From 1 January 2020, a white spot disease repayment (WSDR) component at a rate of 3.01 cents per kilogram will be introduced to the farmed prawns levy and charge. This will take effect in your quarterly return, due 28 April 2020. For people submitting annual returns, any prawns sold by a producer, used by the producer in the production of other goods, delivered to a person other than for storage, or exportedfrom 1 January will attract the new levy or charge.
The WSDR component will repay the government-underwritten assistance package provided to prawn farmers affected by white spot disease in the Logan River area of Queensland. The industry contribution to the package, initially paid by the Australian Government, amounts to $3.998 million to be repaid through the WSDR levy.
Changes to the levy rates are shown in the table below:
| Levy component | Rate up to 31 December 2019 |
Rate commencing 1 January 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Research & development | 3.64 cents per kilogram of whole farmed prawns |
3.64 cents per kilogram of whole farmed prawns |
| WSDR | n/a | 3.01 cents per kilogram of whole farmed prawns |
| TOTAL | 3.64 cents per kilogram of whole farmed prawns |
6.65 cents per kilogram of whole farmed prawns |
Note: GST does not apply to Australian Government levies and charges.
Information about the farmed prawns levy and charge
You can access information about the farmed prawns levy and charge.
Who can I contact if I have questions about this notice?
If you have any questions about this notice, your levies account or how to lodge your return, please contact the Levies Helpdesk by calling 1800 020 619 or by sending an email to: levies.management@aff.gov.au