2004-2005-2006 The Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Presented and read a first time Export Market Development Grants Legislation Amendment Bill 2006 No. , 2006 (Trade) A Bill for an Act to amend legislation relating to export market development grants, and for related purposes [Page Break] 1 Short title ........................................................................................... 1 2 Commencement ................................................................................. 1 3 Schedule(s) ........................................................................................ 2 Schedule 1--Amendment of the Export Market Development Grants Act 1997 3 Export Market Development Grants Act 1997 3 Schedule 2--Repeal of the Export Expansion Grants Act 1978 15 Part 1--Repeal of the Export Expansion Grants Act 1978 15 Export Expansion Grants Act 1978 15 Part 2--Consequential amendments 16 Australian Trade Commission Act 1985 16 i Export Market Development Grants Legislation Amendment Bill 2006 No. , 2006 [Page Break] 1 export market development grants, and for related 2 purposes 3 The Parliament of Australia enacts: 4 1 Short title 5 This Act may be cited as the Export Market Development Grants 6 Legislation Amendment Act 2006. 7 2 Commencement 8 (1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table 9 commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with 10 column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect 11 according to its terms. 12 13 Export Market Development Grants Legislation Amendment Bill 2006 No. , 2006 1 [Page Break] Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Provision(s) Commencement Date/Details 1. Sections 1 to 3 The day on which this Act receives the and anything in Royal Assent. this Act not elsewhere covered by this table 2. Schedule 1, The day on which this Act receives the items 1 to 33 Royal Assent. 3. Schedule 1, Immediately after the commencement of 16 July 1999 item 34 item 19 of Schedule 1 to the Export Market Development Grants Legislation Amendment Act 1999. 4. Schedule 1, The day on which this Act receives the items 35 to 55 Royal Assent. 5. Schedule 2, The day on which this Act receives the items 1 and 2 Royal Assent. 6. Schedule 2, The day on which this Act receives the items 3 and 4 Royal Assent. However, if Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Australian Trade Commission Legislation Amendment Act 2006 commences before that day, the provision(s) do not commence at all. Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally 1 passed by the Parliament and assented to. It will not be expanded to 2 deal with provisions inserted in this Act after assent. 3 (2) Column 3 of the table contains additional information that is not 4 part of this Act. Information in this column may be added to or 5 edited in any published version of this Act. 6 3 Schedule(s) 7 Each Act that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or 8 repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule 9 concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect 10 according to its terms. 11 2 Export Market Development Grants Legislation Amendment Bill 2006 No. , 2006 [Page Break] 1 Schedule 1--Amendment of the Export Market 2 Development Grants Act 1997 3 4 Export Market Development Grants Act 1997 5 1 Reader's guide (diagram 3) 6 Repeal the diagram, substitute: 7 Diagram 3--What are eligible products? (Overview of 8 Part 4) 9 10 What are eligible products? Item These products... if they meet these conditions... (a) goods are made in Australia; or 1 Goods (b) Austrade is satisfied that Australia will derive a significant net benefit from sale of the goods outside Australia 2 External service supplied outside Austrade is satisfied that Australia Australia to a non-resident will derive a significant net benefit from supply of the service 3 Internal service supplied in Australia Austrade is satisfied that Australia to a non-resident will derive a significant net benefit from supply of the service 4 Event held in Australia marketed to Austrade is satisfied that Australia persons outside Australia will derive a significant net benefit from holding of the event 5 Tourism service supplied in Austrade is satisfied that Australia Australia to a non-resident will derive a significant net benefit from supply of the service 6 Intellectual property rights relating trade mark is first used in Australia to a trade mark or is of increased value or significance because of use in Australia 7 Other intellectual property rights rights result to a substantial extent from research or work done in Australia Export Market Development Grants Legislation Amendment Bill 2006 No. , 2006 3 [Page Break] What are eligible products? Item These products... if they meet these conditions... 8 Know-how know-how results to a substantial extent from research or work done in Australia 2 List of terms defined in Part 9 1 Omit "export earnings". 2 3 List of terms defined in Part 9 3 Omit "goods made in Australia". 4 4 List of terms defined in Part 9 5 Omit "goods made outside Australia". 6 5 List of terms defined in Part 9 7 Omit "process". 8 6 Division 2 of Part 3 9 Repeal the Division. 10 7 Subsection 21(1) 11 After "may", insert ", by legislative instrument,". 12 8 Subsection 21(1) 13 Omit "in writing". 14 9 Subsection 21(4) 15 Repeal the subsection. 16 10 Section 24 17 Repeal the section, substitute: 18 24 Eligible goods 19 Goods are eligible goods if: 20 (a) they are made in Australia; or 21 4 Export Market Development Grants Legislation Amendment Bill 2006 No. , 2006 [Page Break] (b) Austrade is satisfied, in accordance with guidelines 1 determined under paragraph 101(1)(baa), that Australia will 2 derive a significant net benefit from the sale of the goods 3 outside Australia. 4 Note: Austrade's decisions under this section are subject to guidelines 5 determined by the Minister under section 101. 6 11 Subsection 25(2) 7 Omit "an inbound tour operator", substitute "a resident of Australia". 8 12 Subsection 25(2) (note) 9 Omit "For inbound tour operator see subsection 10(1) (table item 5).". 10 13 Subsection 33(2) (table items 1A and 1B) 11 Repeal the items, substitute: 12 13 1A maintaining one or more overseas all reasonable expenses incurred representatives on a long term basis by the applicant in: in foreign countries to the extent to (a) maintaining the which the representatives are representatives; and maintained for approved (b) meeting the expenses incurred promotional purposes by the representatives in soliciting business for the applicant; up to a limit of: (c) if the applicant is a grantee in respect of any previous grant year--$200,000 for the grant year; or (d) if the applicant is not a grantee in respect of any previous grant year--$200,000 for the grant year and the immediately preceding year Export Market Development Grants Legislation Amendment Bill 2006 No. , 2006 5 [Page Break] 1B engaging as a consultant (either in all reasonable expenses incurred or outside Australia) one or more by the applicant up to a limit of: persons who, in Austrade's opinion (a) if the applicant is a grantee in are not closely related to the respect of any previous grant applicant, to the extent to which the year--$50,000 for the grant consultants undertake market year; or research, or marketing activities, (b) if the applicant is not a grantee related to approved promotional in respect of any previous purposes grant year--$50,000 for the grant year and the immediately preceding year 14 Subsection 33(2) (note 1) 1 Omit "For reasonable expenses see section 35.". 2 15 At the end of subsection 33(2) 3 Add: 4 Note 3: Under section 96, Austrade can make certain adjustments if it is 5 satisfied that any expenses are unreasonable. 6 16 Paragraph 34(4)(a) 7 Omit "$200", substitute "$300". 8 17 Section 35 9 Repeal the section. 10 18 Paragraph 37(1)(c) 11 Repeal the paragraph, substitute: 12 (c) eligible goods that: 13 (i) are not made in Australia; and 14 (ii) any person intends to sell outside Australia; 15 19 Subsection 37(1) (note) 16 Repeal the note, substitute: 17 Note 1: For foreign country see section 22 of the Acts Interpretation Act 18 1901. For export see section 107 of this Act. For sell see section 109 19 of this Act and for dispose see section 111 of this Act. 20 Note 2: Austrade's decisions whether goods are made in Australia are subject 21 to guidelines determined by the Minister under section 101. 22 6 Export Market Development Grants Legislation Amendment Bill 2006 No. , 2006 [Page Break] 20 After subsection 37(1) 1 Insert: 2 (1A) For the purposes of section 33, if an applicant is incorporated under 3 the Corporations Act 2001, Austrade may determine that an 4 eligible promotional activity in relation to the applicant is for an 5 approved promotional purpose if: 6 (a) a related entity of the applicant satisfies the requirements of 7 paragraph (1)(a), (c), (d), (da) or (e); and 8 (b) the activity in relation to the applicant would be for an 9 approved promotional purpose if instead the applicant had 10 satisfied the requirements of that paragraph. 11 Note: For related entity see subsection (4). 12 21 At the end of section 37 13 Add: 14 Definitions 15 (4) For the purposes of subsection (1A), an entity (the first entity) is a 16 related entity of another entity (the second entity) if: 17 (a) the first entity controls, or is controlled by, the second entity 18 (within the meaning of section 50AA of the Corporations Act 19 2001); or 20 (b) the same shareholder or shareholders own all the shares in 21 both the first entity and the second entity; or 22 (c) the first entity is a director of the second entity. 23 (5) In this section: 24 entity means: 25 (a) an individual who is a resident of Australia; or 26 (b) a body incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001. 27 22 Section 40 (table item 15) 28 Repeal the item. 29 23 Section 40 (after table item 16) 30 Insert: 31 Export Market Development Grants Legislation Amendment Bill 2006 No. , 2006 7 [Page Break] 16A Expenses of over $10,000 paid in cash by 56A applicant 24 Section 44 1 Omit "that has been declared, for the purposes of paragraph 10(3)(b),", 2 substitute "that the Minister declares, by legislative instrument, for the 3 purposes of this section,". 4 25 Subsection 49(1) 5 After "incurred as", insert "any one or more of the following". 6 26 Paragraph 49(1)(a) 7 Omit "products; or", substitute "products;". 8 27 Paragraph 49(1)(b) 9 Omit "products that the person to whom the remuneration is paid has 10 entered into; or", substitute "products;". 11 28 Section 55 12 Repeal the section. 13 29 After section 56 14 Insert: 15 56A Expenses of over $10,000 paid in cash by applicant 16 Expenses of an applicant in respect of a grant year are excluded to 17 the extent (if any) that: 18 (a) the applicant pays off the expenses by physically transferring 19 currency to the persons to whom the expenses are payable; 20 and 21 (b) the amount of the expenses is greater than $10,000. 22 30 Paragraph 62(a) 23 Omit "(Applicant party to transaction resulting in applicant obtaining 24 grant etc.)", substitute "(Power to adjust expenses and provisional grant 25 amounts)". 26 31 Subsection 63(1) 27 8 Export Market Development Grants Legislation Amendment Bill 2006 No. , 2006 [Page Break] Omit ", (3)". 1 32 Subsection 63(3) 2 Repeal the subsection. 3 33 Section 64 4 Repeal the section, substitute: 5 64 If applicant's eligible expenses are adjusted by Austrade 6 If Austrade adjusts the applicant's eligible expenses under 7 section 96, the applicant's provisional grant amount for the grant 8 year is the amount worked out under this Division using the 9 adjusted eligible expenses. 10 34 Subsection 72(3) 11 Omit "73(b)", substitute "73(1)(b)". 12 35 Subsection 90(2) 13 Omit "third", substitute "fifth". 14 36 Subsection 92(1) 15 Omit "may make a written determination", substitute "may, by 16 legislative instrument, make a determination". 17 37 Subsections 92(2) and (3) 18 Repeal the subsections. 19 38 Divisions 2 and 3 of Part 8 20 Repeal the Divisions, substitute: 21 Division 2--Effect of change in ownership of business etc. 22 93 Object of Division 23 (1) Broadly, the underlying principles of this Division are: 24 (a) that the rules relating to grants that are payable in respect of a 25 business (including the limitation on the number of grants 26 that are payable) continue to apply; and 27 (b) that a particular grant is still payable in respect of a business; 28 Export Market Development Grants Legislation Amendment Bill 2006 No. , 2006 9 [Page Break] despite a change in who carries on the business. 1 (2) To achieve this, this Division requires Austrade to treat certain 2 particulars of the previous owner of the business as being those of 3 the new owner. 4 94 Change in ownership of business etc. 5 (1) Subsection (2) applies if: 6 (a) at any time, a person (the previous owner) carried on a 7 particular business (the old business) in Australia; and 8 (b) at a later time, another person (the new owner) carries on: 9 (i) the business or a part of the business (the relevant part); 10 or 11 (ii) a business (the new business) that, at that time, is 12 similar to the old business, or a part of the old business 13 (the relevant part), carried on by the previous owner 14 before that time, to such an extent that Austrade is 15 satisfied that the new business should be treated as a 16 continuation of the old business; and 17 (c) the new owner applies for a grant in respect of a grant year. 18 Note: Austrade's decisions whether 2 businesses are similar are subject to 19 guidelines determined by the Minister under section 101. 20 (2) For the purposes of this Act, Austrade must treat particulars of the 21 previous owner as being those of the applicant in the following 22 ways: 23 (a) any eligible expenses incurred by the previous owner in the 24 capacity of owner of the business (or of the relevant part) are 25 to be treated as having been incurred by the new owner; 26 (b) if Austrade had decided that the previous owner met the 27 grants entry requirements--the new owner is to be treated as 28 if Austrade had decided that it had met the grants entry 29 requirements; 30 (c) any grant, or advance on account of grant, paid or payable 31 (whether under this Act or under the repealed Act) to the 32 previous owner in the capacity of owner of the business (or 33 of the relevant part) is to be treated as having been paid, or as 34 being payable, to the new owner; 35 (d) any other aspect of the business (or of the relevant part) is to 36 be treated as if it had been carried on by the new owner. 37 10 Export Market Development Grants Legislation Amendment Bill 2006 No. , 2006 [Page Break] Note: For eligible expenses, repealed Act and grants entry requirements 1 see section 107. 2 Division 3--Power to adjust expenses and provisional 3 grant amounts 4 95 Object of Division 5 This Division empowers Austrade to adjust an applicant's eligible 6 expenses or provisional grant amount in certain circumstances 7 (such as if the expenses are unreasonable or have been generated 8 by an artificial arrangement). 9 96 Adjustments that may be made by Austrade 10 (1) This section applies if it appears to Austrade that: 11 (a) any expenses incurred by an applicant in respect of an 12 eligible promotional activity: 13 (i) may not have been properly substantiated; or 14 (ii) may not be reasonable, commercial or bona fide; or 15 (b) an applicant for a grant in respect of a grant year has done, or 16 been party to, any act or thing (such as making an agreement 17 or payment, forming a company or allocating income or 18 expenses between different persons or different years) for the 19 sole or dominant purpose of obtaining a grant, or an increase 20 in the amount of a grant, in respect of that year. 21 (2) If this section applies, Austrade must: 22 (a) notify the applicant, in writing, that Austrade is of that 23 opinion and of Austrade's reasons for being of that opinion; 24 and 25 (b) ask the applicant to explain, within the period specified in the 26 notice, why Austrade should not adjust the applicant's 27 expenses under this section. 28 (3) If, after the end of the period, Austrade is not satisfied with the 29 applicant's explanation, Austrade may: 30 (a) make any adjustments that it thinks necessary to the amount 31 that (apart from this section and section 30) would be the 32 applicant's eligible expenses; and 33 Export Market Development Grants Legislation Amendment Bill 2006 No. , 2006 11 [Page Break] (b) work out the amount that is the applicant's provisional grant 1 amount for the grant year because of section 64. 2 (4) In making a decision under subsection (3), Austrade must take into 3 consideration any information given by the applicant in answer to 4 Austrade's request under paragraph (2)(b). 5 39 Subsection 100(1) 6 Omit "may determine in writing", substitute "may, by legislative 7 instrument, determine". 8 40 Subsection 100(4) 9 Repeal the subsection. 10 41 Subsection 101(1) 11 Omit "in writing", substitute "by legislative instrument". 12 42 After paragraph 101(1)(b) 13 Insert: 14 (ba) guidelines to be complied with by Austrade in determining, 15 for the purposes of paragraph 24(a) and subparagraphs 16 37(1)(c)(i) and (g)(i), whether goods are made in Australia; 17 and 18 (baa) guidelines to be complied with by Austrade in determining, 19 for the purposes of paragraph 24(b), whether Australia will 20 derive a significant net benefit from the sale of goods outside 21 Australia; and 22 43 Paragraph 101(1)(d) 23 Repeal the paragraph, substitute: 24 (d) guidelines to be complied with by Austrade in determining, 25 for the purposes of subparagraph 94(1)(b)(ii), whether a 26 business or a part of a business (the old business) that was 27 carried on by a person is similar to a business (the new 28 business) being carried on by another person to such an 29 extent that the new business should be treated as a 30 continuation of the old business. 31 44 Subsection 101(2) 32 Omit "in writing", substitute "by legislative instrument". 33 12 Export Market Development Grants Legislation Amendment Bill 2006 No. , 2006 [Page Break] 45 Subsection 101(4) 1 Repeal the subsection. 2 46 Paragraph 105(b) 3 Omit "grant year" (wherever occurring), substitute "financial year". 4 47 Subsections 106A(1) to (3) 5 Repeal the subsections, substitute: 6 (1) Not later than 1 January 2010, the Minister must cause a person or 7 body (other than the person or body that administers the export 8 market development grants scheme) to conduct a review of the 9 scheme for the purpose of making recommendations about the 10 continuation of the scheme. 11 (2) In conducting the review, submissions from the public must be 12 called for and public hearings may be conducted. 13 (3) The review must be completed, and a written report provided to the 14 Minister, by a date determined by the Minister that is not later than 15 30 June 2010. 16 48 Section 107 (note to the definition of export) 17 Repeal the note. 18 49 Section 107 (definition of export earnings) 19 Repeal the definition. 20 50 Section 107 (definition of goods made in Australia) 21 Repeal the definition. 22 51 Section 107 (definition of goods made outside Australia) 23 Repeal the definition. 24 52 Section 107 (paragraph (a) of the definition of grant year) 25 Omit "2006", substitute "2011". 26 53 Section 107 (definition of process) 27 Repeal the definition. 28 Export Market Development Grants Legislation Amendment Bill 2006 No. , 2006 13 [Page Break] 54 Section 110 1 Repeal the section. 2 55 Application of amendments 3 (1) The amendments made by this Schedule (other than items 35, 46 and 4 47) apply to grants in respect of a grant year commencing on or after 5 1 July 2006. 6 (2) The amendment made by item 35 applies to approvals given on or after 7 the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent. 8 14 Export Market Development Grants Legislation Amendment Bill 2006 No. , 2006 [Page Break] Repeal of the Export Expansion Grants Act 1978 Part 1 1 Schedule 2--Repeal of the Export Expansion 2 Grants Act 1978 3 Part 1--Repeal of the Export Expansion Grants Act 4 1978 5 Export Expansion Grants Act 1978 6 1 The whole of the Act 7 Repeal the Act. 8 Export Market Development Grants Legislation Amendment Bill 2006 No. , 2006 15 [Page Break] Part 2 Consequential amendments 1 Part 2--Consequential amendments 2 Australian Trade Commission Act 1985 3 2 Subsection 64(4) 4 Repeal the subsection. 5 3 Subsection 71(4) 6 Repeal the subsection. 7 4 Subsection 92(1) 8 Omit ", but not the Commission's operations under the Export 9 Expansion Grants Act 1978". 10 16 Export Market Development Grants Legislation Amendment Bill 2006 No. , 2006