Stevedoring Industry (Temporary Provisions) Act 1972

Overview

The Stevedoring Industry (Temporary Provisions) Act 1972 was enacted to amend the Stevedoring Industry (Temporary Provisions) Act 1967–1971, extending its operation by one year. This Act was passed by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia and received Royal Assent on 7 June 1972. The primary objective of this legislation was to address the operational continuity within the stevedoring industry by ensuring that temporary provisions established under the original act would remain effective for an additional year, thereby avoiding any disruptions in the industry's regulation and operations.

Scope and Application

The Stevedoring Industry (Temporary Provisions) Act 1972 applies to the stevedoring industry within the Commonwealth of Australia, primarily impacting the operations and practices of stevedoring companies and workers involved in the loading and unloading of ships. The Act extends to all stevedoring activities conducted in Australian ports, encompassing both the conduct of the industry and the transactions associated with the movement of goods. Geographically, the Act's reach is national, applying uniformly across the entire Commonwealth. The Act amends the previous Stevedoring Industry (Temporary Provisions) Act 1967–1971 to adjust the cessation date of its operation from 1972 to 1973, thereby extending its temporal application. While the Act itself does not explicitly state exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds, it may be supplemented or further defined through subordinate instruments or regulations that could clarify specific operational aspects or exceptions within the stevedoring industry.

Key Provisions

The primary sections of the Stevedoring Industry (Temporary Provisions) Act 1972 are those that amend the existing Stevedoring Industry (Temporary Provisions) Act 1967–1971. Specifically, section 3 of the 1972 Act amends section 4 of the 1967–1971 Act by changing the end date of its operation from 1972 to 1973. This amendment effectively extends the duration of the temporary provisions for one additional year. The Act itself comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent, as stated in section 2. The obligations imposed by this Act are primarily concerned with the extension of certain provisions related to the stevedoring industry. Under the amended Act, the temporary provisions that were initially set to expire at the end of 1972 will now continue to apply until the end of 1973. This means that all the regulations, requirements, and operational guidelines set out in the original 1967–1971 Act will remain in effect for an additional year. This extension is intended to provide continuity and stability within the industry during a period of potential transition or reform. In terms of enforcement and compliance, the Act does not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or consequences for breach. However, any breach of the provisions set out in the Stevedoring Industry (Temporary Provisions) Act 1967–1971 would likely be subject to the penalties and enforcement mechanisms detailed in that original Act. Given that the 1972 Act merely extends the duration of the 1967–1971 Act, it can be inferred that the penalties for non-compliance would remain unchanged. This would include both civil and criminal penalties as stipulated in the original Act, although the exact nature and severity of these penalties would need to be referred to in the 1967–1971 Act.