Legislative requirements

As the industry’s services body, under the Dairy Produce Act 1986, Dairy Australia is responsible for making recommendations to the Minister for Agriculture,Fisheries and Forestry in relation to the amount of the Dairy Service Levy.

Under that Act, and in accordance with the associated Dairy Produce (Dairy Service Levy Poll) Regulations 2006, before making a recommendation, Dairy Australia must conduct a poll of all levy payers to determine their preferred levy rate.

Key features of the Australian Government Regulations relating to the Poll are:

• It must provide at least three, but not more than five, levy rate options
• One of the levy rate options must be a zero rate
• The voting period must be at least five weeks
• It must be overseen by an independent Returning Officer

In the upcoming poll, the ultimate recommendation must be made to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry 8 April 2012 for implementation on 1 July 2012.