Wine Export Bounty Act 1924

Legislation au C1924A00023 Not in force Act

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WINE EXPORT BOUNTY.

 

No. 23 of 1924.

An Act to provide for the Payment of Bounty on the Export of Fortified Wine.

[Assented to 17th September, 1924.]

Preamble.

BE it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, for the purpose of appropriating the grant originated in the House of Representatives, as follows:—

Short title.

1. This Act may be cited as the Wine Export Bounty Act 1924.

Definition.

2. In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears—

“fortified wine” means wine, the produce of Australia, which is the fermented juice of the grape and which has been fortified so as to contain not less than thirty-four per centum of proof spirit.

Appropriation for payment of bounty.

3. There shall be payable out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which is hereby appropriated accordingly, the bounty specified in this Act.

Specification of bounty.

4. The bounty under this Act shall be payable in respect of fortified wine exported from the Commonwealth on or after the first day of September One thousand nine hundred and twenty-four and on or before the thirty-first day of August One thousand nine hundred and twenty-seven.

Rate of bounty.

5. The rate of bounty payable under this Act shall be Four shillings per gallon.

To whom bounty payable.

6. The bounty shall be payable to the exporter of the fortified wine.

Conditions of payment of bounty.

7.—(1.) Every claimant of bounty under this Act shall supply with his claim a certificate stating the quantity of Doradillo grapes purchased by him from each supplier thereof during the two years immediately preceding the date of exportation of the fortified wine in respect of which bounty is claimed, and the name of each supplier of, and the amount paid to each supplier for, such Doradillo grapes.

(2.) Before any claim for bounty is paid the Minister may require the claimant to furnish, and the claimant shall thereupon furnish, such information as to the correctness or otherwise of the certificates supplied in accordance with the last preceding sub-section as the Minister deems necessary.

Bounty not payable unless Act complied with.

8. No bounty shall be authorized to be paid unless the exporter of the fortified wine furnishes proof to the satisfaction of the Minister that the requirements of this Act and the regulations have been complied with.

Wine to be of good quality.

9. No bounty shall be payable in respect of any fortified wine which is not of good and merchantable quality.

Price of Doradillo grapes used in production.

10. The Minister may withhold the whole or any part of the bounty if he finds that a price, which in his opinion was less than a reasonable price, was paid for any Doradillo grapes used in the production of the fortifying spirit contained in the wine in respect of which the bounty is claimed.

Accounts to be kept.

11.—(1.) A claimant for bounty shall keep proper and separate books of account showing in detail—

(a) the quantity of Doradillo grapes purchased by him;

(b) the amount paid to each supplier of the Doradillo grapes;

(c) the name and address of the supplier; and

(d) such other particulars as the Minister from time to time requires.

(2.) All books of account kept by a claimant under this section and all documents in the possession of, or under the control of, the claimant relating to Doradillo grapes shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection and audit by any person authorized in that behalf by the Minister and that person may, upon inspection or audit, make and take away extracts from those books of account and documents.

Offences against Act.

12. No person shall—

(a) obtain any bounty which is not payable;

(b) obtain payment of any bounty by means of any false or misleading statement; or

(c) present to any officer or other person doing duty in relation to this Act or the regulations, any document, or make to any such officer or person any statement, which is false in any particular.

Penalty: One hundred pounds or imprisonment for twelve months.

Returns to be laid before Parliament.

13. A return setting forth—

(a) the names of all persons to whom bounties are paid under this Act;

(b) the amounts of all such bounties; and

(c) such other particulars as are prescribed,

shall be prepared in the month of July in each year, and shall be laid before both Houses of the Parliament within thirty days after its preparation if the Parliament is then sitting, and, if not, then within thirty days after the next meeting thereof.

Regulations.

14. 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, and in particular for prescribing penalties not exceeding Fifty pounds or imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months for any breach of the regulations.

 

Overview

The Wine Export Bounty Act 1924 was enacted to address the economic challenges faced by the Australian wine industry at the time by providing financial incentives for the export of fortified wine. This Act was passed by the Parliament of Australia with the aim of supporting the export industry through a specified bounty on fortified wine exports. The Act defines fortified wine as Australian-produced wine fortified to contain at least thirty-four per centum of proof spirit. It mandates a bounty of four shillings per gallon for fortified wine exported between September 1, 1924, and August 31, 1927, payable to the exporter. The legislation includes conditions for bounty eligibility, such as maintaining quality standards and proper record-keeping of grape purchases, alongside penalties for non-compliance to ensure the integrity of the bounty system.

Scope and Application

The Wine Export Bounty Act 1924 applies to exporters of fortified wine, defined as wine produced in Australia from the fermented juice of grapes that has been fortified to contain a minimum of thirty-four per centum of proof spirit. The Act pertains specifically to the bounty payable for fortified wine exported from Australia between 1 September 1924 and 31 August 1927, with the bounty set at four shillings per gallon. The bounty is payable to the exporter, subject to the exporter meeting certain conditions, including the provision of detailed records regarding the purchase of Doradillo grapes used in the production of the fortified wine. The Minister has the authority to withhold bounty if the exporter fails to comply with the Act's requirements or if a less than reasonable price was paid for the Doradillo grapes. Additionally, the Minister can inspect the exporter's records at any reasonable time. The Act also includes provisions for offences related to the fraudulent claim of bounty, with penalties including fines of up to one hundred pounds or imprisonment for up to twelve months. The Governor-General has the power to make regulations to further implement the Act, including the setting of penalties for breaches of those regulations.

Key Provisions

The Wine Export Bounty Act 1924 (C1924A00023) establishes the conditions under which a bounty is to be paid on the export of fortified wine from Australia. The Act specifies that the bounty will be applicable to fortified wine exported between 1 September 1924 and 31 August 1927, and the rate of the bounty is set at Four shillings per gallon (Section 5). The bounty is payable to the exporter of the fortified wine, provided that certain conditions are met (Section 6). To claim the bounty, an exporter must provide a certificate detailing the quantity of Doradillo grapes purchased and the amount paid to each supplier (Section 7). The bounty is contingent upon compliance with the Act, including the quality of the wine and the price paid for the Doradillo grapes (Sections 8 and 10). The exporter must also maintain detailed records of grape purchases and suppliers, which are subject to inspection by authorised personnel (Section 11). The Act imposes specific obligations on exporters seeking the bounty, including the requirement to keep detailed records of all transactions related to the purchase of Doradillo grapes (Section 11). Exporter must also present accurate information and documentation when claiming the bounty, with any false or misleading statements constituting an offence (Section 12). Additionally, exporters must ensure that the fortified wine produced for export is of good and merchantable quality and that a reasonable price was paid for the Doradillo grapes used in the production process. Failure to comply with these obligations can result in the withholding of the bounty by the Minister (Sections 8 and 10). Under the Wine Export Bounty Act 1924, several offences are defined, each carrying a penalty of One hundred pounds or imprisonment for twelve months (Section 12). These offences include obtaining a bounty that is not payable, obtaining payment of a bounty through false or misleading statements, or presenting false documents or statements to officers or persons involved in the administration of the Act. Furthermore, the Act mandates that a return detailing the names of all persons who receive the bounty, the amounts paid, and other prescribed particulars, must be prepared and laid before Parliament each year (Section 13). The Governor-General is also empowered to make regulations to enforce the Act, with penalties for breaches of these regulations not exceeding Fifty pounds or imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months (Section 14).

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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.