EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1989 NO. 279
Stevedoring Industry Levy (Rates of Levy) Regulations (Amendment)
(Issued by the authority of the Minister for Industrial Relations)
Section 12 of the Stevedoring Industry Levy Act 1977 (the Act) provides that the Governor-General may make regulations prescribing the rate of levy for the purposes of the Act, and that the Governor-General shall take into consideration any recommendations with respect to the rate of that levy that have been made to the Minister by the Stevedoring Industry Finance Committee (SIFC). The SIFC recommended to the Minister a reduction in the general levy in permanent ports from $2.26 to $1.40 per man-hour with effect from 30 October 1989.
Section 4 of the Act provides that a general levy is imposed in respect of any employment of Division A waterside workers (at permanent ports) and Section 5 of the Act provides that this levy will be $1.00 per man-hour of employment or such other amount per man-hour of employment as is prescribed.
The amount of this general levy as prescribed in sub-regulation 4(1) of the Stevedoring Industry Levy (Rates of Levy) Regulations (the Principal Regulations) was $2.26 per man-hour of employment.
The funds received from this general levy at permanent ports have been used to repay the principal and interest on loans to fund past redundancies and to fund employer contributions to the Stevedoring Employees Retirement Fund (SERF). The loans have now been repaid leaving a surplus in the general account. The reduced amount of levy together with accumulated funds will generate sufficient funds to cover employer contributions to SERF.
Regulations have been made which amend the Principal Regulations in accordance with the recommendation of the SIFC:
- regulation 1 provides that the amendment shall commence on 30 October 1989;
- regulation 2 amends subregulation 4(1) by omitting “$2.26” and substituting “$1.40”.