Appropriation Act (No. 4) 1972–73
No. 13 of 1973
AN ACT
To appropriate a sum out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, additional to the sums appropriated by the Appropriation Act (No. 2) 1972–73, for certain expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30th June, 1973.
[Assented to 31 March 1973]
BE IT ENACTED by the Queen, the Senate and the House of Representatives of Australia, as follows:—
Short title.
1. This Act may be cited as the Appropriation Act (No. 4) 1972–73.
Commencement.
2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
Issue and application of $67,944,000.
3. The Treasurer may issue out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund and apply for the services specified in the Schedule to this Act, in respect of the year ending on 30th June, 1973, the sum of Sixty-seven million nine hundred and forty-four thousand dollars.
Validation.
4. The authority conferred on the Treasurer by section 3 of the Appropriation Act (No. 2) 1972–73 to issue out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, and apply, moneys referred to in that section for services of a Department of State specified in the Second Schedule to that Act shall, by force of this section, be deemed to have extended to the issuing, during the period commencing on 20th December, 1972, and ending on 28th February, 1973, out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, and the application, of those moneys for those services by any Department of State.
THE SCHEDULE Sections.3
ABSTRACT
Department | Total |
| $ |
DEPARTMENT OF ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS...................... | 630,000 |
ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT........................ | 93,000 |
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.............................. | 55,000 |
DEPARTMENT OF SERVICES AND PROPERTY................... | 435,000 |
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SECURITY......................... | 35,000 |
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY........................... | 46,820,000 |
DEPARTMENT OF WORKS.................................. | 19,876,000 |
TOTAL.......................................... | 67,944,000 |
Overview
The Appropriation Act (No. 4) 1972–73 was enacted by the Queen, the Senate and the House of Representatives of Australia on 31 March 1973 to address the need for additional funding for the fiscal year ending on 30 June 1973. This Act was a follow-up to the Appropriation Act (No. 2) 1972–73 and aimed to provide further appropriations to various departments for specified services. The primary objective of this Act was to facilitate the allocation of an additional sum of $67,944,000 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the mentioned services, ensuring that the government could meet its financial obligations for the remainder of the financial year. The authority of the Treasurer to issue and apply these funds was extended to cover a specific period from 20 December 1972 to 28 February 1973.
Scope and Application
The Appropriation Act (No. 4) 1972–73 pertains to the allocation of additional funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for specific expenditures required by various departments of the Australian government for the fiscal year ending on 30 June 1973. This Act applies to the Commonwealth of Australia, extending its reach across multiple departments including the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General’s Department, Department of Education, Department of Services and Property, Department of Social Security, Department of the Treasury, and Department of Works. The Act authorises the Treasurer to issue and apply a total of Sixty-seven million nine hundred and forty-four thousand dollars for the specified services listed in the Schedule. Notably, this Act does not explicitly state any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds, and its application is direct and specific to the financial year mentioned. The scope of this Act is limited to the period commencing on 20 December 1972 and ending on 28 February 1973, after which the authority to issue and apply these funds ceases unless extended by further legislation.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the Appropriation Act (No. 4) 1972–73 (section 3) allow the Treasurer to issue and apply a specified sum from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for certain services during the year ending on 30 June 1973. This Act supplements the appropriations made by the Appropriation Act (No. 2) 1972–73, providing additional funding for specified departmental services. The Act comes into effect on the day of Royal Assent (section 2), and it includes a schedule detailing the allocation of funds to various departments such as the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, the Attorney-General’s Department, and others (Schedule).
The Act imposes several obligations on the Treasurer and relevant departments. The Treasurer is authorised to issue and apply the specified funds for the services listed in the Schedule (section 3). Each department must ensure that the funds allocated to them are used strictly for the services specified and within the financial year ending on 30 June 1973. Moreover, the Act extends the authority of the Treasurer to issue funds for specified services of any Department of State during a particular period from 20 December 1972 to 28 February 1973 (section 4).
Breach of the provisions of this Act can lead to various consequences. While the Act itself does not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance, the misuse of funds or failure to adhere to the stipulated guidelines could potentially lead to legal repercussions under other relevant financial and administrative laws. The consequences may include financial audits, penalties, or legal actions depending on the severity and nature of the breach. It is important for the departments to ensure accurate and lawful application of the funds to avoid any such outcomes.