Commonwealth Numbered Regulations - Explanatory Statements

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WINE GRAPES LEVY AMENDMENT REGULATIONS 1999 (NO. 1) 1999 NO. 4

STATUTORY RULES 1999 NO. 4

Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Wine Grapes Levy Act 1979

Wine Grapes Levy Amendment Regulations 1999 (No. 1)

The Wine Grapes Levy Act 1979 (the Levy Act) and the Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Act 1991 (the Collection Act) provide, inter alia, for the imposition and collection of levies to fund research by the Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation (GWRDC).

The GWRDC coordinates research and development for the grape and wine industry. The GWRDC is funded by statutory levies and Commonwealth Government matching funding.

Subsection 9(1) of the Levy Act provides that the Governor-General may make regulations for the purposes of the Act.

Subsection 6(2) of the Levy Act provides that the regulations may fix rates of levy destined for the GWRDC.

Subsection 9(6) of the Levy Act provides that the Governor-General, before making any regulations for the purposes of Subsection 6(2), shall consider any relevant recommendations made by the Winemakers' Federation of Australia and the Winegrape Growers' Council of Australia, the declared winemakers' organisations, to the Minister in relation to the levy rate.

The purpose of the Regulations is to increase the amount of levy directed to the GWRDC by $1.10 per tonne to $3.00 per tonne on wine grapes from the date of gazettal, expected to be 5 February 1999. This increase is expected to raise an extra $1.265m in 1999/2000.

The increases are consistent with the recommendation of the declared winemakers organisations.

The Regulations commence on date of gazettal.