Wheat Export Charge Act 1963

Legislation au C1963A00084 Not in force Act

Legislation content

WHEAT EXPORT CHARGE.

 

No. 84 of 1963.

An Act to impose a Charge on Wheat and Wheat Products exported from the Commonwealth.

[Assented to 31st October, 1963.]

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.

1. This Act may be cited as the Wheat Export Charge Act 1963.

Commencement.

2. This Act shall come into operation on a date to be fixed by Proclamation.

Repeal and savings.

3.—(1.) The Wheat Export Charge Act 1958 is repealed.

(2.) Notwithstanding the repeal effected by the last preceding sub-section but subject to the next succeeding sub-section, the provisions of the Wheat Export Charge Act 1958 continue to apply in relation to wheat harvested before the first day of October, One thousand nine hundred and sixty-three.

(3.) A reference in the provisions referred to in the last preceding sub-section to the Australian Wheat Board as continued in existence by the Wheat Industry Stabilization Act 1958 shall, in relation to things done or to be done after the commencement of this Act, be read as a reference to the Board as continued in existence by the Wheat Industry Stabilization Act 1963 and conducting its proceedings in accordance with that Act.


Interpretation.

4.—(1.) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears—

“season”, in relation to wheat, means the period of twelve months, commencing on the first day of October in any year, during which the wheat was harvested;

“the Board” means the Australian Wheat Board continued in existence by the Wheat Industry Stabilization Act 1963;

“the guaranteed price” has the same meaning as that expression has in the Wheat Industry Stabilization Act 1963;

“wheat products” means a substance (other than bran or pollard) produced by the gristing, crushing, grinding, milling or other processing of wheat, and includes—

(a) semolina, sharps, wheatmeal, self-raising flour, rice substitutes made from wheat and breakfast foods made from wheat;

(b) any other commodity produced mainly from other wheat products or from wheat; and

(c) such commodities containing a substantial proportion of other wheat products or of wheat as are prescribed.

(2.) For the purposes of this Act, wheat or wheat products entered for export, or exported without entry for export, by a person other than the Board in a year commencing on the first day of January shall be deemed to be, or to be manufactured from (as the case may be), wheat harvested in the season that commenced on the first day of October in the immediately preceding year.

(3.) For the purposes of this Act—

(a) the wheat equivalent of any wheat products is the wheat used in, or used in the production of the materials used in, the wheat products; and

(b) a certificate of the Board specifying the wheat equivalent of a particular quantity of a particular kind of wheat products or the wheat equivalent of particular wheat products is evidence of the facts stated in the certificate.

Charge on export of wheat and wheat products.

5. Subject to this Act, a charge is imposed, and shall be levied and paid, on wheat and wheat products exported from the Commonwealth by the Board or any other person, being wheat,


or products manufactured from wheat, harvested on or after the first day of October, One thousand nine hundred and sixty-three, and before the first day of October, One thousand nine hundred and sixty-eight.

Rate of the charge.

6.—(1.) The charge is not payable in respect of wheat of a particular season exported by the Board unless the average price per bushel, expressed in Australian currency, obtained by the Board for all wheat of that season exported by the Board exceeds the guaranteed price, and the rate of the charge per bushel in respect of any such wheat is—

(a) an amount equal to the excess of that average price over the guaranteed price; or

(b) One shilling and sixpence,

whichever is the less.

(2.) In ascertaining the average price for the purposes of the last preceding sub-section, the price obtained in respect of a sale other than a sale of fair average quality bulk wheat free on rails at the port of export shall be deemed to be the price that would have been the corresponding price for the sale of the same quantity of fair average quality bulk wheat free on rails at the port of export.

(3.) The charge is not payable in respect of wheat of a particular season exported by a person other than the Board unless the prevailing export price per bushel, at the date of entry of the wheat for export (or, if the wheat is exported without being entered for export, at the date of export of the wheat) for fair average quality bulk wheat free on rails at the ports of export, as declared by the Board, exceeds the guaranteed price, and the rate of the charge per bushel in respect of any such wheat is—

(a) an amount equal to the excess of the price so declared over the guaranteed price; or

(b) One shilling and sixpence,

whichever is the less.

(4.) A declaration by the Board for the purposes of the last preceding sub-section shall be deemed to apply in respect of all dates from and including the date of the declaration to and including the date immediately preceding the date of the next subsequent declaration.

(5.) The amount of the charge payable on wheat products is the amount (if any) that would be payable if the export of the wheat products were the export of the wheat equivalent of the wheat products.


Payment of the charge.

7.—(1.) Moneys payable under this Act by a person other than the Board in respect of wheat or wheat products shall (without prejudice to sub-section (5.) of this section) be paid, on or before the entry of the wheat or wheat products for export, to a prescribed officer in the State or Territory of the Commonwealth from which the export takes place.

(2.) Subject to the next succeeding sub-section, amounts of charge payable by the Board shall be paid in quarterly instalments in respect of exports made during the periods of three months ending respectively on the first days of January, April, July and October in each year, and the payment in respect of each such period shall be made within fourteen days after the end of the period.

(3.) The payment of charge to be made by the Board within fourteen days after the first day of January, One thousand nine hundred and sixty-four, shall be in respect of all exports made by the Board up to and including that date, being exports in respect of which charge is payable.

(4.) For the purpose of determining the rate at which charge is payable by the Board in respect of wheat or wheat products exported during a period, the wheat of a season exported by the Board up to the end of that period shall be deemed to be all the wheat of that season exported by the Board, and, when the Board has completed its export of wheat of that season, the necessary adjustment shall be made.

(5.) The charge in respect of any wheat or wheat products is a debt due to the Commonwealth by the person exporting the wheat or wheat products (whether that person is the Board or another person).

Sales by Board for export.

8. For the purposes of this Act, where wheat is sold by the Board for export or for manufacture into wheat products for export, and the wheat is, or the wheat products are, exported, the Board shall be deemed to be the exporter of the wheat or wheat products.

Regulations.

9. The Governor-General may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, prescribing all matters which by this Act are required or permitted to be prescribed, or which are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.

Overview

The Wheat Export Charge Act 1963 was enacted to impose a charge on wheat and wheat products exported from Australia, replacing the previous Wheat Export Charge Act 1958. The Act was assented to on 31st October, 1963, and was enacted by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia. The primary policy objective was to regulate the export of wheat and its products by imposing a financial charge to manage and stabilise the wheat industry. The Act specifies the charge rate based on the export prices relative to a guaranteed price and outlines the payment procedures for both the Australian Wheat Board and other exporters. The Act also includes provisions for the continuation of certain aspects of the repealed Act in relation to wheat harvested before the commencement of this Act.

Scope and Application

The Wheat Export Charge Act 1963 imposes a charge on the export of wheat and wheat products from the Commonwealth, effective from wheat harvested on or after the first day of October 1963, and before the first day of October 1968. This Act applies to wheat and wheat products exported by the Australian Wheat Board or any other person, encompassing all such products harvested within the specified period. The charge is levied on wheat and wheat products exported by the Board or any other person, with the rate determined based on the average or prevailing export price of wheat exceeding a guaranteed price. The Act specifies that charges are payable on wheat products based on their wheat equivalent and outlines payment procedures for both the Board and other exporters. The Act also includes provisions for the Board to be deemed the exporter when it sells wheat for export or for manufacture into wheat products, and it allows the Governor-General to make regulations necessary for the implementation of the Act. The Act repealed the Wheat Export Charge Act 1958 but maintains its provisions for wheat harvested before October 1, 1963, with necessary amendments to align with the Wheat Industry Stabilization Act 1963.

Key Provisions

The Wheat Export Charge Act 1963 (sections 1-3) establishes a legislative framework to impose a charge on wheat and wheat products exported from Australia, effective from a date determined by proclamation. This Act repeals the Wheat Export Charge Act 1958 but allows for its continued application to wheat harvested before 1 October 1963. It also updates references to the Australian Wheat Board to align with the Wheat Industry Stabilization Act 1963. The Act defines key terms such as "season," "the Board," "guaranteed price," and "wheat products" (section 4), and specifies the charge on wheat and wheat products exported from 1 October 1963 to 1 October 1968 (section 5). The charge rate is determined based on the average or prevailing export price of wheat and wheat products compared to the guaranteed price, with a minimum charge of One shilling and sixpence per bushel (section 6). Payment obligations for the charge are outlined, with exporters other than the Board required to pay before the export entry, and the Board required to pay in quarterly instalments (section 7). The Board is deemed the exporter when selling wheat or wheat products for export (section 8). Lastly, the Governor-General is authorised to make regulations to facilitate the Act's implementation (section 9). The Wheat Export Charge Act 1963 imposes several obligations on the parties it governs. The Australian Wheat Board, as defined, must adhere to the charge provisions outlined in the Act when exporting wheat or wheat products. The Board must ensure that any wheat or wheat products it sells for export are deemed exports for charge purposes (section 8). Exporters other than the Board must pay the charge before the wheat or wheat products are entered for export, while the Board must pay in quarterly instalments within fourteen days of the end of each quarter (section 7). Additionally, the Act mandates that the Governor-General may issue regulations to further define or facilitate the charge process, ensuring that all necessary matters are covered (section 9). These obligations ensure a structured and systematic approach to the imposition and collection of the wheat export charge. The Wheat Export Charge Act 1963 includes provisions for civil consequences and penalties for non-compliance. Failure to pay the charge as required by the Act results in the charge becoming a debt due to the Commonwealth by the exporter (section 7(5)). While the Act does not explicitly state maximum penalties for non-payment or other breaches, it implies that non-compliance will be pursued through the legal framework governing debt collection and enforcement. Given the context and typical legislative practices, severe non-compliance could potentially lead to legal action to recover the debt, including interest and additional costs associated with enforcement. However, the exact penalties are not detailed within the Act itself and would be determined by the applicable laws and regulations governing debt recovery and enforcement in Australia.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Commercial Law
Instrument
Act
Concepts
Commencement Provisions
Repeal & Amendment
Charge on export of wheat and wheat products

Interactions

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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.