Bill
Agriculture (Biosecurity Protection) Levies Bill 2024
lapsed, as at 2025-02-12. Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry portfolio.
- Sponsor
- Not recorded
- Portfolio
- Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Recorded stages
- introduced — 2024-02-28
- second reading — 2024-02-28
- second reading — 2024-03-19
- other — 2024-03-19
- second reading — 2024-03-20
- second reading — 2024-03-26
- other — 2024-03-27
- second reading — 2024-03-27
- second reading — 2024-03-27
- third reading — 2024-03-27
- introduced — 2024-03-27
- second reading — 2024-03-27
- other — 2025-02-12
Divisions
- The majority voted against an [amendment](https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Famend%2Fr7158_amend_1f205ed9-76c9-48f0-85bf-f8054a3ec6c0%22;rec=0) to the usual second reading motion, which is "*that the bill be read a second time*" (parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of the bill). The amendment was introduced by Maranoa MP [David Littleproud](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/representatives/maranoa/david_littleproud) (National). ### Amendment text > *That all words after “That” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:* > > *“the House declines to give the bill a second reading as it :* > >> *(1) criticises the Government for attempting to impose this new tax on Australian farmers and the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector, right in the middle of a cost-of living and workforce shortage crisis;* >> >> *(2) notes its alarm that the proposed Biosecurity Protection Levy will push up the costs of fresh food for Australian families, at a time when they can afford it least;* >> >> *(3) expresses its profound concern that under the terms of the Biosecurity Protection Levy, Australian farmers will be forced to pay for the biosecurity risks of their international competitors to bring their products into this country;* >> >> *(4) criticises the Government for the ongoing mismanagement, confusion and lack of detail which has characterised the Biosecurity Protection Levy since its initial announcement in the May 2023 Budget, and the subsequent restructure that was announced in February 2024;* >> >> *(5) recognises that the proposed Biosecurity Protection Levy is widely and strongly opposed by farmers, producers, stakeholders, and industry groups across the agriculture sector; and* >> >> *(6) calls on the Government to ensure a sustainable funding model for biosecurity by progressing and establishing an importer container levy, as recommended by the independent Craik review ”.* D — 2024-03-27, House of Representatives: negative, ayes 63, noes 77
- The majority voted in favour of a [motion](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/debates/?id=2024-03-27.23.2) to agree with the main idea of the bill. This means they can now consider the bill in greater detail. ### What is the bill's main idea According to the [bills digest](https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd2324a/24bd055), the bill was introduced with the [Agriculture (Biosecurity Protection) Charges Bill 2024](https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Fbillhome%2Fr7157%22) (Charges Bill) and the [Agriculture (Biosecurity Protection) Levies and Charges Collection Bill 2024](https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Fbillhome%2Fr7159%22) (Collection Bill). Together, they: > *impose new agricultural biosecurity protection levies and charges (BPL) which will be payable by certain producers of agricultural, forestry and fisheries products within Australia; and to authorise their collection to help fund the costs of biosecurity activities at the border to prevent pest and disease incursions into Australia.* The [Agriculture (Biosecurity Protection) Levies Bill 2024](https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Fbillhome%2Fr7158%22) "*deals with the imposition of a new set of biosecurity protection levies that are duties of excise, and for related purposes.*" — 2024-03-27, House of Representatives: affirmative, ayes 74, noes 66
Plain-language summary
Written by a model from the explanatory memorandum; not the record, as at 2024-02-28.
This bill is part of a package that would introduce a biosecurity protection levy on products already carrying an existing levy.
The levy would apply where the existing levy is set out in old levy laws or regulations under the Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Act 2024, and the relevant provision is prescribed by new regulations.
The new regulations would be disallowable and subject to sunsetting, and the Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Act 2024 is due to start on 1 January 2025.
- Imposes the biosecurity protection levy on products or goods that already face an existing levy.
- Allows regulations to prescribe which existing levy provisions trigger the new levy.
- Clarifies that the levy applies in line with the existing levy provision unless regulations say otherwise.
- Ensures the levy is a duty of excise as defined in the Constitution.
Producers and businesses dealing in products or goods that are already subject to an existing levy under old levy laws or the Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Act 2024.
Sources
em
billhome