AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

MEAT REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT)

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

No. 4 of 1988

The Meat Regulations (Amendment) (the proposed regulations) amended the Meat Regulations (the existing regulations) to transfer powers held by the Chairman to the General Manager of the ACT Health Authority and to provide for notification and review of decisions made by the General Manager in relation to slaughter permits.  These amendments will be made in conjunction with similar amendments of the Meat Ordinance 1931 recommended by the Senate Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances.

Regulation 1 amends regulation 4 of the existing regulations to require slaughter permits to be issued by the General Manager instead of the Chairman of the ACT Health Authority.  The office of the Chairman was abolished on 31 December 1987.

Regulation 2 amends for the same reasons existing regulation 5 to transfer powers to grant, transfer, suspend or revoke a slaughter permit from the Chairman to the General Manager.

Regulation 3 amends for the same reasons existing regulation 6 to transfer powers to approve and renew the approval of premises from which meat can be imported into the Australian Capital Territory from the Chairman to the General Manager.

Regulation 4 inserts a new regulation 7 requiring the notification of certain decisions made by the General Manager in relation to slaughter permits or approval of premises for the importation of meat into the Territory.  Such written notification is to be given to any person whose interests are affected by the decision, within 28 days after the decision is made.  The new regulation also provides that the notification is to include statements that the person may seek a written statement of the reasons for the decision pursuant to section 28 of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 and also that the person may apply for a review of the decision by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.  These requirements are the same as those recommended by the Senate Standing Committee and is the standard review provision for A.C.T. legislation.

Regulation 4 also inserts new regulation 8 which provides that application may be made to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for the review of decisions made by the General Manager under the Regulations.

Regulation 5 amends the Schedule to the existing regulations to revise the forms prescribed by the Regulations in line with the transfer of power from the Chairman to the General Manager under the amendment.