AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

MILK AUTHORITY ORDINANCE (NO. 2) 1972

No. 28 of 1972

	The principal aim of the Milk Authority Ordinance (No. 2) 1972 is to enable the Minister for the Interior to fix the wholesale and the retail price of milk in the Australian Capital Territory without the necessity of a public inquiry into the matter by the Milk Authority.  This power will be restricted for a period of twelve months from the commencement of the Ordinance.

	This amendment is necessary to maintain a stable situation in the industry pending the outcome of the Milk Authority’s inquiry into the milk industry.  The cutting of price by some Canberra stores could cause a serious disruption to the orderly distribution of milk in the Territory.

	The Secretary to the Authority will be enabled to bring a complaint or any other matter warranting an inquiry direct to the Authority without calling for representations to be made by the parties.

	The Authority will be empowered to make an order restraining the holder of a licence or permit from continuing an activity which is likely to affect adversely the holders of other licences or permits or the expectations of consumers, or is likely to disrupt the supply or distribution of milk in the Territory.  Such an order will be effective only for a period of one month after it is served or until a decision is made on the inquiry, whichever is the earlier.

	A breach of such an order will constitute a ground for the revocation of a licence or permit.

..............................
(Minister’s Initials)