Commonwealth Numbered Regulations - Explanatory Statements

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COARSE GRAINS LEVY REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT) 1993 NO. 317

STATUTORY RULES 1993 No. 317

Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Resources

Coarse Grains Levy Act 1992

Coarse Grains Levy Regulations (Amendment)

Section 9 of the Coarse Grains Levy Act 1992 (the Act) imposes a research levy on leviable coarse grain produced in Australia and delivered by the producer to another person (other than for storage on behalf of the producer) or processed by the producer.

Section 3 of the Act defines "leviable coarse grain" to include a prescribed kind of coarse grain.

Section 11 of the Act provides that the rate of levy may be prescribed but shall not exceed 5 per cent of the value of the grain.

Subsection 15(1) of the Act provides that the Governor-General may make regulations for the purposes of the Act.

Subsection 15(2) of the Act provides that the Governor-General must take into consideration any recommendations by the growers' organisation before making regulations for the purposes of sections 3 and 11.

The Grains Council of Australia (GCA), the growers' organisation, has requested the imposition research levies on canary seed, maize and millet under the Act, at the rate of 1 per cent of the value of the grain for canary seed, 0.2 per cent of the value of the grain for maize and 1 per cent of the value of the grain for millet.

Section 30 of the Primary, Industries and Energy Research and Development Act 1989 provides for research levy money to be paid to R&D Corporations. Existing coarse grain levies are attached to the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and the existing GRDC Regulations provide for any other coarse grain prescribed under the Act for the purpose of imposing a research levy to be automatically attached to the GRDC.

The Commonwealth Government will contribute matching amounts to fund research expenditure recommended by the GRDC and approved by the Minister. The Commonwealth contribution is limited to 0.5 per cent of the gross value of production in any one financial year. Increased Commonwealth matching expenditure relating to the levy changes will not occur until 1994/95.

The GCA has agreed that the new levy should apply from 1 January 1994.

Details of the proposed Regulations are as follows:

Regulation 1 provides that the Regulations would commence on 1 January 1994.

Regulation 2 identifies the Coarse Grains Levy Regulations as the Regulations to be amended.

Regulation 3 defines "grain sorghum, canary seed, maize, and millet".

Regulation 4 provides for research levies to be imposed on grain sorghum, canary seed, maize, and millet as leviable coarse grains.

Regulation 5 provides for the rate of levy applicable to:

-       canary seed to be set at 1 per cent of the value of the grain

-       maize to be set at 0.2 per cent of the value of the grain

-       millet to be set at 1 per cent of the value of the grain.