Commonwealth Numbered Regulations - Explanatory Statements

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RURAL INDUSTRIES RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT) 1995 NO. 166

STATUTORY RULES 1995 No. 166

Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy

Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Regulations (Amendment)

Section 149 of the Primary Industries and Energy Research and Development Act 1989. (the Act) provides for the Governor-General to make regulations, not inconsistent with the Act prescribing matters required or permitted by the Act to be prescribed, or necessary to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to the Act.

The Honeybee Research and Development Council was established by Regulations under the Act to conduct research and development activities on behalf of the honey industry. The Council operated autonomously, having its own Board, and separate reporting and accountability requirements in accordance with the Act.

The Task Force of the Budget Review of Rural Research and Development questioned whether the budgets of the research and development Councils are sufficient to implement optimal research management and administrative arrangements.

The Task Force recommended that "Department of Primary Industries and Energy and, as appropriate, the Minister initiate discussions with the relevant industries with a view to exploring alternative options to the current Council arrangements, while maintaining the current level of industry involvement and responsibility".

Consequently, the Honeybee Research and Development Council has been terminated and the research and development functions of the industry established under the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation.

The Federal Council of Australian Apiarists Associations, the acknowledged representative industry organisation for the honey industry, wrote to the Minister for Primary industries and Energy supporting the change in the research and development administrative arrangements. The Federal Council of Australian Apiarists' Associations has negotiated with the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation for the establishment of a honey advisory committee under the Corporation having composition, functions and responsibilities similar to the Honeybee Research and Development Council.

The new arrangements offer a simplified structure under which the research and development program of the research and development Council can be maintained along with existing levels of industry responsibility and involvement for the program. significant cost savings will be achieved under the new arrangements effectively maximising industry levy funds available for research and development activities.

Regulation 1 provides for a commencement date of 1 July 1995.

Regulation 2 provides for the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation regulations to be amended.

Regulation 3 defines the honeybee industry and provides for the payment of levies collected for research and development purposes to be paid to the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation;

•       requires the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation to maintain separate accounting records for the honeybee industry and

•       details the recording of transactions for the honeybee industry.

The regulations commence on July 1995.