EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1985 NO. 259
Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Primary Industry
WOOL INDUSTRY ACT 1972
WOOL INDUSTRY (SAMPLING SITES) REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT)
The Wool Industry Act 1972 provides for the Governor-General to make regulations for and in relation to -
• the registration and inspection of wool sampling sites, and
• the fees payable in respect of the registration and inspection of sampling sites in accordance with the regulations.
The Wool Industry (Sampling Sites) Regulations provide for the registration of establishments testing wool and for monitoring their sampling and testing procedures to ensure that they maintain a high standard of performance. The Regulations prescribe the fees payable for registration and inspection.
This amending Regulation decreases the fee for inspection of registered sampling by the Australian Wool Measurement Standards Authority of the Department.
The fee is based on the number of lots of wool expected to be sampled at registered sampling sites for the purpose of issuing International Wool Textile Organisation Certificates during the financial year and the cost of inspection during that period.
The sampling site inspection fees have been revised with a view to maintaining 50% recovery of costs incurred in line with Government policy. The decrease in charge in respect of each lot of wool that is sampled arises as the result of a significant increase expected in the number of lots to be inspected during the year. No consequent increase in the number of inspection staff is expected.
The former and present fees are as follows:
Former Fee | Present fee |
| |
| |
55¢/lot sampled OR $100 whichever is the greater | 51¢/lot sampled OR $100 whichever is the greater |
The reduced rate of charge for inspection of sampling at registered sampling sites is to come into effect from 1 October 1985.
Overview
The Wool Industry (Sampling Sites) Regulations (Amendment) 1985, issued under the authority of the Minister for Primary Industry, amends the existing regulations concerning the registration and inspection of wool sampling sites, which were established under the Wool Industry Act 1972. This legislative amendment aims to address the need for adjustments in the fees associated with the inspection of these sampling sites, ensuring the fees remain aligned with the operational costs and government policy. Specifically, the amendment introduces a reduced fee for the inspection of registered sampling sites conducted by the Australian Wool Measurement Standards Authority of the Department. The new fee structure is designed to maintain a 50% recovery of the costs incurred, reflecting the anticipated increase in the number of lots to be inspected without necessitating a corresponding increase in inspection staff. The reduced fees are set to take effect from 1 October 1985.
Scope and Application
The Wool Industry (Sampling Sites) Regulations, which are an amendment to the Wool Industry Act 1972, establish the framework for the registration and inspection of establishments that test wool. These regulations apply to entities that test wool and ensure that they adhere to high standards through monitoring of their sampling and testing procedures. The scope of the regulations encompasses the fees payable for the registration and inspection of these sampling sites, which are determined by the number of lots of wool expected to be sampled and the costs associated with the inspection process. This legislation applies across the Commonwealth, impacting the wool industry nationwide. The reduced fees for inspection, effective from 1 October 1985, reflect a policy to recover 50% of the costs incurred by the Australian Wool Measurement Standards Authority, aligning with government financial guidelines. The decrease in fees per lot of wool sampled is attributed to an anticipated increase in the volume of inspections without a corresponding rise in inspection staff.
Key Provisions
The primary sections of the Wool Industry (Sampling Sites) Regulations, as amended, revolve around the registration and inspection of wool sampling sites (section 1), and the fees associated with these processes (section 2). Specifically, section 1 of the Regulations mandates the registration of establishments that test wool, ensuring they adhere to set standards for sampling and testing procedures. Section 2 outlines the fees payable for both registration and inspection, with the fee structure being influenced by the number of wool lots expected to be sampled and the cost of inspection.
The Act imposes several obligations on the parties involved. Firstly, wool sampling establishments must register with the relevant authorities and comply with the stipulated sampling and testing procedures (section 1). These procedures are designed to maintain high standards of performance in the wool industry. Additionally, the establishments are required to pay the prescribed fees for registration and inspection, which are determined by the number of wool lots expected to be sampled and the associated inspection costs (section 2).
Non-compliance with the provisions of the Wool Industry (Sampling Sites) Regulations can result in civil and criminal consequences. While specific penalties are not detailed in the explanatory statement, breaches of such regulations typically lead to fines or other enforcement actions under the overarching Wool Industry Act 1972. The exact penalties could vary based on the severity and nature of the breach, but the overarching aim is to ensure adherence to the regulatory framework to uphold the quality and integrity of wool sampling and testing processes.