Mr TRUSS (Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) (10:12 AM) —I move:

The purpose of this bill is to amend the National Residue Survey (Excise) Levy Act 1998.

The amendments to the National Residue Survey (Excise) Levy Act 1998 (the act) will raise the maximum levy rate allowable on honey for the purposes of the act from the present rate of 0.3 of a cent per kilogram to 0.6 of a cent per kilogram.

The levy recovers the cost of the honey industry's residue monitoring program that is required for market access.

The current operative rate of the National Residue Survey levy is set in the regulations at the maximum allowable rate of 0.3 of a cent per kilogram and is used for residue monitoring on honey sold in Australia.

The amendment is part of a package of strategies being put in place on behalf of the honey industry and will allow the industry scope to expand its operative rate of levy by subordinate legislation where access to further funding for residue monitoring programs may be required at short notice.

There is no plan to increase the operative rate of levy at the moment and any request to do so would only be at the behest of industry and subject to separate approval. I commend the bill to the House and present the explanatory memorandum.

Debate (on motion by Mr Snowdon) adjourned.