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Primary Industries (Services) Levies

Current status

This bill became law on Jul 9th, 2024.

Policy area

Industry, agriculture & resources

What does this bill do?

Australia can now impose levies on paid services that help produce farm, fisheries and forestry products, including services like commercial bee pollinationA paid service where bees are brought in to pollinate crops or orchards, and it is one example of a service that can be levied under the bill. for crops and orchards.

Why was it introduced?

Over time, more than 50 levy laws became complex, duplicative and inconsistent, and the old framework did not meet industries’ future needs. This bill creates a simpler, more flexible levy system by letting regulationsRules made under the Act that will set the levy rate, exemptions and other operating details instead of fixing them in the law itself. impose levies on services like commercial bee pollinationA paid service where bees are brought in to pollinate crops or orchards, and it is one example of a service that can be levied under the bill. and set consistent rules for rates, exemptions and consultation.

Broader context

Australia’s farm, fisheries and forestry levy system had funded shared priorities such as research, marketing, biosecurity and residue testing since the 1980s, but by 2023 it was spread across dozens of laws and more than 110 levies, leaving the framework complex, duplicative and less able to cover newer paid services. The bill responded by creating a simpler services-levy structure, including for activities such as commercial bee pollinationA paid service where bees are brought in to pollinate crops or orchards, and it is one example of a service that can be levied under the bill., and Parliament passed it in July 2024 before Royal Assent turned it into law.

Key criticism

The main criticism was not of the bill’s overall goal but of how clearly future service levies would be set, applied and explained, given important details would be left to regulationsRules made under the Act that will set the levy rate, exemptions and other operating details instead of fixing them in the law itself.. That concern was raised mainly by the Coalition, which still supported the bill while seeking amendments to make levy arrangements and permitted spending clearer.

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

Official record

View on APH

Parliament of Australia bill page

Meaning

What does this bill do?

  1. Australia can now impose levies on paid services that help produce farm, fisheries and forestry products, including services like commercial bee pollinationA paid service where bees are brought in to pollinate crops or orchards, and it is one example of a service that can be levied under the bill. for crops and orchards.

  2. RegulationsRules made under the Act that will set the levy rate, exemptions and other operating details instead of fixing them in the law itself. can stack more than one services levy onto the same service, not just onto different services.

  3. RegulationsRules made under the Act that will set the levy rate, exemptions and other operating details instead of fixing them in the law itself. can exempt some services or providers from a levy, so not every service covered by the law must be charged.

  4. RegulationsRules made under the Act that will set the levy rate, exemptions and other operating details instead of fixing them in the law itself. will decide how much a services levy costs rather than locking a rate into the Act itself.

  5. Industry polling must happen before a nominated body recommends certain levy changes, and the recommendation has to follow the poll result.

Show source excerpts
  1. enable the regulations to impose levies on services that facilitate the production of products that are produce of a primary industry. For example, the Primary Industries (Services) Levies Bill 2023 could enable a levy to be imposed on bee pollination services provided on a commercial basis to pollinate orchards and crops.
    Primary Industries (Services) Levies explanatory memorandum
  2. This Part does not prevent the imposition of 2 or more levies, whether in relation to the same service or in relation to different services.
    Primary Industries (Services) Levies as-passed bill text
  3. The regulations may provide for exemptions from a levy under this Part.
    Primary Industries (Services) Levies as-passed bill text
  4. The rate of a levy is worked out in accordance with the regulations.
    Primary Industries (Services) Levies as-passed bill text
  5. (9) A nominated polling body must, before making a recommendation referred to in paragraph (7)(a) or (b), ensure a poll is conducted in accordance with the requirements specified under subsection (10). The recommendation must be in accordance with the results of the poll.
    Primary Industries (Services) Levies as-passed bill text

Context

Broader context for this bill

Australia’s farm, fisheries and forestry levy system had funded shared priorities such as research, marketing, biosecurity and residue testing since the 1980s, but by 2023 it was spread across dozens of laws and more than 110 levies, leaving the framework complex, duplicative and less able to cover newer paid services. The bill responded by creating a simpler services-levy structure, including for activities such as commercial bee pollinationA paid service where bees are brought in to pollinate crops or orchards, and it is one example of a service that can be levied under the bill., and Parliament passed it in July 2024 before Royal Assent turned it into law.

  1. 1980s

    Australia establishes the primary industriesThe farming, fisheries and forestry sectors that the levy system is designed to support. levy system

    Industry and government began using statutory levies to fund shared priorities including research and development, marketing, biosecurity and residue testing.

    Hansard ↗
  2. 18 Oct 2023

    Government introduces a bill to allow levies on paid services

    The bill was introduced as part of a package to modernise levy law and allow a simpler, more flexible framework including levies on services such as commercial bee pollinationA paid service where bees are brought in to pollinate crops or orchards, and it is one example of a service that can be levied under the bill..

    Parliamentary timeline ↗
  3. 15 Nov 2023

    Parliament hears the levy framework had become complex and fragmented

    Speakers said the system now spanned more than 110 levies across over 75 commodities and 18 bodies, while the explanatory material said more than 50 levy laws had become complex, duplicative and inconsistent.

    Hansard ↗
  4. 01 July 2024

    Parliament passes the bill

    Both houses passed the bill in the same form, clearing the way for the new services-levy framework to be enacted.

    Parliamentary timeline ↗
  5. 09 July 2024

    Royal Assent turns the bill into law

    Royal Assent completed the overhaul by making the Primary IndustriesThe farming, fisheries and forestry sectors that the levy system is designed to support. (Services) Levies Act part of the new streamlined levy legislation.

    Parliamentary timeline ↗

Legislative route

How did it move through Parliament?

House Senate
Introduced 18 Oct 2023

The bill 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 bill's purpose and principles.

Second reading moved

Second reading debate 14 Nov 2023

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.

Sent to Federation Chamber for debate 14 Nov 2023

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.

Referred to Federation Chamber

Second reading debate 15 Nov 2023

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.

House second reading agreed 15 Nov 2023

The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.

Second reading agreed to

Consideration in detail 15 Nov 2023

The chamber considered the bill in detail and dealt with amendments before the next stage.

Consideration in detail debate

Returned from Federation Chamber 15 Nov 2023

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.

Reported from Federation Chamber

Consideration in detail 15 Nov 2023

The chamber considered the bill in detail and dealt with amendments before the next stage.

Consideration in detail debate

House third reading agreed 15 Nov 2023

The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.

Third reading agreed to

Introduced 16 Nov 2023

The bill 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 bill'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 notes
Senate second reading agreed 01 July 2024

The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.

Second reading agreed to

Senate third reading agreed 01 July 2024

The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.

Third reading agreed to

Passed both houses 01 July 2024

Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.

Finally passed both Houses

Assent 09 July 2024

The Governor-General gave Royal Assent, turning the bill into an Act.

Key criticism

The main case against this bill

The main criticism was not of the bill’s overall goal but of how clearly future service levies would be set, applied and explained, given important details would be left to regulationsRules made under the Act that will set the levy rate, exemptions and other operating details instead of fixing them in the law itself.. That concern was raised mainly by the Coalition, which still supported the bill while seeking amendments to make levy arrangements and permitted spending clearer.

No party represented in the debate opposed the bill, and criticism stayed limited to transparency and drafting safeguards.

Too much left to regulations

The strongest reservation was that key levy details, including how new service levies operate and how clearly related arrangements are disclosed, would be decided later through regulationsRules made under the Act that will set the levy rate, exemptions and other operating details instead of fixing them in the law itself. rather than spelled out in the Act. Critics worried that without clearer rules and transparency, affected industries could face uncertainty about how charges are structured and administered.

Raised by Coalition speakers, especially David Littleproud Source ↗

Further sources

parlinfo.aph.gov.au ↗

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 bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.

15 Nov 2023

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 bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.

01 July 2024

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

Broaden levy spending for biosecurity

Aye 28 No 34

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.

01 July 2024

This would have widened the bill’s permitted spending scope to cover specified biosecurity-related activities and response deeds, but the Senate rejected the change.

Party Recorded votes 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

Australian Labor Party • MP 18 Oct 2023

McBain supports the bill as part of a package to streamline and modernise the agricultural levies framework.

Read in Hansard ↗
Lead supporting voice Supports

David Littleproud

National Party • MP 14 Nov 2023

Littleproud says the coalition will support the bill because it modernises the levy system and adds useful flexibility, including the ability to levy certain agricultural services.

Read in Hansard ↗
Lead voice Supports

Anthony Chisholm

Australian Labor Party • Senator 16 Nov 2023

Chisholm supports the Primary Industries (Services) Levies Bill 2023The bill that lets the government create levies on paid services that support primary industries, such as bee pollination. because he says it will streamline and modernise the agricultural levies framework and create a more effective, efficient system for the future.

Read in Hansard ↗
Lead voice Supports

Meryl Swanson

Australian Labor Party • MP 15 Nov 2023

Swanson supports the bill, saying it modernises and simplifies the agricultural levy system, cuts red tape and keeps industry and government working together to fund research and development.

Read in Hansard ↗

All speeches by bloc

Labor

4 speakers · 5 contributions · 4 support

  1. Anthony Chisholm ★ Chisholm supports the Primary Industries (Services) Levies Bill 2023The bill that lets the government create levies on paid services that support primary industries, such as bee pollination. because he says it will streamline and modernise the agricultural levies framework and create a more effective, efficient system for the future.
    “The Primary Industries (Services) Levies Bill 2023 is part of a package of Bills that will streamline and modernise the agricultural levies legislative framework.”

    Australian Labor Party • Senator • 16 Nov 2023

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  2. Meryl Swanson ★ Swanson supports the bill, saying it modernises and simplifies the agricultural levy system, cuts red tape and keeps industry and government working together to fund research and development.
    “I think the nub of these changes, in terms of levies for agriculture, is that we are going to be condensing over 50 pieces of legislation—50!—down to five bills and subordinate legislation to create this new structure. 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.”

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 15 Nov 2023

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  3. Shayne Neumann Shayne Neumann supports the bill, saying it modernises and simplifies the agricultural levies framework while keeping the existing levy settings and industry-led principles in place.
    “Together, these bills establish a new legislative framework, providing a more effective and efficient system, and I commend the legislation to the chamber.”

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 15 Nov 2023

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  4. Kristy McBain ★ 2 contributions McBain supports the bill as part of a package to streamline and modernise the agricultural levies framework.

    Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Kristy McBain on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.

    Second reading speech Australian Labor Party • MP • 18 Oct 2023

    McBain supports the bill as part of a package to streamline and modernise the agricultural levies framework. She says it will help create a more effective and efficient levy system for agriculture, fisheries and forestry.

    “The Primary Industries (Services) Levies Bill 2023 is part of a package of bills that will streamline and modernise the agricultural levies legislative framework.”
    Read this contribution in Hansard ↗

    Second reading speech Australian Labor Party • MP • 15 Nov 2023

    McBain supports the bill, saying it modernises and simplifies the levy system without changing key existing settings. She argues the new framework will keep the industry-led partnership intact while making levy administration more effective and responsive.

    “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

  1. David Littleproud ★ Littleproud says the coalition will support the bill because it modernises the levy system and adds useful flexibility, including the ability to levy certain agricultural services.
    “Also contained in this legislation are some additional changes to Australia's levy system. This includes streamlining the ministerial process for specifying particular industry bodies, making it easier to adapt as names change, bodies merge or new bodies are established. Making other regulations and instruments will also be allowed, which will foster flexibility and deliver arrangements that are tailored to suit the agricultural industry needs. Meanwhile the maximum charge rate will be removed—a move which the government explanatory memorandum says has the support of industry stakeholders. Overall, the federal coalition believes that these measures are practical and will help make the levy system more efficient, more logical and more orderly. However, it's important to recognise that there are further improvements which should be made to these imposition bills so that the transparency of Australia's agricultural levy system is maintained and protected.”

    National Party • MP • 14 Nov 2023

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  2. Michael McCormack McCormack supports the bill, saying the opposition backs modernising the levy framework because it should cut paperwork for farmers and make the system more business friendly.
    “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.”

    National Party • MP • 15 Nov 2023

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗

Record

Full record

Full chat