APPROPRIATION (No. 2) 1947-48.
No. 23 of 1948.
An Act to grant and apply an additional sum out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the service of the year ending the thirtieth day of June, One thousand nine hundred and forty-eight, and to appropriate that sum.
[Assented to 24th June, 1948.]
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 (No. 2) 1947–48.
Commencement.
2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
Issue and application of £40,000,000.
3. 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 forty-eight, the sum of Forty million pounds.
Appropriation.
4. The sum granted by this Act is appropriated, and shall be deemed to have been appropriated as from the first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and forty-seven, for the purposes and services specified in the Schedule to this Act in relation to the financial year ending the thirtieth day of June, One thousand nine hundred and forty-eight.
Section 4. THE SCHEDULE.
PART I.—DEPARTMENTS AND SERVICES—OTHER THAN BUSINESS UNDERTAKINGS AND TERRITORIES OF THE COMMONWEALTH.
XX.—DEFENCE AND POST-WAR (1939–45) CHARGES—
| £ |
Division No. 191a—International Monetary Agreements.................. | 10,200,000 |
General Charges............................................. | 29,800,000 |
| 40,000,000 |
Overview
The Appropriation (No. 2) 1947–48 Act, enacted in 1948, was designed to address the need for additional funding for the Commonwealth of Australia for the financial year ending 30 June 1948. This legislation was enacted by the Australian Parliament, specifically assented to by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives. The primary objective of this Act was to grant and apply an additional sum from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the specified financial year, ensuring the government could meet its financial obligations and fund various departments and services, including defence and post-war charges. The Act authorises the Treasurer to issue and apply up to £40 million to meet these requirements, with the appropriation deemed to have been in effect from 1 July 1947.
The Appropriation Act (No. 2) 1947–48 provides the necessary legislative framework for the allocation and application of funds to support government operations during a critical period following World War II. This Act ensures that the government can adequately fund defence initiatives and other essential services, thereby maintaining national security and supporting post-war recovery efforts. The detailed appropriation of funds is outlined in the Schedule, which specifies the distribution of the granted sum across various departments and services.
Scope and Application
The Appropriation Act (No. 2) 1947–48 applies to the appropriation of funds for the financial year ending the thirtieth day of June, One thousand nine hundred and forty-eight, from the first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and forty-seven. This Act grants and applies an additional sum out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the service of that financial year and is applicable to the Commonwealth of Australia. The Act allows the Treasurer to issue and apply the sum of Forty million pounds for the specified purposes and services outlined in the Schedule to the Act. This Act extends to the entirety of the Commonwealth of Australia and its territories. The Act does not specify exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds within the text itself, but the appropriation of funds is limited to the purposes and services detailed in the Schedule. The application of the Act may be further defined or extended through subordinate instruments as necessary.
Key Provisions
The Appropriation Act (No. 2) 1947–48 (section 1) provides the legal framework for the appropriation of an additional sum of money from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the fiscal year ending 30 June 1948. This Act (section 2) comes into effect on the day it receives Royal Assent. The key operative sections (section 3) allow the Treasurer to issue up to £40 million from the Consolidated Revenue Fund and apply it towards the supply granted for the financial year in question. The appropriation of this sum (section 4) is specified in the Schedule, which details allocations for various departments and services, including defence and post-war charges.
The Act imposes specific obligations and requirements on the parties it governs. The Treasurer is mandated to issue and apply the funds as specified, ensuring that the allocated amounts are directed towards the designated purposes outlined in the Schedule. This includes adhering to the financial year timelines, with the appropriation deemed effective from 1 July 1947. The Act also necessitates that the allocated funds be used strictly for the services and purposes mentioned in the Schedule, which includes detailed allocations for international monetary agreements and general charges.
Breaches of the obligations and requirements set forth in the Appropriation Act (No. 2) 1947–48 could result in serious consequences. While the Act does not explicitly detail offences or penalties, misuse or misallocation of funds could lead to legal repercussions under broader public finance management laws. Unauthorized expenditure or diversion of funds from their specified purposes might attract penalties under the Public Service Act 1922 or other relevant legislation. The consequences could include financial penalties, disciplinary actions, or even criminal charges, depending on the severity and intent behind the breach.