STATUTORY RULES
1967 No.
REGULATIONS UNDER THE QUARANTINE ACT 1908-1961.*
THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Quarantine Act 1908-1961.
Dated this tenth day of April, 1967.
CASEY
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
Minister of State for Health.
Amendments of the Quarantine (Plants) Regulations†
Fees for inspections, &c., out of ordinary hours.
1. Regulation 7c of the Quarantine (Plants) Regulations is amended by inserting after sub-regulation (1.) the following sub-regulation:—
“ (1a.) Where, by virtue of the last preceding sub-regulation, a fee is to be increased by one-half and the fee so ascertained includes a fraction of a cent, the fee shall be further increased by treating the fraction as One cent.”.
Seeds.
2. Regulation 21 of the Quarantine (Plants) Regulations is amended—
(a) by omitting paragraph (q) of the definition of “ seed ” in subparagraph (1.) of paragraph f and inserting in its stead the following paragraph:—
“ (q) the genus Dolichos;”;
(b) by omitting from paragraph (s) of that definition the word “ or ”; and
(c) by adding at the end of that definition the following word and paragraph:—
“; or (u) the genus Vigna.”.
Amendments in relation to decimal currency.
3. The Quarantine (Plants) Regulations are amended as set out in the Schedule to these Regulations.
* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on , 1967.
† Statutory Rules 1939, No. 91, as amended to date. For previous amendments of the Quarantine (Plants) Regulations see footnote † to Statutory Rules 1966, No. 13.
5299/66.—Price 5c (6d.) 10/1.2.1967
THE SCHEDULE Regulation 3.
Amendments in Relation to Decimal Currency
Provisions amended | Omit— | Insert— |
Regulation 6 (2.).......... | One shilling | Ten cents |
Regulation 7 (1.).......... | Sixpence | Five cents |
Regulation 7 (2.).......... | Two shillings | Twenty cents |
Regulation 7a (1.)......... | Five shillings | Fifty cents |
Regulation 7b............ | Seven shillings and sixpence | Seventy-five cents |
Regulation 7d............ | Five shillings | Fifty cents |
| Ten shillings | One dollar |
Regulation 35............ | Fifty pounds | One hundred dollars |
First Schedule— | | |
Form Q.—P. 8.......... | One hundred pounds | Two hundred dollars |
By Authority: A. J. Arthur, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1967 No. 61, made under the Quarantine Act 1908-1961, introduced amendments to the Quarantine (Plants) Regulations to align with the transition to decimal currency in Australia. Enacted by the Governor-General in Council, these regulations sought to address the discrepancies in fee structures and monetary values that arose due to the country's shift from pounds, shillings, and pence to cents and dollars. The policy objective was to ensure a smooth and consistent application of fees and penalties related to plant quarantine inspections and related activities, thereby maintaining the integrity and efficacy of the quarantine system amidst significant monetary reform.
Scope and Application
The Quarantine (Plants) Regulations made under the Quarantine Act 1908-1961 apply to the importation and movement of plants and plant products within Australia. These regulations govern the fees associated with inspections and other activities conducted outside of ordinary business hours, as well as the definition of "seed" to include certain genera, such as Dolichos and Vigna. The regulations also include amendments to convert the monetary values from pre-decimal currency to decimal currency, ensuring that fees and charges are updated to reflect the change in Australia's monetary system. These regulations are applicable nationally and are subject to further amendments through subordinate instruments as necessary.
Key Provisions
The Statutory Rules 1967 No. Regulations under the Quarantine Act 1908-1961 (the Regulations) amend the Quarantine (Plants) Regulations to reflect changes in currency following the decimalisation of Australian currency in 1966. Section 1 amends Regulation 7c of the Quarantine (Plants) Regulations to ensure that fees for inspections, etc., out of ordinary hours are calculated correctly when a half fee includes a fraction of a cent (1(a)). Section 2 amends Regulation 21 to update the definition of "seed" to include the genus Dolichos and Vigna, and to remove the word "or" from paragraph (s) of that definition (2(a)-(c)). Section 3, along with the Schedule, updates various fees and charges within the Quarantine (Plants) Regulations to reflect the new decimal currency, such as converting shillings and pence to cents and dollars (3, Schedule).
The Regulations impose several obligations on parties or entities governed by them. Firstly, they require that fees for inspections out of ordinary hours be calculated in accordance with the amendments in Section 1, ensuring that any fractions of a cent are rounded up to the nearest cent (1(a)). Secondly, the updated definition of "seed" in Section 2 means that businesses dealing in seeds must ensure they comply with the new inclusions and exclusions (2(a)-(c)). Lastly, the amendments to fees and charges in Section 3 and the Schedule necessitate that all relevant parties adjust their pricing structures to reflect the new currency values (3, Schedule).
Breach of the Regulations can result in various consequences, although specific offences and penalties are not detailed within the text provided. Generally, non-compliance with quarantine regulations can lead to civil or criminal penalties, which may include fines or other sanctions as prescribed by the Quarantine Act 1908-1961 or other relevant legislation. The exact penalties would depend on the nature and severity of the breach, as well as any specific provisions outlined in the primary Act or other subsidiary legislation.