Appropriation Act (No. 2) 1979-80

Overview

The Appropriation Act (No. 2) 1979-80, enacted by the Queen, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, aims to allocate a specified sum from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for designated services and expenditures for the year ending on 30 June 1980. The Act provides a legal basis for the issuance and application of funds for the services detailed in Schedule 2, totalling $797,768,000, and ensures these funds are appropriately appropriated as per the terms set out in the Supply Act (No. 2) 1979-80, aggregating to $1,552,486,000. The Act facilitates the orderly financial management of government services and ensures that payments to states or the Northern Territory for natural disaster relief and restoration adhere to terms determined by the Minister for Finance.

Scope and Application

The Appropriation Act (No. 2) 1979-80 applies to the Commonwealth of Australia, authorising the Minister for Finance to issue and apply a specific sum from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for designated services during the financial year ending on 30 June 1980. This Act is instrumental in legally allocating the appropriated funds, which are detailed in Schedule 2, to various government departments and services. The Act extends to the entire Commonwealth, impacting federal departments and entities that require funding for their operations and services as outlined in the schedules. It does not specify any exclusions or exemptions and applies uniformly across the Commonwealth, with its geographic reach limited to Australia's federal jurisdiction. The Act may be supplemented by subordinate instruments that further define the terms and conditions under which the appropriations are made, ensuring the efficient and lawful allocation of the authorised funds.

Key Provisions

The Appropriation Act (No. 2) 1979-80 (sections 1-5) provides the legal framework for the appropriation of funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for specified services during the financial year ending on 30 June 1980. Section 3 allows the Minister for Finance to issue and apply $797,768,000 for the services outlined in Schedule 2. Section 4 specifies that the total sum of $1,552,486,000, as detailed in Schedule 1, is appropriated for the services listed in Schedule 2 from 1 July 1979. Section 5 outlines the terms and conditions for payments to states or the Northern Territory for natural disaster relief and restoration. The Act imposes several obligations on the parties it governs. The Minister for Finance is entrusted with determining the terms and conditions for payments related to natural disaster relief (section 5(a)) and the amounts and times of payments (section 5(b)). Additionally, the Act mandates that the appropriations made in Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 be strictly adhered to, ensuring that the funds are applied only for the specified services and departments. Failure to comply with the provisions of this Act may result in various consequences. Although the Act itself does not explicitly list offences or penalties, breaches of appropriation laws generally carry significant civil and criminal implications under other legislation, such as the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (Cth). These can include fines, imprisonment, or both, depending on the severity of the breach and the jurisdiction's laws. For instance, misuse of public funds could lead to penalties under the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth), with maximum penalties for fraud and related offences reaching up to 10 years imprisonment. Furthermore, public servants or officials found guilty of misappropriating funds may face disciplinary actions, including dismissal from service, in addition to any legal penalties imposed.