Advance to the Finance Minister – section 11 of Appropriation Act (No. 1) 2000-2001 (No. 29 of 2000-2001)

Overview

The legislative instrument F2007B00829, dated 26 June 2001, pertains to an advance to the Finance Minister under Section 11 of the Appropriation Act (No. 1) 2000-2001. This instrument was introduced to address the need for adjustments in appropriations for specific government departments and agencies during the 2000-2001 financial year. Enacted by Vanessa Graham, Acting Branch Manager of the Commonwealth Financial Reporting Unit, Budget Group, Department of Finance and Administration, the instrument aims to ensure that the Attorney-General’s Department receives an additional $1,059,503 for administered expenses, specifically allocated to coordinated security, crime prevention, and law enforcement arrangements. This adjustment reflects the policy objective of adequately funding critical law enforcement activities within the stipulated fiscal period.

Scope and Application

The Legislative Instrument F2007B00829 pertains to the appropriation of funds as outlined in Section 11 of the Appropriation Act (No. 1) 2000-2001. It applies to the Attorney-General’s Department and specifically addresses an increase in the appropriation for administered expenses associated with Outcome 2, which includes coordinated security, crime prevention, and law enforcement arrangements. The authority to make this determination lies with Vanessa Graham, Acting Branch Manager of the Commonwealth Financial Reporting Unit within the Budget Group of the Department of Finance and Administration. This legislative instrument provides the legal basis for the adjustment of budgetary allocations to ensure that the specified appropriation item is increased by the specified amount, in this case, $1,059,503. The jurisdictional reach of this Act is confined to the Commonwealth level, applying directly to federal government departments and agencies as per the provisions of the Appropriation Act.

Key Provisions

Section 11 of the Appropriation Act (No. 1) 2000-2001 provides the authority for the Acting Branch Manager, Commonwealth Financial Reporting Unit, Budget Group, Department of Finance and Administration, in this case, Vanessa Graham, to determine the increase of appropriations for specified agencies and appropriation items. This legislative instrument (F2007B00829) lists the appropriation items, the agencies affected, and the amount by which the appropriations are to be increased. For example, the appropriation for the Attorney-General’s Department under the heading “Administered Expenses – Outcome 2: Coordinated security, crime prevention and law enforcement arrangements” is increased by $1,059,503. The Act imposes obligations on the specified agencies to ensure that the additional funds are used in accordance with the purposes outlined in the appropriation item. This means that the Attorney-General’s Department must utilise the increased funds for coordinated security, crime prevention, and law enforcement arrangements as defined by Outcome 2. The Acting Branch Manager, Vanessa Graham, has the responsibility of ensuring that these funds are accounted for and allocated appropriately within the department. Breach of the terms set out in the Appropriation Act (No. 1) 2000-2001 could lead to serious consequences. While the legislative instrument itself does not specify penalties, the misuse of public funds is a serious matter under Australian law. Such breaches could result in civil or criminal liability for the individuals involved, including potential fines or imprisonment. Additionally, the department could face audits and investigations by relevant authorities to ensure compliance with budgetary allocations and financial regulations. The severity of penalties would depend on the specific circumstances of the breach and the relevant provisions of other applicable laws.