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2013-2014
THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRIMARY INDUSTRIES (EXCISE) LEVIES AMENDMENT
(DAIRY PRODUCE) BILL 2014
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
(Circulated by authority of the Minister for Agriculture,
the Hon. Barnaby Joyce MP)
PRIMARY INDUSTRIES (EXCISE) LEVIES AMENDMENT
(DAIRY PRODUCE) BILL 2014
General Outline
The Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Amendment (Dairy Produce) Bill 2014 will
amend the Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Act 1999 to enable the dairy industry to
continue to meet its obligations in relation to its Animal Health Australia annual
membership and other animal health and welfare initiatives.
The amendments to the Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Act 1999 increase the
maximum rates (caps) of the Australian Animal Health Council levies on dairy
produce from 0.058 to 0.145 of a cent per kilogram of milk fat and from 0.13850 to
0.34625 of a cent per kilogram of protein. The current operative levies are equivalent
to the current cap rates.
The levies are payable by the producer of the relevant dairy produce and are collected
by the Commonwealth for disbursement to Animal Health Australia, as provided for
under the Australian Animal Health Council (Live-stock Industries) Funding
Act 1996. Australian Dairy Farmers Limited, the national representative body for the
dairy industry, has requested the amendments.
Australian Dairy Farmers Limited is also party to the Emergency Animal Disease
Response Agreement. This Bill will allow the dairy industry to meet requirements of
being a signatory to this Agreement, including the ability to meet its obligations in the
event of an emergency response and where a nationally cost-shared response has been
agreed.
Financial Impact Statement
The proposed amendments to the Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Act 1999 have
no financial impact on the Commonwealth or the dairy industry. The Bill will not
increase the operative rate paid by industry members and does not impose a financial
burden on dairy farmers. Any increase to the operative rate requires a case to be put
forward by industry, demonstrating widespread industry consultation and strong
industry support in accordance with Australian Government Levy Principles and
Guidelines.
Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights
Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny)
Act 2011
Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Amendment (Dairy Produce) Bill 2014
This Bill is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in
the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary
Scrutiny) Act 2011.
Overview of the Bill
The amendments to the Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Act 1999 increases the
maximum rates (caps) of the Australian Animal Health Council levies on dairy
produce from 0.058 to 0.145 of a cent per kilogram of milk fat and from 0.13850 to
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0.34625 of a cent per kilogram of protein. The current operative levies are equivalent
to the current cap rates. The purpose of the proposed levy cap increases is to enable
the future increase of the operative levies. The levies are payable by the producer of
the relevant dairy produce.
Human rights implications
This Bill does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms.
Conclusion
This Bill is compatible with human rights as it does not raise any human rights issues.
The Hon. Barnaby Joyce MP
Minister for Agriculture
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Notes on clauses
Clause 1 Short title
This clause provides for the short title of the Act to be the Primary Industries (Excise)
Levies Amendment (Dairy Produce) Act 2014.
Clause 2 Commencement
This clause provides for the Act to commence on the day it receives the Royal Assent.
Clause 3 Schedule(s)
This clause provides that the Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Act 1999 is amended
as set out in Schedule 1.
Schedule 1-Amendments
Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Act 1999
Item 1 amends Clause 11 of Schedule 6 (table item 6)
This item increases the maximum rate (cap) of the Australian Animal Health Council
levy from 0.058 to 0.145 of a cent per kilogram of milk fat.
Item 2 amends Clause 12 of Schedule 6 (table item 6)
This item increases the maximum rate (cap) of the Australian Animal Health Council
levy from 0.13850 to 0.34625 of a cent per kilogram of protein.
The operative rate is set in accordance with the Primary Industries (Excise) Levies
Regulations 1999 and is located in Schedule 6 of those Regulations.
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