Commonwealth Powers Act 1943 (WA)

COMMONWEALTH POWERS.

6° AND 7° GEO. VI., No. XLVII.

No. 4 of 1943.

AN ACT to refer certain matters to the Parliament of the Commonwealth until the expiration of five years after Australia ceases to be engaged in hostilities in the present war.

[Assented to 22nd April, 1943.]

WHEREAS it is enacted by the Constitution of the Preamble.

" Commonwealth of Australia that the Parliament of

le Commonwealth shall subject to the Constitution have power to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the Commonwealth with respect to natters referred to the Parliament of the Common-

wealth by the Parliament or Parliaments of any State or States, but so that the law shall extend only to States by whose Parliaments the matter is referred, or which afterwards adopt the law: And whereas at a Convention of representatives of the Commonwealth Government and of His Majesty's Opposition in the Parliament of the Commonwealth, and the Premiers and Leaders of the Opposition in the several States, which was convened to meet at Canberra on the twenty-fourth day of November, one thousand nine hundred and forty-two, it was unanimously resolved that adequate powers to make laws in relation to post-war reconstruction should be referred to the Parliament of the Commonwealth by the Parliaments of the States : And whereas it was further resolved that the reference, unless prior thereto revoked under the power contained herein, should be for a period ending at the expiration of five years after Australia ceases to be engaged in hostilities in the present war : And whereas it was also resolved that it was desirable that the reference should not be revoked during that period: And whereas the Premiers of the several States have agreed to do their utmost to secure the passage through their respective Parliaments, as early as possible, of a Bill in the form in which the Bill for this Act was approved at the said Convention, and in any event to introduce the Bill before the thirty-first day of January, one thousand nine hundred and forty-three : And whereas it was also agreed that in the execution of laws made by the Parlia- ment of the Commonwealth with respect to matters referred to it by section two of this Act the Common- wealth should, so far as might be reasonably practicable, avail itself of the assistance of the States and their officers, authorities and instrumentalities, and, with the consent of the Governor in Council, of any authority con- stituted under a law of a State : Be it therefore enacted by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and Legis- lative Assembly of Western Australia, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows :—

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