Appropriation Act (No. 3) 1976-77

Overview

The Appropriation Act (No. 3) 1976-77, enacted by the Queen, and the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, serves to appropriate additional funds for the financial year ending 30 June 1977. The Act provides for the issuance of an additional $247,476,100 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to be applied towards various government departments and services as outlined in the attached Schedule. This appropriation is intended to supplement the sums already allocated in the Appropriation Act (No. 1) 1976-77 and ensures that all budgeted expenditures for the specified year are adequately funded. The Act comes into effect on the date of Royal Assent and is subject to the provisions of the Loan Act 1976.

Scope and Application

The Appropriation Act (No. 3) 1976-77 applies to the Commonwealth of Australia and authorises the Treasurer to issue funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to cover specified services for the financial year ending on 30 June 1977. The appropriation of $247,476,100 is allocated to various departments and services, as detailed in the Schedule to the Act. The Act comes into operation on the day it receives Royal Assent and is subject to the provisions of the Loan Act 1976. The allocation of funds includes additional appropriations in respect of increases in salaries, which are to be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Appropriation Act (No. 1) 1976-77. The Act applies to the Commonwealth level, affecting government departments and services across Australia. There are no specific exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds mentioned in the Act itself, though the application of the funds is governed by the detailed allocation in the Schedule. The Act may be extended or restricted by subordinate instruments, which would further define the application and administration of the appropriated funds.

Key Provisions

The Appropriation Act (No. 3) 1976-77 (section 3) provides that the Treasurer is authorised to issue funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to cover specific services for the year ending 30 June 1977. This appropriation amounts to $247,476,100 and is allocated to various departments as detailed in the Schedule attached to the Act. These departments include, but are not limited to, the Department of Defence, Department of Education, and the Department of Health. The Act further clarifies (section 4) that this sum is deemed to have been appropriated as from 1 July 1976 for the financial year commencing on that date. The Act imposes obligations on the Treasurer to ensure that the allocated funds are utilised strictly for the purposes outlined in the Schedule. Each department must adhere to the budgetary constraints and guidelines set forth by the Act to ensure fiscal responsibility and accountability. The appropriation is subject to section 5 of the Loan Act 1976, indicating that the funds must be managed within the broader legislative framework governing financial and economic policies. Breach of the provisions of this Act could lead to significant legal consequences. Although the Act itself does not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance, other relevant legislation may impose fines or other sanctions. For instance, mismanagement of public funds or unauthorised expenditure could attract penalties under the Public Service Act 1922 or the Crimes Act 1914, potentially leading to criminal charges or civil liability. The precise penalties would depend on the nature and extent of the breach, but they could include substantial fines and imprisonment.