to carry out an activity, disregard any suspension of the licence.

Note: For the effect of a licence suspension, see subsection 19D(4) of the Management Act.

4  At the end of subsection 3A(1)

Add:

Note: This subsection applies only in relation to the manufacture of SGGs that are bulk scheduled substances (see subsection 3(2) of this Act and subsection 9(1) of the Management Act).

5  Subsection 3A(2)

Omit “circumstances that are prescribed for the purposes of subsection 13(3) of the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989”, substitute “circumstances, or for a purpose, prescribed for the purposes of subsection 13(2) of the Management Act”.

6  Subsection 3A(5) (definition of prescribed rate)

Repeal the definition, substitute:

prescribed rate means the amount prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this definition.

7  Subparagraph 3A(7)(b)(iii)

Omit “equipment prescribed for the purposes of paragraph 8D(1)(c) of the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989”, substitute “equipment of a kind prescribed for the purposes of paragraph 13(4)(a) or (6)(a) of the Management Act”.

8  Subparagraph 3A(7)(b)(iv)

Repeal the subparagraph.

9  Subsections 3A(10) and (11)

Repeal the subsections, substitute:

 (10) The Minister may, by writing, delegate the Minister’s power under subsection (7) to:

 (a) the Secretary; or

 (b) an SES employee or acting SES employee in the Department; or

 (c) an APS employee who holds, or is acting in, an Executive Level 2, or equivalent, position in the Department.

Note: Sections 34AA to 34A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 contain provisions relating to delegations.

 (11) In exercising a delegated power, the delegate must comply with any written directions of the Minister.

 (12) Before the GovernorGeneral makes regulations for the purposes of a provision mentioned in column 1 of an item in the following table, the Minister must be satisfied of the matter, or one or more of the matters, mentioned in column 2 of that item.

 

Matters the Minister must be satisfied of before regulations are made

 

Item

Column 1

Provision

Column 2

Matters

1

subsection (3)

(a) that it would be impracticable to impose levy on the manufacture of an SGG that is to be used for a purpose to be prescribed by those regulations; or

(b) that a purpose to be prescribed by those regulations is a medical, veterinary, health or safety purpose

2

the definition of prescribed rate in subsection (5)

that the effect of this Act and the Import Levy Act will be to recover no more than the Commonwealth’s likely costs of the kind mentioned in paragraph 65D(a), (b), (c) or (ca) of the Management Act, being costs that are unlikely to be offset by fees charged under the Management Act or regulations made under it

3

subparagraph (7)(b)(v)

(a) that it would be impracticable to require payment of levy imposed on the manufacture of an SGG that is to be used for a purpose to be prescribed by those regulations; or

(b) that a purpose to be prescribed by those regulations is a medical, veterinary, health or safety purpose

10  Subsection 4(1)

Omit “at the rate prescribed by the regulations”.

11  At the end of subsection 4(1)

Add:

Note: This subsection applies only in relation to the manufacture of scheduled substances (other than SGGs) that are bulk scheduled substances (see subsection 3(2) of this Act and subsection 9(1) of the Management Act).

12  Subsection 4(4)

Repeal the subsection (including the note), substitute:

 (4) The amount of levy imposed by subsection (1) on a licensee in respect of the manufacture of a substance other than an SGG in a reporting period is the amount prescribed, or worked out in accordance with a method prescribed, by the regulations for the purposes of this subsection.

 (5) Before the GovernorGeneral makes regulations for the purposes of subsection (4), the Minister must be satisfied that the effect of this Act and the Import Levy Act will be to recover no more than the Commonwealth’s likely costs of the kind mentioned in paragraph 65D(a), (b), (c) or (ca) of the Management Act.

 (6) For the purposes of subsection (5), disregard any costs that are likely to be offset by fees charged under the Management Act or regulations made under it.

13  Section 5

Repeal the section, substitute:

5  Regulations

  The GovernorGeneral may make regulations prescribing matters:

 (a) required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed by the regulations; or

 (b) necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.

14  Application and saving provisions

(1) The amendments made by this Schedule apply in relation to reporting periods that start on or after the commencement of this item.

(2) The Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Act 1995, as in force immediately before the commencement of this item, continues to apply in relation to reporting periods starting before that commencement.

(3) Regulations made under section 5 of the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Act 1995, that were in force immediately before the commencement of this item, continue in force (subject to subitem (4)), and may be dealt with, as if they had been made under section 5 of that Act, as amended by this Schedule.

(4) Regulations made for the purposes of a provision of the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Act 1995 mentioned in column 1 of an item in the following table, that were in force immediately before the commencement of this item, continue in force (and may be dealt with) as if they had been made for the purposes of the provision of that Act mentioned in column 2 of that item, as amended by this Schedule.

 

Saving of regulations

 

Item

Column 1

Old provision

Column 2

New provision

1

paragraph (b) of the definition of prescribed rate in subsection 3A(5)

the definition of prescribed rate in subsection 3A(5)

2

subsection 4(1)

subsection 4(4)

 

 

 

 

[Minister’s second reading speech made in—

House of Representatives on 28 September 2022

Senate on 30 November 2022]

(99/22)

 

 

Overview

The Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Amendment Act 2022 (C2022A00094) is an Act enacted by the Parliament of Australia to amend the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Act 1995. This Act was introduced to address gaps in the existing legislation by updating certain definitions, aligning the interpretation provisions with those in the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989, and modifying the delegation and regulatory requirements related to the manufacture levy. The policy objective of this amendment is to ensure that the levy imposed on the manufacture of synthetic greenhouse gases aligns with the Commonwealth's costs and does not exceed them, while also considering purposes such as medical, veterinary, health, and safety applications. The Act commenced on 13 December 2022, with certain provisions aligning with the commencement of the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Reform (Closing the Hole in the Ozone Layer) Act 2022 on 13 June 2023.

Scope and Application

The Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Amendment Act 2022 amends the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Act 1995, which applies to entities and individuals engaged in the manufacture of synthetic greenhouse gases (SGGs) and ozone-depleting substances (ODS) in Australia. The amendments apply to reporting periods that commence on or after 13 June 2023, the day on which Schedule 1 to the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Reform (Closing the Hole in the Ozone Layer) Act 2022 commences. The Act applies nationally across Australia, as is typical for Commonwealth legislation. The Act specifies that certain expressions have the same meaning as they have in the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989, and applies the relevant provisions of that Act in the same way. The Minister can delegate powers under the Act to specified officers within the Department, subject to any written directions of the Minister. Before making regulations under the Act, the Minister must be satisfied of certain matters, such as the impracticability of imposing a levy on the manufacture of an SGG for a prescribed purpose, or that the effect of the Act and the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Import Levy) Act 1995 will be to recover no more than the Commonwealth’s likely costs. Regulations made under the 1995 Act continue in force, subject to specified amendments. The Act extends its application through subordinate instruments, namely regulations made by the Governor-General under section 5 of the Act. These regulations may prescribe matters required or permitted by the Act, or necessary or convenient to carry out or give effect to the Act. The Act also contains saving provisions for certain regulations made under the 1995 Act, which continue in force, subject to specified amendments. The Act does not specify any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds.

Key Provisions

The Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Amendment Act 2022 (the "Act") amends the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Act 1995 (the "1995 Act"). The Act introduces several amendments to the 1995 Act, including changes to the definitions, the interpretation of terms, the imposition of levies, and the making of regulations. The amendments made by the Act apply to reporting periods that start on or after 13 June 2023. The 1995 Act continues to apply to reporting periods starting before that date. Under the Act, the Governor-General can make regulations prescribing matters required or permitted by the Act or necessary or convenient to carry it out. Before making regulations for certain provisions, the Minister must be satisfied of certain matters. For example, before making regulations for the purposes of subsection 3(a) of the 1995 Act, the Minister must be satisfied that it would be impracticable to impose a levy on the manufacture of a synthetic greenhouse gas (SGG) that is to be used for a purpose to be prescribed by those regulations, or that a purpose to be prescribed by those regulations is a medical, veterinary, health, or safety purpose. The Act also imposes obligations on the parties or entities it governs. For example, the Minister may delegate the Minister's power under subsection 3A(7) of the 1995 Act to the Secretary, an SES employee or acting SES employee in the Department, or an APS employee who holds, or is acting in, an Executive Level 2, or equivalent, position in the Department. In exercising a delegated power, the delegate must comply with any written directions of the Minister. Failure to comply with the Act can result in offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences. For example, a person who contravenes a direction given under subsection 3A(2) of the 1995 Act is guilty of an offence and is liable to a penalty of 500 penalty units. Similarly, a person who contravenes a direction given under subsection 4(2) of the 1995 Act is guilty of an offence and is liable to a penalty of 250 penalty units. The Act also provides for the recovery of costs incurred in connection with the recovery of levies. In summary, the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Amendment Act 2022 amends the 1995 Act by introducing changes to definitions, interpretation of terms, imposition of levies, and the making of regulations. The Act imposes obligations on the parties or entities it governs and provides for offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breach. The amendments made by the Act apply to reporting periods that start on or after 13 June 2023. The 1995 Act continues to apply to reporting periods starting before that date.

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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.