APPROPRIATION 1913–14.
No. 14 of 1913.
An Act to grant and apply out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund a sum for the service of the year ending the thirtieth day of June One thousand nine hundred and fourteen and to appropriate the supplies granted for such year in this Session of the Parliament.
[Assented to 19th December, 1913.]
Preamble.
BE it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, for the purpose of appropriating the grant originated in the House of Representatives, as follows:—
Short title.
1. This Act may be cited as the Appropriation Act 1913–14.
Issue and application of £5,475,545.
2. The Treasurer may issue out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund and apply towards making good the supply hereby granted to His Majesty for the service of the year ending the thirtieth day of June One thousand nine hundred and fourteen the sum of Five million four hundred and seventy-five thousand five hundred and forty-five pounds.
Appropriation of supplies, £10,829,852.
3. All sums granted by this Act and the other Acts mentioned in the first Schedule to this Act out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund towards making good the supply granted to His Majesty, amounting as appears by the said Schedule in the aggregate to the sum of Ten million eight hundred and twenty-nine thousand eight hundred and fifty-two pounds, are appropriated, and shall be deemed to have been appropriated as from the date of the passing of the Act No. 1 of 1913 for the purposes and services expressed in the Second Schedule.
FIRST SCHEDULE.
Grants out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
Under Act No. 1 of 1913.................................... | £1,687,967 |
Under Act No. 2 of 1913.................................... | 964,596 |
Under Act No. 3 of 1913.................................... | 1,121,979 |
Under Act No. 5 of 1913.................................... | 812,622 |
Under Act No. 9 of 1913.................................... | 767,143 |
Under this Act........................................... | 5,475,545 |
| £10,829,852 |
ABSTRACT OF THE SECOND SCHEDULE TO WHICH THIS ACT REFERS.
— | Total. |
Ordinary Services. | £ |
I.—The Parliament.................................... | 37,872 |
II.—The Prime Minister’s Department....................... | 83,458 |
III.—The Department of the Treasury....................... | 598,063 |
IV.—The Attorney-General’s Department.................... | 56,155 |
V.—The Department of External Affairs..................... | 676,530 |
VI.—The Department of Defence.......................... | 2,817,714 |
VII.—The Department of Trade and Customs.................. | 469,575 |
VIII.—The Department of Home Affairs..................... | 459,349 |
IX.—The Postmaster General’s Department................... | 4,834,757 |
| 10,033,473 |
Australian Notes Branch................................ | 4,838 |
Stamp Printing...................................... | 2,010 |
Refunds of Revenue................................... | 275,000 |
Advance to the Treasurer................................ | 500,000 |
Assistant to Naval Representative.......................... | 525 |
Fleet Unit.......................................... | 14,006 |
Total Ordinary Services.......................... | 10,829,852 |
Overview
The Appropriation Act 1913–14 was enacted to allocate funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the fiscal year ending 30 June 1914. This Act was passed to ensure the smooth functioning of the government by authorising the Treasurer to issue and apply a specific sum from the fund, thereby providing the necessary financial resources for the Commonwealth’s operations for that year. The Act was assented to on 19 December 1913, indicating the urgency and importance of securing these funds for the Commonwealth's services and expenditures as outlined in the Second Schedule. The enacting body, Parliament, aimed to address the fiscal requirements of the government for the specified period, ensuring that all necessary departments and services could operate effectively.
Scope and Application
The Appropriation Act 1913–14 is a Commonwealth Act that provides for the appropriation of funds for the financial year ending on 30 June 1914. The Act authorises the Treasurer to issue from the Consolidated Revenue Fund and apply the sum of £5,475,545 towards the supply granted to His Majesty for that year. Additionally, the Act appropriates the total amount of £10,829,852 granted by various Acts towards making good the supply, for the purposes and services detailed in the Second Schedule. The Act applies to the Commonwealth of Australia and encompasses all departments and services listed in the Second Schedule, including the Parliament, the Prime Minister’s Department, the Department of the Treasury, and others. The funds are intended for ordinary services as specified, with no exclusions or exemptions noted within the Act itself. The Act’s application may be extended or clarified through subordinate instruments or regulations.
Key Provisions
The Appropriation Act 1913–14 (section 1) sets forth the legal framework for the issuance and application of funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the fiscal year ending 30 June 1914. Section 2 authorises the Treasurer to issue £5,475,545 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to meet the supply granted to His Majesty for that fiscal year. Section 3 stipulates that all sums granted by this Act and referenced Acts, totaling £10,829,852, are appropriated for the purposes outlined in the Second Schedule, effective from the date of passing of Act No. 1 of 1913.
The Act imposes obligations on the Treasurer and other relevant authorities to ensure the funds are appropriately issued and applied. The funds must be utilised strictly for the purposes and services detailed in the Second Schedule, which lists specific departments and services, such as the Parliament, Prime Minister’s Department, and Department of Defence, among others. Each department’s allocation is specified, ensuring transparency and accountability in the distribution of the funds.
Failure to comply with the provisions of the Appropriation Act 1913–14 could result in significant consequences. While the Act itself does not detail specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for non-compliance, breaches of appropriation acts typically lead to inquiries by parliamentary committees and potential legal actions for mismanagement of public funds. The misuse of funds could also result in financial audits and investigations, with potential repercussions for those responsible for the mismanagement.