Advance to the Finance Minister – section 11 of Appropriation Act (No. 1) 2000-2001 (No. 26 of 2000-2001)

Overview

The Legislative Instrument F2007B00797, issued under Section 11 of the Appropriation Act (No.1) 2000-2001, was enacted to address a financial shortfall in the allocation for administered expenses for the Department of Health and Aged Care. This instrument was introduced to ensure that the Department could effectively meet its obligations, particularly in reducing the impact of hearing loss for eligible clients and decreasing the incidence of hearing loss within the community. The policy objective, as stated in the legislative instrument, is to support the broader aim of improving health outcomes related to hearing loss. The instrument was signed by Vanessa Graham, Acting Branch Manager of the Commonwealth Financial Reporting Unit, Budget Group, Department of Finance and Administration, on 25 June 2001, to increase the appropriation item for the Department of Health and Aged Care by $5,400,000. This increase was necessary to facilitate the department's initiatives aimed at mitigating hearing loss and its effects.

Scope and Application

The legislative instrument pertains to the appropriation of funds for the Department of Health and Aged Care, specifically to enhance administered expenses under Outcome 6, which aims to reduce hearing loss among eligible clients and in the broader community. The Act applies to the Department of Health and Aged Care, focusing on the allocation of funds to achieve specific health outcomes related to hearing loss. The appropriation increase of $5,400,000 is directed towards administered expenses to support these initiatives. The geographic reach of the Act is limited to the Commonwealth level, with the Department of Health and Aged Care being a federal entity. The Act does not explicitly state any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds, but the allocation of funds is strictly within the boundaries of the appropriation item specified. The application of this Act may be further refined through subordinate instruments, which would provide more detailed guidelines on the use of these funds.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of this legislative instrument pertain to an advancement to the Finance Minister, specifically under section 11 of the Appropriation Act (No. 1) 2000-2001. This section empowers the Acting Branch Manager, Vanessa Graham, of the Commonwealth Financial Reporting Unit within the Budget Group of the Department of Finance and Administration, to increase the appropriation item for the Department of Health and Aged Care by $5,400,000. This increment is intended to support administered expenses under Outcome 6, which aims to reduce the consequences of hearing loss for eligible clients and to decrease the incidence of hearing loss in the broader community. This Act imposes specific obligations and requirements on the Department of Health and Aged Care. The department is mandated to utilise the additional funds in alignment with the stated goal of Outcome 6, which is to mitigate the impact of hearing loss among eligible individuals and to reduce the prevalence of hearing loss in the general population. The provision ensures that the allocated funds are used effectively to achieve the desired health outcomes. The legislative instrument does not explicitly detail offences, penalties, or consequences for breaches of its provisions. However, given the nature of the Appropriation Act and the financial governance framework within which it operates, any misuse or misallocation of the advanced funds could potentially lead to serious repercussions. This might include administrative penalties, financial audits, and possible investigations by relevant oversight bodies. The Department of Health and Aged Care would be expected to adhere strictly to the intended use of the funds to avoid any adverse consequences.