Commonwealth Numbered Acts

WHEAT MARKETING LEGISLATION AMENDMENT ACT 1998 - SCHEDULE 1--Amendments

Wheat Marketing Act 1989

1 Title

Omit " marketing ", substitute " export ".

2 Section 2

Repeal the section.

3 Sections 3 and 3A

Repeal the sections, substitute:

SECT 3 Definitions In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:

Authority means the Wheat Export Authority referred to in section 4.

Chairperson means the Chairperson of the Authority.

Grains Council means:

(a) the Grains Council of Australia; or

(b) if the Grains Council of Australia no longer exists--a body that represents grain growers and is prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this definition.

nominated company B means the company that was nominated company B for the purposes of the repealed Part 3A.

repealed Part 3A means Part 3A of this Act that was repealed by the Wheat Marketing Legislation Amendment Act 1998 .

4 Parts 2, 3 and 3A

Repeal the Parts, substitute:

Part 2--The Wheat Export Authority Division 1--Establishment and functions SECT 4 The Wheat Export Authority (1) The Australian Wheat Board that existed under this Act immediately before the commencement of this section continues in existence as the Wheat Export Authority.

Note 1: The Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 applies to the Authority.

Note 2: Section 25B of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 deals with the consequences of the change of name.

(a) is a body corporate with perpetual succession; and

(b) is to have a common seal; and

(c) may acquire, hold and dispose of real and personal property; and

(d) may sue and be sued in its corporate name.

(4) A document signed by the Chairperson on behalf of the Authority is taken to have been signed with the authority of the Authority, unless the contrary is proved.

SECT 5 Functions and powers of the Authority (1) The Authority has the following functions:

(a) to control the export of wheat from Australia;

(b) to monitor nominated company B's performance in relation to the export of wheat and examine and report on the benefits to growers that result from that performance.

Division 2--Membership SECT 6 Membership of the Authority (1) The Authority consists of the following members:

(a) a Chairperson;

(b) 2 members who have been nominated by the Grains Council;

(c) a government member;

(d) one other member.

(3) The appointment of a member referred to in paragraph (1)(b) is not ineffective, and is not to be questioned, on the ground of a defect or irregularity in connection with the member's nomination or appointment.

(4) Each member is to be appointed by the Minister, in writing, for a specified term of up to 3 years.

(5) The members hold office on a part-time basis.

(6) The performance of functions, or the exercise of powers, by the Authority is not affected by a vacancy or vacancies in its membership.

SECT 7 Resignation A member may resign by giving the Minister a signed notice of resignation.

SECT 8 Termination of appointment (1) The Minister may terminate the appointment of a member for misbehaviour or physical or mental incapacity.

(2) The Minister must terminate the appointment of a member if the member:

(a) becomes bankrupt, applies to take the benefit of any law for the relief of bankrupt or insolvent debtors, compounds with his or her creditors or makes an assignment of his or her remuneration for their benefit; or

(b) fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with his or her obligations under section 21 of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 ; or

(c) is absent, without the prior consent of the Authority, from 3 consecutive meetings of the Authority otherwise than on business of the Authority undertaken with the approval of the Authority.

(2) A member is to be paid such allowances as are prescribed by the regulations.

(3) This section has effect subject to the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973 .

Division 3--Meetings SECT 10 Meetings of the Authority (1) Meetings of the Authority are to be held at such times and places as the Authority determines.

(2) The Chairperson may convene a meeting of the Authority.

(3) At a meeting, 3 members, one of whom is a member nominated by the Grains Council, is a quorum.

(4) The Chairperson is to preside at all meetings at which he or she is present.

(5) If the Chairperson is not present at a meeting, the members present must elect a member to preside.

(6) A question arising at a meeting is to be decided by a majority of the votes of the members present and voting.

(7) The member presiding at a meeting has a deliberative vote and, if there is an equality of votes, also has a casting vote.

(8) The Authority must keep a record of its proceedings.

(9) The procedure of the Authority is to be determined by the Authority.

Note: Section 33B of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 allows for meetings to be held by telephone or by other means.

(a) in payment or discharge of expenses and liabilities incurred by the Authority in the performance of its functions under this Act; or

(b) in payment of remuneration and allowances payable under this Act; or

(c) in reimbursing the Grains Council, in accordance with any guidelines issued by the Minister, for expenditure reasonably incurred by the Grains Council in connection with meetings of the Grains Council referred to in section 15.

SECT 12 Borrowing (1) The Authority must not borrow money except in accordance with a written approval of the Minister.

(2) An approval by the Minister may be given in relation to a particular transaction, or in relation to a class of transactions.

SECT 13 Financial year For the purposes of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 , the Authority's financial year is a period of 12 months starting on 1 October.

Division 5--Miscellaneous SECT 14 Staff of the Authority The Authority may employ such persons as it thinks necessary for the purposes of this Act, on such terms and conditions as the Authority determines.

SECT 15 Reports to meetings of Grains Council (1) When an annual report of the Authority has been laid before the Houses of Parliament under subsection 9(3) of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 , the Chairperson must:

(a) present the annual report to a meeting of the Grains Council within 6 months after the year to which the report relates; and

(b) report to the meeting on the operations of the Authority during the year to which the report relates; and

(c) make himself or herself available to answer questions arising out of the annual report or the report mentioned in paragraph (b).

(a) present the interim report to a meeting of the Grains Council within 3 months after the period to which the report relates; and

(b) report to the meeting on the operations of the Authority during the period to which the report relates; and

(c) make himself or herself available to answer questions arising out of the interim report or the report mentioned in paragraph (b).

(a) must report to other meetings of the Grains Council, at least once every 6 months, on the operations of the Authority; and

(b) may arrange with the Grains Council for the Authority to report to other meetings of the Grains Council on the operations of the Authority.

(2) The plan must include details of the strategies and policies that are to be followed by the Authority in performing its functions during the financial year.

(3) The Chairperson must keep the Minister informed about:

(a) changes to the plan; and

(b) matters that might affect significantly the Authority's ability to perform its functions in accordance with the plan.

5 Part 4 (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

Part 4--Control of wheat exports 6 Division 1 of Part 4 (heading)

Repeal the heading.

7 Subsection 57(1)

Omit ", other than the Board,".

8 Paragraph 57(1)(a)

Omit "Board", substitute "Authority".

9 After subsection 57(1)

Insert:

(1A) The prohibition in subsection (1) does not apply to nominated company B.

10 Subsection 57(3)

Omit "Board's", substitute "Authority's".

11 After subsection 57(3)

Insert:

(3A) Before giving a consent, the Authority must consult nominated company B.

(3B) The Authority must not give a bulk-export consent without the prior approval in writing of nominated company B. For this purpose a consent is a bulk-export consent unless it is limited to export in bags or containers.

(3D) An application for a consent under this section must be accompanied by such fee (if any) as is prescribed by the regulations. The fee is payable to the Authority.

(3E) The Authority must issue guidelines about the matters it will take into account in exercising its powers under this section.

12 Subsection 57(4)

Omit "Board" (wherever occurring), substitute "Authority".

13 At the end of section 57

Add:

(6) For the purposes of subsection 51(1) of the Trade Practices Act 1974 , the following things are to be regarded as specified in this section and specifically authorised by this section:

(a) the export of wheat by nominated company B;

(b) anything that is done by nominated company B under this section or for the purposes of this section.

(a) the operation of subsection (1A) in relation to nominated company B;

(b) the conduct of nominated company B in relation to:

(i) consultations for the purposes of subsection (3A); and

(ii) the granting or withholding of approvals for the purposes of subsection (3B).

Repeal the Divisions.

15 Parts 5 and 6

Repeal the Parts.

16 Sections 84 to 86

Repeal the sections, substitute:

SECT 84 Nominated company B obliged to purchase wheat (1) Nominated company B must purchase all wheat that:

(a) is offered to the company for inclusion in a pool operated by the company; and

(b) meets the standards required by the company.

(3) Subsection (1) does not apply to any offer made after subsection 57(1) commences to apply to nominated company B.

17 Subsection 88(1) (definition of corporation )

Omit ", but does not include the Board".

18 Sections 88A to 93

Repeal the sections.

19 Subsection 94(2)

Omit "section 7 or".

20 Subsections 94(3) to (5)

Repeal the subsections.

21 Schedule

Repeal the Schedule.

Wheat Marketing Amendment Act 1997

22 Section 18

Repeal the section.

23 At the end of Division 3 of Part 2

Add:

Subdivision C--Miscellaneous SECT 18A Required extent of exercise of Board's transfer powers (1) Subject to subsection (2), the Board must exercise its powers under this Division so that, immediately before 1 July 1999, the Board no longer has any assets, liabilities, rights or employees that could have been transferred by the Board under this Division.

(2) The Board must ensure that, on 1 July 1999, the Board still has the amount of money determined by the Minister under subsection (3).

(3) Before 1 April 1999, the Minister must make a written determination that specifies an amount for the purposes of subsection (2). The specified amount cannot be more than $6 million.

SECT 18B Transfer of WIF assets (1) On 1 July 1999, the following assets of the Board vest in nominated company A without any conveyance, transfer or assignment:

(a) money in the Wheat Industry Fund;

(b) an investment of the Wheat Industry Fund;

(c) any other asset that was acquired using money in the Wheat Industry Fund.

(3) Divisions 4 and 7 apply in relation to the vesting of assets under this section in the same way as they apply in relation to the vesting of assets under section 9.

[ Minister's second reading speech made in--

House of Representatives on 14 May 1998

Senate on 22 June 1998 ]

(75/98)