✦ Plain-English Summary

Primary Industries (Customs) Charges Amendment (Dairy Cattle Export Charge) 2020

What it does

The government introduced a new export charge on dairy cattle leaving Australia. Instead of charging by weight (like other cattle exports), dairy cattle are now charged per individual animal. This change modifies the rules in the Primary Industries (Customs) Charges Act to separate dairy cattle from other cattle exports and apply a different fee structure.

Why it matters

This creates a dedicated revenue stream from the dairy export industry and allows the government to potentially set different fee levels for dairy versus beef cattle. It signals a regulatory distinction between these two livestock categories at the export stage.

Key details

• Who pays: Anyone exporting dairy cattle from Australia
• How it works: Charges are calculated per head of dairy cattle (not per kilogram like other cattle), giving the government flexibility to set appropriate fees for this specific category
• Timeline: The bill received Royal Assent immediately, but the actual charge rules come into effect later—either on a date set by the government, or automatically 6 months after assent if no date is announced
• The change: Previous rules charged all cattle by weight; this bill lets dairy cattle be charged differently, likely reflecting the different economics of dairy versus meat cattle exports

Official Description

Amends the Primary Industries (Customs) Charges Act 1999 to: impose an export charge on the export of dairy cattle; and amend the rate provision to provide for two different rates of charges: a per head charge on dairy cattle and a per kilogram charge on cattle other than dairy cattle.

Committee Referrals

Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills; Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee

No formal division recorded

This bill passed by voice vote — parliament agreed without calling a formal count. A division is only recorded when a member explicitly requests one.

No votes yet.

No votes were recorded for this bill.