Sulphate of Ammonia Bounty
No. 65 of 1969
An Act to amend the Sulphate of Ammonia Bounty Act 1962–1966.
[Assented to 12 September 1969]
[Date of commencement 10 October 1969]
BE it enacted by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—
Short title and citation.
1.(1.) This Act may be cited as the Sulphate of Ammonia Bounty Act 1969.
(2) The Sulphate of Ammonia Bounty Act 1962–1966 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.
(3.) The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Sulphate of Ammonia Bounty Act 1962–1969.
2. After section 3 of the Principal Act the following section is inserted:—
Extension of period in respect of which bounty is payable.
“3a.—(1.) The Governor-General may, by Proclamation, declare that a period commencing on the first day of January, One thousand nine hundred and seventy, and terminating on such date as is specified in the Proclamation (being a date not later than the thirtieth day of June, One thousand nine hundred and seventy) is a period to which this Act applies.
“(2.) At any time before the terminating date specified in a Proclamation made in pursuance of the last preceding sub-section, the Governor-General may, by a further Proclamation, amend the first-mentioned Proclamation by substituting for that terminating date a date earlier than that terminating date, but not earlier than the date on which the further Proclamation is published in the Gazette, and, upon the publication of the further Proclamation in the Gazette, the first-mentioned Proclamation shall have effect, and be deemed at all times to have had effect, as so amended.
“(3.) For the purposes of this Act, a period declared in pursuance of this section to be a period to which this Act applies shall be deemed to be, and at all times from the commencement of that period to have been, a period to which this Act applies.”.
Limit of available bounty.
3. Section 8 of the Principal Act is amended—
(a) by omitting from paragraph (g) of sub-section (1.) the word “and” (last occurring); and
(b) by adding at the end of that sub-section the following word and paragraph:—
“; and (i) in respect of sulphate of ammonia sold in a period declared in accordance with section three a of this Act to be a period to which this Act applies is the amount that bears to One million dollars the same proportion as that period bears to twelve months.”.
Overview
The Sulphate of Ammonia Bounty Act 1969 was enacted to amend the Sulphate of Ammonia Bounty Act 1962-1966, addressing the need to extend the period for which bounty payments for sulphate of ammonia were payable. This legislation was introduced to provide flexibility in setting the period during which bounty payments could be made, thereby allowing for better alignment with market conditions and operational needs. Enacted by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, the Act aimed to ensure that the bounty scheme could be effectively managed and responsive to changing circumstances. The policy objective was to maintain the viability of the sulphate of ammonia industry by providing financial incentives over a specified period, as determined by the Governor-General through proclamation.
Scope and Application
The Sulphate of Ammonia Bounty Act 1969 applies to transactions involving the sale of sulphate of ammonia within a specific period declared by the Governor-General under the authority of the Act. This Act amends the Sulphate of Ammonia Bounty Act 1962–1966, extending its application to a period commencing on the first day of January 1970 and terminating on a date specified by the Governor-General, not later than the thirtieth day of June 1970. The Act allows for the amendment of the termination date through further proclamations, which once published in the Gazette, retroactively adjust the initial proclamation. The bounty payable for sulphate of ammonia sold during this declared period is calculated based on the proportion of the period to a standard twelve-month period, relative to a limit of one million dollars. The Act’s provisions are applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia, impacting entities involved in the sale of sulphate of ammonia within the specified timeframe.
Key Provisions
The Sulphate of Ammonia Bounty Act 1969 primarily serves to extend the period during which a bounty on sulphate of ammonia may be paid (section 3a) and to adjust the limit of available bounty (section 3). Under section 3a(1), the Governor-General has the authority to declare a specific period, beginning on 1 January 1970, that will qualify for the bounty. This period can end on any date up to 30 June 1970, as specified in the proclamation. Importantly, the Governor-General can amend the ending date of this period through a subsequent proclamation, provided the new date is no earlier than the date of publication of the amendment in the Gazette (section 3a(2)). This amended date will then be considered the official end date of the bounty period from the commencement of the initial period.
Parties subject to the Act, such as those engaged in the sale of sulphate of ammonia, must ensure that their sales fall within the declared period to qualify for the bounty. The Act imposes the requirement on sellers to adhere to the period specified by the Governor-General’s proclamation. This includes keeping accurate records and documentation to substantiate their sales within the proclaimed period. The bounty is not automatically applicable; it is contingent upon the specific period being declared by the Governor-General, and therefore, entities must remain vigilant about the timing and terms of these proclamations.
Breaches of the Act, such as claiming a bounty for sales outside the declared period, may result in civil or criminal consequences. While the Act does not explicitly state penalties for such breaches, it is likely that non-compliance could lead to fines or legal action under related legislation. Given the financial implications and regulatory oversight associated with bounty claims, it is prudent for entities to meticulously adhere to the proclamations and the conditions stipulated within the Act to avoid any legal repercussions.