AUSTRALIA | New and improved agricultural levies legislation will replace the existing framework next year, making the levy system more user-friendly for participants and easier for them to understand their obligations.
Over 50 pieces of legislation governing over 110 levies and charges across 75 commodities and 18 bodies receiving levies have been streamlined into five Acts and subordinate legislation.
Deputy Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry Policy Matt Lowe said the new legislation would simplify life for those interacting with it.
“From the start of 2025, the new legislation will make obligations clearer for levy payers, collection agents and bodies that receive levies, and better support industries seeking to pursue new or change existing levies," said Lowe.
“More flexible and consistent, it will benefit current and future levy system participants and help the industry to get the most out of the levy system.”
Lowe added that the streamlined legislation will allow primary industries to continue to invest collectively in research and development, marketing, biosecurity activities and responses, and residue testing.
“Our agricultural levy system is a long-standing, successful partnership between industry and government to facilitate industry investment in strategic activities, and the new framework will make it stronger and more effective.”
Research and Development Corporations will also enjoy increased funding certainty under the new legislation.
The new framework will reduce administrative costs and complexities and provide a solid foundation for continual improvement. The changes followed a review that found existing legislation no longer fit for purpose after growing ad hoc over the past 30 years.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry has extensively consulted industry groups, levy payers, collection agents, and levies-receiving bodies on the proposed legislation.
Key features of the levy system, such as rates and the purpose for which levies can be used, will remain the same, but participants may experience some administrative changes, such as updated due dates and new forms.
Levies are collected from farmers, producers, processors and exporters, with any proposal for new or changes to existing levies requiring majority agreement among levy payers.
From 2023 to 2024, the Research and Development Corporations, Animal Health Australia, Plant Health Australia and the National Residue Survey received over AUD 600 million in levy payments.
The Australian Government contributed an additional AUD 470 million in matching funding for research and development activities.
More agriculture news here
