Notification for rate of levy for the 2023-24 levy year

Notification of the American Foulbrood Beekeeper Levy for 2023/24 to remain the same

Pursuant to clause 12 of the Biosecurity (American Foulbrood – Beekeeper Levy) Order 2003, notice is herby given that for the 2023/24 levy year, the rates of the beekeeper and colony levies (exclusive of GST) and the basis of calculation will be:

  • $40 per beekeeper for the base levy; plus
  • $1.70 per colony owned by the beekeeper as at 31 March 2023.
The Management Agency response to submissions on proposal to set the American Foulbrood Beekeeper Levy for 2023/24 at $40 per beekeeper and $1.70 per colony

The Management Agency considered the cost of the levy to levy payers, the value of taking additional time to bed-in recent improvements to the implementation of the National American Foulbrood Pest Management Plan (AFB PMP) and the current review of the AFB PMP when proposing the rate of levy.

Nineteen submissions were received. The Management Agency would like to thank submitters for their feedback on the proposed budget for 2023/24.

Agency decisions

Having considered the submissions, The Management Agency has decided to set that rate of levy for 2022/23 at $40 ($46 including GST) per beekeeper and $1.70 ($1.96 including GST) per colony.

The reasons for this decision are:

  • 95% of submitters agreed that the rate of levy for 2023/24 should remain the same and 5% of submitters disagreed.
  • The Management Agency recognises the challenging economic environment for many beekeepers.
  • The Management Agency also recognises the increased AFB risks associated with the challenging economic environment and increasing levels of abandoned beehives. We consider the notified rate of levy will provide sufficient funding to enable The Management Agency to continue to respond to the increased AFB risk.

The analysis of submissions can be found in the documents here:

2023/24 Budget Consultation Findings Report

Levy proposal documents

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