MEAT EXPORT CHARGE.

No. 33 of 1954.

An Act to amend the Meat Export Charges Act 1935, and for other purposes.

[Assented to 21st October, 1954.]

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 and citation.

1.—(1.) This Act may be cited as the Meat Export Charge Act 1954.

(2.) The Meat Export Charges Act 1935 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

(3.) The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Meat Export Charge Act 1935-1954.

Commencement.

2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

Title.

3. The title of the Principal Act is amended by omitting the word “Charges” and inserting in its stead the words “a Charge”.

Charge on export of meat.

4. Section three of the Principal Act is amended by omitting sub-sections (1.) and (2.) and inserting in their stead the following sub-sections:—

“(1.) A charge is imposed and shall be levied and paid on all meat exported from the Commonwealth.

“(2.) Subject to the next succeeding sub-section, the rate of the charge is one-tenth of a penny for each pound of meat exported.

“(2a.) The regulations may, after report to the Minister by the Australian Meat Board constituted under the Meat Export Control Act 1935-1953—

(a) prescribe the rate of the charge; or

(b) prescribe different rates of the charge for different classes of meat,

but so that no rate specified in the regulations shall exceed the rate specified in the last preceding sub-section.”.

Exemption from charges

5. Section four of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by omitting the words “the charges” (wherever occurring) and inserting in their stead the words “the charge”; and

(b) by omitting from sub-section (3.) the words “those charges” and inserting in their stead the words “that charge”.

Regulation.

6. Section five of the Principal Act is amended by omitting the words “, and, in particular, after report to the Minister by the Australian Meat Board constituted under the Meat Export Control Act 1935, for prescribing lower rates of the charges imposed on any meat exported from the Commonwealth”.

The Schedule

7. The Schedule to the Principal Act is repealed.

Saving.

8. An order in force immediately before the commencement of this Act exempting meat from the charges imposed by the Principal Act continues in force so as to exempt that meat from the charge imposed by or under the Principal Act as amended by this Act, but the exemption may be cancelled under sub-section (3.) of section four of the Principal Act as so amended.