Summary

Part of a package of three bills in relation to rural research and development, the bill amends the:

to: remove product specific maximum levy rates for research and development and marketing levies; standardise and clarify the industry bodies to be consulted before the minister sets new or changed levies; provide that the maximum levy rate to be imposed is the rate requested by the levy payers; set the levy rate on sugar cane to 70 cents per tonne; and require the minister to take into account recommendations from the sugar industry services body on the rate of the levy on sugar cane in the absence of an industry organisation; and proposed to remove the maximum levy rate on sugar cane.