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This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.


EXPORT CHARGES (COLLECTION) BILL 2015

 

 

 

2013-2014-2015 

 

The Parliament of the 

Commonwealth of Australia 

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

 

 

 

 

Presented and read a first time 

 

 

 

 

Export Charges (Collection) Bill 2015 

 

No.      , 2015 

 

(Agriculture) 

 

 

 

A Bill for an Act to provide for the collection of 

export charges, and for related purposes 

   

   

   

 

 

No.      , 2015 

Export Charges (Collection) Bill 2015 

i 

 

Contents 

Part 1--Preliminary

 

1

 

Short title ........................................................................................... 1

 

Commencement ................................................................................. 2

 

Simplified outline of this Act ............................................................. 2

 

Act binds the Crown .......................................................................... 3

 

Extension to certain external Territories ............................................ 3

 

Definitions ......................................................................................... 3

 

Part 2--Paying export charges

 

5

 

Simplified outline of this Part ............................................................ 5

 

Paying export charges ........................................................................ 5

 

Commonwealth liable to pay export charges and late 

payment fees ...................................................................................... 5

 

Part 3--Unpaid export charges

 

7

 

10 

Simplified outline of this Part ............................................................ 7

 

11 

Late payment fee ................................................................................ 7

 

12 

Action by the Secretary if export charges or late payment 

fees are unpaid ................................................................................... 7

 

13 

Recovery of export charges and late payment fees ............................ 9

 

Part 4--Miscellaneous

 

10

 

14 

Simplified outline of this Part .......................................................... 10

 

15 

Remitting or refunding export charges and late payment fees ......... 10

 

16 

Power to require information or documents .................................... 10

 

17 

Internal review of delegate's decision to suspend or revoke 

export control instruments ............................................................... 11

 

18 

Secretary may require further information from review 

applicants ......................................................................................... 12

 

19 

Review by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal ............................. 12

 

20 

Protection from civil proceedings .................................................... 13

 

21 

Delegations by Secretary ................................................................. 13

 

22 

Regulations ...................................................................................... 13

 

 

 

 

No.      , 2015 

Export Charges (Collection) Bill 2015 

1 

 

A Bill for an Act to provide for the collection of 

export charges, and for related purposes 

The Parliament of Australia enacts: 

Part 1--Preliminary 

   

1  Short title 

 

  This Act may be cited as the Export Charges (Collection) Act 

2015

   

Part 1  Preliminary 

   

 

Section 2 

 

2 

Export Charges (Collection) Bill 2015 

No.      , 2015 

 

2  Commencement 

 

(1)  Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table 

commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with 

column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect 

according to its terms. 

 

Commencement information 

Column 1 

Column 2 

Column 3 

Provisions 

Commencement 

Date/Details 

1.  The whole of 

this Act 

The day after this Act receives the Royal 

Assent. 

 

Note: 

This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally 

enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of 

this Act. 

 

(2)  Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Act. 

10 

Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it 

11 

may be edited, in any published version of this Act. 

12 

3  Simplified outline of this Act 

13 

This Act is about the collection of export charges. 

14 

Part 2 deals with the payment of export charges. The regulations 

15 

may prescribe the time when export charges are due and payable. 

16 

The regulations may also prescribe rules relating to the liability of 

17 

agents to pay export charges and the recovery of such charges. 

18 

Part 3 deals with unpaid export charges. A late payment fee may be 

19 

payable if an export charge is not paid on time. If a person does not 

20 

pay an export charge or late payment fee, the Secretary may do 

21 

either or both of the following: 

22 

 

(a) 

suspend or revoke one or more export control 

23 

instruments of the person; 

24 

 

(b) 

direct that certain things not be done in relation to the 

25 

person until the charge or fee is paid. 

26 

   

Preliminary  Part 1 

   

 

Section 4 

 

No.      , 2015 

Export Charges (Collection) Bill 2015 

3 

 

Part 4 deals with a number of miscellaneous matters, including the 

remission or refund of export charges and late payment fees and 

the review of decisions to suspend or revoke an export control 

instrument of a person. 

4  Act binds the Crown 

 

  This Act binds the Crown in each of its capacities. 

5  Extension to certain external Territories 

 

(1)  This Act extends to the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands and 

the Territory of Christmas Island. 

 

(2)  The regulations may extend this Act to any other external Territory 

10 

that is prescribed by the regulations. 

11 

6  Definitions 

12 

 

  In this Act: 

13 

export charge means a charge imposed under: 

14 

 

(a)  section 7 or 11 of the Export Charges (Imposition--Customs) 

15 

Act 2015; or 

16 

 

(b)  section 7 or 11 of the Export Charges (Imposition--Excise) 

17 

Act 2015; or 

18 

 

(c)  section 7 or 11 of the Export Charges (Imposition--General) 

19 

Act 2015

20 

export control instrument of a person means: 

21 

 

(a)  a licence, permission, permit, consent or approval granted to 

22 

the person under: 

23 

 

(i)  regulations made under the Export Control Act 1982; or 

24 

 

(ii)  orders made under such regulations; or 

25 

 

(b)  a certificate or notice issued or given to the person under: 

26 

 

(i)  regulations made under the Export Control Act 1982; or 

27 

 

(ii)  orders made under such regulations; or 

28 

 

(c)  a registration or accreditation held by the person under: 

29 

   

Part 1  Preliminary 

   

 

Section 6 

 

4 

Export Charges (Collection) Bill 2015 

No.      , 2015 

 

 

(i)  regulations made under the Export Control Act 1982; or 

 

(ii)  orders made under such regulations; or 

 

(d)  a licence granted to the person under section 10 of the 

Australian Meat and Live-stock Industry Act 1997; or 

 

(e)  an approval granted to the person under: 

 

(i)  Part 2 of the Australian Meat and Live-stock Industry 

Act 1997; or 

 

(ii)  regulations or orders made under that Act for the 

purposes of that Part; or 

 

(f)  any other thing granted to, issued to or held by the person 

10 

under such an Act, regulations or orders that: 

11 

 

(i)  relates to the export of goods; and 

12 

 

(ii)  is prescribed by the regulations. 

13 

Finance Minister means the Minister administering the Public 

14 

Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013

15 

internal reviewer means the Secretary or a person referred to in 

16 

paragraph 17(3)(b). 

17 

late payment fee: see subsection 11(1). 

18 

protected person means: 

19 

 

(a)  the Secretary; or 

20 

 

(b)  a person given a direction under subsection 12(5); or 

21 

 

(c)  a person who is given information or documents in 

22 

accordance with a notice given under subsection 16(1); or 

23 

 

(d)  a delegate of the Secretary under section 21. 

24 

   

Paying export charges  Part 2 

   

 

Section 7 

 

No.      , 2015 

Export Charges (Collection) Bill 2015 

5 

 

Part 2--Paying export charges 

     

7  Simplified outline of this Part 

This Part deals with the payment of export charges. The 

regulations may prescribe the time when export charges are due 

and payable. The regulations may also prescribe rules relating to 

the liability of agents to pay export charges and the recovery of 

such charges. 

8  Paying export charges 

 

  The regulations may do either or both of the following: 

10 

 

(a)  prescribe the time when a specified export charge is due and 

11 

payable; 

12 

 

(b)  prescribe rules relating to: 

13 

 

(i)  the liability of a person's agent to pay export charges on 

14 

behalf of the person; and 

15 

 

(ii)  the recovery of such charges from the person by the 

16 

agent. 

17 

9  Commonwealth liable to pay export charges and late payment fees 

18 

 

(1)  The Commonwealth is not liable to pay an export charge or late 

19 

payment fee that is payable under this Act or the regulations. 

20 

However, it is the Parliament's intention that the Commonwealth 

21 

should be notionally liable to pay such a charge or fee. 

22 

 

(2)  The Finance Minister may give such written directions as are 

23 

necessary or convenient for carrying out or giving effect to 

24 

subsection (1) and, in particular, may give directions in relation to 

25 

the transfer of money within an account, or between accounts, 

26 

operated by the Commonwealth. 

27 

 

(3)  Directions under subsection (2) have effect, and must be complied 

28 

with, despite any other Commonwealth law. 

29 

   

Part 2  Paying export charges 

   

 

Section 9 

 

6 

Export Charges (Collection) Bill 2015 

No.      , 2015 

 

 

(4)  Directions under subsection (2) are not legislative instruments. 

 

(5)  In subsections (1) and (2): 

Commonwealth includes a Commonwealth entity (within the 

meaning of the Public Governance, Performance and 

Accountability Act 2013) that cannot be made liable to taxation by 

a Commonwealth law. 

   

Unpaid export charges  Part 3 

   

 

Section 10 

 

No.      , 2015 

Export Charges (Collection) Bill 2015 

7 

 

Part 3--Unpaid export charges 

     

10  Simplified outline of this Part 

This Part deals with unpaid export charges. A late payment fee 

may be payable if an export charge is not paid on time. If a person 

does not pay an export charge or late payment fee, the Secretary 

may do either or both of the following: 

 

(a) 

suspend or revoke one or more export control 

instruments of the person; 

 

(b) 

direct that certain things not be done in relation to the 

10 

person until the charge or fee is paid. 

11 

11  Late payment fee 

12 

 

(1)  If the regulations prescribe the time when an export charge is due 

13 

and payable, the regulations may also prescribe a fee (a late 

14 

payment fee) that is due and payable if the export charge is not 

15 

paid at or before that time. 

16 

 

(2)  Without limiting subsection (1), a late payment fee may relate to 

17 

each day or part of a day that the export charge remains unpaid 

18 

after becoming due and payable. 

19 

 

(3)  The regulations may prescribe one or more persons who are liable 

20 

to pay a late payment fee in relation to a specified export charge. 

21 

12  Action by the Secretary if export charges or late payment fees are 

22 

unpaid 

23 

 

(1)  This section applies in relation to a person (the debtor) who is 

24 

liable to pay an export charge or late payment fee that is due and 

25 

payable. 

26 

Suspension or revocation of export control instruments 

27 

 

(2)  The Secretary may, by written notice given to the debtor: 

28 

   

Part 3  Unpaid export charges 

   

 

Section 12 

 

8 

Export Charges (Collection) Bill 2015 

No.      , 2015 

 

 

(a)  suspend one or more export control instruments of the debtor 

until the export charge or late payment fee is paid; or 

 

(b)  revoke one or more export control instruments of the debtor. 

 

(3)  The notice given under subsection (2) must set out the reasons for 

the decision and notice of the debtor's right to have the decision 

reviewed. However, a failure to comply with this subsection does 

not affect the validity of the decision. 

Note: 

For review of the decision, see sections 17 and 19. 

 

(4)  Subsection (2) does not limit any other power to suspend or revoke 

an export control instrument of the debtor. 

10 

Directions by the Secretary 

11 

 

(5)  The Secretary may, orally or in writing, direct a person not to do 

12 

one or more of the following until the export charge or late 

13 

payment fee is paid: 

14 

 

(a)  grant the debtor a licence, permission, permit, consent or 

15 

approval under: 

16 

 

(i)  regulations made under the Export Control Act 1982; or 

17 

 

(ii)  orders made under such regulations; 

18 

 

(b)  issue or give the debtor a certificate or notice under: 

19 

 

(i)  regulations made under the Export Control Act 1982; or 

20 

 

(ii)  orders made under such regulations; 

21 

 

(c)  give the debtor a registration or accreditation under: 

22 

 

(i)  regulations made under the Export Control Act 1982; or 

23 

 

(ii)  orders made under such regulations; 

24 

 

(d)  grant the debtor a licence under section 10 of the Australian 

25 

Meat and Live-stock Industry Act 1997

26 

 

(e)  grant the debtor an approval under: 

27 

 

(i)  Part 2 of the Australian Meat and Live-stock Industry 

28 

Act 1997; or 

29 

 

(ii)  regulations or orders made under that Act for the 

30 

purposes of that Part; 

31 

 

(f)  carry out specified activities, or specified kinds of activities, 

32 

in relation to the debtor under such an Act, regulations or 

33 

orders. 

34 

   

Unpaid export charges  Part 3 

   

 

Section 13 

 

No.      , 2015 

Export Charges (Collection) Bill 2015 

9 

 

 

(6)  If a direction under subsection (5) is given in writing, the direction 

is not a legislative instrument. 

13  Recovery of export charges and late payment fees 

 

  An export charge or a late payment fee that is due and payable to 

the Commonwealth under this Act may be recovered as a debt due 

to the Commonwealth by action in a court of competent 

jurisdiction. 

   

Part 4  Miscellaneous 

   

 

Section 14 

 

10 

Export Charges (Collection) Bill 2015 

No.      , 2015 

 

Part 4--Miscellaneous 

   

14  Simplified outline of this Part 

This Part deals with a number of miscellaneous matters, including 

the remission or refund of export charges and late payment fees 

and the review of decisions to suspend or revoke an export control 

instrument of a person. 

15  Remitting or refunding export charges and late payment fees 

 

(1)  The Secretary may, if the Secretary considers it appropriate to do 

so, remit or refund the whole or part of an export charge or a late 

10 

payment fee that is payable or paid to the Commonwealth. 

11 

 

(2)  The Secretary may do so on his or her own initiative or on written 

12 

application by a person. 

13 

16  Power to require information or documents 

14 

 

(1)  If the Secretary believes on reasonable grounds that a person has 

15 

information or documents relevant to: 

16 

 

(a)  the operation of this Act; or 

17 

 

(b)  an export charge; 

18 

the Secretary may, by written notice, require the person to give a 

19 

person specified in the notice the information or documents 

20 

specified in the notice within the period specified in the notice. 

21 

 

(2)  The period specified in the notice must be at least 14 days after the 

22 

notice is given under subsection (1). 

23 

 

(3)  A person commits an offence if: 

24 

 

(a)  the person is given a notice under subsection (1); and 

25 

 

(b)  the person fails to comply with the notice. 

26 

Penalty:  30 penalty units. 

27 

   

Miscellaneous  Part 4 

   

 

Section 17 

 

No.      , 2015 

Export Charges (Collection) Bill 2015 

11 

 

17  Internal review of delegate's decision to suspend or revoke export 

control instruments 

Application for review 

 

(1)  If a delegate of the Secretary suspends or revokes an export control 

instrument of a person under subsection 12(2), the person may 

apply to the Secretary for review of the decision (the original 

decision). 

Note: 

For review of a decision made personally by the Secretary, see 

section 19. 

 

(2)  The application must: 

10 

 

(a)  be in writing; and 

11 

 

(b)  set out the reasons for the application; and 

12 

 

(c)  be made within: 

13 

 

(i)  30 days after the person was notified of the original 

14 

decision; or 

15 

 

(ii)  if the Secretary allows a longer period (whether before 

16 

or after the end of that 30 day period)--that longer 

17 

period. 

18 

Review of decision 

19 

 

(3)  On receiving the application, the Secretary must either: 

20 

 

(a)  review the original decision personally; or 

21 

 

(b)  cause the original decision to be reviewed by a person: 

22 

 

(i)  who was not involved in making the decision; and 

23 

 

(ii)  who occupies a position senior to the person who 

24 

actually made the decision. 

25 

 

(4)  The internal reviewer may: 

26 

 

(a)  affirm, vary or set aside the original decision; and 

27 

 

(b)  if the internal reviewer sets aside the original decision--

28 

make such other decision as he or she thinks appropriate. 

29 

 

(5)  The decision (the decision on review) of the internal review takes 

30 

effect: 

31 

 

(a)  on the day specified in the decision on review; or 

32 

   

Part 4  Miscellaneous 

   

 

Section 18 

 

12 

Export Charges (Collection) Bill 2015 

No.      , 2015 

 

 

(b)  if a day is not specified--on the day the decision on review 

was made. 

Notice of decision on review 

 

(6)  After a decision on review is made, the internal reviewer must give 

the applicant a written notice containing: 

 

(a)  the terms of the decision; and 

 

(b)  the reasons for the decision; and 

 

(c)  notice of the applicant's right to have the decision reviewed 

by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. 

However, a failure to comply with this subsection does not affect 

10 

the validity of the decision on review. 

11 

Failure to give notice 

12 

 

(7)  For the purposes of section 19, the Secretary is taken to have 

13 

affirmed the original decision if the applicant does not receive 

14 

notice of the decision on review (if any) within 90 days after the 

15 

application for review of the original decision was made. 

16 

18  Secretary may require further information from review 

17 

applicants 

18 

 

(1)  The Secretary may, by written notice, require a person who has 

19 

made an application under section 17 to give the Secretary further 

20 

information about the application. 

21 

 

(2)  The Secretary may refuse to consider the application until the 

22 

person gives the Secretary the information. 

23 

19  Review by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal 

24 

 

(1)  Applications may be made to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal 

25 

for review of: 

26 

 

(a)  a decision to suspend or revoke an export control instrument 

27 

of a person under subsection 12(2) that was made by the 

28 

Secretary personally; or 

29 

   

Miscellaneous  Part 4 

   

 

Section 20 

 

No.      , 2015 

Export Charges (Collection) Bill 2015 

13 

 

 

(b)  a decision of the internal reviewer made under section 17 that 

relates to a decision to suspend or revoke an export control 

instrument of a person under subsection 12(2). 

 

(2)  An application under subsection (1) may be made only by, or on 

behalf of, the person referred to in paragraph (1)(a) or (b). 

 

(3)  Subsection (2) has effect despite subsection 27(1) of the 

Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975

20  Protection from civil proceedings 

 

  No civil proceeding lies against the Commonwealth or a protected 

person in relation to anything done, or omitted to be done, in good 

10 

faith: 

11 

 

(a)  by a protected person in the performance or purported 

12 

performance of a function, or the exercise or purported 

13 

exercise of a power, conferred by this Act; or 

14 

 

(b)  by a person in providing, or purporting to provide, assistance, 

15 

information or a document to a protected person, as a result 

16 

of a request, direction or other requirement made by a 

17 

protected person in the performance or purported 

18 

performance of a function, or the exercise or purported 

19 

exercise of a power, conferred by this Act. 

20 

21  Delegations by Secretary 

21 

 

(1)  The Secretary may, in writing, delegate to an SES employee, or 

22 

acting SES employee, in the Department all or any of the 

23 

Secretary's powers or functions under this Act. 

24 

Note: 

The expressions SES employee and acting SES employee are defined 

25 

in the Acts Interpretation Act 1901

26 

 

(2)  In exercising powers or functions delegated under subsection (1), 

27 

the delegate must comply with any directions of the Secretary. 

28 

22  Regulations 

29 

 

  The Governor-General may make regulations prescribing matters: 

30 

 

(a)  required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed; or 

31 

   

Part 4  Miscellaneous 

   

 

Section 22 

 

14 

Export Charges (Collection) Bill 2015 

No.      , 2015 

 

 

(b)  necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or 

giving effect to this Act. 

 


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