ADVANCE TO THE FINANCE MINISTER – SECTION 11 OF APPROPRIATION ACT (No.2) 2000-2001
I, Phillip Prior, SES Band 2, Budget Group, Department of Finance and Administration, pursuant to section 11 of Appropriation Act (No. 2) 2000‑2001, hereby determine that the appropriation item listed in Column 1 for the agency listed in Column 2 be increased by the amount listed in Column 3, pending Additional Estimates.
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
Appropriation Item | Agency | Amount |
| | $ |
Appropriation Act (No. 2) 2000-2001 | Department of Industry, Science and Resources | 20,000,000 |
Specific payments to the States and Territories | | |
Outcome 1 A stronger, sustainable and internationally competitive Australian industry, comprising the manufacturing, resources and services sectors. | | |
| | |
Phillip Prior No. 1 of 2000-2001
21 August 2000
Overview
The Appropriation Act (No. 2) 2000-2001, enacted in 2000, was introduced to address the need for additional funding to support the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. This Act enables the allocation of specific appropriations to various departments and agencies, ensuring that they have the necessary resources to fulfil their objectives. Authorised by section 11 of the Appropriation Act, the policy objective is to provide the Department of Industry, Science and Resources with an additional $20,000,000 pending Additional Estimates, thereby supporting the overarching goal of a stronger, more sustainable, and internationally competitive Australian industry. This funding is intended to enhance the capabilities and operations of the department, fostering growth and innovation across the manufacturing, resources, and services sectors.
Scope and Application
The Appropriation Act (No. 2) 2000-2001, as modified by the legislative instrument F2007B00776, pertains to the reallocation of funds within the Australian government's budgetary framework. Specifically, it empowers the Finance Minister to increase the appropriation item for the Department of Industry, Science and Resources by $20,000,000. This adjustment is temporary and is intended to cover specific payments to the states and territories, ensuring that the department can meet its obligations as outlined under Outcome 1, which focuses on fostering a stronger, sustainable, and internationally competitive Australian industry. The legislation applies to the Commonwealth level, directly impacting the federal budget allocation for the specified department. This legislative instrument operates within the confines of the Appropriation Act and does not introduce new exclusions or exemptions beyond those already stipulated in the overarching legislation. The amendment is made in anticipation of additional estimates that will be presented subsequently.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of this legislative instrument, specifically section 11 of the Appropriation Act (No. 2) 2000-2001, empower the determination of increased appropriations for certain agencies. In this instance, Phillip Prior, a designated officer within the Department of Finance and Administration, has exercised this power to increase the appropriation for the Department of Industry, Science and Resources by $20,000,000. This adjustment is intended to be provisional until the submission of Additional Estimates, which will provide a more detailed and formal budget allocation process. The legislative instrument outlines the specific appropriation items that are subject to this temporary increase, ensuring that the Department of Industry, Science and Resources has the necessary funding to meet its obligations for the fiscal year 2000-2001.
The obligations and requirements imposed by this Act on the parties it governs are primarily concerned with financial management and budgetary control. The Act mandates that Phillip Prior, as a designated officer, must ensure that any appropriation increases are justified and necessary to maintain the operational capacity of the specified agency. The Department of Industry, Science and Resources must use the additional funds for their designated purposes, which are outlined to support a stronger, sustainable, and internationally competitive Australian industry. Additionally, the Act requires that any such determinations be made transparently and documented accurately to facilitate future budgetary reviews and audits.
Breach of the obligations and requirements set forth by this Act can lead to various civil or criminal consequences, depending on the nature and severity of the violation. While the legislative instrument does not explicitly detail the penalties for non-compliance, general principles of Australian administrative law would apply. This means that failure to adhere to the proper procedures for appropriation adjustments could result in administrative sanctions, such as fines or other corrective measures. Furthermore, if the mismanagement of funds leads to significant financial loss or misconduct, it could potentially incur criminal penalties, including imprisonment, under the broader legislative framework governing public financial management. The exact penalties would be determined in accordance with relevant laws and the specific circumstances of the breach.