Commonwealth Numbered Regulations - Explanatory Statements

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LAYING CHICKEN LEVY REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT) 1992 NO. 140

STATUTORY RULES 1992 No. 140

Issued by the authority of the Minister of State for Primary Industries and Energy

Laying Chicken Levy Act 1988

Laying Chicken Levy Regulations (Amendment)

Section 9 of the Laying Chicken Levy Act 1988 (the Levy Act) provides that the Governor-General may make regulations for the purposes of carrying out or giving effect to the Levy Act.

The Levy Act imposes a levy on laying chickens hatched in Australia. The levy by virtue of the Primary Industries and Energy Research and Development Act 1989, (the PIERD Act) is designated for research and development funding.

Under paragraph 7(a) of the Levy Act, the rate of levy for research and development purposes may be varied, by regulation, to a maximum of 10 cents per laying chicken hatched. The present prescribed rate is 5.75 cents per laying chicken hatched.

Subsection 9(2) of the Levy Act provides that before making regulations for the purposes of paragraph 7(a) the Governor-General shall take into consideration any recommendation made to the Minister by the Australian Council of Egg Producers.

The Australian Council of Egg Producers, the producers' organisation, has recommended to the Minister an increase in the operative rate of levy for research and development purposes from 5.75 cents to 6.9 cents per laying chicken hatched.

The recommendation is in accordance with the Government's objective of encouraging rural industries to increase their contributions for research and development.

No additional Commonwealth outlays will be required beyond the budgeted level due to the catchup nature of the levy increase to meet estimated levy collections.

The purpose of the proposed Regulations is to increase the rate of levy, for research and development purposes, to 6.9 cents per laying chicken hatched. The increase is to come into effect from 1 July 1992.