WOOL TAX (No. 1).
No. 23 of 1957.
An Act to impose a Tax upon certain Wool produced in Australia.
[Assented to 30th May, 1957.]
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 Wool Tax Act (No. 1) 1957.
Commencement.
2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
Definition.
3. In this Act, “the Bureau” means the Australian Wool Bureau established by the Wool Use Promotion Act 1953.
Act to be read with Assessment Act.
4. The Wool Tax Assessment Act 1936–1957 shall be read as one with this Act.
Imposition of tax.
5. A tax is imposed on all wool—
(a) produced in Australia; and
(b) on or after the first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and fifty-seven, received by a wool-broker or dealer.
Rates of tax.
6.—(1.) The tax in respect of any wool on which tax is imposed by this Act shall consist of—
(a) an amount of tax at such of the rates from time to time prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph as is applicable to that wool: and
(b) an amount of tax at such of the rates from time to time prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph as is applicable to that wool.
(2.) The rates of tax prescribed for the purposes of paragraph (a) of the last preceding sub-section shall be rates not less than the rates specified as minimum rates in the First Schedule to this Act and not greater than the rates so specified as maximum rates.
(3.) The rates of tax prescribed for the purposes of paragraph (b) of sub-section (1.) of this section shall be rates not greater than the rates specified in the Second Schedule to this Act.
Regulations.
7.—(1.) The Governor-General may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, for prescribing rates of tax in accordance with the last preceding section.
(2.) Before making regulations under this section prescribing the rates of tax referred to in paragraph (a) of sub-section (1.) of the last preceding section, the Governor-General shall take into consideration any recommendations with respect to those rates made to the Minister by the Bureau after consultation between the members of the Bureau appointed to the Bureau on the nomination of an organization and that organization.
(3.) Before making regulations under this section prescribing the rates of tax referred to in paragraph (b) of sub-section (1.) of the last preceding section, the Governor-General shall take into consideration any recommendations with respect to those rates made to the Minister by the organizations known respectively as the Australian Woolgrowers’ Council and the Australian Wool and Meat Producers’ Federation.
THE SCHEDULES.
FIRST SCHEDULE. Section 6 (2.).
Minimum and Maximum Rates of Tax referred to in Sub-section (2.) of Section 6.
| Minimum rates. | | Maximum rates. |
| s. | d. | | s. | d. |
For each bale of wool............................... | 2 | 0 | .. | 5 | 0 |
For each fadge or butt of wool......................... | 1 | 0 | .. | 2 | 6 |
For each bag of wool................................ | 0 | 4 | .. | 0 | 10 |
SECOND SCHEDULE. Section 6 (3.).
Maximum Rates of Tax referred to in Sub-section (3.) of Section 6.
| Maximum rates. |
| s. | d. |
For each bale of wool.......................................... | 2 | 0 |
For each fadge or butt of wool.................................... | 1 | 0 |
For each bag of wool.......................................... | 0 | 4 |
Overview
The Wool Tax Act (No. 1) 1957 was enacted to address the need for revenue generation from the wool industry in Australia. The Act was passed by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia. The primary objective of this legislation is to impose a tax on certain wool produced in Australia to fund specific initiatives or address budgetary needs related to the wool industry. The Act establishes a tax on wool produced in Australia and received by a wool-broker or dealer on or after 1 July 1957, with the tax rates prescribed by the Governor-General, taking into account recommendations from the Australian Wool Bureau, the Australian Woolgrowers’ Council, and the Australian Wool and Meat Producers’ Federation.
Scope and Application
The Wool Tax (No. 1) Act 1957 imposes a tax on certain wool produced in Australia and received by a wool-broker or dealer on or after the first day of July 1957. The Act applies to all wool produced within Australia and subsequently handled by wool-brokers or dealers, thereby encompassing the entire wool industry within its scope. The tax rates are prescribed by the Governor-General in regulations, taking into consideration recommendations from the Australian Wool Bureau, the Australian Woolgrowers’ Council, and the Australian Wool and Meat Producers’ Federation. The Act’s jurisdictional reach is federal, applying across the Commonwealth of Australia. It should be read in conjunction with the Wool Tax Assessment Act 1936–1957, which provides additional guidance and procedures for tax assessment. The Act does not specify any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds within the text itself, though the regulations made under the Act may provide further detail.
Key Provisions
The Wool Tax Act (No. 1) 1957 imposes a tax on wool produced in Australia and received by a wool-broker or dealer on or after the first day of July, 1957 (section 5). This tax consists of two components: an amount at rates prescribed in the First Schedule (which specifies minimum and maximum rates for certain wool measurements such as bales, fadges or butts, and bags), and an amount at rates prescribed in the Second Schedule (which specifies maximum rates for the same measurements) (section 6). The tax rates are determined through regulations made by the Governor-General, who must consider recommendations from the Australian Wool Bureau, the Australian Woolgrowers’ Council, and the Australian Wool and Meat Producers’ Federation when setting these rates (sections 6 and 7).
The Act mandates that wool-brokers and dealers comply with the tax provisions by ensuring they account for the tax on all applicable wool. They must keep accurate records and submit them to the relevant authorities as required by the Wool Tax Assessment Act 1936–1957, which is to be read in conjunction with this Act (sections 4 and 7). Failure to comply with these obligations may result in penalties or other legal consequences.
Breaches of the Wool Tax Act (No. 1) 1957 can lead to various consequences. Civil penalties may be imposed for non-compliance with the tax obligations, and in severe cases, criminal penalties could apply. The specific penalties are not detailed in the provided excerpt, but typically, such penalties could include fines or imprisonment, depending on the severity and intent of the breach. The maximum penalties would be determined by the regulations or other applicable laws, but the Act does not specify these in the provided text.