House of Representatives

Explanatory Memorandum

(Circulated by the authority of the Treasurer, the Hon Wayne Swan MP)

Chapter 1 - Crude Oil Excise: Condensate

Outline of chapter

1.1 The Excise Tariff Amendment (Condensate) Bill 2008 (Excise Tariff Bill) amends the Excise Tariff Act 1921 to apply the Crude Oil Excise regime to condensate produced in the North West Shelf project area and onshore Australia. This has the effect of removing the current exemption of condensate from the Crude Oil Excise regime.

1.2 The Excise Legislation Amendment (Condensate) Bill 2008 (Excise Legislation Bill) amends the Excise Act 1901 , the Petroleum Excise (Prices) Act 1987 , and the Petroleum Revenue Act 1985 to facilitate this policy change.

1.3 All the references to legislative provisions in this chapter are references to the Excise Tariff Act 1921 unless otherwise stated.

Context of amendments

1.4 The Crude Oil Excise is set as a percentage of the value of stabilised crude petroleum oil produced from prescribed petroleum fields located in the North West Shelf project area (situated off the coast of Western Australia) and onshore Australia. The first 4,767.3 megalitres (or 30 million barrels) of stabilised crude petroleum oil produced from a petroleum field is exempt from Crude Oil Excise.

1.5 Once the producing field exceeds this threshold, the Crude Oil Excise rates apply to each annual production tranche. The rates applied to each annual production tranche depend on whether the petroleum field was discovered before, or on or after 18 September 1975. The top Crude Oil Excise rate (which applies once production reaches around 3.8 million barrels in a year) is 55 per cent in the case of petroleum discoveries prior to 18 September 1975 (called 'old oil'), and is 30 per cent (once production reaches around 5 million barrels in a year) in the case of petroleum discoveries on or after 18 September 1975 (called 'new oil'). The top Crude Oil Excise rate (which applies once production reaches around 3.8 million barrels in a year) is also 55 per cent in the case of those petroleum discoveries made prior to 18 September 1975 but that remained undeveloped as at 23 October 1984 (called 'intermediate oil')

1.6 Production of condensate has been exempt from the Crude Oil Excise since 1977. The measure being implemented by these two Bills removes this exemption and introduces a new Crude Oil Excise regime which is applied to the production of condensate from petroleum fields located in the North West Shelf project area and onshore Australia. This measure increases the return to the Australian community for allowing private interests to extract non-renewable energy resources located in the North West Shelf project area and onshore Australia. Petroleum projects located offshore other than in the North West Shelf project area are not affected by the policy change because they are subject to the petroleum resources rent tax.

Summary of new law

1.7 The Excise Tariff Bill amends the Excise Tariff Act 1901 to remove the exemption of production of condensate from the Crude Oil Excise. It also introduces a new Crude Oil Excise regime for production of condensate which is equivalent to the regime applied to stabilised crude petroleum oil produced from petroleum fields discovered on or after 18 September 1975. As a result, the Crude Oil Excise rates applied to production of condensate are:

•

zero for annual production of 500 megalitres (around 3.1 million barrels) or less;

•

ten per cent for annual production between 501 (around 3.1 million barrels) and 600 megalitres (around 3.8 million barrels);

•

fifteen per cent for annual production between 601 (around 3.8 million barrels) and 700 megalitres (around 4.4 million barrels);

•

twenty per cent for annual production between 701 (around 4.4 million barrels) and 800 megalitres (around 5 million barrels); and

•

thirty per cent for annual production over 800 megalitres (around 5 million barrels).

1.8 The Excise Tariff Bill also makes amendments to ensure that production of condensate prior to the application of the Excise Tariff Bill (which is after midnight (by legal time in the Australian Capital Territory) on 13 May 2008) contributes to meeting the 4,767.3 megalitres (30 million barrels) threshold before the Crude Oil Excise becomes payable.

1.9 The Excise Legislation Bill amends the Excise Act 1901 , the Petroleum Excise (Prices) Act 1987 , and the Petroleum Revenue Act 1985 . These Acts are required to be read with the Excise Tariff Act 1921 . The amendments made to the Petroleum Excise (Prices) Act 1987 ensure the method for determining the price of condensate for calculating the Crude Oil Excise payable in relation to the production of condensate is the same as the method for determining the price of stabilised crude petroleum oil. The amendments to the Excise Act 1901 and the Petroleum Revenue Act 1985 ensure consistency of the treatment of condensate with stabilised crude petroleum oil for the purposes of the Crude Oil Excise.

Comparison of key features of new law and current law

Detailed explanation of new law

Threshold for exempt condensate

1.10 The Excise Tariff Bill repeals the current definition of 'exempt offshore oil' and inserts a new definition of 'exempt offshore oil and condensate'. The effect of the amendment is that in the case where a petroleum field located offshore produces stabilised crude petroleum oil and condensate, both products contribute towards meeting the first 4,767.3 megalitres of cumulative production for that field. In the case where a petroleum field located offshore produces either stabilised crude petroleum oil or condensate (but not both), the product produced by the field contributes towards meeting the first 4,767.3 megalitres of cumulative production for that field. [ Schedule 1, items 3 and 4, subsection 3(1) of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 ]

1.11 The other feature included in the current definition of 'exempt offshore oil' is that if stabilised crude petroleum oil is produced from a petroleum field located offshore before 1 July 1987, this stabilised crude petroleum oil cannot be exempt offshore oil for the purposes of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 . This feature has been extended to condensate in the definition of 'exempt offshore oil and condensate'. [ Schedule 1, item 4, subsection 3(1) of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 ]

1.12 The Excise Tariff Bill repeals the current definition of 'pre-threshold onshore oil' and inserts a new definition of 'pre-threshold onshore oil and condensate'. The effect of the amendment is that in the case where a petroleum field located onshore produces stabilised crude petroleum oil and condensate, both products contribute towards meeting the first 4,767.3 megalitres of cumulative production for that field. In the case where a petroleum field located onshore produces either stabilised crude petroleum oil or condensate (but not both), the product produced by the field contributes towards meeting the first 4,767.3 megalitres of cumulative production threshold for that field. [ Schedule 1, items 11 and 12, subsection 3(1) of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 ]

1.13 The other element included in the current definition of 'pre-threshold onshore oil' is that only production after 30 June 1987 of stabilised crude petroleum oil for a petroleum field located onshore is included as 'pre-threshold onshore oil'. This aspect is extended to condensate in the definition of 'pre-threshold onshore oil and condensate'. [ Schedule 1, item 12, subsection 3(1) of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 ]

1.14 Production of condensate from petroleum fields located onshore and offshore prior to the application time, which is after midnight (by legal time in the Australian Capital Territory) on 13 May 2008, as well as after the application time, contributes to meeting the 4,767.3 megalitres cumulative production threshold. Because the definitions of 'exempt offshore oil' and 'pre-threshold onshore oil' have been replaced with the definitions 'exempt offshore oil and condensate' and 'pre-threshold onshore oil and condensate' respectively, this condition also applies to stabilised crude petroleum oil (as is currently the case). [ Schedule 1, item 31 sections 3 to 6 of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 ]

Volume weighted average realised price for condensate

1.15 The volume weighted average realised price (known as the VOLWARE price) is the price determined each month for stabilised crude petroleum oil which has been entered for home consumption, where these products are produced from prescribed production areas. The price is determined by dividing the sum of all transaction prices received for sales of excisable stabilised crude petroleum oil by the total quantity of the respective products for that month. In determining the VOLWARE price, the prevailing exchange rates and interest rates are relevant to the calculation as these affect the price actually realised by the producer on a free-on-board contract basis. The same approach will be used to determine the VOLWARE price for condensate.

1.16 In this context, the Excise Tariff Bill makes a number of amendments to sections 6AB and 6AC of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 . These sections apply the interim and final VOLWARE price for stabilised crude petroleum oil produced from a prescribed production area in working out the excise duty on old, intermediate and new oil. The VOLWARE prices are set under the Petroleum Excise (Prices) Act 1987 .

1.17 These amendments insert into sections 6AB and 6AC of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 references to condensate, and to section 6CA, which is inserted into the Excise Tariff Act 1921 by the Excise Tariff Bill. This has the effect of applying the interim and final VOLWARE price to be set for condensate produced from a prescribed condensate production area in working out the excise duty on the condensate. [ Schedule 1, items 25 and 27, sections 6AB, 6AC and 6CA of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 ]

1.18 The Excise Legislation Bill also makes a number of amendments to the Petroleum Excise (Prices) Act 1987 . This Act deals with setting the VOLWARE prices including, inter alia, obtaining relevant information from oil producers.

1.19 The Excise Legislation Bill inserts into the Petroleum Excise (Prices) Act 1987 a new definition of 'excisable condensate', which means condensate which is subject to excise duty. This definition mirrors the current definition of 'excisable crude petroleum oil'. [ Schedule 1, item 5, subsection 4(1) of the Petroleum Excise (Prices) Act 1987 ]

1.20 Further, the Excise Legislation Bill inserts Part IA into the Petroleum Excise (Prices) Act 1987 . The new Part extends that Act to enable interim and final VOLWARE prices to be set for condensate. It does so by treating references in that Act and the Petroleum Excise (Prices) Regulations 1988 to 'excisable crude petroleum oil' as references to excisable condensate, and references to 'stabilised crude petroleum oil', 'crude petroleum oil' and 'oil' as references to condensate. These amendments do not affect how the rest of the Act applies to excisable crude petroleum oil itself. [ Schedule 1, item 7, subsection 5(1) and subsections 5A(1) to (3) of the Petroleum Excise (Prices) Act 1987 ]

1.21 The new Part includes subsection 5A(4), which ensures that the Part does not affect the operation of references in the Excise Act 1901 and the Excise Tariff Act 1921 to oil, crude petroleum oil, excisable crude petroleum oil or stabilised crude petroleum oil. But for subsection 5A(4), the use of those terms in those Acts might have been affected, because section 3 of the Petroleum Excise (Prices) Act 1987 provides that those Acts are incorporated and read as one with the Petroleum Excise (Prices) Act 1987 , and section 2 of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 provides that Acts that include the Petroleum Excise (Prices) Act 1987 are to be read as one with the Excise Tariff Act 1921 .

1.22 Subsection 5A(4) is needed because the Excise Legislation Bill already makes the necessary amendments of the Excise Act 1901 and the Excise Tariff Act 1921 . For example, the Excise Tariff Bill amends the definition of an 'oil producing region' in the Excise Tariff Act 1921 to ensure that the term covers production areas which produce condensate (as well as those that produce stabilised crude petroleum oil). [ Schedule 1, item 6, subsection 3(1) of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 ]

1.23 The Excise Legislation Bill allows regulations made for the purposes of the Petroleum Excise (Prices) Act 1987 and the Excise Act 1901 in relation to condensate to take effect from a date before the regulations are registered under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 . However, the Excise Legislation Bill will not allow the making of regulations that apply retrospectively to make a person liable to an offence or civil penalty [ Schedule 1, item 3, section 164 of the Excise Act 1901, and item 6, subsection 4(1B) of the Petroleum Excise (Prices) Act 1987 ]. Subsection 12(3) of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 allows regulations to apply retrospectively if the enabling legislation so provides.

1.24 The Petroleum Excise (Prices) Regulations 1988 set out the mechanics and the precise information used to undertake the calculation of the VOLWARE price for stabilised crude petroleum oil. These regulations will be amended so the same approach is used to calculate the VOLWARE price for condensate as is used to calculate the VOLWARE price for stabilised crude petroleum oil.

1.25 The Excise Regulations 1925 deal with administrative issues such as remissions, rebates and refunds of excise duty. These regulations will requirement amendment so that they cover payments of excise on condensate.

1.26 The amendments to the Petroleum Excise (Prices) Regulations 1988 and the Excise Regulations 1925 are expected to be tabled in Parliament during the Winter 2008 sittings.

Duties of excise on condensate

1.27 The Excise Tariff Bill inserts section 6CA into the Excise Tariff Act 1921 . Section 6CA sets the rates of excise imposed on condensate produced from a prescribed condensate production area, which could be a petroleum field located in the North West Shelf project area or onshore Australia. It follows the same approach as section 6B (which sets the rates of excise duty on stabilised crude petroleum produced from fields discovered before 18 September 1975), section 6C (which sets the rates of excise duty on stabilised crude petroleum produced from fields discovered on or after 18 September 1975) and section 6D (which sets the rates of excise duty on stabilised crude petroleum produced from fields discovered before 18 September 1975 but which remained undeveloped as at 23 October 1984). [ Schedule 1, item 27, section 6CA of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 ]

1.28 The rates of excise duty applicable to condensate are the same as the rates of duty applicable to stabilised crude petroleum oil produced from fields discovered on or after 18 September 1975. These rates are:

•

zero for annual production of 500 megalitres (around 3.1 million barrels) or less;

•

ten per cent for annual production between 501 (around 3.1 million barrels) and 600 megalitres (around 3.8 million barrels);

•

fifteen per cent for annual production between 601 (around 3.8 million barrels) and 700 megalitres (around 4.4 million barrels);

•

twenty per cent for annual production between 701 (around 4.4 million barrels) and 800 megalitres (around 5 million barrels); and

•

thirty per cent for annual production over 800 megalitres (around 5 million barrels).

[ Schedule 1, item 27, subsections 6CA(5) and (10) of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 ]

1.29 Section 6CA also establishes a framework for calculating the excise duty payable on production of condensate in a particular month. In particular, section 6CA provides the mechanism for determining the amount of duty payable taking account of the volumes of condensate produced from a prescribed condensate production area for a particular month. It also provides the mechanism for adjusting previous duty paid once the final VOLWARE price is determined. [ Schedule 1, item 27, subsections 6CA(1) to (4 ), ( 6) to (9) and (11) to (14) of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 ]

1.30 The Excise Tariff Bill allows a 'condensate production area' to be prescribed in by-laws. The Excise Tariff Bill also allows these by-laws to take effect from a date before the by-laws are registered under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 [ Schedule 1, item 27, subsections 6CA(1) and (13) of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 ]. Subsection 12(3) of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 allows by-laws to apply retrospectively if the enabling legislation provides the power to do so.

1.31 The by-laws prescribing a 'condensate production area' are required to be in place in order to specify the petroleum field producing condensate. This enables condensate produced from a petroleum field to utilise the first 4,767.3 megalitres of cumulative production. It may also facilitate the payment of excise on the production of condensate which is produced and entered home consumption after midnight (by legal time in the Australian Capital Territory) on 13 May 2008.

1.32 Consequential amendments are made to paragraphs 6B(5B)(a) and (5C)(a), 6C(5A)(a) and (5B)(a), and 6D(5A)(a) and (5B)(a) of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 , which deal with stabilised crude petroleum oil, to ensure that the VOLWARE price is the price applicable to stabilised crude petroleum oil [ Schedule 1, item 26, paragraphs 6B(5B )( a) and (5C )( a ), 6C(5A )( a) and (5B )( a ), and item 28, paragraphs 6D(5A )( a) and (5B )( a) of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 ]. In addition, the definition of 'prescribed source' in subsection 3(1), as well as subsections 3(3) and 6E(2) of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 are amended to include a reference to the new section 6CA of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 [ Schedule 1, item 8, subsection 3(1 ), item 14, subsection 3(3) and item 29, subsection 6E(2) of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 ].

1.33 The Excise Legislation Bill makes an amendment to subsection (1G) of the Petroleum Excise (Prices) Act 1987 by adding a reference to section 6CA which is inserted into the Excise Tariff Act 1921 , together with a note cross referencing subsection 6CA(5), which specifies, inter alia, the minimum volume of condensate to which notional duty becomes payable. [ Schedule 1, items 8 to 10, subsection 6(1G) of the Petroleum Excise (Prices) Act 1987 ]

Duties applied to mixtures of stabilised crude petroleum oil and condensate

1.34 The Excise Tariff Bill amends section 5B of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 . Subsection 5B(2) specifies that where two or more kinds of petroleum are mixed together (such as stabilised crude petroleum oil and condensate), the principal character of the mixture determines how the mixture is treated for Crude Oil Excise purposes. However, this outcome in subsection 5B(2) is subject to two constraints. The first constraint is where there is a mixture of stabilised crude petroleum oil and a petroleum product other than condensate, which is deemed to be stabilised crude petroleum oil. The second constraint is where there is a mixture of condensate and a petroleum product other than stabilised crude petroleum oil, which is deemed to be condensate. [ Schedule 1, items 17 to 20, subsections 5B(2 ), ( 3) and (3A) of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 ]

1.35 As a result of these amendments, condensate produced from one well and mixed with stabilised oil from another well is no longer excise free. In other words, the Excise Tariff Bill repeals the current subsection 5B(3A) of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 .

Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act 1921

1.36 The Excise Tariff Bill repeals and replaces Item 21 of the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act 1921 . This Item deals with that rate of excise duty imposed on the production of condensate from particular areas subject to excise. [ Schedule 1, item 30, Item 21 of the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act 1921 ]

1.37 The effect of the new Item 21 is to impose a rate of excise duty on condensate as set out in section 6CA which is inserted into the Excise Tariff Act 1921 by the Excise Tariff Bill. It also ensures that 'exempt offshore condensate' (which is condensate falling with the first 4,767.3 megalitres of cumulative production for a petroleum field located offshore) and 'pre-threshold onshore condensate' (which is condensate falling with the first 4,767.3 megalitres of cumulative production for a petroleum field located onshore) is excise free. Production of condensate from an area subject to the petroleum resource rent tax or a prescribed source (such as the Barrow Island petroleum field) continues to be excise free. Further, Item 21.1 ensures that condensate as prescribed in the by-laws is excise free. By-laws will be made under Item 21.1 to cover condensate used in the operation of extracting condensate. There is corresponding exemption for stabilised crude petroleum oil.

1.38 A consequential amendment is made by replacing the definition of 'exempt offshore oil' in section 3 of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 . This term now means stabilised crude petroleum oil falling within the first 4,767.3 megalitres of cumulative production for a petroleum field located offshore. The term is used in Item 20 of the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act 1921 . It has the effect of ensuring that 'exempt offshore oil' is excise free (as is currently the case). [ Schedule 1, item 3, subsection 3(1) of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 ]

1.39 Similarly, the definition 'pre-threshold onshore oil' in section 3 of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 is replaced. This term means stabilised crude petroleum oil falling within the first 4,767.3 megalitres of cumulative production for a petroleum field located onshore. The term is used in Item 20 of the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act 1921 . It has the effect of ensuring that 'pre-threshold onshore oil' is excise free (as is currently the case). [ Schedule 1, item 11, subsection 3(1) of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 ]

Other amendments

1.40 A number of consequential amendments are made including the following:

•

The term 'condensate' is added to the definition of 'delayed-entry oil' so that delayed-entry condensate is treated the same as delayed-entry oil [ Schedule 1, item 1, subsection 3(1) of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 ].

•

The term 'condensate' is added to the definitions of 'installation' and 'platform' in the Excise Tariff Act 1921 . The definition of 'platform' is used in the definition of 'installation' which is in turn used in the definition of a 'place outside Australia'. The definition of a 'place outside Australia' is relevant in the control of excisable goods (see section 4A of the Excise Act 1901 ) [ Schedule 1, items 5 and 7, subsection 3(1) of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 ].

•

The term 'condensate' is added to the definition of 'relevant accumulation' which is used in the context of the definition of 'prescribed condensate production area' in section 6CA, which is inserted into the Excise Tariff Act 1921 as a result of this Excise Tariff Bill [ Schedule 1, item 13, subsection 3(1) of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 ].

•

The term 'condensate' is added to subsections 5B(4) and (4A) of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 to ensure that, similar to stabilised crude petroleum oil, condensate is taken to be produced from the relevant 'production area'. The definition of 'production area' is amended to cover a prescribed production area within the meaning of section 6CA, which is inserted into the Excise Tariff Act 1921 as a result of this Excise Tariff Bill [ Schedule 1, items 15 and 16, subsection 5B(1) and items 21 to 24, subsections 5B(1 ), ( 4 ) and (4A) of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 ].

•

Subsection 58(2) of the Excise Act 1901 is amended to ensure that condensate is not exported under the Customs Act 1901 unless and until it has been entered for home consumption, or is treated as though it had been entered into home consumption, under the Excise Act 1901 . This means that condensate cannot be exported until the liability to pay excise duty on it has been triggered [ Schedule 1, item 1, subsection 58(2) of the Petroleum Excise (Prices) Act 1987 ].

•

Paragraph 58(3)(a) of the Excise Act 1901 is also amended to include condensate in addition to stabilised crude oil, effectively removing the need for condensate to be entered before being exported, where the condensate has come from a resource rent tax area as defined in the Excise Tariff Act 1921 [ Schedule 1, item 2, subsection 58(2) of the Petroleum Excise (Prices) Act 1987 ].

•

The Petroleum Revenue Act 1985 (which imposes a resource rent royalty on oil produced from Barrow Island) is amended to ensure that condensate produced from a prescribed condensate production area for the purposes of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 is not captured by the Petroleum Revenue Act 1985 . This amendment is required because the Excise Tariff Act 1921 and the Petroleum Revenue Act 1985 are read as one Act [ Schedule 1, item 11, paragraph(2 )( b) of the Petroleum Excise (Prices) Act 1987 ].

Application and transitional provisions

1.41 The amendments made in the Excise Tariff Bill to the Excise Tariff Act 1921 , will apply to condensate produced after midnight (by legal time in the Australian Capital Territory) on 13 May 2008 [ Schedule 1, subitems 31(1) and 31(3) of the Excise Tariff Bill ]. Similarly, the application date for the amendments to the Excise Act 1901 , the Petroleum Excise (Prices) Act 1987 and the Petroleum Revenue Act 1985 in the Excise Legislation Bill will also apply to condensate produced after midnight (by legal time in the Australian Capital Territory) on 13 May 2008 [ Schedule 1, subitem 13(1) of the Excise Legislation Bill ].

1.42 The Excise Tariff Bill includes application provisions which have the effect of including production of condensate from prescribed petroleum fields before midnight (by legal time in the Australian Capital Territory) on 13 May 2008, as well as after that time, towards meeting the relevant 4,767.3 megalitres cumulative production threshold [ Schedule 1, subitems 31(5) and 31(6) of the Excise Tariff Bill ]. To avoid doubt, a provision is included in the Excise Tariff Bill indicating that these application provisions do not affect any excise in relation to stabilised crude petroleum oil produced before midnight (by legal time in the Australian Capital Territory) on 13 May 2008 [ Schedule 1, subitem 31(4) of the Excise Tariff Bill ].

1.43 For the purposes of Item 21 of the Schedule, the Excise Tariff Bill prevents paragraphs 5(2)(b) and 5(2)(c) of the Excise Tariff Act 1921 from imposing excise on condensate produced before midnight (by legal time in the Australian Capital Territory) on 13 May 2008. [ Schedule 1, subitem 31(7) of the Excise Tariff Bill ]

1.44 An application provision in each of the Excise Tariff Bill and the Excise Legislation Bill enables an entity to enter condensate for home consumption without having to first pay or settle their excise liability. The effect of this provision is to complement section 15 of the Excise Act 1901 which deems an entity to hold a licence where a proposal is before Parliament to impose excise on goods (in this case production of condensate) which were previously excise free. The entity has a grace period of two months in which to become licensed and to obtain a formal permission from the Commissioner of Taxation under section 61C of the Excise Act 1901 so they can continue to enter condensate for home consumption without having to first pay or settle their excise liability. The application provision covering this issue in the Excise Tariff Bill applies to the Excise Tariff Act 1921 , while the equivalent provision in the Excise Legislation Bill applies to the Excise Act 1901 and the Petroleum Excise (Prices) Act 1987 . [ Schedule 1, item 32 of the Excise Tariff Bill and Schedule 1, item 14 of the Excise Legislation Bill ]

1.45 As transitional provisions, certain definitions and the formula set out in subsection 6CA(3) of the Excise Tariff Act 1927 , as inserted by the Excise Tariff Bill, are modified for the period from midnight (by legal time in the Australian Capital Territory) on 13 May 2008 until the end of 30 June 2008, reflecting the fact that there is no excise duty paid on production of condensation in the previous year [ Schedule 1, subitem 31(2) of the Excise Tariff Bill ]. The requirement of three consecutive months for the purposes of section 6 of the Petroleum Excise (Prices) Act 1987 is turned off until there have been three consecutive full months after midnight (by legal time in the Australian Capital Territory) on 13 May 2008 [ Schedule 1, subitem 13(2) of the Excise Legislation Bill ].