New and improved agricultural levies legislation will replace the existing framework next year, making the levy system more user friendly for participants and making it easier for them to understand their obligations.
More than 50 pieces of legislation governing over 110 levies and charges – across 75 commodities and 18 bodies that receive levies – are being streamlined into five Acts and subordinate legislation.
Deputy Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Policy Matt Lowe said the new legislation would make life simpler for those interacting with it from 1 January.
“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," Mr Lowe said.
“More flexible and consistent, it will benefit current and future levy system participants and help industry to get the most out of the levy system.
“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 follow a review that found existing legislation was no longer fit for purpose after growing in an ad hoc fashion over the past 30 years.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has consulted extensively on the proposed legislation with industry groups, levy payers, collection agents and bodies that receive levies.
Key features of the levy system will remain the same, such as rates and the purpose for which levies can be used, but participants may experience some administrative changes, like 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.
In 2023-24, the Research and Development Corporations, Animal Health Australia, Plant Health Australia and the National Residue Survey received just over $600 million in levy payments.
The Australian Government contributed an additional $470 million in matching funding for research and development activities.
