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Commonwealth act
This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.
This Act creates a government bounty (a payment from the Commonwealth) for the production in Australia of certain machine tools, robots and related equipment (referred to in the Act as "bountiable equipment") (see section 16). It specifies which items qualify, how the payment is calculated, who may claim it, and how the scheme is administered.
What qualifies: the Act defines detailed classes of "bountiable equipment A" and "bountiable equipment B" (computer controlled machines, numerically controlled machines, robotic machines, controllers, parts and system equipment, and defined classes of goods). Those definitions are long and refer to tariff headings and Ministerial declarations (see section 4 and section 6).
Registration: a person who produces the equipment must apply to have the premises registered; many eligibility rules depend on production occurring at registered premises (see section 28 and eligibility conditions in section 16).
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Direct links to the current provisions in Bounty (Machine Tools and Robots) Act 1985.
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Eligibility tests: a producer is eligible only if specified conditions are met, notably: the last substantial process was carried out at registered premises, manufacture/modification was completed during the bounty period (1 July 1985 to 30 June 1997) and the producer’s "value added" in the manufacture/modification is at least 20% of factory cost (see section 16(4), (8)). Certain sales/disposal conditions must be met for the equipment to qualify (see section 16(5)–(6), (8)(e)–(f)). Some items are explicitly excluded (for example hand‑held equipment, government bodies; see section 16(9)–(11)).
How the payment is calculated: the bounty is a percentage of the producer’s "value added" to the equipment. The Act sets formulas for "value added" (manufacture in section 10; modification in section 11) and defines "factory cost" and what is included or excluded from it (section 12). The percentage paid varies by equipment type and by year — the Act sets default percentages and a timetable, and also allows the Minister to declare alternative percentages (section 17 and section 8).
Claims and timing: producers lodge formal claims on approved forms within time limits (typically within 12 months after the sale/disposal condition is satisfied) (see section 21). Producers must also furnish annual returns of costs (section 24) and may be required to supply an accountant’s certificate (section 24(3)).
Advances and repayments: the CEO may make advances on account of bounty on terms decided by the CEO (section 20). Where advances or payments exceed the amount actually payable, the recipient must repay the excess; the Commonwealth can recover repayments as a debt (sections 20 and 27).
Administration and enforcement: the CEO may examine and determine factory costs where records cannot be verified or appear incorrect (section 13). The CEO and authorised officers have inspection powers (section 32), can compel attendance and production of documents (section 33) and examine witnesses on oath (section 34). Criminal provisions and penalties apply for various breaches; Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code applies to offences under this Act (section 15A), certain procedural offences carry monetary penalties (for example sections 23, 24, 29), and courts may order repayment of bounty obtained by offence (section 37).
Discretion to change scope and amounts: the Minister may, by Gazette notice, declare classes of machines or parts to be included or excluded and may substitute alternative definitions or alter prescribed percentages within limits the Act sets out (sections 6, 7, 8). Changes to the Customs Tariff Act can also alter which goods are bountiable by reference to tariff headings (section 5).
Funding and limits: payments are made only from money appropriated by Parliament (section 42). The CEO may defer payments or prioritise payments in a financial year if the CEO forms the opinion there are insufficient funds for all valid claims (section 18).
This summary describes the law’s mechanical rules: who may claim, how payments are calculated, what records and processes are required, what administrative powers are available, and the statutory levers (tariff headings and Ministerial notices) that can alter coverage or amounts. All page and section references above are to the provisions of the Act as set out in the text provided.