Page 1013 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 19 March 1991
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The New South Wales Government requires an annual fee for those who do not pay stock levies in New South Wales. This action will be a strong inducement for ACT stock owners to transfer registration to the ACT register. The controller of stock will maintain the necessary liaison with New South Wales authorities to ensure that ACT brands are dissimilar to those in New South Wales, thus protecting stock owners in the ACT.
Stock levies are collected by State authorities based on the carrying capacity or stock rate of the land as assessed by the local Rural Lands Protection Board. The funds collected are directed to the employment of officers such as a veterinarian, stock inspector and rabbit inspector. The Stock Bill 1991 provides for a similar scheme to operate in the ACT. A high priority objective of the Government is to develop strategies for the control of stock disease and feral animals. Typically, this involves action to eradicate footrot and sheep lice infestations, control of rabbits and prevention of stock theft.
Under the current legislation, the stock rate is established within the ACT. Variation of the stock rate to account for influences such as inflation requires an amendment to the legislation. The Stock Bill 1991 provides for the controller of stock to establish a rate each year consistent with the rates applying in nearby areas of New South Wales, and I think that is very important. We are an island surrounded by New South Wales, and it is very important that we have legislation in this area consistent with that in New South Wales. This provision of the proposed legislation will reduce administration costs and repeated representations to this Assembly requesting changes in the stock rate.
In summary, the proposed changes in procedure for the registration of stock brands and flexibility and variation of stock rates will streamline the administrative procedures of the Parks and Conservation Bureau and provide consistency with nearby areas of New South Wales. There is also no doubt that stock returns based on the financial year rather than the calendar year are preferred by the rural community. Much of their other paperwork is on a financial year basis, so why not stock returns? This Bill will allow that to happen.
I commend the Bill to the Assembly. Rural production in the ACT makes a very significant contribution to our economic base, and I am pleased to see this Bill before the Assembly today.
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