Transparency over levy spending
Critics argued levy payers should be able to see more clearly how their money is allocated and spent, rather than relying on a framework they said could still be opaque in practice.
Primary Industries Levies and Charges Disbursement
Current status
This bill became law on Jul 9th, 2024.
Policy area
Industry, agriculture & resources
What does this bill do?
The law routes primary industry levy and charge money to research and marketing bodies, which must use it for activities that benefit the industries that paid.
Why was it introduced?
Over 50 laws governing more than 110 agricultural levies had become overly complex, inconsistent and ineffective for industries’ current needs. This bill replaces disbursement rules from 13 Acts with one clearer framework that directs levy money to research, marketing, biosecurity and residue testing, and updates matching-funding rules.
Broader context
Australia’s agricultural levy system had, since the 1980s, pooled producer money for research, marketing, biosecurity and residue testing, but over time it was spread across more than 50 laws covering more than 110 levies, making the rules hard to navigate and less fit for current industry needs. The 2023 bill responded by replacing disbursement rules from 13 Acts with one framework that kept money flowing to the same core purposes while updating Commonwealth matching arrangements, and it became law in July 2024.
Key criticism
The main criticism was that the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. improved the levy system but still did not make it clear enough to levy payers where their money would go, leaving important detail to funding agreements and a framework some critics said remained confusing. That concern was raised mainly by Coalition speakers and in Opposition Senate amendments, but no party represented in the debate opposed the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. overall.
Who supported it?
Kristy McBain MP introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.
Introduced in House 18 Oct 2023
Passed House 15 Nov 2023
Passed Senate 01 July 2024
Became law 09 July 2024
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 09 July 2024
Final passage
Passed without a counted vote
1 recorded amendment or procedural vote was found, but no counted vote on the bill itself was recorded.
Passage speed
265 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
What does this bill do?
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The law routes primary industry levy and charge money to research and marketing bodies, which must use it for activities that benefit the industries that paid.
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The Australian Government continues matching industry research spending, and the new framework removes one matching-funding cap, allows carry-over, and bases production values on the previous three years for earlier certainty.
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Levy money for animal and plant biosecurity goes to Animal Health AustraliaThe body that receives levy money for animal health and biosecurity work, including outbreak response. and Plant Health AustraliaThe body that receives levy money for plant health and biosecurity work, including outbreak response. to support health protection and outbreak response across affected industries.
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The law sets up the National Residue Survey Special AccountA special government account that holds levy money for testing food and other products for chemical residues and contaminants. so levy money can fund chemical and contaminant testing, reporting, and prevention work on food and other primary industry products.
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The minister can make funding agreements with recipient bodies, set detailed expectations outside the ActThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes., and publish those agreements for transparency.
Show source excerpts
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The Commonwealth must pay to declared recipient bodies and statutory recipient bodies amounts connected with various levies and charges collected under rules made under the Collection Act.
Primary Industries Levies and Charges Disbursement Act 2024 final Act text -
Matching funding provisions would be consolidated from the ten RDC Acts into one consistent set of provisions in the proposed Act (with separate provisions for FRDC). Changes made to the matching funding arrangements compared with the RDC Acts that would apply to most recipient bodies include the removal of the total levies limit, inclusion of an explicit carry-over provision and determination of the GVP limit based on amounts in relation to the three previous financial years rather than the current financial year and two previous financial years.
Primary Industries Levies and Charges Disbursement explanatory memorandum -
The Commonwealth must pay to Animal Health Australia and Plant Health Australia amounts connected with various levies and charges collected under rules made under the Collection Act.
Primary Industries Levies and Charges Disbursement Act 2024 final Act text -
The main purpose of the Account is making payments for purposes relating to the following activities:
Primary Industries Levies and Charges Disbursement Act 2024 final Act text -
Funding agreements provide an important mechanism for declared recipient bodies and the Commonwealth to agree on a range of governance and performance related matters to a level of detail that is not provided for in the proposed Act. Having these matters set out in detailed arrangements allows for them to be modified over time, without legislative change.
Primary Industries Levies and Charges Disbursement explanatory memorandum
Context
Broader context for this bill
Australia’s agricultural levy system had, since the 1980s, pooled producer money for research, marketing, biosecurity and residue testing, but over time it was spread across more than 50 laws covering more than 110 levies, making the rules hard to navigate and less fit for current industry needs. The 2023 bill responded by replacing disbursement rules from 13 Acts with one framework that kept money flowing to the same core purposes while updating Commonwealth matching arrangements, and it became law in July 2024.
- 1980s
Hawke-era levy system begins collective industry funding
Hansard records that the levy system has operated since the 1980s to let agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries jointly fund research, marketing, biosecurity and residue testing.
Hansard ↗ - 18 Oct 2023
Government introduces a bill to modernise levy disbursement
The minister introduced the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. as part of a package to streamline the agricultural levies framework while continuing payments for research, marketing, biosecurity and outbreak response.
Hansard ↗ - 15 Nov 2023
Parliament is told the levy laws have become unwieldy
During debate, MPs said more than 50 pieces of legislation governed over 110 levies across 75 commodities and 18 recipient bodies, making the system complex and hard to administer.
Hansard ↗ - 01 July 2024
Parliament passes the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes.
Both houses passed the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. in the same form, clearing the way for a single disbursement framework to replace older fragmented rules.
Parliamentary timeline ↗ - 09 July 2024
Royal AssentThe final step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. turns the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. into law
Royal AssentThe final step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. completed the overhaul and enacted the new framework for directing levy and charge money and Commonwealth matching payments.
Parliamentary timeline ↗
Legislative route
How did it move through Parliament?
House Senate
Introduced 18 Oct 2023
The billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
Second reading opened 18 Oct 2023
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes.'s purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Second reading debate 14 Nov 2023
The billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Sent to Federation Chamber for debate 14 Nov 2023
The billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Referred to Federation Chamber
Second reading debate 15 Nov 2023
The billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House second reading agreed 15 Nov 2023
The chamber agreed to the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. at second reading, meaning it accepted the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
Returned from Federation Chamber 15 Nov 2023
The billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Reported from Federation Chamber
House third reading agreed 15 Nov 2023
The chamber agreed to the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Introduced 16 Nov 2023
The billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
Second reading opened 16 Nov 2023
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes.'s purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee; Committee report (05/02/2024) review 16 Nov 2023
Referred to Committee (16/11/2023): Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee; Committee report (05/02/2024)
Referred to committee
APH bill page notesSenate second reading agreed 01 July 2024
The chamber agreed to the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. at second reading, meaning it accepted the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
Senate third reading agreed 01 July 2024
The chamber agreed to the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Passed both houses 01 July 2024
Both houses passed the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
Assent 09 July 2024
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe final step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament., turning the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. into an Act.
Key criticism
The main case against this bill
The main criticism was that the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. improved the levy system but still did not make it clear enough to levy payers where their money would go, leaving important detail to funding agreements and a framework some critics said remained confusing. That concern was raised mainly by Coalition speakers and in Opposition Senate amendments, but no party represented in the debate opposed the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. overall.
Criticism was limited and mostly about transparency and drafting, not the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes.’s core purpose.
Disbursement rules may be too narrow
Opposition amendments suggest a concern that the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes.’s permitted disbursements were drafted too narrowly, and should more explicitly allow spending on biosecurity activities and emergency response deeds involving Animal Health AustraliaThe body that receives levy money for animal health and biosecurity work, including outbreak response. and Plant Health AustraliaThe body that receives levy money for plant health and biosecurity work, including outbreak response..
Further sources
Votes
Recorded votes
How the bill itself passed
The bill passed both chambers on the voices. The counted divisions below were about amendments or procedure, not final passage.
Passed House passed the bill
House agreed to the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes.'s third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed
House passed the bill
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Passed Senate passed the bill
Senate agreed to the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes.'s third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed
Senate passed the bill
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Amendments at a glance
Recorded amendment and procedural votes grouped by chamber. Expand a vote to see the party breakdown.
Senate
Defeated Expand biosecurity spending powers
Defeated 28 to 34. Support came from Liberal Party, Nationals, and One Nation. Opposition came from Labor, Greens, Jacqui Lambie Network, and minor parties and independents.
Defeated
Expand biosecurity spending powers
This was a substantive committee-stage attempt to broaden how levy and charge money could be spent on biosecurity-related work. Its defeat left the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes.’s original spending framework intact before the remaining stages were agreed to.
Party Aye / No
Liberal Party 21 / 0
Nationals 5 / 0
One Nation 2 / 0
Labor 0 / 21
Greens 0 / 10
Independent 0 / 2
Jacqui Lambie Network 0 / 1
These are amendment votes, not the final passage vote on the bill itself. The bill passed both chambers on the voices.
Parliamentary debate
Who spoke, and what they said
Start here — lead voices
Sponsor speech Supports
Kristy McBain
Kristy McBain supports the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. and says it will streamline and modernise the agricultural levies framework while keeping levy funding flowing to research, biosecurity and residue testing.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead supporting voice Supports
Sam Birrell
Birrell says the National Party will support the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. because it simplifies and makes the levy system easier to use, but he wants a transparency amendment so levy payers can clearly see where the money goes.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead voice Supports
Anthony Chisholm
Anthony Chisholm supports the Primary Industries Levies and Charges Disbursement Bill 2023, saying it will keep levy and charge money flowing into research, marketing, biosecurity, and residue testing programs.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead voice Supports
Meryl Swanson
Swanson supports the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes., saying it modernises and simplifies the agricultural levies system while keeping industry and government working together on research, biosecurity and development.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
Labor
4 speakers · 5 contributions · 4 support
Labor
4 speakers · 5 contributions · 4 support
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Anthony Chisholm ★ Anthony Chisholm supports the Primary Industries Levies and Charges Disbursement Bill 2023, saying it will keep levy and charge money flowing into research, marketing, biosecurity, and residue testing programs.
“The Primary Industries Levies and Charges Disbursement Bill 2023 forms part of a package of Bills to streamline and modernise the agricultural levies legislative framework.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Meryl Swanson ★ Swanson supports the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes., saying it modernises and simplifies the agricultural levies system while keeping industry and government working together on research, biosecurity and development.
“These bills are going to provide a solid foundation for the ag levy system to grow and respond to opportunities and challenges in the future. Let's face it: nothing sums up our country and our ag system like opportunity and challenge. Our farmers face it every day. Through these levies and this bill, we are making it simpler and we are standing shoulder to shoulder with them. We are here for the challenges and we want to make sure they get every opportunity.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Shayne Neumann Neumann supports the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. as part of a broader package to modernise the agricultural levies system, saying it will replace a confusing old framework with a simpler and more flexible one while keeping existing levies and rates unchanged.
“The package of the agriculture levies bill will replace the existing framework with a more contemporary, flexible and efficient system which will better support the agricultural sector. The new framework, once enacted, will condense over 50 pieces of legislation down to five acts and associated subordinate legislation.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Kristy McBain ★ 2 contributions McBain supports the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes., saying it keeps the levy system’s key settings unchanged while giving rural research and development corporations more funding certainty under a more effective legal framework.
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Kristy McBain on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Minister's second reading speech
Kristy McBain supports the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. and says it will streamline and modernise the agricultural levies framework while keeping levy funding flowing to research, biosecurity and residue testing. She argues the changes will reduce complexity and give research and development corporations more certainty about funding.
“The bill will make small changes to matching funding to reduce complexity and increase funding certainty for research and development corporations.”
Read this contribution in Hansard ↗Second reading speech
McBain supports the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes., saying it keeps the levy system’s key settings unchanged while giving rural research and development corporations more funding certainty under a more effective legal framework. She argues it will preserve a successful industry-government partnership and should pass without amendment.
“The Australian agricultural levy system is widely supported. The key features of the levy system that make it so successful will remain the same under the new legislative framework. Levy settings will generally continue to be industry initiated and led. Key settings for existing levies such as levy rates will not change as part of bringing in this new legislation. Passage of these bills without amendment will ensure the continuation of a successful industry-government partnership under a more effective and fit-for-purpose legal framework.”
Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Coalition
2 speakers · 2 support
Coalition
2 speakers · 2 support
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Sam Birrell ★ Birrell says the National Party will support the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. because it simplifies and makes the levy system easier to use, but he wants a transparency amendment so levy payers can clearly see where the money goes.
“I commend the bill with the amendment to the House.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Michael McCormack McCormack supports the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. because he says it will help farmers by reducing paperwork and modernising the levy framework.
“The legislation was reviewed. It included targeted consultation with 70 stakeholder groups. That's important because consultation is imperative. If this is going to ultimately help our farmers, I applaud it. If this is going to mean that they have to do less paperwork, I'm all for it—and so are the opposition.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
Full record
- Act title
- Primary Industries Levies and Charges Disbursement Act 2024
- Act number
- Act No. 59, 2024
- Became law
- 09 July 2024
- Takes effect
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- Sections 1 and 2 and anything in this Act not elsewhere covered by this table 09 July 2024
- Sections 3 to 37 01 Jan 2025
- Section 38 10 July 2024
- Sections 39 to 41 01 Jan 2025
- Section 42 10 July 2024
- Sections 43 to 90 01 Jan 2025
- Registered
- 10 July 2024
- Administered by
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
- Final law metadata was collected from the APH progress table; commencement rows were parsed from the bill text.
- Status
- Act -- Collected from the APH bill page.
- Originating house
- House of Representatives
- 18 Oct 2023
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
- 18 Oct 2023
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes.'s purpose and principles.
- 14 Nov 2023
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 14 Nov 2023
House · Referred to Federation Chamber
Referred to Federation Chamber
The billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 15 Nov 2023
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 15 Nov 2023
House · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. at second reading, meaning it accepted the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. in principle and allowed it to continue.
- 15 Nov 2023
House · Reported from Federation Chamber
Reported from Federation Chamber
The billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 15 Nov 2023
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
- 16 Nov 2023
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
- 16 Nov 2023
Senate · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes.'s purpose and principles.
- 01 July 2024
Senate · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. at second reading, meaning it accepted the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. in principle and allowed it to continue.
- 01 July 2024
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
- 01 July 2024
Parliament · Finally passed both Houses
Passed both houses
Both houses passed the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
- 09 July 2024
Assent · Assent
Assent
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe final step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament., turning the billThe new law that sets the rules for where agricultural levy and charge money goes. into an Act.
Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee; Committee report (05/02/2024)
Referred to committee
Referred to Committee (16 Nov 2023): Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee; Committee report (5 Feb 2024)
APH bill page notes