Sugar Agreement Act 1949

Legislation au C1949A00052 Not in force Act

Legislation content

SUGAR AGREEMENT.

 

No. 52 of 1949.

An Act to approve an Agreement amending the Agreement approved by the Sugar Agreement Act 1946 as amended by the Agreement approved by the Sugar Agreement Act 1947.

[Assented to 28th October, 1949.]

BE it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title.

1. This Act may be cited as the Sugar Agreement Act 1949.

Commencement.

2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

Approval of agreement.

3. The agreement made between His Majesty’s Government of the Commonwealth of Australia and His Majesty’s Government of the State of Queensland (a copy of which agreement is set forth in the Schedule to this Act) is approved.

 

Section 3. THE SCHEDULE.

—

SUGAR AGREEMENT 1946-1951.

2nd Supplementary Agreement.

Agreement made this fourteenth day of October One thousand nine hundred and forty-nine between the Right Honorable Joseph Benedict Chifley Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia and herein acting for and on behalf of and with intent to bind the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia (hereinafter referred to as the Commonwealth Government) and not so as to incur or come under any personal liability in respect of these presents of the one part and the Honorable Edward Michael Hanlon Premier and Chief Secretary of the State of Queensland and herein acting for and on behalf of and with intent to bind the Government of the State of Queensland (hereinafter referred to as the Queensland Government) and not so as to incur or come under any personal liability in respect of these presents of the other part.

Whereas by an Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the principal Agreement) known as the Sugar Agreement 1946-1951 a copy of which Agreement is contained in the Schedule to the Sugar Agreement Act 1946 of the Commonwealth and made between the Right Honorable Joseph Benedict Chifley Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia therein acting for and on behalf of and with intent to bind the Commonwealth Government of the one part and the Honorable Frank Arthur Cooper then Premier of the State of Queensland therein acting for and on behalf of and with intent to bind the Queensland Government of the other part it was agreed amongst other things that the Queensland Government should during the period specified in the principal Agreement make sugar and other sugar products available at the prices and upon the terms and conditions specified in the principal Agreement.


The Schedule—continued.

And whereas by an Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the first supplementary Agreement) a copy of which Agreement is contained in the Schedule to the Sugar Agreement Act 1947 of the Commonwealth and made between the Right Honorable Joseph Benedict Chifley Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia therein acting for and on behalf of and with intent to bind the Commonwealth Government of the one part and the Honorable Edward Michael Hanlon Premier and Chief Secretary of the State of Queensland therein acting for and on behalf of and with intent to bind the Queensland Government of the other part it was agreed that the principal Agreement should be varied in the manner and to the extent therein set forth

And whereas it has been agreed between the Commonwealth Government and the Queensland Government that the principal Agreement as varied by the first supplementary Agreement shall be varied in the manner and to the extent hereinafter set forth

Now therefore it is hereby agreed as follows:—

Commencement.

1. (1) This Agreement shall have no force or effect unless and until it is approved by the Parliament of the Commonwealth.

(2) This Agreement shall come into operation on the day that the same is so approved.

Prices of Sugar

2. On and from the day on which this Agreement comes into operation and for so long thereafter as the principal Agreement remains in force the principal Agreement as varied by the first supplementary Agreement shall be amended as follows:—

In sub-clause (1) of Clause 5 of the principal Agreement as so varied all words and figures from and including the words “Refined Sugar of 1a Grade” to the end of the sub-clause are deleted and the following words and figures are inserted in lieu thereof.

Refined Sugar of 1a Grade:

Price for not less than half-ton lots for net cash—£41.9.4d. per ton.

Refined Sugar of 1xd Grade:

Price to manufacturers for net cash—£40.12.9d. per ton.

Other Grades of Refined Sugar and Golden Syrup and Treacle:

These prices shall be fixed at amounts not exceeding the respective proportionate values of such products compared with the above prices for refined sugar of 1a and 1xd grades.

Mill-white Sugar of good colour and not less than 98 net titre. and

First Quality Mill Sugar of not less than 98 net titre—

Price to manufacturers for definite orders at reasonable notice for net cash—£35.13.0d. per ton.

Price to other purchasers for not less than half-ton lots for definite orders at reasonable notice for net cash—£36.7.6d. per ton.

In witness whereof the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia and the Premier and Chief Secretary of the State of Queensland have for and on behalf of their respective Governments hereunto set their hands the day and year first abovementioned.

Signed by the Right Honorable Joseph Benedict Chifley Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia for and on behalf of the Government of the said Commonwealth in the presence of:

J. B. CHIFLEY.

C. W. CONRON.

(L.S.)

Signed by the Honorable Edward Michael Hanlon Premier and Chief Secretary of the State of Queensland for and on behalf of the Government of the said State in the presence of:

E. M. HANLON.

D. J. MUIR, J.P.

 

 

Overview

The Sugar Agreement Act 1949 was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to approve an amending agreement between the Commonwealth Government and the Government of Queensland regarding sugar supply. This Act builds upon the Sugar Agreement Act 1946 and the Sugar Agreement Act 1947, which established initial agreements on sugar prices and supply. The 1949 Act is crucial for maintaining the regulatory framework for sugar supply, ensuring that the agreement is updated to reflect current economic conditions and policy objectives. The policy objective of these agreements is to stabilise the sugar market by setting fixed prices and ensuring a steady supply of sugar and other sugar products from Queensland to the Commonwealth.

Scope and Application

The Sugar Agreement Act 1949 applies to the Commonwealth Government of Australia and the Government of the State of Queensland, as it pertains to the approval of an agreement between these two entities. This agreement amends the previously approved Sugar Agreement 1946-1951, which regulated the provision of sugar and other sugar products by the Queensland Government to the Commonwealth. The Act is a Commonwealth statute and therefore has national jurisdictional reach, binding the relevant governments and their actions. The Act comes into operation on the day it receives Royal Assent. The primary purpose of the Act is to formalise the amendments to the sugar prices and terms of supply as negotiated between the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments, as detailed in the supplementary agreement. This includes the fixing of prices for various grades of refined sugar, mill-white sugar, and first quality mill sugar, ensuring these prices do not exceed certain thresholds relative to the set prices of refined sugar of 1a and 1xd grades. The Act does not specify any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds beyond those mentioned in the supplementary agreement, which are incorporated by the approval of the Act. Any further implementation details or enforcement mechanisms are likely to be addressed in subordinate instruments or through subsequent agreements.

Key Provisions

The Sugar Agreement Act 1949 (sections 1-3) is a legislative instrument that approves an agreement amending the 1946 Sugar Agreement, with a new agreement extending until 1951. This agreement is set out in the schedule to the Act and amends the prices and terms for the supply of sugar and other sugar products between the Commonwealth Government and the Queensland Government. The Act comes into operation on the day it receives Royal Assent. The Sugar Agreement Act 1949 imposes specific obligations on both the Commonwealth Government and the Queensland Government regarding the supply of sugar products. The Commonwealth Government must ensure that the provisions of the amended agreement are adhered to, particularly with respect to the agreed prices and terms for sugar and other sugar products supplied by Queensland. The Queensland Government is required to supply the specified sugar products at the prices and under the conditions set out in the amended agreement. Both parties must also ensure that these terms and conditions are clearly communicated and understood by all relevant stakeholders. Under the Sugar Agreement Act 1949, failure to comply with the terms of the amended agreement could result in legal consequences. While the Act does not explicitly outline specific offences or penalties, breaches of the agreement could potentially lead to legal action for breach of contract. Parties found in breach of the agreement might face civil liabilities, including compensation claims for any losses incurred due to non-compliance. Additionally, there could be implications for ongoing trade relations and negotiations between the Commonwealth and Queensland governments.

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Area of Law
International Trade Law
Instrument
Act
Concepts
Commencement Provisions
Approval of agreement
Regulatory Standards

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.