QUEENSLAND MEAT INSPECTION AGREEMENT.

No. 15 of 1932.

An Act to approve an Agreement entered into between the Commonwealth and the State of Queensland with respect to the inspection of meat at the Abattoir of the Queensland Meat Industry Board.

[Assented to 17th May, 1932.]

BE it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title.

1.  This Act may be cited as the Queensland Meat Inspection Agreement Act 1932.

Approval of Agreement.

2.  The Agreement made between the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of Queensland (a copy of which Agreement is set out in the Schedule to this Act) is approved.

THE SCHEDULE.

Agreement made the sixth day of April One thousand nine hundred and thirty-two Between the Commonwealth of Australia (hereinafter called the “Commonwealth”) of the first part and the State of Queensland (hereinafter called the “State”) of the second part Whereas heretofore officers of the Commonwealth have inspected meat slaughtered in Queensland and which is intended for export beyond the Commonwealth and officers of the State have inspected all other meat slaughtered in Queensland and Whereas it is desirable in the public interests and to avoid duplication in services that the inspection of all meat slaughtered at the Abattoir of the Queensland Meat Industry Board should be performed by officers of one agency and Whereas it has been agreed between the parties hereto that officers of the Commonwealth shall perform the inspection of all meat slaughtered at the said Abattoir whether intended for export beyond the Commonwealth or otherwise Now it is Hereby Agreed as follows:—

1.—(a) The Commonwealth shall appoint to the permanent service of the Commonwealth such of the officers of the State presently engaged in inspecting meat as shall be agreed upon by the Commonwealth Public Service Board of Commissioners and the Public Service Commissioner of Queensland;

(b) Subject to this Agreement each officer so appointed shall be subject in all respects to the laws of the Commonwealth relating to the Public Service;

(c) On the determination of this Agreement from any cause whatsoever the State shall if required by the Commonwealth and the officer concerned reappoint to the State Service each officer of the Commonwealth who has been appointed to the permanent service of the Commonwealth pursuant to this Agreement.

The Schedule—continued.

2.  The State may appoint as Inspectors under the Slaughtering Act of 1898 such of the Commonwealth’s Meat Inspectors as may be selected by the Commonwealth Public Service Board of Commissioners and the Public Service Commissioner for the State of Queensland. It is hereby expressly declared and agreed that any appointment so made shall be solely for the purpose of giving to such Inspectors the status and powers of Inspector for the inspection of meat at the Abattoir of the Queensland Meat Industry Board within the meaning of the Slaughtering Act of 1898 and for no other purpose whatsoever.

3.  The Commonwealth shall carry out on behalf of the State the inspection of all meat slaughtered at the Abattoir of the Queensland Meat Industry Board other than meat intended for export beyond the Commonwealth.

4.  The State will pay to the Commonwealth on or before the thirtieth day of June in each year an amount representing the cost to the Commonwealth of the work of inspection of meat on behalf of the State as herein provided. Such cost shall comprise the following items, viz.—

(i) the salaries and allowances of five Meat Inspectors Grade 1;

(ii) the cost if any of providing relief of such Inspectors during leave of absence;

(iii) a sum representing the annual charge ascertained by actuarial computation of superannuation and/or furlough accruing in respect of the Inspectors referred to in paragraph (i) above.

Such cost shall be ascertained and certified by the Auditor-General of the Commonwealth.

In the event of it being ascertained at any time that the volume of inspection work to be performed for the State is greater than can be efficiently performed by a staff of five Meat Inspectors Grade 1 such number may be increased after agreement with the Public Service Commissioner for the State of Queensland and thereupon the payment to be made to the Commonwealth shall be on the basis of such increased staff.

5.  The Commonwealth will supply to the State such information as may be in its possession and as may reasonably be required by the State concerning meat inspected by the Commonwealth’s Meat Inspectors in the Abattoir of the Queensland Meat Industry Board other than meat intended for export beyond the Commonwealth.

6.  If during the continuance of this Agreement the powers and functions which are exercisable in relation to this Agreement by the Commonwealth Public Service Board of Commissioners the Public Service Commissioner of the State of Queensland or the Queensland Meat Industry Board shall cease to be exercisable by that body or person and shall be exercisable by some other body or person the reference in this Agreement to the aforesaid body or person shall be read as a reference to that other body or person.

7.  This Agreement shall come into operation on the twenty-fifth day of November One thousand nine hundred and thirty-one and shall continue in force for a period of three years and thereafter until the expiration of not less than six months’ notice in writing by either party of intention to determine it.

8.  Any notice to be given by one party to the other party to this Agreement shall be deemed to have been duly given if signed by the Prime Minister or the Premier as the case may be on behalf of the party giving it and sent by prepaid post addressed to the Premier or Prime Minister as the case may be on behalf of the other party.

In Witness whereof the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia for and on behalf of the Commonwealth of Australia and the Premier of the State of Queensland for and on behalf of the State of Queensland have signed this Agreement the day and year first above written.