Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Regulations (Amendment) 1995 No. 102
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1995 No. 102
Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy
Primary Industries and Energy Research and Development Act 1989
Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Regulations (Amendment)
Section 149 of the Primary Industries and Energy Research and Development Act 1989 (the Act) provides for the Governor-General to make regulations, not inconsistent with the Act prescribing matters required or permitted by the Act to be prescribed, or necessary to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to the Act.
The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Regulations (the Regulations) are established under the Act to facilitate research and development activities on behalf of industries defined in section 3 of the Regulations.
The Task Force of the Budget Review of Rural Research and Development questioned whether the budgets of the research and development Councils are sufficient to implement optimal research management and administrative arrangements.
The Task Force recommended that "DPIE and, as appropriate, the Minister initiate discussions with the relevant industries with a view to exploring alternative options to the current Council arrangements, while maintaining the current level of industry involvement and responsibility".
Consequently, the Chicken Meat Research and Development Council and the Egg Industry Research and Development Council, which are established by regulations under the Act have been terminated and the research and development functions of each industry are now established under the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation.
The Australian Chicken Meat Federation and the Australian Egg Industry Association, the acknowledged representative industry organisations for the chicken meat and egg industries respectively, have written to the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy supporting the proposed change in the research and development administrative arrangements. Both representative industry organisations have negotiated with the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation for the establishment of chicken meat and egg industry advisory committees under the Corporation having composition, functions and responsibilities similar to the Chicken Meat and Research and Development Council and the Egg Industry Research and Development Council.
The new arrangements offer a simplified structure under which the existing research and development program of the research and development Councils can be maintained along with existing levels of industry responsibility and involvement in the program. Significant cost savings can be achieved under the proposed arrangements effectively maximising industry levy funds available for research and development activities.
Regulation 1 provides f
Overview
The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Regulations (Amendment) 1995 No. 102, issued under the authority of the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy, were enacted to amend the existing regulations established under the Primary Industries and Energy Research and Development Act 1989. This legislation aimed to address concerns raised by the Task Force of the Budget Review of Rural Research and Development regarding the adequacy of the budgets of research and development Councils to implement optimal management and administrative arrangements. The regulatory amendment arose from a recommendation by the Task Force to explore alternative options to the current Council arrangements while maintaining current levels of industry involvement and responsibility. As a result, the Chicken Meat Research and Development Council and the Egg Industry Research and Development Council were terminated, and their research and development functions were integrated under the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. The new arrangements were designed to offer a simplified structure, maintaining the existing research and development programs with existing levels of industry responsibility and involvement, while achieving significant cost savings to maximize industry levy funds for research and development activities.
Scope and Application
The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Regulations (Amendment) 1995 No. 102 applies to entities within the chicken meat and egg industries in Australia. This amendment arises from the Primary Industries and Energy Research and Development Act 1989 and pertains to the restructuring of the research and development arrangements for these industries. The changes involve the termination of the Chicken Meat Research and Development Council and the Egg Industry Research and Development Council, and the establishment of new industry advisory committees under the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. This Act seeks to maintain existing research and development programs while simplifying the administrative structure, thereby enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the research and development activities. The amendments are aimed at ensuring that the industries can continue to play an active role in their research and development efforts, while also achieving significant cost savings and ensuring that the maximum amount of industry levy funds are allocated towards research and development purposes. The geographic reach of this Act is national, affecting the chicken meat and egg industries across Australia.
Key Provisions
The key operative sections of the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Regulations (Amendment) 1995 No. 102 involve the amendment of the existing Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Regulations under the Primary Industries and Energy Research and Development Act 1989. Specifically, Section 149 of the Act allows the Governor-General to make regulations necessary to implement the Act, and this amendment terminates the Chicken Meat Research and Development Council and the Egg Industry Research and Development Council, transferring their research and development functions to the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. These changes are intended to streamline administrative arrangements and ensure the efficient use of industry levy funds.
The obligations and requirements imposed by this amendment on the relevant parties include the termination of the Chicken Meat Research and Development Council and the Egg Industry Research and Development Council. Their research and development functions are now managed by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. The Australian Chicken Meat Federation and the Australian Egg Industry Association are mandated to negotiate with the Corporation to establish advisory committees that mirror the former councils in composition, functions, and responsibilities. This ensures that industry involvement and responsibility are maintained at existing levels, while also providing a simplified structure for the ongoing research and development programs.
The amendment does not explicitly state specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breaches within the text provided. However, any failure to comply with the regulations or neglect of the responsibilities outlined could potentially lead to legal repercussions under the Primary Industries and Energy Research and Development Act 1989. Breaches of regulations might result in civil penalties, enforcement actions, or other legal consequences as deemed appropriate under the Act. The exact penalties would depend on the nature and severity of the breach and could include fines or other sanctions as prescribed by the Act.