Poultry Industry Assistance Act 1965

Overview

The Poultry Industry Assistance Act 1965 was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to provide financial assistance to the states for the support of the poultry industry. This Act was introduced to address the need for financial support within the poultry industry, ensuring that states had the necessary resources to aid and develop this sector. The policy objective of the Act was to establish a trust fund, known as the Poultry Industry Trust Fund, which would collect and manage funds intended for the assistance of the poultry industry. These funds are derived from levies imposed by the Poultry Industry Levy Act 1965 and other payments, and are to be used to provide financial aid to states for industry-related activities. The Act also allows for the Minister to arrange loans to State Egg Boards through the Reserve Bank of Australia, ensuring further financial stability for the industry.

Scope and Application

The Poultry Industry Assistance Act 1965 applies to the Commonwealth of Australia and is concerned with the financial support and regulation of the poultry industry. The Act establishes the Poultry Industry Trust Fund to which moneys from various sources, including levies, are to be paid. The Minister, with consideration of recommendations from the Council of Egg Marketing Authorities of Australia, can authorise financial assistance to states from the Fund to support the poultry industry. Furthermore, the Minister may arrange for loans to State Egg Boards through the Reserve Bank of Australia, with the repayment of such loans guaranteed by the Commonwealth. The Act mandates the preparation of an annual report on its operation by the Minister, and allows for the making of regulations by the Governor-General for the effective implementation of the Act. The Act's application is not limited to specific persons or entities but encompasses the broader industry and its financial mechanisms, with the Minister having significant discretion in the distribution of funds and the arrangement of financial instruments.

Key Provisions

The Poultry Industry Assistance Act 1965 (sections 1-9) establishes the legislative framework for providing financial assistance to the states for the support of the poultry industry. Section 1 names the Act and section 2 specifies that it came into operation on 1 July 1965. Section 3 provides definitions for key terms such as "levy", "State Egg Board", "the Council", and "the Fund" used throughout the Act. Section 4 establishes the Poultry Industry Trust Fund, which is a Trust Account under the Audit Act 1901-1964. Section 5 outlines the sources of funding for the Fund, including levies collected by the Commonwealth and State Egg Boards, payments made by any person to the Commonwealth, and interest from investments. Section 6 allows the Minister to authorize payments from the Fund to states, subject to conditions for the assistance of the poultry industry. Section 7 permits the Minister to arrange for loans to State Egg Boards through the Reserve Bank of Australia, with a guarantee for repayment from Parliament. Section 8 requires the Minister to prepare an annual report on the Act's operation and mandates that the Council and State Egg Boards provide necessary information for this purpose. Lastly, section 9 allows the Governor-General to make regulations not inconsistent with the Act, including prescribing penalties for offences against these regulations. The Poultry Industry Assistance Act 1965 imposes several obligations on the parties it governs. The Minister, under section 6, must authorize payments to states from the Fund, ensuring these payments are used for the assistance of the poultry industry. The Council and State Egg Boards, as per section 8, must furnish information required by the Minister to prepare the annual report on the Act's operation. The Reserve Bank of Australia, under section 7, must provide loans to State Egg Boards if arranged by the Minister, with the guarantee of repayment by Parliament. Additionally, the Act mandates the establishment of the Poultry Industry Trust Fund and specifies the sources of its funding, as outlined in section 5. Under the Poultry Industry Assistance Act 1965, there are potential offences and penalties for breaches of the Act or its regulations. Section 9 allows the Governor-General to make regulations that include penalties for offences against them, with a maximum penalty of a fine of One hundred pounds. These regulations would need to be consistent with the Act and serve to enforce compliance with its provisions. Breaches of these regulations or any other provisions of the Act could lead to legal consequences, although specific civil or criminal penalties beyond the regulatory fines are not detailed in the Act itself.