EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1986 NO 142
Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Primary Industry
POULTRY INDUSTRY LEVY ACT 1965
POULTRY INDUSTRY LEVY REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT)
Levy imposed, fortnightly, by the Poultry Industry Levy Act 1965 on hens is paid by egg producers to support assistance and research activities. The Act provides for division of the levy into corresponding components and for the level of each to be prescribed by regulation.
Sub-section 6(2) of the Act provides that the Governor-General before making any regulations setting the level of levy, for either purpose, shall take into consideration any recommendations made to the Minister for Primary Industry by the Australian Egg Marketing Council (the Council). The rate of levy for either purpose cannot be set at a rate in excess of the amount last recommended to the Minister by the Council.
The Council has recommended to the Minister that the rates of levy be set at 2.375 cents and 0.125 cents, respectively, for assistance and research effective 1 July 1986. The Minister has agreed with these recommendations which effectively halve the current total rate (5.0 cents) of levy imposed but provide for an increase in the research component. Present component rates are 4.9 cents for assistance and 0.1 cents for research.