An Act to make provision for the collection of the charges imposed by the Export Inspection (Establishment Registration Charges) Act 1985, the Export Inspection (Quantity Charge) Act 1985, the Export Inspection (Service Charge) Act 1985 and the Domestic Meat Premises Charge Act 1993
1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the Export Inspection and Meat Charges Collection Act 1985.
2 Commencement
This Act shall come into operation on 1 July 1985.
3 Interpretation
(1) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:
animal means any member, alive or dead, of the animal kingdom (other than a human).
authorised agent means the person appointed by a person under subsection 8(1) to be the authorised agent of the last‑mentioned person.
authorised officer has the same meaning as in the Export Control Act 1982.
authorised person means a person who is, by virtue of an appointment made under section 14, an authorised person for the purposes of the provision in which the expression appears.
charge means:
(a) establishment registration charge; or
(b) quantity charge; or
(c) service charge; or
(d) domestic meat premises charge.
domestic meat premises charge means a charge imposed by the Domestic Meat Premises Charge Act 1993.
establishment means an establishment that is registered for operations associated with the preparation of prescribed goods.
establishment registration charge means a charge imposed by the Export Inspection (Establishment Registration Charges) Act 1985.
export control orders means orders or regulations made under the Export Control Act 1982.
export permit means a permit of that name provision for the granting of which is made for the purposes of section 7 of the Export Control Act 1982 in export control orders.
exporter, of prescribed goods, means the person in whose name an export permit in respect of the prescribed goods is granted.
external export inspection service means an export inspection service that is provided at a place other than an establishment.
killing or processing plant has the same meaning as in the Domestic Meat Premises Charge Act 1993.
preparation, in relation to prescribed goods, includes:
(a) the slaughter or killing of animals, or the dressing of carcases, from which prescribed goods are obtained;
(b) the processing, packing or storage of prescribed goods;
(c) the treatment of prescribed goods; or
(d) the handling or loading of prescribed goods.
prescribed goods has the same meaning as in the Export Control Act 1982.
prescribed office means an office of the Department, being an office that is prescribed for the purposes of this Act.
quantity charge means the charge imposed by the Export Inspection (Quantity Charge) Act 1985.
registered occupier, in relation to an establishment, means the person in whose name the establishment is registered.
requester, in relation to an external export inspection service, means the person who requested the service.
Secretary means the Secretary of the Department.
service charge means the charge imposed by the Export Inspection (Service Charge) Act 1985.
(2) A reference in this Act to the registration of an establishment is a reference to the registration of an establishment in accordance with export control orders and includes a reference to the renewal of the registration of an establishment in accordance with export control orders.
3A Provision of export inspection services
(1) For the purposes of this Act, but subject to this section:
(a) where an authorised officer attends an establishment in connection with the Export Control Act 1982 or export control orders, an export inspection service shall be taken to have been provided at the establishment during the attendance; and
(b) where, at the request of a person, an authorised officer attends a place (other than an establishment):
(i) in connection with the Export Control Act 1982 or export control orders; and
(ii) in relation to prescribed goods;
an export inspection service shall be taken to have been provided at that place, during the attendance, in relation to the prescribed goods.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to an attendance if the attendance is of a kind declared by the regulations to be an attendance to which this section does not apply.
3B Act binds the Crown
This Act binds the Crown in right of each of the States, of the Australian Capital Territory, of the Northern Territory and of Norfolk Island.
3C Application of the Criminal Code
Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code applies to all offences against this Act.
Note: Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code sets out the general principles of criminal responsibility.
4 When charge due for payment
Amounts of charge are due for payment as required by the regulations.
5 Manner of payment
(1) The payment of an amount of quantity charge on prescribed goods in respect of which an export permit is granted shall be made at the prescribed office at which the return referred to in section 6 relating to the prescribed goods is lodged.
(2) The payment of an amount of service charge in respect of the provision of an export inspection service shall be made at the prescribed office at which the return referred to in section 6A relating to the service is lodged.
(3) The payment of an amount of establishment registration charge may be made at any prescribed office.
(4) The payment of an amount of domestic meat premises charge may be made at any prescribed office.
6 Returns in respect of quantity charge
The exporter of prescribed goods in respect of which quantity charge is imposed must give the Secretary a return:
(a) for each month in which export permits are granted in respect of the prescribed goods; and
(b) that contains the particulars prescribed by the regulations.
6A Returns in respect of service charge
(1) If service charge is imposed on the provision of an export inspection service at an establishment, the registered occupier of the establishment must give the Secretary a return:
(a) for each month in which the service is so provided; and
(b) that contains the particulars prescribed by the regulations.
(2) A person requesting the provision of an external export inspection service in respect of which service charge is imposed must give the Secretary a return:
(a) for each month in which the service is so provided; and
(b) that contains the particulars prescribed by the regulations.
7 Execution and lodgment of returns
Returns under sections 6 and 6A shall be signed, and submitted to the Secretary, as required by the regulations.
8 Authorised agents
(1) A person who is required to provide a return to the Secretary under section 6 or 6A, may, by writing, appoint a person to be the first‑mentioned person’s authorised agent for the purpose of signing that return.
(2) The instrument of appointment of an authorised agent:
(a) shall be in accordance with the prescribed form; and
(b) when completed, shall be lodged at the prescribed office, or at each prescribed office, at which returns of the person who appointed the agent are to be lodged.
9 Records to be kept
(1) An exporter of prescribed goods must, in respect of each export permit granted to the exporter in relation to the prescribed goods, keep, or cause to be kept, such records as will enable the exporter to prepare such returns as are required to be provided by the exporter under section 6.
Penalty:
(a) in the case of a natural person—$1,000; or
(b) in the case of a body corporate—$5,000.
(1A) A person shall keep, or cause to be kept, such records as will enable the person to prepare such returns as are required to be provided by the person under section 6A.
Penalty:
(a) in the case of a natural person—$1,000; or
(b) in the case of a body corporate—$5,000.
(2) Records kept pursuant to subsection (1) or (1A) in relation to the grant of an export permit or the provision of an export inspection service shall be retained by the exporter, the registered occupier or the requester, as the case requires, for a period of 3 years from the date on which the export permit was granted or the export inspection service was provided, as the case may be.
Penalty:
(a) in the case of a natural person—$1,000; or
(b) in the case of a body corporate—$5,000.
(3) An offence under this section is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
10 Offences relating to returns etc.
(1) A person shall not refuse or fail to submit a return or provide information that is required by or under this Act or the regulations to be submitted or provided.
(1A) Subsection (1) does not apply if the person has a reasonable excuse.
Note: The defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in subsection (1A). See subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code.
(1B) An offence under subsection (1) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(2) A person is not excused from submitting a return or providing information that the person is required by or under this Act or the regulations to submit or provide on the ground that the return or information might tend to incriminate the person, but any return or information so submitted or provided is not admissible in evidence against the person in:
(a) criminal proceedings other than proceedings for an offence against subsection (1) of this section or an offence against section 137.1 or 137.2 of the Criminal Code that relates to this Act; or
(b) proceedings for recovery of a penalty payable under section 11.
Penalty:
(a) in the case of a natural person—$1,000 or imprisonment for 6 months, or both; or
(b) in the case of a body corporate—$5,000.
11 Penalty for non‑payment
(1) Where the liability of a person to pay any charge is not discharged on or before the day on which the charge is due for payment, there is payable by that person to the Commonwealth by way of penalty, in addition to that charge, an amount calculated at the rate of 20% per annum upon that charge or upon such part of that charge as from time to time remains unpaid, to be computed from the time when that charge became due for payment.
(2) The Minister or, subject to subsection (3), an authorised person may, in a particular case, for a reason that the Minister or the authorised person, as the case may be, in his or her discretion, thinks sufficient, remit the whole or a part of an amount payable under this section.
(3) The power under subsection (2) to remit the whole or a part of an amount payable under this section shall not be exercised by an authorised person in a case where the amount payable before any remission exceeds the prescribed amount.
12 Export permits not to be granted if charge unpaid
(1) Where:
(a) an export permit has been granted to a person in respect of prescribed goods; and
(b) the person has not paid the amount of the quantity charge required to be paid in respect of the prescribed goods by the day on which that amount is required, under section 4, to be paid;
no further export permit shall be granted to the person until that amount of charge, and the penalty (if any) payable in respect of the late payment of that amount, has been paid in full.
(2) Where a person has not paid the amount of any establishment registration charge or service charge by the day on which that amount is required, under section 4, to be paid, no export permit shall be granted to the person until that amount of charge, and the penalty (if any) payable in respect of the late payment of that charge, has been paid in full.
12A Withdrawal of services
(1) If the amount of any domestic meat premises charge has not been paid by the day on which it is required to be paid, the Secretary may issue a direction under subsection (2).
(2) The Secretary may, in writing, direct that specified services under:
(a) the Meat Inspection Act 1983; or
(b) regulations or orders made under that Act;
are not to be provided, in relation to the killing or processing plant in respect of which the charge has not been paid, by authorised officers within the meaning of that Act.
(3) Despite anything in the Meat Inspection Act 1983, the authorised officers must comply with any direction that is in force.
13 Recovery of charge
The following amounts may be recovered by the Commonwealth as debts due to the Commonwealth:
(a) an amount of charge that is due for payment;
(b) an amount payable by way of penalty under section 11.
14 Appointment of authorised persons
The Secretary may, by writing signed by the Secretary, appoint a person to be an authorised person, or persons included in a class of persons to be authorised persons, for the purposes of a specified provision of this Act.
15 Access to premises
(1) An authorised person may, with the consent of the occupier of any premises, enter those premises for the purpose of performing the functions of an authorised person under this section.
(2) Where an authorised person has reason to believe that there are on any premises examinable documents, the authorised person may make an application to a Justice of the Peace for a warrant authorising the authorised person to enter the premises for the purpose of performing the functions of an authorised person under this section.
(3) If, on an application under subsection (2), the Justice of the Peace is satisfied, by information on oath or affirmation, that:
(a) there is reasonable ground for believing that there are on the premises examinable documents; and
(b) the issue of the warrant is reasonably required for the purposes of this Act;
the Justice of the Peace may issue a warrant authorising the authorised person, with such assistance as the authorised person thinks necessary, to enter the premises during such hours of the day or night as the warrant specifies or, if the warrant so specifies, at any time, if necessary by force, for the purpose of performing the functions of an authorised person under this section.
(4) A Justice of the Peace shall not issue a warrant under subsection (3) unless:
(a) an affidavit has been provided to the Justice of the Peace setting out the grounds on which the issue of the warrant is being sought; and
(b) the applicant or some other person has given to the Justice of the Peace, either orally or by affidavit, such further information (if any) as the Justice of the Peace requires concerning the grounds on which the issue of the warrant is being sought.
(5) Where a Justice of the Peace issues a warrant under subsection (3), the Justice of the Peace shall specify in writing which of the grounds specified in the affidavit provided in accordance with subsection (4) the Justice of the Peace has relied on to justify the issue of the warrant and particulars of any other grounds relied on by the Justice of the Peace to justify the issue of the warrant.
(6) A warrant issued under subsection (3) shall specify a day, not being a day later than one month after the day of issue of the warrant, upon which the warrant ceases to have effect.
(7) Where an authorised person has entered any premises pursuant to subsection (1) or pursuant to a warrant issued under subsection (3), the authorised person may perform the functions of an authorised person under this section.
(8) A person shall not obstruct or hinder an authorised person acting pursuant to subsection (1) or (7) or pursuant to a warrant issued under subsection (3).
Penalty: $1,000 or imprisonment for 6 months, or both.
(8A) Subsection (8) does not apply if the person has a reasonable excuse.
Note: The defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in subsection (8A). See subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code.
(8B) In subsection (8), strict liability applies to the physical element of circumstance, that the authorised person is acting pursuant to subsection (1) or (7) or to a warrant issued under subsection (3).
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(9) The functions of an authorised person under this section are to search for, inspect, take extracts from, and make copies of, any examinable documents for the purpose of ascertaining whether the provisions of this Act, and the regulations made under this Act, have been or are being complied with.
(10) In this section:
examinable documents mean any documents relating to the provision of an export inspection service, to the granting of an export permit, or to the submission of a return under this Act.
occupier, in relation to premises, includes the person in charge of the premises.
16 Reconsideration and review of decisions
(1) In this section, unless the contrary intention appears:
decision has the same meaning as in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975.
relevant decision means:
(a) a decision of an authorised person under subsection 11(2); or
(b) a decision of the Secretary under section 12A.
reviewable decision means:
(a) a decision of the Minister under subsection 11(2); or
(b) a decision of the Minister under subsection (4) of this section.
(2) A person affected by a relevant decision who is dissatisfied with the decision may, within 21 days after the day on which the decision first comes to the notice of the person, or within such further period as the Minister (either before or after the expiration of that period), by notice in writing served on the person, allows, by notice in writing given to the Minister, request the Minister to reconsider the decision.
(3) There shall be set out in the request the reasons for making the request.
(4) The Minister shall, within 45 days after the receipt of the request, reconsider the relevant decision and may make a decision:
(a) in substitution for the relevant decision whether in the same terms as the relevant decision or not; or
(b) revoking the relevant decision.
(5) Where, as a result of a reconsideration under subsection (4), the Minister makes a decision in substitution for or revoking the relevant decision, the Minister shall, by notice in writing served, either personally or by post, on the person who made the request under subsection (2) for the reconsideration, inform the person of the result of the reconsideration, set out findings on material questions of fact, refer to the evidence or other material on which those findings were based and give the reasons for his or her decision.
(6) An application may be made to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for a review of a reviewable decision.
(7) Where a relevant decision is made and the person who made the relevant decision gives to a person whose interests are affected by the decision notice in writing of the making of the decision, that notice shall include a statement to the effect that a person affected by the decision:
(a) may, if the person is dissatisfied with the decision, seek a reconsideration of the decision by the Minister in accordance with subsection (2); and
(b) may, subject to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975, if the person is dissatisfied with a decision of the Minister upon that reconsideration, make application to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for review of that decision.
(8) Where the Minister makes a reviewable decision and gives to a person whose interests are affected by the decision notice in writing of the making of the decision, that notice shall include a statement to the effect that, subject to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975, application may be made to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for review of the decision to which the notice relates by or on behalf of a person whose interests are affected by the decision.
(9) Any failure to comply with the requirements of subsection (7) or (8) in relation to a decision does not affect the validity of the decision.
16A Powers to make export control orders imposing fees not affected by charge
The imposition of charge does not affect the power to make export control orders relating to the imposition of fees in connection with the performance of services by authorised officers.
16B Delegation by Secretary
The Secretary may delegate, in writing, the Secretary’s power under section 12A to an SES employee, or acting SES employee, in the Department.
17 Regulations
The Governor‑General may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, prescribing matters:
(a) required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed; or
(b) necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act;
and, in particular:
(c) prescribing the manner for the determination of the weight or the volume of prescribed goods;
(d) prescribing the form of warrant for the purposes of section 15; and
(e) providing for the remission or refund of charge in specified circumstances.
Note: Regulations may prescribe something by class (see subsection 13(3) of the Legislation Act 2003).
